Easy Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal (Single Serving)
This Easy Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal is a fiber-packed and inexpensive recipe-for-one that’s perfect for your weekday breakfasts!
Why You’ll Love This Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal
- A super healthy way to start your day – oats are great for you, and starting your day off with fruit and cinnamon ain’t bad either. Lots of fiber, complex carbs, and antioxidants, all in one meal.
- Satisfying and filling – because of their high levels of protein, fiber, and carbs, oats keep you full longer.
- Inexpensive – a decent sized container of oats should only set you back $5 bucks or less, depending on the brand, and it’ll give you a lot of servings. Beyond that you’ll need an apple, lemon, and some spices that you likely already have.
- Easily scaled up for more people – this recipe is for one large serving, but it’s easy to make in a bigger batch. One large apple could stretch to 2 servings if needed as well.
Why Eat Oatmeal?
Oats are one of those whole grains that has a reputation for being healthy. They’re high in fiber and are a good source of complex carbohydrates and protein. Oats are also rich in antioxidants and may be helpful in reducing blood pressure and bad cholesterol. Because oats are high in fiber, they also keep you full longer. That means that you can start your morning off with a satisfying meal that will keep your belly full and happy until lunchtime! Oats themselves are also naturally gluten-free, so they’re a good option for anyone who needs to avoid gluten. Just be sure to check the labels because some oats can be contaminated with wheat, barley, or rye.
Basic Steps for Making Oatmeal
Making oatmeal is super easy and only requires a few ingredients. You need rolled oats, water, a little salt, and heat. We prefer making our oatmeal on the stove for best results, but you can also make it in the microwave if you’d like. Either way, it only takes a little time to make a satisfying and healthy start to your day.
When making plain oatmeal, we like to top it with a splash of dairy or almond milk and a sprinkle of brown sugar. However, it only takes 3 to 5 more minutes to make an exceptional bowl of oatmeal with some apples and cinnamon.
Types of Oats
There are a few different types of oats, so how do you know which one to use? There’s instant, crushed, rolled, and even steel-cut oats, and they all depend on how the oat groats are processed. Each type is made a little differently and has different cooking times, so it’s important to choose the right one for your recipe. Here’s a quick rundown of the most common kinds of oats you may see in a grocery store, with more info here.
- Steel cut oats – made from cutting whole oat groats into several pieces. These will take a longer to cook than rolled or instant oats.
- Rolled oats or old fashioned oats – made by steaming whole oat groats, flattening them into flakes by heavy rollers, then drying them. These are the kind of oats we typically use in our recipes, and what we’ve used here. They’re easy to find in stores and cook faster than steel cut.
- Instant or quick oats – these are processed similarly to rolled oats, but they’re steamed longer and flattened thinner, which makes them faster to cook. They’re our preferred oat for no-bake cocoa oatmeal cookies because they have less chew and combine better in a no-bake recipe due to their thinner flakes.
Ingredients in Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal For One
- Rolled oats – this recipe uses rolled oats (also called old fashioned oats) for easy, consistent, and relatively quick results. While oats are naturally gluten-free, some can be contaminated with wheat, barley, or rye, so always check the labels.
- Water – some recipes use milk, but we find that the best way way to cook oats is to use water.
- Salt – oats are very mild and can be bland in flavor, so a pinch of salt gives them depth. We also add salt to the apples for the same reason.
- Apples – you can use any apples here, but we prefer apples that are both tart and a little sweet, like honeycrisp or cosmic crisp.
- Brown sugar – we love the molasses notes of brown sugar with the apples and oatmeal.
- Cinnamon – cinnamon brings warm notes and anti-inflammatory properties.
- Lemon – just a hint of lemon juice brightens up the apple mixture.
How to Make Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal
- Add the water and salt to a pot on the stove. Bring the water to a boil over high or medium-high heat, then reduce the heat to medium-low or low and add the oats.
- Cook the oats for 10 to 20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the oatmeal is your desired consistency. We like our oatmeal not too wet or dry and not overly mushy, so 15 minutes is usually perfect for us.
- While the oatmeal is cooking, add the apples, brown sugar, cinnamon, lemon juice, and a pinch of salt to a bowl. Mix the ingredients together and let them sit for about 10 minutes while the oats finish cooking. While the fruit mixture rests, it will give off more liquid which will act almost as a fruity, lemony syrup for the oats.
- Serve the oatmeal with a splash of milk (dairy or non-dairy) and the apple cinnamon topping.
Our Tips for Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal
Oatmeal Variations
- Add golden raisins to the apple mixture or even to the oat mixture while cooking.
- Boost the spice flavor by adding nutmeg, allspice, or even pumpkin spice.
- Switch out the apples for peaches or nectarines in warmer months for a healthy summertime breakfast option.
Serving and Storage Suggestions
This oatmeal is a full meal in itself, so we like to serve it as is with a glass of orange juice, some hot coffee, or herbal tea on the side.
This recipe is for one serving, but if you don’t finish it or if you’re making it in advance for tomorrow’s breakfast, you can store cooked oatmeal in the fridge for a couple of days. Just keep the oatmeal and the apple cinnamon topping in separate, airtight containers. You can reheat the oatmeal in a pot on the stove with an extra splash of water to rehydrate it, then top it with the apple cinnamon mixture and optional milk. Alternatively, you can place the oatmeal in a microwave safe bowl or dish, add a splash of water to it, then microwave it in 30 second intervals (stirring after each interval), until it’s heated through. Top with the apples and an optional splash of milk.
Easy Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal (Recipe)
Ingredients
Oatmeal
- 1 cup water
- ½ cup rolled oats (also called old fashioned oats)
- ⅛ tsp salt
Apple Cinnamon Topping
- 1 apple diced
- 1 to 2 tbsp brown sugar depending on preference
- ½ tsp cinnamon
- squeeze of lemon juice
- pinch salt
Optional
- Splash of milk for topping dairy or non-dairy
Instructions
- Add the water and salt to a pot on the stove. Bring the water to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer (just below a boil) and add the oats.1 cup water, ⅛ tsp salt, ½ cup rolled oats (also called old fashioned oats)
- Cook the oats for 10 to 20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the oatmeal is your desired consistency.
- While the oatmeal is still cooking, mix the apples, brown sugar, cinnamon, lemon juice, and salt in a bowl and set aside for about 10 minutes while the oats finish cooking. While the fruit mixture rests, it will give off more liquid which will act as a fruity, lemony syrup for the oats.1 apple, 1 to 2 tbsp brown sugar, ½ tsp cinnamon, squeeze of lemon juice, pinch salt
- Serve the oatmeal with an optional splash of milk (dairy or non-dairy) and the apple cinnamon topping.Splash of milk for topping
Final Thoughts
This easy apple cinnamon oatmeal single-serving recipe is a flavorful, healthy way to start your mornings. It’s easy to make and comes together really quickly too, making it a great option for busy weekdays. If you make this recipe, let us know how it turns out by leaving a comment below or tagging us on social media!
