I have debated about posting this recipe for the past three weeks. I got the savory oatmeal idea from Mark Bitman’s book Food Matters. And though oatmeal with cheese and pepper flakes is fantastic (and I have ate it 19 out of the last 21 days), it sounds a bit… weird. Nevertheless it is definitely worth trying and hey, maybe I’m not the only person who will find this meal fantastic.
Cheesy Oatmeal
- Oatmeal
- Shredded cheddar cheese
- Red pepper flakes
Cook 1/2 cup old fashioned oats with 1/2 cup water for 1:30. Stir in cheese and cook for an extra 30 seconds. Add a dash (or dump) pepper flakes on top and serve.
April 13th, 2009 at 9:17 am
Will it work with instant oatmeal?
April 13th, 2009 at 9:43 am
Your cheesy oatmeal looks really good! I still can’t get myself to eat savory oatmeal…you would think I’d be a bit more adventurous…
April 13th, 2009 at 1:50 pm
@ Eva: I am not sure, but I would guess plain instant oatmeal would be totally fine. Let me know what you think of it!
@ Kaitlyn: Try it!! I can’t get myself back to berries and walnuts anymore. I try, but always end up reaching for the cheese.
I think the protein in the cheese fills me up a bit more too.
April 13th, 2009 at 1:54 pm
Jess, this is scary! I’m a picky eater… it would be CRAZY for me to try something like this, but I will! Over Easter I learned a new treat, strawberry dipped in sour cream, then dipped in brown sugar. I hate sour cream, but Mmmm… it was so good!
April 13th, 2009 at 2:05 pm
@ Brooke: Great! Let me know how you like it. And to be even more honest, I have a favorite Mexican restaurant’s salsa (I buy a to-go container of it for $5) and add that to the mix as well. It is a thin, smokey salsa, not the chunky garden variety. It is heaven. I would eat it for two meals a day if I would get more nutritional variety out of it.
April 13th, 2009 at 3:13 pm
Ok, my! That sounds and looks amazing! I am so glad that you decided to share. I like almost anything when cheese is on it!
April 13th, 2009 at 3:47 pm
Oh, yummy. A dear friend brought a savory bread, spicy with pistachio’s and we had it with an aperitif. Nothing like something a little spicy to get your day or party started!
I love oatmeal, and cheese too!
April 13th, 2009 at 3:53 pm
Yipes! You took one of my favorites (oats) and mixed it with one of my greatest dreads (cheese)! I don’t even know what to think, I’m so confused, I’m going to lie down.
April 13th, 2009 at 4:13 pm
@ Blair: Good! I will have another fellow fan. I agree. I melt for anything with cheese. Which explains the four nacho meals I consumed this weekend…
@ PVE: That sounds wonderful! It is good to know that someone else has been enjoying this awesome dish too.
@ CB: LOL. Not surprising. Do you still hate cake with frosting?
April 13th, 2009 at 4:58 pm
I don’t know why the thought of savory oatmeal is so disturbing! I eat all other kinds of grains with cheese in them. I think I’ll try to get over myself and just try it!
April 13th, 2009 at 11:51 pm
Look at you go with your 10 comments! Well, I’m gonna make it 11
I still think this looks weird, but I can attest to the fact that you don’t start reaching for the munchies at work until noon now instead of 10 in the morning!
April 14th, 2009 at 10:06 am
@ Rachel: I know, I was totally the same way. But now, I cannot get myself to put berries and soy milk back in the oats. I might be stuck the other way.
@ Natalie: It does look weird. But you are right, my belly is now satisfied for a few extra hours.
June 23rd, 2009 at 9:32 am
I’m a sucker for oatmeal…and I stumbled on this post last night…and now I’m sitting in front of the computer eating it for breakfast. I like it!
June 23rd, 2009 at 1:06 pm
@ Alison: Nice!! I’m glad you like it too. I had it this morning as well. Now I add cilantro and sour cream. Slowly I am converting it to a breakfast nacho. Who knows, in a few months I might even include black beans (yes, now all the normal people who don’t like cheesy oatmeal can freak out).
October 16th, 2009 at 7:57 am
OMG I was scared to try but it’s awesome! Some butter, sharp cheddar, and chipotle pepper flakes. Freaking DELISH!!!
Thanks for inspiring me to try it lol
March 3rd, 2010 at 6:11 pm
This looks amazing and the reviews are very promising but I have no red pepper flakes! What are some other good spicy alternatives?
April 24th, 2010 at 12:13 am
this morning i cooked up some organic steel cut oats without knowing what i would add to it. when the oats were cooked, i thought about my options (friday=empty pantry) and started wondering about cheddar. i sat down at the computer, googled, and found this great recipe! i never would have thought of the red pepper flakes. the steel cut oats are closer to grits in consistency which is what prompted me to think “cheese” in the first place… i’m so happy you wrote up this M.B. recipe, and glad to find your site. REALLY good, i’m craving more now. the poppy-burst textural element of the steel cut oats is an added bonus, and i added a bit of salt and a dash of milk with the tiny amount of extra sharp cheddar i had. thanks!
jennifer.
February 27th, 2011 at 1:49 pm
I just tried it and its GOOOOOOODDDDDDDDDDDDD. but to add some additional flavor i added parmazion (spelling?) and it just make it that much better thanks!
March 6th, 2011 at 9:12 am
I made it this morning, before coming here. I was just searching to see if anybody else liked cheesy oatmeal too
I added a fried egg on top and some baked potato rings (kinda like arby’s fries, but baked) for crunchy/spiciness =p Delish!
March 10th, 2011 at 7:02 pm
whoa. this looks intense!
I’m a serial-dieter, I wonder how fattening this is! I dont know if I care that much though… Thanks for sharing!
April 12th, 2011 at 12:04 am
wooo! i have some cheese that needs to be used up. and am excited for breakfast tomorrow.
November 10th, 2011 at 5:46 am
Wow I love it. I added some butter and salt and it was yummy!!! I didn’t have cheddar cheese so I used american and it still tasted good
December 24th, 2011 at 1:30 pm
I know this is an old post/thread but I have to comment.
I don’t like sweet food in the morning so I have mostly stayed away from oatmeal. But when my husband and I were first dating, 15 years ago, he’d cook up some ground turkey with Worcestershire sauce and red pepper. Theyn he’d toss in some dry oatmeal to soak up the leftover liquid. The idea grossed me out but it tasted pretty good. The main thing were the oats were still on the dry side, not gluey.
Fast forward, I was thinking I’d try to do something with some steel cut oats. Of course, steel cut oats take 30-40 minutes to cook so this was for dinner.
1 c steel cut oats
3 c water
1 c minced or chopped onion
2 T minced garlic
salt, rosemary and parsley to taste
tumeric, paprika, and curry powder – 1 t each
1 lb lean ground turkey
Worcestershire to taste
Boil the water.
Add oats, onion, garlic, salt, rosemary, and parsley.
In skillet, grill turkey with Worcestershire until done, using a wooden spatula to break up the turkey into small pieces.
Once the oats are near done, about 30 minutes, add the turkey.
Add tumeric, paprika, and curry until it tastes the way you like. Add salt, if necessary, desired.
Remove from heat while still a bit liquid left. It will continue to cook from internal heat.
—-
This was delicious. Even my 10 year old loved it.
Next I’m going to try overnight oats with steel cut oats. Soak the oats in water, onion, garlic, salt, and other spices overnight. Then in the morning scramble some egg, grill some turkey sausage, and then put that along with some shredded cheddar into the oats.