Oatmeal Is 10x More Flavorful When You Add This Canned Fall Favorite

Oatmeal is an old reliable breakfast that's both easy and delicious — but sometimes a plain bowl of oatmeal could use a few upgrades. There are plenty of ingredients that can make your oatmeal pop, from a sprinkle of brown sugar to a dash of cinnamon. If you're really looking for a flavorful bowl of oats this fall (and beyond), there's one canned ingredient that will bring warm, spiced flavors to your dish: pumpkin puree.

Pumpkin may be the iconic flavor of fall, but this oatmeal can be enjoyed year-round. Adding pumpkin to your oatmeal will not only add a comforting flavor, but it also brings a delightful creamy texture to your oats. To add pumpkin to your bowl of oatmeal, start by simply cooking your oatmeal following a typical recipe. You'll ideally want to cook the oats in milk instead of water for more flavor — you'll need around ¾ cup of milk, but you can add more in later to adjust the thickness to your liking. Once you've cooked the oats to the consistency you're looking for, mix in the puree. Add ½ cup of canned pumpkin puree for every cup of oats. Top it with cinnamon or a handful of nuts, and you'll have the coziest oatmeal in a matter of minutes. 

Pumpkin oatmeal is simple to whip up, but there are a few ways to make this breakfast all the more delicious. For the oats, rolled oats are recommended if you're looking for a texture that's more creamy rather than overly mushy. Maple syrup will add a sweeter flavor to your oatmeal, and if you're really looking for the full fall flavor spectrum, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and allspice will give you that classic pumpkin spice taste. Nuts may add a nice crunch to your oatmeal, but you could also add a nut butter for a smooth texture and nutty flavor. If you're in the fall spirit and want to take this recipe a step further, you could even make your own pumpkin puree straight from a pumpkin for a fresh taste, rather than using canned. 

Since this recipe only uses half of a can of pumpkin puree, you can save the other half in the fridge and use it the next day — just make sure you use up the can within four days of opening. You could even meal prep this pumpkin oatmeal and turn it into pumpkin overnight oats instead. Pumpkin puree has a number of uses beyond pumpkin pie, and oatmeal surely deserves a spot on the list.