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Hello! I’m Anjali. I’m a board certified health coach, author, wife, mom and food lover from the SF Bay area (now living in Seattle, WA!); with a passion for delicious food and a desire to make healthy eating easy, tasty and fun! Learn more about me here and stay for a while!

Anjali Shah

Pumpkin Spice Oatmeal

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This pumpkin spice oatmeal is a delicious, healthy breakfast that’s full of fall flavors, and can easily be made on the stove top or in the microwave. Ready in under 20 minutes, kid-friendly, with a vegan and gluten free option – it’s the perfect start for busy mornings!

Pumpkin spice oatmeal with blueberries in a white bowl on a wooden countertop.

Oatmeal is a total staple in my diet. It’s one of those tried-and-true comfort breakfasts that goes all the way back to my childhood. You can enjoy it on its own, or pair it with any of these vegetarian breakfast ideas!

My typical breakfast is always oatmeal with some sort of mix-ins: apples/pears, nut butters or nuts, banana, berries, ground flaxseed, yogurt, the list is endless!

But when I want to switch things up, I love making this easy pumpkin spice oatmeal with pumpkin puree. It’s tastier, heartier and healthier than Quaker pumpkin spice oatmeal – but just as easy to make!

Whether it’s pumpkin season or not, you can pretty much have this year round thanks to organic, canned, pureed pumpkin that’s available at any local grocery store!

Although, I have to admit, it’s very comforting to have pumpkin spice oats on colder mornings. It’s also a great way to use up any leftover pumpkin puree from your pumpkin pies!

Not only does this dish come together in less than 20 minutes, but it’s super healthy and super easy! It will keep you full all the way until lunch thanks to the fiber from the oats, pumpkin and berries; and added protein from the nuts and milk.

👩🏽‍🍳 Why This Recipe Works

  • A fun way to change up your regular oatmeal
  • Super simple meal prep recipe!
  • Gluten free & easily made vegan
  • Only 10 minutes of cooking time
  • Healthy & delicious
  • Way better than pumpkin instant oatmeal
  • Great for kids
  • Easy to customize
  • A warm and comforting bowl of oatmeal with a hint of fall
  • Best pumpkin spice oatmeal recipe ever!

🥘 Ingredients

This warm breakfast requires just a handful of ingredients easily found at your local grocery store! For a more detailed ingredients list along with nutritional information, see the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Pumpkin spice oatmeal ingredients: water, oats, milk, blueberries, pumpkin, walnuts, cinnamon, salt, honey, pumpkin spice.
  • Milk & Water: To give this pumpkin spice porridge a creamy like consistency, I cook it with a combination of milk + water. As for what type of milk – any type works! You can use coconut milk, unsweetened almond milk, soy milk, oat milk, rice milk, or just regular milk.
  • Oats: Opt for rolled oats, not quick oats, or steel cut oats. Gluten free rolled oats will make this pumpkin oats recipe automatically gluten free! A note on gluten free oats: oats are a gluten free grain, but the issue comes in the packaging/processing and the risk of cross-contamination. Most oats are packaged/processed in facilities that work with grains that do contain gluten (wheat, barley, etc.). If you’re celiac or very sensitive to gluten, I recommend buying certified gluten-free rolled oats – which are guaranteed to be 100% gluten free and processed in its own facility.
  • Pumpkin Puree: Be sure to use pure pumpkin puree, not pumpkin pie filling! Pumpkin pie filling is packed full of sugar and other preservatives that you don’t want to be starting your morning off with. Adding pumpkin to oatmeal might sound strange, but the pumpkin basically dissolves into the oats once it’s cooked, and adds a delicious creamy texture and sweeter mouthfeel.
  • Fresh Blueberries: I used fresh berries blueberries, but you can customize this recipe based on your preferences! You can leave the blueberries out altogether if you want a pure pumpkin pie oatmeal feel.
  • Spices To Add To Oatmeal: I chose to use ground cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, and a dash of sea salt. You could also add some ground nutmeg, ginger, or cloves — or any combination of oatmeal spice you like!
  • Nuts: I used chopped walnuts, but you can use any nuts or seeds you like! Chia seeds, flaxseed meal, hemp seeds, pumpkin seeds or almonds would all taste great.
  • Sweetener: I used honey, but if you’re vegan use pure maple syrup. You could also use a bit of brown sugar, or coconut sugar. Feel free to add a pinch of sea salt to bring out the sweetness even more.

📖 Variations

  • Pumpkin Spice Oatmeal Without Pumpkin Puree: If you don’t like pumpkin puree, you can still get all of that great pumpkin flavor by using more pumpkin pie spice instead of the pumpkin puree! You can also try sweet potato puree as an alternative.
  • Pumpkin Spice Overnight Oatmeal Recipe: This recipe works great as an overnight oats recipe! Just add the raw rolled oats + all other ingredients into a mason jar, screw the lid on tightly, and store overnight in the fridge. The next day, just heat and eat!
  • Make It Vegan: This oatmeal breakfast recipe is easily made vegan with a few adjustments. To make this pumpkin spiced oatmeal vegan, use your favorite plant based milk, like unsweetened almond milk. Use a vegan sweetener such as maple syrup, agave nectar or brown rice syrup instead of honey. You can also add a berry-flavored twist with this blackberry simple syrup!
  • Protein Pumpkin Oatmeal: Add 1 scoop of vanilla protein powder and stir into this recipe right before heating it for the second time in the microwave.
  • Make A Double Batch! While this recipe is for one, you can easily make a double, triple or quadruple batch depending on how many servings you need. This easy recipe scales really well – just multiply the ingredient amounts by the number of servings you need!

🔪 How To Make Pumpkin Oatmeal

Microwave Oats: Make the rolled oats according to the package: you can either make them in the microwave or in a small pot on the stove. To microwave pumpkin oatmeal, I combined the water + oats and microwaved on high for 2 minutes (more if the oats need to get fluffier before serving).

Cooked oatmeal

Add Pumpkin & Mix-Ins: In a large bowl, add your cooked oats, blueberries, pumpkin pie filling, spices and walnuts. Stir to combine.

Berries and pumpkin added to the oatmeal

Add Milk: Add the milk and stir to combine. For thinner oats, add more milk!

milk being poured into the bowl

Add A Finishing Touch: Drizzle the honey on top. If making this healthy pumpkin pie oatmeal vegan, add a drizzle of maple syrup. I like to actually eat mine without the honey stirred in, to get more of that delicious honey flavor in each bite. Heat one more time in the microwave to get this fall oatmeal as warm or hot as you like it!

Honey drizzled over the oatmeal

Serve Pumpkin Puree Oatmeal: And there you have it! The perfect, dessert-for-breakfast, healthy pumpkin pie oatmeal that’s only 300 calories, is super satisfying, is kid-friendly and adult-approved!

Pumpkin spice oatmeal with blueberries in a white bowl on a wooden countertop.

To Make Oatmeal With Pumpkin On The Stovetop

This healthy pumpkin oatmeal recipe can easily be made on the stovetop instead of the microwave! Here’s how:

  1. Add the water to a medium sized pot on the stovetop.
  2. Bring to a boil, then add in the oats.
  3. As soon as the oats are stirred in, reduce the heat to a simmer.
  4. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring every minute or so.
  5. Add in all of the other ingredients for this pumpkin oatmeal, and stir to combine.

How To Make Oatmeal In The Slow Cooker

You can easily make oatmeal recipes in the slow cooker – it can be especially helpful when you’re making multiple servings at once. You can place your ingredients into the slow cooker the night before and have breakfast ready when you wake up! To make this recipe for pumpkin oatmeal in the slow cooker:

  1. Combine oats, water, and the rest of the ingredients (except blueberries, if using) in the slow cooker. Stir the ingredients to combine, then cover the slow cooker.
  2. Cook on low for 8 hours (don’t open the slow cooker, and don’t stir during this time).
  3. Finish with any extra milk for a thinner consistency and stir in blueberries.

❓Recipe FAQs

Is Pumpkin Spice Oatmeal Healthy?

Absolutely! While Quaker pumpkin oatmeal isn’t healthy because it’s made with more refined instant oats and has added sugar, this pumpkin spice old fashioned oatmeal is super healthy for you!

Here’s why this recipe is so good for you:
1) Whole Grain Oats:
Oats are incredibly rich and nutrient dense, they make an ideal breakfast and give you energy for the day ahead. They are high in antioxidants and fiber and can help lower cholesterol and control blood sugars. Oatmeal is also extremely filling, so it’s perfect for helping to maintain a healthy weight and fending off mid-morning munchies!

2) Low In Added Sugar: Each bowl of this pumpkin oatmeal has only 2 grams of added sugar. But thanks to the natural sweetness from the berries and pumpkin – it still tastes just like a pumpkin pie!

3) High In Protein and Fiber: Each serving of this oatmeal has over 11 grams of plant protein, and almost 7 grams of heart healthy fiber.

Can I store pumpkin oatmeal?

I don’t recommend storing this pumpkin pie oatmeal recipe for more than 24 hours as it will begin to get mushy. This recipe is best eaten warm, right after it’s cooked! If you do need to store it, transfer the leftover oats to an airtight container and place in the fridge. Reheat within 24 hours in the microwave and stir to combine before eating.

Is canned pumpkin healthy?

The answer is: it depends! If you’re buying pure pumpkin puree with no added sugar, then yes, canned pumpkin is healthy. Choose an organic pure pumpkin puree with a BPA free lining for the healthiest canned pumpkin. Avoid canned pumpkin pie filling, which is not healthy for you!

What fruit goes with pumpkin spice?

This may not surprise you, but fall fruits taste great with the fall flavors of pumpkin spice! Apples, pears, bananas all taste delicious with pumpkin spice. For a more adventurous flavor pairing, try blueberries, strawberries, and stone fruits!

💭 Expert Tips

  • If cooking on the stovetop, use a pot that’s one size up from what you’d typically use. Oats cook better in a thin layer on the stovetop, so the more room they have the better (within reason – you don’t want to use a giant stockpot for these oats!)
  • For Kids: You don’t need to modify this recipe at all for kids since it’s already very kid friendly! Both of my kids think this oatmeal tastes just like pumpkin pie. If your child doesn’t like berries or nuts, you can leave those out or replace them with mix-ins they do like! For an even more dessert-like feel, try throwing in some white chocolate chips!
  • Don’t stir too much (if making on the stove!) – vigorous stirring of the oats will break them down and will turn them into a gummy texture.
  • Reheating tips: If you need to reheat this pumpkin oatmeal recipe (after storing it in the fridge), just add a couple tsp more milk or water (more if needed) and warm in the microwave on low heat until the oatmeal is warm and creamy.
  • I recommend using rolled oats since they provide the creamiest texture, but you can use steel cut oats for more of a chewy texture if you’d like.
  • No added sugar: Make sure you choose plain pumpkin puree with no added sugar!
Pumpkin spice oatmeal with blueberries in a white bowl on a wooden countertop.

🥣 More Delicious Oatmeal Recipes!

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📋 Recipe Card

Pumpkin spice oatmeal with blueberries in a white bowl on a wooden countertop.
Print Recipe
5 from 24 votes

Pumpkin Spice Oatmeal

This pumpkin spice oatmeal is a delicious, healthy breakfast that's full of fall flavors, and can easily be made on the stove top or in the microwave. Ready in under 20 minutes, kid-friendly, with a vegan and gluten free option – it's the perfect start for busy mornings!
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time10 minutes
Total Time20 minutes
Course: Breakfast
Cuisine: American
Diet: Low Calorie, Low Fat, Vegetarian
Servings: 1 person
Calories: 300kcal
Author: Anjali Shah

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup rolled oats
  • 1 cup water
  • 1/2 cup lowfat milk to make vegan, use unsweetened almond or soy milk
  • 1/2 cup pureed pumpkin (make sure there is no sugar added)
  • 1/4 tsp honey
  • 1/4 tsp pumpkin pie spice (more to taste)
  • 1 pinch salt
  • 1 pinch cinnamon
  • 1/4 cup fresh or frozen blueberries
  • 1 tbsp crushed walnuts
  • 1/4 of a banana, mashed (optional)

Instructions

  • Make the rolled oats according to the package: you can either make them in the microwave or on the stove. For the microwave, I combined the water, salt and oats and microwaved on high for 2 minutes (more if the oats need to get fluffier before serving)
  • Add your blueberries, pumpkin, spices, banana, and walnuts. Stir to combine.
  • Add the milk and stir to combine. For thinner oats, add more milk!
  • Drizzle the honey on top. I like to actually eat mine without the honey stirred in, to get more of that delicious honey flavor in each bite. Heat one more time in the microwave to get the oatmeal as warm or hot as you like it (about 30 seconds – 1 minute).

Notes

Top tips for making Pumpkin Spice Oatmeal  
  • If cooking on the stovetop, use a pot that’s one size up from what you’d typically use. Oats cook better in a thin layer on the stovetop, so the more room they have the better (within reason – you don’t want to use a giant stockpot for these oats!)
  • Don’t stir too much (if making on the stove!) – vigorous stirring of the oats will break them down and will turn them into a gummy texture.
  • If you need to reheat these oats (after storing it in the fridge), just add a couple tsp more milk or water (more if needed) and warm in the microwave on low heat until the oatmeal is warm and creamy.
  • Rolled oats work great in this recipe, but you can use steel cut oats for a more toothsome bite!
  • To make this recipe vegan, use an unsweetened, plant-based milk.
  • Make sure you choose plain pumpkin puree with no added sugar!

Nutrition

Serving: 1bowl of oatmeal | Calories: 300kcal | Carbohydrates: 46.6g | Protein: 11.4g | Fat: 9.2g | Saturated Fat: 1.2g | Cholesterol: 6mg | Sodium: 346.4mg | Potassium: 530.7mg | Fiber: 6.8g | Sugar: 15.1g

55 responses to “Pumpkin Spice Oatmeal”

  1. this combination of flavors made these the perfect for comforting breakfast for fall great recipe!!5 stars

  2. What a lovely autumnal breakfast! And it was just perfect, as I only had a couple of tablespoons of the pumpkin puree leftover! Delicious!5 stars

  3. The nutrition facts show 300 calories per serving. Does this take into account the mashed bananas or not?

  4. Such a delicious brunch treat! I had all the ingredients and made this for breakfast yesterday! My family loved it!5 stars

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