Meet my new favorite fall breakfast: easy pumpkin oatmeal! I'm a big pumpkin lover and I'm always making tons of healthy pumpkin recipes when fall rolls around each year. This pumpkin spice oatmeal is all the best fall breakfast things: creamy, filling, and tastes like dessert but is actually on the healthier side! It's gluten-free, vegan, refined sugar-free and nut-free (as long as you use a nut-free milk & skip the nuts on top).
This recipe only uses ¼ cup of pumpkin puree, so if you find yourself with extra pumpkin puree, try making this healthy pumpkin spice syrup for homemade pumpkin spice lattes, or these delicious pumpkin scones, or my favorite pumpkin pancakes to use up the rest! It's also the perfect thing to make if you have leftover pumpkin puree from another recipe you've made.
The Ingredients
- Pumpkin Puree: make sure to use unsweetened pumpkin puree, not pumpkin pie filling, which is already sweetened and spiced.
- Ripe Banana: this acts as the sweetness for this recipe! If you don't have a ripe banana on hand, feel free to substitute with 2 tablespoons of maple syrup, honey, or sugar of choice.
- Rolled Oats: make sure to use gluten-free rolled oats if you're gluten-free! These will make for the best texture.
- Dairy-Free Milk: use your favorite milk!
- Pumpkin Pie Spice: use the premixed blend makes this super quick and easy to make, but you can add your preferred amounts of cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger if you'd prefer.
Topping Options
I used the following toppings for my bowl that you see in the photos...
- Chocolate Chips: I love the meltiness these add!
- Pumpkin Spice Granola Butter: one of my favorite things ever! Every flavor is delicious, but this one is so good on this pumpkin oatmeal bowl.
- Pecans: but every other nut would be so good too - I love the crunch this adds.
Other options...
- Nut Butter: most nut butters, or seed butters, would be so fabulous on this easy oatmeal bowl.
- Sliced Bananas: amp up the banana flavor! It complements the pumpkin surprisingly well.
Want more sweetness? You can mix some maple syrup into the oatmeal mixture, or drizzle it on top for additional sweetness to your tastes! I personally find the banana adds enough sweetness, especially once I add on some sweeter toppings.
How to make Easy Pumpkin Oatmeal
- Combine the banana, pumpkin, oats, milk, and pumpkin spice in a small saucepan. Bring to a simmer.
- Simmer for five minutes or until the liquid is absorbed into the oats, adding extra as necessary to get to your desired texture.
- Add toppings and enjoy! I love adding some chocolate chips and granola butter, both of which get super melty and delicious. Pecans are great too, for some crunch.
Short on time? Make it in the microwave!
To make this oatmeal in the microwave, combine all of the ingredients in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave for 2 minutes. Stir, and microwave for another 30 seconds. Let cool slightly before serving.
Make pumpkin overnight oats
You can also make this recipe as overnight oats! To do that, simply stir all of the ingredients together, place into a container with an airtight lid, and place in the refrigerator to absorb for at least four hours, or overnight.
How To Store Leftovers + Reheat
- Refrigerator: store any oatmeal leftovers in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
- To Reheat: Add a splash of dairy-free milk to your oatmeal to rehydrate them and heat over the stovetop for a few minutes until warmed through. You can also reheat in the microwave for about 1 minute, stirring halfway though.