12 Savory Oatmeal & Porridge Recipes for a Filling Breakfast (2024)

These savory oatmeal recipes put a new spin on the classic sweet oatmeal preparation. Combine the warm, creamy taste and texture you love from oatmeal with your favorite savory breakfast ingredients, like fried eggs, bacon and scallions. Recipes like our Savory Oatmeal with Cheddar, Collards & Eggs and our Sriracha, Egg & Avocado Overnight Oats are healthy, filling and so flavorful.

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Savory Oatmeal with Cheddar, Collards & Eggs

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Have you tried savory oats yet? It's a nice change-up from the sweet way oatmeal is typically served, plus you get a full serving of vegetables. Serve with hot sauce, if desired.

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Shrimp & Chicken Congee

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This recipe for savory rice porridge comes from EatingWell's Test Kitchen manager, Breana Lai Killeen, who shared it for Father's Day because it is one of her father's favorite dishes. "In the U.S., this dish is called congee, but in Hong Kong, we call it jok," she says. "My dad's version was always pretty bland, but this recipe is adapted from one in the cookbook A Place at the Table from a Laotian chef who, just like me, is a first-generation Asian raised in North Carolina." Congee can be eaten for breakfast, lunch or dinner, and leftovers freeze well.

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Savory Oatmeal with Tomato & Sausage

Oats get a new life in this savory dish, serving as the backbone for a satisfying combo of sausage, greens, tomatoes and herbs.

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Sriracha, Egg & Avocado Overnight Oats

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If you love avocado toast, give this savory overnight oats recipe a try. The oats soak overnight for easy "cooking." In the morning, just top with a fried egg, avocado and Sriracha for a satisfying, healthy breakfast.

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Slow-Cooker Overnight Barley Porridge

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At 6 grams per 1-cup serving, barley is high in fiber compared to many other whole grains. And it has high levels of prebiotic fiber, making it great for promoting healthy gut bacteria. Like oats, barley contains beta-glucans, a type of soluble fiber that's been shown to improve blood pressure and cholesterol levels.

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Slow-Cooker Overnight Fonio Porridge

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Fast-growing and drought-resistant, this ancient grain is an important crop in West Africa. It's a type of millet, making it gluten-free. Fonio's light and fluffy texture and mild flavor make it work equally well with sweet and savory toppings.

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Slow-Cooker Overnight Brown Rice Porridge

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Using a slow cooker makes it easy to cook up almost any whole-grain porridge while you sleep. Short-grain brown rice slow-cooks to a soft and sticky texture reminiscent of rice pudding. Brown rice stands up to the long cooking time better than white, plus this whole grain contains some magnesium, phosphorus, thiamine and niacin (which get stripped from white rice).

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Arroz Caldo

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Arroz caldo, a bowl of comforting rice porridge seasoned with plenty of ginger and garlic, has countless variations throughout the Philippines. The porridge can have a variety of toppings, such as hard- or soft-boiled eggs, crispy tofu, crispy garlic bits or crispy shallots, lime, lemon, nutritional yeast and so much more. For a change of pace, you can swap cubed smoked tofu for the chicken. Quinoa, wild rice, cauliflower rice and other grains can also be substituted for the jasmine rice. Feel free to increase the amounts of garlic and fish sauce for an even more flavorful porridge.

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Jakarta-Style Savory Rice Porridge (Bubur Ayam Betawi)

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We cut down the cooking time for this healthy chicken stew by fortifying store-bought broth with chicken and aromatics and then using the flavorful liquid to both simmer the rice and make the gravy. Try subbing five fresh curry leaves if you can't find the Indonesian bay leaves.

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Kinche (Cracked Wheat)

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This Ethiopian buttery grain porridge recipe is often served for breakfast, but you can also top it with other dishes like messer wot (spiced lentils) or gomen (Ethiopian-spiced collards) for lunch or dinner and eat it in place of the traditional flatbread, injera.

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Slow-Cooker Overnight Quinoa Porridge

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This slow-cooker porridge recipe features quinoa. Quinoa is a gluten-free pseudocereal (it's a seed!) that is a nutritional powerhouse and a complete protein. It contains a wide array of vitamins and minerals, including phosphorus, manganese, zinc and iron, many of which Americans don't get enough of.

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Slow-Cooker Overnight Farro Porridge

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Originally from Mesopotamia, farro is a type of wheat with a wonderful nutty flavor and toothsome texture. It's packed with plant-based protein, niacin, magnesium and zinc. Ancient wheat strains have also been found to have higher levels of antioxidants and carotenoids, which are important for eye health.

12 Savory Oatmeal & Porridge Recipes for a Filling Breakfast (2024)

FAQs

How to make oatmeal a full meal? ›

I'll be the first to admit that plain oatmeal usually isn't filling enough for a meal unless you pair it with a little protein and some healthy fats. For added protein, I like making one of my protein oatmeal recipes, savory oats (with an egg on top) or serving it with a couple hardboiled eggs on the side.

Are oats a filling breakfast? ›

You May Feel Fuller for Longer

"Having oats for breakfast or incorporated into different foods as meals and snacks is a great way to give the meal more staying power and help you feel fuller for longer," says Maggie Michalczyk, RDN.

Is oatmeal considered porridge? ›

Surprisingly, oatmeal is a type of porridge. Though all oatmeal is considered porridge, the term porridge does not always refer to oatmeal. Still, the two words are often used interchangeably, which can be confusing. Unlike porridge, oatmeal is always made from rolled, ground, or flattened oats.

Are oats sweet or savoury? ›

It's funny how oats have been pigeonholed for use in mostly sweet dishes in the U.S. We tend to eat oats sweetened at breakfast, or as part of delicious crumbly desserts, but oats do just as well with savory flavors as do any other grain.

What can I add to oatmeal to make it filling? ›

In addition, be sure to add a protein source like Greek yogurt, egg whites or eggs, or nuts or nut butters. Protein helps you feel full and prevents overeating, which in turn may promote weight loss ( 10 ). Low calorie toppings and protein-rich foods are good additions to oatmeal if you're trying to lose weight.

What can I eat with oatmeal to fill me up? ›

A spoonful of cashew or peanut butter on top of your oatmeal would both be great additions because they each provide protein and fat. If you're looking to up your fat and protein in a different way, consider more nuts and seeds (like pumpkin seeds), protein powder, or greek yogurt.

Is it better to eat eggs or oatmeal for breakfast? ›

Should I eat eggs or oatmeal for breakfast? Both are good choices, in fact you'd do well to have them both. The protein and fat in eggs will help keep you full, just as the fibre in the oats, and the slow-release carbohydrates from the oats will give you steady energy until lunchtime.

Is there a downside to eating oatmeal? ›

As it is bland in nature, overconsuming oats may lead to an increase in sugar intake. Opting for an oats-only diet may deprive your body of getting nourishment from other healthy food sources.

What is the most filling food? ›

Some of the most filling foods include baked potatoes, eggs, and high fiber foods. People sometimes refer to the feeling of fullness as satiety. In 1995, researchers at the University of Sydney put together a satiety index to measure how effectively various foods achieve satiety.

What is difference between porridge and oatmeal? ›

But the main difference between porridge and oatmeal is that porridge is made with a variety of whole grains, cereal or legumes, and oatmeal is made with oats (either rolled, flattened or ground).

What is healthier than oatmeal for breakfast? ›

Both oatmeal and granola make for a healthy, nutritious breakfast, but the winner for us is granola—the added nuts, seeds, and dried fruits give you a source of fiber and healthy fats that oatmeal can't quite compete with.

What is porridge called in America? ›

It is known as simply "porridge" or, more commonly in the United States and Canada, "oatmeal". In the US, oat and wheat porridge can both be called "hot cereal". Rolled oats are commonly used in England, oatmeal in Scotland and steel-cut oats in Ireland.

What is a savory breakfast? ›

Protein is the centerpiece of a savoury breakfast – it's what keeps us steady, full and satiated. Our glucose levels love protein. Examples include: Greek yogurt, tofu, meat, cold cuts, fish, cheese, cream cheese, protein powder, nuts, nut butter, seeds and, yes, eggs (scrambled, fried, poached or boiled).

Is savory oats good for you? ›

Savory oatmeal is a great way to incorporate this fiber-rich whole grain into more than just breakfast. While oatmeal is a great healthy breakfast option, a savory oatmeal can also be an excellent choice for lunch or dinner.

Is it better to have a sweet or savory breakfast? ›

A savory breakfast with protein is the healthiest option for a daily routine. A sweet or high carb breakfast will lead to short term energy, and long-term health issues. A sweet breakfast like pancakes, waffles or other high carb breakfasts should be had in moderation, not overdone.

Is it OK to eat oatmeal for every meal? ›

Yes, it is good to eat oatmeal every day considering its nutritional profile and health benefits, including weight control and heart-healthy effect. As a breakfast food and mid-meal snack, oatmeal is potentially a better option than the majority of foods available in the market.

Can you eat oatmeal for all meals? ›

While oatmeal can be a beneficial part of the diet, it is not healthful as a sole source of nutrients. Instead, a person should aim to eat a variety of fresh, whole foods, while spending more time being physically active.

Can I just eat oatmeal for dinner? ›

There is no particular time to eat oats. You can consume the oats at lunch and dinner too. This cereal, however, is consumed in breakfast mostly. It contains fiber, magnesium, complex carbohydrates, etc, which help in keeping your tummy full for a longer time, thus, reducing overeating.

How much oatmeal is enough for a meal? ›

Key takeaways: The serving size of oatmeal is one half cup of dry oats. This amounts to about one cup of cooked oatmeal. Eating a serving of oatmeal regularly is one way to help increase your fiber intake.

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