If you're after a quick, feel-good breakfast, this pumpkin spice oatmeal cooks in about 5 minutes on the stovetop or microwave. It's super creamy, gently spiced with pumpkin pie spice, and easy to customize with the toppings you love.
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Think of it as your week-day hero: simple pantry ingredients, satisfying for hours, and the kind of pumpkin oatmeal recipe you'll come back to whenever chilly mornings hit.
As a clean-eating recipe developer who's made this dozens of times for my crew, I've dialed in the texture so it's ultra-creamy, gently spiced, and easy to customize (pecans, maple, a splash of milk).
It's the kind of pumpkin oatmeal recipe you'll come back to whenever chilly mornings hit, I know I do! It's fast, nourishing, and genuinely satisfying for hours, just like this baked pumpkin oatmeal.
Jump to:
- Why You'll Love This Healthy Pumpkin Oatmeal Recipe
- Ingredients for Pumpkin Spice Oatmeal
- Variations to Spice up Your Pumpkin Oatmeal
- How to Make Pumpkin Oatmeal (Stovetop)
- Microwave Pumpkin Oats (1 serving)
- Tips for the Best Pumpkin Oatmeal
- Common Questions
- Toppings and Serving Suggestions
- Storage Tips
- More Oat Breakfasts You'll Love
- 📖 Recipe
- 💬 Comments
Why You'll Love This Healthy Pumpkin Oatmeal Recipe
- Pumpkin spice oatmeal in less than 10 minutes: One pot, minimal stirring, maximum cozy.
- Simple, wholesome ingredients: Rolled oats, real pumpkin puree, non-dairy milk, maple syrup, and warm spice, similar to this recipe for pumpkin muffins.
- Creamy without being heavy: Pumpkin adds body and silkiness so each spoonful tastes like fall.
- Easy to customize: Sweeten to taste, adjust thickness, and load up your favorite toppings like chopped pecans, maple syrup, peanut butter, or yogurt.
Ingredients for Pumpkin Spice Oatmeal
For 2 generous bowls:
- Old-fashioned rolled oats: The best texture for pumpkin oats that turn creamy yet stay pleasant and toothsome.
- Non-dairy milk: Oat, almond, or cashew milk all work. It's cooked right into the oats, and you can use more when serving for extra-creamy oatmeal.
- Pure pumpkin puree: Canned 100% pumpkin, not pie filling. Adds body and that classic flavor.
- Pumpkin pie spice: A cozy mix of cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves.
- Fine sea salt: Just a pinch to brighten everything.
- Pure maple syrup: Pumpkin and oats aren't very sweet on their own, so a little maple rounds things out and pairs beautifully with the warm spices.
- Toppings: Chopped pecans for crunch and a splash of milk for extra creaminess, and a drizzle of maple syrup to sweeten it up.
See recipe card below for all ingredients and quantities.
Variations to Spice up Your Pumpkin Oatmeal
- Pumpkin pie oatmeal: Add a tiny splash of vanilla extract and a dusting of cinnamon sugar on top.
- Protein boost: Stir in a spoonful of almond or peanut butter, or a tablespoon of chia or ground flax.
- Apple pumpkin oats: Fold in diced sautéed apples or raisins for extra autumn flavor.
- Crispy crunch: Top with toasted pecans, walnuts, or pepitas.
- Extra creamy: Stir in a little cream from coconut milk before serving.
How to Make Pumpkin Oatmeal (Stovetop)
Simmer:
In a medium saucepan over medium heat, whisk milk, oats, pumpkin puree, pumpkin pie spice, and salt until smooth and steamy.
Cook
Reduce heat to medium-low and cook, stirring occasionally, 5-7 minutes, until creamy and thickened to your liking.
Finish & Serve
Taste and adjust spice if needed. Also, add a splash more milk to loosen if needed.
Spoon into bowls and top with chopped pecans, a drizzle of maple syrup, and a little extra milk.
Microwave Pumpkin Oats (1 serving)
- In a microwave-safe bowl, whisk ¾ cup milk, ¼ cup pumpkin puree, 1 teaspoon maple syrup, ½ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice, and a pinch of salt. Stir in ½ cup rolled oats.
- Microwave 90-120 seconds, stopping to stir halfway. Rest 1 minute to thicken, then top and enjoy.
(Microwave strengths vary. Add milk to loosen as needed.)
Tips for the Best Pumpkin Oatmeal
- Roll with rolled oats: Quick oats can get mushy and steel-cut oats need a different method and more time.
- Control the thickness: Use more milk for looser pumpkin oats, less for thicker. Oats continue to thicken as they cool, so add a splash of milk when serving.
- Sweetness is personal: Start with a little maple syrup, then adjust at the end. Toppings like bananas or raisins add natural sweetness too.
Common Questions
Cook longer for thicker oatmeal, or add more milk to loosen. Oats also thicken as they cool.
Quick oats work in a pinch but turn softer. Steel-cut need a longer, separate method. Stick with rolled oats for the best pumpkin oatmeal texture.
Yes. Combine all ingredients in a jar, add an extra splash of milk, and chill overnight. Stir and adjust milk before serving.
It's made with whole-grain oats, real pumpkin puree, and maple syrup you can control. Top with nuts or seeds for healthy fats and staying power.
Toppings and Serving Suggestions
- Chopped pecans, pepitas, or walnuts
- Sliced banana, diced apple, or a few berries
- A drizzle of maple syrup or almond butter
- A sprinkle of pumpkin pie spice or cinnamon
- A splash of warm milk right before serving
Storage Tips
- Fridge: Store cooled oatmeal in airtight containers for up to 4 days.
- Reheat: Warm on the stovetop over low heat or in the microwave in 30-second bursts, adding milk until creamy again.
- Freeze: Portion into freezer-safe containers and freeze up to 2 months. Thaw overnight and reheat with milk.
More Oat Breakfasts You'll Love
📖 Recipe
Pumpkin Oatmeal
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups milk of choice, or water or a mix of both
- 1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
- ½ cup canned pumpkin puree, not pumpkin pie filling
- 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
- ⅛ teaspoon fine sea salt
Optional Toppings
- maple syrup
- chopped pecans
- splash of milk
Instructions
Stovetop (2 servings)
- In a medium saucepan over medium heat, whisk milk, oats, pumpkin puree, pumpkin pie spice, and sea salt until smooth and steamy.1 ½ cups milk of choice, 1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats, ½ cup canned pumpkin puree, 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice, ⅛ teaspoon fine sea salt
- Reduce heat to medium-low and cook, stirring occasionally, 5-7 minutes, until creamy and thickened to your liking.
- Taste and adjust spice if needed. Also, add a splash more milk to loosen if needed.
- Spoon into bowls and top with chopped pecans, a drizzle of maple syrup, and a little extra milk.maple syrup, chopped pecans, splash of milk
Microwave (1 serving)
- In a microwave-safe bowl, whisk ¾ cup milk, ¼ cup pumpkin puree, ½ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice, and a pinch of salt. Stir in ½ cup rolled oats.
- Microwave 90-120 seconds, stopping to stir halfway. Rest up to 1 minute to thicken, then top and enjoy. (Microwave strengths vary. Add milk to loosen as needed.)
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