Creative Recipes Using Oats (That Aren’t Oatmeal)

Filled with orange zest-infused oatmeal and topped with a dollop of yogurt (make sure you opt for a brand rich in probiotics!), spice up breakfast or brunch with this healthy recipe for baked apples.

Start the day off right with these muffins loaded with oatmeal, whole wheat flour and carrots — all the stuff that’s good for you (and they taste amazing!).

Fresh summer peaches and hearty oats come together to make a naturally sweet and satisfying smoothie that’s perfect for a healthy breakfast. The secret to this recipe is plumping the quick-cooking rolled oats in hot water to add body and creaminess to the smoothie.

Step away from your usual oatmeal chocolate chip cookie recipe. The toasted oats and chopped dates in this oatmeal recipe give these cookies a perfectly chewy texture — and they stay that way even after they’ve cooled down.

This steel-cut oats recipe replaces the Arborio rice in traditional risotto for a heart-healthy twist on the classic Italian comfort food. The creamy and savoury side dish also reminds us of Southern-style grits, pairing well with grilled seafood like BBQ shrimp or blackened catfish.

This will be your new go-to overnight oats recipe — for creamy homemade oat milk. It’s much easier than you would expect. After soaking the oats, blend with fresh water and strain out the pulp. If you like, you can add a little maple syrup and vanilla for a hint of sweetness.

Old-fashioned rolled oats, chia seeds and shredded coconut give these soft and fluffy pancakes a healthier boost. Top with a tropical fruit salad and drizzle with that extra juice.

Homemade no-churn oat milk ice cream sandwiched between soft and chewy oatmeal raisin cookies? Yes please! We’ll take these over the freezer-aisle options any day.

The rolled oats in these flavourful meatballs are used as a binder instead of breadcrumbs — to give this dish even more fibre. (And it also has lots of greens and lean protein with the kale and turkey). If you’re avoiding flour, serve with spaghetti squash or rice noodles for a variation on traditional pasta.

A classic comfort food just got a little healthier with the addition of ground rolled oats in the dumpling dough.

These gluten-free, no-bake cookies are as indulgent as they are nutritious — full of peanut butter, unsweetened cocoa powder, oats, flaxseeds, raisins, coconut and other healthy ingredients. Best of all, they’re quick and easy to make. Serve chilled for hot summer days.

Here’s another creative and savoury use of rolled oats for a light and summery side. Simply mix oats with flour, scallions, cheese and lemon zest and stuff inside the hollowed out tomatoes before baking.

Oats don’t replace all the flour in these waffles, but the addition of whole grains makes them extra hearty. This recipe calls for toasting old-fashioned rolled oats and then grinding them in a food processor for a slightly nutty flavour and smooth texture.

Yes, it is actually worth it to make your own crackers when they’re Ina Garten’s recipe for this traditional British sweet-and-salty snack that pairs beautifully with cheese and fruit.

These oat bars are everything you crave in a sweet and healthy snack, with no butter or refined sugar needed. They get their juicy sweetness from three types of dried fruit and their crispness from rolled oats and sunflower seeds. Coconut oil also helps keep them soft and chewy.

This focaccia recipe uses whole-wheat flour, oat flour, steel-cut oats and flaxseed meal for a whole-grain (yet still indulgent) way to get more vitamins, minerals and fibre into your diet. The boldness of the fresh garlic, thyme, rosemary and parmesan balance the heavier texture and rustic flavours of the bread.