This is a variation of our steel cut oatmeal base recipe. Start your morning with a warm, hearty bowl of steel cut peanut butter oatmeal! This simple oatmeal variation combines creamy steel cut oats with peanut butter, sweet honey, cinnamon, sliced banana, and mini chocolate chips.
Made with whole grain oats, peanut butter, and fresh fruit, this breakfast is satisfying, flavorful, and easy to customize. It’s a delicious way to start with a balanced breakfast that includes fiber-rich whole grains, protein, and fruit.
Must-Know Cooking Skills
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Culinary Tips for the Best Peanut Butter Oatmeal
Use a combination of milk and water. Cooking oats in a mixture of milk and water creates creamy oatmeal while keeping the mixture from becoming too heavy. If you don’t want the creaminess, make the recipe with 100% water.
Stir occasionally, but not constantly. Steel cut oats need time to soften and absorb the liquid. Stir every few minutes to prevent sticking and encourage even cooking. Stirring too often though can result in gummy oatmeal.
Adjust the consistency to YOUR taste. For thicker oatmeal, cook a little longer, remembering that it will continue to thicken as it cools. If your oatmeal becomes too thick, simply stir in a splash of additional milk or water.
Don’t skip the salt! Even a small amount of salt helps balance the sweetness and bring out the flavor of the oats and other ingredients.
Stir the peanut butter into the cooking liquid. Adding the peanut butter before the oats helps distribute it throughout the oatmeal and creates a creamy, flavorful base.
Add vanilla extract at the end. Stir in vanilla extract after removing the oatmeal from the heat, otherwise it will evaporate while cooking and not be as flavorful.
Remember that oatmeal thickens as it cools. The oatmeal should look slightly loose when you remove it from the stove.
Ingredient Substitutions
Milk or Milk Alternative: Use any milk or unsweetened milk alternative you enjoy. Dairy milk, soy milk, oat milk, almond milk, and other alternatives can all work. If using a sweetened milk alternative, you may want to reduce or omit the added sweetener. Read more about the different kinds of milk here.
Peanut Butter: Use creamy or crunchy peanut butter depending on your preference. You can also substitute another nut or seed butter, such as almond, cashew, or sunflower seed butter. Look for natural varieties with ingredients limited to nuts and salt.
Honey: Maple syrup, brown sugar, coconut sugar, or another natural sweetener can be used.
Cinnamon: Cinnamon is a classic choice, but nutmeg, ginger, cardamom, pumpkin pie spice, or a combination can be substituted. Learn more about the health benefits of spices in this article!
Vanilla Extract: Almond and coconut extract can also work. They tend to be stronger in flavor, so cut the amount in half.
Banana: Use a ripe banana for the best natural sweetness. Other fresh fruit can also be used as a topping.
Mini Chocolate Chips: Use regular chocolate chips or chopped chocolate instead. The darker, the better. For a less sweet option, omit the chocolate chips or use a smaller amount.
Recipe Variations
This recipe is very adaptable. Change up the fruit, add different spices, or add more mix-ins and/or toppings. The options are endless!
Want some steel cut oatmeal inspiration?
Check out the base recipe, take a look at the variations, and then have fun creating your own flavor combo!
Steel Cut Oatmeal Base Recipe
Steel Cut Oatmeal with Fruit and Nuts
Steel Cut Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal
Check out our stovetop regular oatmeal recipes for even more flavor inspiration!
Equipment Recommendations
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Is Steel Cut Peanut Butter Oatmeal Healthy?
Steel cut oats are a type of whole grain oat. Like other whole grains, they provide carbohydrates for energy along with fiber, vitamins, minerals, and other beneficial plant compounds.
Steel Cut Oats
Steel cut oats are made by cutting whole oat groats into smaller pieces. They contain the bran, germ, and endosperm of the oat, which means they retain the nutrients naturally found in the whole grain.
Oats are especially well known for their fiber content, including beta-glucan, a soluble fiber associated with heart health and healthy cholesterol levels. Fiber also helps support digestive health and can contribute to feelings of fullness after eating.
Curious about the differences between steel cut oatmeal and old fashioned or rolled oats? Read this article and learn everything you ever wanted to know about oats!
Peanut Butter
Peanut butter provides unsaturated fats, plant-based protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals, and other beneficial nutrients. It also adds creamy texture and rich flavor to oatmeal.
Bananas
Bananas provide carbohydrates, fiber, vitamins, minerals, and other beneficial nutrients. Their natural sweetness makes this oatmeal delicious without needing much added sugar. Remember, the natural sugar in fruit is different from added sugar!
Visit our Ingredient Guide to discover culinary tips for selecting the highest quality and most flavorful items for your cooking. We believe that choosing the best ingredients is the key to creating delicious food! 🌟🍴
Serving Suggestions
Serve steel cut peanut butter oatmeal for breakfast. Make a batch at the beginning of the week and customize each serving with different toppings and mix-ins so you never get bored!
With its combination of fiber, protein, and healthy fats, it’s a perfect one bowl meal.
Ready to create nutritious meals with ease? Explore our Whole Life Plate, meal plan, and book for more healthy inspiration!
How to Store Leftover Steel Cut Peanut Butter Oatmeal
Allow leftover oatmeal to cool, then transfer it to an airtight container and refrigerate.
When reheating, add a splash of milk or water and stir to loosen the oatmeal. Reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave until warmed through.
Steel cut oatmeal will continue to thicken as it sits, so adding additional liquid when reheating is normal.
Want More Recipes Featuring Oats and Peanut Butter?
Check out these favorites!
Peanut Butter Parfait with Chocolate
Peanut Butter Banana Baked Oatmeal Cups with Chocolate Chips
Peanut Butter Energy Bites with Raisins
Chocolate Peanut Butter Overnight Oats with Banana
Share the Love – Leave Us a Review!
Unlike many other recipe blogs, we encourage you to customize our base recipes to suit YOUR taste. Give it a try, leave us a review, and tell us which toppings or mix-ins you chose! We love hearing how you make it your own.
Steel Cut Peanut Butter Oatmeal
Ingredients
- 1 ½ Cup water
- ½ Cup milk or milk alternative
- 2 Tablespoons peanut butter
- 1 Teaspoon honey (or to taste)
- ½ Teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ Teaspoon vanilla extract
- Dash kosher salt
- ½ Cup steel cut oats
Toppings
- 1 Small banana, sliced
- ½ Tablespoon mini chocolate chips
Instructions
- In a small saucepan, combine water, milk, peanut butter, honey, cinnamon, and salt. Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally to keep the peanut butter from sticking.
- Add oats, reduce heat, and stir to combine. Simmer for ~20 minutes, stirring occasionally, or until oats soften and the liquid has thickened. Remove from heat, stir in vanilla extract, and let settle for another minute before eating. Oatmeal will continue to thicken as it cools.
- Top with sliced bananas and mini chocolate chips. Enjoy!
