If you’ve ever wondered what to do with leftover oatmeal, this post has a great list of ideas, including a Cinnamon Banana Oatmeal Smoothie!
What To Do With Leftover Oatmeal
It’s oatmeal season!
Oatmeal has always been one of the go-to breakfast staples in my rotation. There were the winters that I cozied up on my couch with whipped banana oatmeal and the summers where I blended overnight oats into dough boy smoothies. I love how versatile oatmeal recipes can be, and there is no shortage of them on this blog! Whether you dress it up with fresh fruit, peanut butter, or blended with granola, oatmeal checks all the boxes: healthy, filling, and satisfying.
But let’s be honest—sometimes it’s hard to gauge exactly how much oatmeal to make or if those you are making the oatmeal for are actually gonna eat it (I’m looking at you, Birch and Mazen!) The good news? Leftover oatmeal is far from a waste! In fact, storing it in the fridge can even enhance its flavor over the next couple of days. Rather than tossing that extra batch, you can get creative and repurpose it into something delicious.
Today, I’m sharing a round-up of recipes you can try with your leftover oatmeal, plus a smoothie that is my easy take on blended oatmeal. These ideas will help you make the most of what’s already in your kitchen and prove that oatmeal is a lot more than just a breakfast food!
How To Reheat Oatmeal
Leftover cooked oatmeal won’t have the best texture coming out of the fridge. It looks gelled and is often a solid block. The best way to reheat it is to add some milk and stir it several times in the microwave or pot on the stovetop as you rehydrate and remix the oats. The heat plus liquid will yield a creamy result like it originally was!
Cinnamon Banana Oatmeal Smoothie
This cinnamon banana oatmeal smoothie blends leftover cooked oatmeal with classic cinnamon banana flavors. Blending it takes all of the gelled texture back out and leaves all the great flavor of your original oatmeal bowl!
Ingredients
- 1 cup cooked rolled oats
- 1 cup milk
- 1 small frozen banana
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1 tbsp maple syrup (sub brown sugar)
Instructions
Put all ingredients into a blender and blend!
Top with extra cinnamon.
Cinnamon Banana Oatmeal Smoothie
Ingredients
- 1 cup leftover oatmeal
- 1 cup milk
- 1 small frozen banana
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1 tbsp maple
Instructions
- Put all ingredients into a blender and blend!
- Top with extra cinnamon.
More Leftover Oatmeal Recipes
Strawberry Oatmeal Smoothie from She Wears Many Hats
This fruity oatmeal smoothie blends Greek yogurt and frozen strawberries with cinnamon and vanilla.
Soft Oatmeal Porridge Bread from King Arthur
This oatmeal bread is a soft, chewy, whole-grain loaf made with a cup of cooked steel cut oats (aka oatmeal 🙂 )
Leftover Oatmeal Muffins from Food.com
These muffins are the perfect way to use up your cooked oats. The oats give the muffins a tender, moist texture, while the blueberries add a juicy burst of flavor. A great snack or breakfast option!
Oatmeal Blender Pancakes from Make Ahead Meal Mom
Transform your oatmeal into these fluffy and hearty pancakes. These were made with blueberry oatmeal so they are blue! How fun for the kiddos!
Leftover Oatmeal Cookies from The Dinner Bell
These classic oatmeal chocolate chip cookies are soft and chewy, with just the right amount of sweetness. Incorporating prepared oatmeal makes the cookies extra tender and adds to their wholesome appeal. Mix in your favorite dried fruits and nuts.
Oatmeal Patties from Don’t Waste The Crumbs
These patties look delish for a different spin on breakfast – kind of like baked oatmeal meets pancake! I had the idea to turn them into these savory veggie patties! Combined with grated vegetables, spices, and breadcrumbs, these patties are a great plant-based option for dinner or as a veggie burger alternative. You could probably store these in the fridge between parchment paper to reheat anytime.
Amy says
Oooooh. Your oatmeal content was what drew me to your blog over a decade ago. Love seeing everyone grow and thrive. Anyways, when I have leftover oatmeal chilled, I end up using it as a savory starch. I like the wallpaper paste consistency. (Appetizing, I know.) I’ll add leftover chicken, peanut butter, clementine cutie, broccoli and Mrs. Dash. I pulse it in a little food processor. It really sticks to your ribs on a cold day. Best, Amy
Kath Younger says
Great idea!! I’ve had it for lunch a few times recently since it’s been so cold out : )
Susan says
I don’t know what I expected, but I made this recipe and it just tasted like drinking liquified oatmeal. Maybe someone will like the chunky texture and overwhelming oatmeal taste, but I think you’re better off using your ingredients for something else. Sorry!
Kath Younger says
Sorry to hear that Susan. Do you have a professional grade blender like a vitamix? It def should not be chunky. There is lots of oatmeal flavor.