Scrambled Oats (Pan Fried Oatmeal)
Sick of regular oatmeal? Try these fun scrambled oats cooked in a pan for a delicious alternative with a satisfying texture.
Maybe you’re sick of porridge oats or maybe you’ve just never been able to wrap your head around their gloopy texture. Either way, these delicious scrambled oats are the perfect alternative to add to your nutrient-dense breakfast rotation.
These oats are mashed with a few other nutritious ingredients and pan fried for a fun take on this typical healthy breakfast. They’re just as nutritious as original oatmeal with even more satisfaction from their chewy, tasty texture. Mix up your boring breakfast with this easy breakfast idea!
Why you’ll love scrambled oats
Amazing texture: As a dietitian, the biggest complaint I hear about oats is the texture. These pan-fried oats fall somewhere between oatmeal and granola on the texture spectrum, and they’re super satisfying.
Nutritious: This recipe contains nutrient-rich oats, banana, and eggs that are filled with energizing carbohydrates and nourishing micronutrients.
Easy: If you can scramble eggs, I promise, you can scramble oats!
Customizable: Like with any oatmeal, you can add your favorite toppings to suit your taste.
Kid-friendly: The whole family will love this fun and delicious breakfast recipe.
Ingredients
You’ll need eight everyday ingredients to make pan fried oatmeal:
- Banana — for sweetness
- Old fashioned oats — also known as large flake or rolled oats
- Egg — to hold everything together
- Salt — these won’t taste salty, they just taste balanced
- Cinnamon
- Vanilla extract
- Maple syrup — optional, for a little extra sweetness
- Butter — just a little for cooking
Step-by-step instructions
To a small bowl, add all ingredients and mix with a fork until well combined.
Let the oat mixture rest for 5-minutes. While it’s resting, preheat a small non-stick pan to medium heat.
Add butter to pan and distribute with a spatula. Add oats, spread them evenly over the pan with a spatula. Let this sit for 3-4 minutes or until the oats look slightly set.
Using a spatula, break up the oat mixture in the pan until they look scrambled. Then, let them sit for another 2-3 minutes until everything is golden brown and cooked through. Don’t scramble the oats the whole time, or they will break up too much and won’t get brown.
Transfer oats to a bowl and add desired toppings. Enjoy immediately!
Expert tips
- Make sure to let the oat mixture sit before cooking so the oats can absorb some liquid
- Let the oats rest in the pan until set before you start to scramble
- Make sure not to scramble things too much, or the oats won’t get brown and toasty
Topping ideas
As a dietitian, I’d recommend you add protein, color (fruit!), and/or flavor to make these scrambled oats extra nutritious and satisfying. Here are some topping ideas:
Protein toppings
- Greek yogurt
- Cottage cheese
- Nuts or nut butter
- Hemp hearts
Fruit toppings
- Berries
- Chopped apple
- Chopped pear
- Chopped peaches
- Mango slices
Flavor toppings
- Extra cinnamon
- Honey or maple syrup
- Shredded coconut
- Nut butter
- Cookie butter
Frequently asked questions
You can use quick oats instead of rolled oats, but the texture won’t be quite as nice! If you can find rolled oats or large flake oats, I’d recommend those instead.
Sure! I’d caution against adding too many add-ins to make sure the oats get golden in the pan, but you could definitely add a few tablespoons. Chia seeds, shredded coconut, and crushed nuts would be delicious.
I’d recommend topping scrambled oats with extra protein more a more well-rounded breakfast. Try them with greek yogurt, cottage cheese, or nuts/nut butter.
First, make sure you preheat the pan to medium heat before buttering and adding your oats. Then, make sure the oat mixture sits on the pan for several minutes until they appear to be set. Once they’re set, that’s when to start scrambling. I also recommend lightly scrambling in stages and letting them rest for a few minutes to make sure all sides get golden and cooked through.
Scrambled Oats
Ingredients
- 1 medium ripe banana, mashed
- 1/3 cup large flake or old fashioned oats
- 1 large egg
- 1/8 tsp salt
- 1/8 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 Tbsp maple syrup, optional
- 1 tsp butter, for cooking
Instructions
- Mix ingredients: To a small bowl, add all ingredients and mix with a fork until well combined.
- Let mixture rest: Let the oat mixture rest for 5-minutes. While it's resting, preheat a small non-stick pan to medium heat.
- Cook oats: Add butter to pan and distribute with a spatula. Add oats, spread them evenly over the pan with a spatula. Let this sit for 3-4 minutes or until the oats look slightly set.
- Scramble oats: Using a spatula, break up the oat mixture in the pan until they look scrambled. Then, let them sit for another 2-3 minutes until everything is golden brown and cooked through. Don't scramble the oats the whole time, or they will break up too much and won't get brown.
- Enjoy! Transfer oats to a bowl and add desired toppings. Enjoy immediately!
