
Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal
This easy, apple cinnamon oatmeal is made on the stove with old fashioned oats and filled with sautéed apples and a hint of cinnamon and brown sugar. This classic breakfast is a great way to start your day, and it’s dairy free and vegan.
This easy oatmeal recipe is easily taking the place of our other favorites like my dairy free pancakes and my blueberry crumb muffins, but it’s also great served alongside brunch favorites like asparagus quiche and savory waffles.
Why I love this apple cinnamon oatmeal
I love oatmeal for breakfast in the winter, and until we bought a huge package of oats from Costco last year, I had really only ever made those sugary oatmeal packets.
But, it’s so easy to make oatmeal from scratch and fresh cinnamon apples are the perfect topping or mix-in. Personally, I like to make it as a topping, but I’ll show you how you can do it both ways.

Here’s what you’ll need to make it
- Chef’s knife
- Cutting board
- Large sauce pan
- Measuring cups
- Measuring spoons

How to make stovetop oatmeal
Sauté the apples. Heat a large saucepan to medium-high. Add the apples, lemon juice, cinnamon and brown sugar sugar and sauté, stirring occasionally, until the apples have softened, about 5 minutes.
Now you can either remove them and reserve them for a topping or add the oatmeal to the pan with the apples still in there. The apples will get a bit softer if you leave them in, but the oatmeal will be equally as good. It’s really up to you.
Cook the oats. Add the oats and stir to coat, and allow the oats to toast for a minute. Add water and increase heat to high.
Bring the oatmeal to a boil. Immediately reduce the heat to low and allow the oatmeal to simmer until thick, stirring frequently, about 5 minutes.

More oat recipes:
- Oatmeal banana bread
- Vegan oatmeal cookies
- Savory oatmeal
- Overnight oats (copycat Starbucks oatmeal)
More breakfast recipes you’ll love:
- Tater tot breakfast casserole
- Breakfast pizza
- Breakfast tacos
- Pina colada smoothie
- Chocolate chip waffles


Ingredients
- 2 medium apples (chopped)
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- Heaping 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice
- 2 – 4 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 cup old fashioned oats
- 2 cups water
- 1 pinch coarse salt
Instructions
- Heat a large saucepan to medium-high heat. Add the apples, lemon juice, cinnamon and brown sugar sugar and sauté, stirring occasionally, until the apples have softened, about 5 minutes.
- Add the oats and stir to coat, and allow the oats to toast for a minute.
- Add water and increase heat to high. Bring the oatmeal to a boil.
- Immediately reduce the heat to low and allow the oatmeal to simmer until thick, stirring frequently, about 5 minutes.
Hi! Can I replace part of oats with protein powder? Let’s say 1/2 cup oats, 1/2 protein? thanks!
I honestly don’t know. I would think you could just add the protein powder in. I wouldn’t remove any of the oats.