This rich and creamy sweet potato oatmeal is a delicious and comforting way to start your day! It's made my mixing baked sweet potato with creamy oats, along with a touch of cinnamon, and crunchy pecans.
Sweet potatoes are, without a doubt, one of the most delicious and comforting veggies in existence. So much so, that sometimes I forget that they are in fact vegetables! I mean, with dishes like vegan sweet potato pie, marshmallow-topped vegan sweet potato casserole, vegan candied yams, and vegan mashed sweet potatoes, it can be hard to believe that they grow right out of the ground!
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Sweet potatoes really can transform an ordinary breakfast into something delicious and comforting. This sweet potato oatmeal is one of my favorite ways to achieve that. It's a wonderful treat to wake up to!
Perhaps the best thing of all about this sweet potato oatmeal is how easy it is to make. You can even roast your sweet potato in advance, making things extra simple!
Ingredient Notes
- Sweet potato. I used a regular old orange sweet potato, which might be labelled as a yam in some areas. But feel free to experiment with yellow or even purple sweet potatoes.
- Rolled oats. Feel free to substitute quick oats if you're really in a hurry. Or if you have extra time and want an extra hearty breakfast, try steel cut oats.
- Non-dairy milk. I've suggested using soy or almond milk in the recipe, but any variety of non-dairy milk that you normally like to drink should be fine. Read my guide to dairy-free milks if you need help choosing one.
- Maple syrup. This is my favorite sweetener for pairing with sweet potatoes, but feel free to substitute something else like agave or coconut nectar. You can also leave it out, if preferred.
- Spices. We're using ground cinnamon and nutmeg.
- Raisins. These are optional. Feel free to omit them, or swap them out with another type of dried fruit.
- Pecans. Also optional! Walnuts make a nice alternative.
Leftovers & Storage
Sweet potato oatmeal can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days, or in the freezer for up to three months. It can be reheated in a saucepan on the stove, or by microwaving in one minute increments in a microwave safe container. Add a bit of water if it seems dry when you reheat it.
Make Ahead Option
To save time the morning of serving this dish, bake or microwave your sweet potato according to the recipe, but a day or two in advance. Store the sweet potato in an airtight container in the fridge, then simply warm it up on the day of serving, and add it to the oatmeal as instructed in the recipe.
Variations
- Chocolate sweet potato oatmeal. Add a tablespoon or two of unsweetened cocoa powder to your oatmeal.
- Add nut butter. A tablespoon or two of almond, cashew, or peanut butter makes a delicious addition to sweet potato oatmeal.
- Savory sweet potato oatmeal. Skip the maple syrup, and add some savory spices like curry powder, ground cumin, or chili powder. I know, it sounds weird! But these types of flavor combinations work great in recipes like sweet potato soup and sweet potato curry, and they are delicious in this one too! Add some tempeh bacon if you dare.
More Sweet Potato Recipes
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📖 Recipe
Sweet Potato Oatmeal
Ingredients
- 1 medium sweet potato
- 1 cup rolled oats
- 1 cup water plus a little extra
- ½ cup unflavored soy or almond milk
- maple syrup to taste
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- dash nutmeg
- ¼ cup raisins optional
- ¼ cup chopped pecans
Instructions
- Puncture the sweet potato 3-4 times with a knife and bake in a preheated 400°F oven for about an hour, or until soft. Alternatively, microwave sweet potato for five to ten minutes, or prepare ahead of time, refrigerate, and reheat in the microwave.
- When sweet potato is close to finish, prepare oatmeal by mixing with water and simmering on stovetop for about five minutes, or microwaving for about two, until fully cooked. Add a bit more water during cooking as needed.
- When sweet potato is finished, cut it open and scoop out the soft insides. Add your sweet potato to the oatmeal and stir with a fork to break up any chunks and get a smooth consistency.
- Add remaining ingredients and stir until blended.
- Divide into bowls. Serve.
Notes
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This is so good! I ended up just boiling the sweet potato to make it a bit quicker and it still turned out delicious. I've been trying to find new ways to make healthy oatmeal and I'll definitely make this on the regular!! Thanks for the great recipe :)
I'm so glad you liked it! Thanks Jessica!!
Looking forward to trying this. My 16 yr son has decided no more added sugar so I'm on the hunt for healthy breakfast options besides eggs. This oatmeal sweetened naturally by a sweet potato should be a good option. Thank you!
Perfect! I hope you and your son enjoy it!!
Is there a way to meal prep this? Like add the cooked sweet potatoes with other ingredients, leave in fridge/ lunch box and heat up for later?
Yup! You could make the entire recipe ahead and reheat it, or you could just bake the sweet potato and then prep the oatmeal and add the sweet potato right before you're ready to eat it.
Hi there! Is it one cup already cooked oatmeal? Just checking! I love your recipes! Thanks :)
Hi Ashley! It's uncooked (rolled oats). I just updated the recipe to clarify! I'm glad you're enjoying the recipes!
When does the milk get used? From the pictures it looks like you pour a little on top as you serve it. I have never done that or seen that before. Is that what is supposed to be done.
The milk gets added at the end, and then you stir everything together. I like to splash a little extra on top as I'm eating it though. :)
Thank you so much for posting this! :) It was a wonderfully filling brunch for me today - I just added a speck of cinnamon and brown sugar (I don't have any syrup right now, but I'm sure that would have been better!) I also used dried cherries and they were a really nice balance to the flavor of the sweet taters ! Thanks for sharing your recipes!
Thank you Em! I'm so glad to hear you enjoyed this. Dried cherries sound like a great addition. I have some on hand so I might just give that a shot next time I make this :)