Microwave Apple Oatmeal with Peanut Butter

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Easy apple oatmeal made with fresh apples, whole grain oats, cinnamon, and finished with creamy peanut butter is a quick and filling breakfast.

302 CAL 56g CARBS 7g FAT 7g PROTEIN 5
10 Comments

This creamy Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal with Peanut Butter is made in the microwave in under five minutes and makes a hearty, filling breakfast for a busy morning. I am a huge fan of oatmeal in the morning like this easy Microwave Oatmeal in the morning or Baked Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal.

A large cup of coffee, this creamy apple peanut butter oatmeal, and fifteen minutes of quiet alone time is pretty much heaven lately. In real life, it's more like tossing this oatmeal in the microwave, scrambling to make coffee, and shoveling it into my mouth in the car. It's not pretty but this oatmeal tastes so good it makes me forget about the chaos around me for just a moment and relish in the peanut buttery goodness. Because let's be honest, everything tastes better with peanut butter.

The other thing I love about this oatmeal is that it keeps me full all morning. Between the fiber in the oatmeal and protein and fat in the peanut butter, it's a hearty breakfast that won't leave you looking for a snack in a couple of hours. Plus you can bulk it up with even more with flaxseeds, chia seeds, chopped nuts, bananas, or even an egg, like in this Microwave Banana Protein Oatmeal

Microwave oatmeal with apples, cinnamon, and peanut butter in a bowl with oats on the side.

Microwave Oatmeal Tips and Tricks

The most common complaint about microwave oats I hear is that the oatmeal spills out over the side of the bowl and makes a huge mess in the microwave. It's happened to all of us. The best way to prevent that is to use a bowl or mug that's large and deep. This gives the oats plenty of room since they will boil and bubble while they cook. 

Here are some additional tips and ideas for making this microwave apple oatmeal:

  • Swap in crunchy peanut butter if you want to add some more texture. It's also delicious with almond butter, cashew butter, or sunflower butter.
  • If you like sweeter oatmeal but don't want to add additional maple syrup, consider adding 1/2 mashed ripe banana for some extra natural sweetness. You can also add some applesauce. 
  • This recipe will work with all kinds of fruit. Try it with pears, blueberries, strawberries, peaches, or plums.
  • This will work with any kind of dairy milk, nut milk, oat milk, or even water. 

Will this work with steel-cut oats? instant oats?

This apple oatmeal recipe will work with quick-cooking steel-cut oats that can be cooked in the microwave. If you want to use traditional steel-cut oats, you will have to cook it on the stove since steel-cut oats won't cook in the microwave. Start by cooking down the apples in a touch of butter, coconut oil, or water. Once they are tender, add the oats, maple syrup, cinnamon, and liquid. Cook according to package directions or this basic recipe

If you are instant oats, you will want to cut down the cooking time and the liquid. Use 1/3-1/2 cup of liquid and only cook for 1-1.5 minutes until the oats are tender. Cooking them for too long will result in mushy oats. 

Can I make a large batch of this for meal prep?

This recipe is great for meal prep, especially since it tastes great hot or cold. If you are going to make a large batch, you have two options:

  • Microwave option: Start by finding a large microwave safe bowl with enough space that the oatmeal won't bubble over when it cooks. Spray it with cooking spray and plan on 1/2-1 apple per serving. I find you can make up to 4 servings in the microwave without compromising the quality.  Cook the apples until they are tender. They may take longer since you are cooking more. Then add the oats, milk, maple syrup, and cinnamon. Stir together and microwave for 4-6 minutes until the oatmeal is tender. Watch it closely to make sure it doesn't overflow. Cooking time will depend on the strength of your microwave.
  • Stovetop option: This is my preferred method for cooking a larger batch of oatmeal. Start by cooking the apples until tender. You can cook them in butter, coconut oil, or just a few tablespoons of water if you don't want to add any extra fat. Once they are tender, add the remaining ingredients and bring to a simmer. Cook on low for about 5 minutes, stirring often, until tender. 
  • Overnight oats option: You can also prep this recipe as overnight oats. Cook the apples in the microwave until they are tender. Then add them to a container with oatmeal, milk, maple syrup, and cinnamon. Leave for at least 4 hours in the fridge or overnight. Top with peanut butter. Eat cold, room temperature, or heat up in the microwave. 

Microwave apple peanut butter oatmeal with fresh apples, rolled oats, and peanut butter in a bowl.

How long will this last in the fridge?

Once it is cooked, this will last in the fridge for about 4 days. Store it in an airtight container and it can be eaten cold or warmed up. You can also freeze this oatmeal once it is cooked and then reheat in the microwave. 

More easy oatmeal recipes

This recipe has been updated with new photos, tips, and recipe ideas.

The Recipe
Microwave apple oatmeal with peanut butter and cooked apples in a bowl with cinnamon.

Microwave Apple Oatmeal with Peanut Butter

302 CAL 56g CARBS 7g FAT 7g PROTEIN 5
PREP TIME: 2 Min
COOK TIME: 3 Min
TOTAL TIME: 5 Min
10 Comments
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Ingredients

US METRICS
  • 1 apple
  • 1/3 cup oats
  • 2/3 cup unsweetened almond milk
  • 1 tsp. maple syrup
  • 1/4 tsp. cinnamon (or more)
  • 1/2 tbsp. reduced fat peanut butter

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Instructions

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1

Spray a bowl with cooking spray to prevent sticking. Chop the apple and add to the bowl. Microwave for 1-2 minutes until just tender. Make sure to use a large bowl so the oatmeal doesn't bubble over when cooked.

Cooked apples in a bowl for oatmeal.
2

Add the oatmeal, almond milk, maple syrup, and cinnamon. Return to the microwave for 2:30-3:00 minutes until oatmeal is tender and milk is absorbed. Cooking times vary by microwave.

Oatmeal, cinnamon, maple syrup, almond milk, and apples in a bowl for oatmeal.
3

Top with peanut butter. Usually, I melt it for 10 seconds first so that I can drizzle it over the top.

Cooked apple cinnamon oatmeal with a dollop of peanut butter in a bowl.
Nutritional Facts
Serving Size: 1.25 cups
Amount Per Serving
Calories 302
Calories from Fat 60
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 7g
10%
Saturated Fat 1g
4%
Monounsaturated Fat 0g
0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0g
0%
Cholesterol 0mg
0%
Sodium 154mg
7%
Total Carbohydrate 56g
18%
Dietary Fiber 8g
34%
Sugars 29g
Protein 7g

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

The Nutritional Values provided are estimates only and may vary based on the preparation method.

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About the author Meet Kristen McCaffrey
Hi, I’m the cookbook author, recipe developer, and food enthusiast behind Slender Kitchen. I am obsessed with making healthy food that is easy to prepare and absolutely delicious. Meal planning is my secret weapon and I hope I can make meal time easier for you with our tried and tested recipes and foolproof meal plans. Learn More
10 Comments
On Microwave Apple Oatmeal with Peanut Butter
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Adam
April 11, 2022 - 05:14
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4
Just came here to say that this works beautifully as well with mashed banana instead of apple. Here's what I changed:

one mashed banana (no need to microwave first)
1/2 cup oatmeal
1 cup milk

I left everything else the same. Delicious!
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Elizabeth
February 26, 2022 - 11:48
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5
This is by far my favorite Oatmeal recipe! It's so easy to prepare and really yummy! Sometimes I'll add toasted Walnuts and some dried fruit/raisins-cranberries-apricots, etc. Definitely a keeper...none better!!
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Hailey Stroup
February 18, 2020 - 09:42
Hi, I've been trying to communicate with your tech support team for 6+ days and have received no reply. I paid for annual access to meal planning tools, but cannot access them upon login. Please contact me.
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Melanie
June 25, 2018 - 05:02
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4
Allergic to almonds so what other kind of milk could be used?
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June 25, 2018 - 07:41
Any milk will work for the recipe - dairy or non-dairy. Thanks!
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Megan Eaton
November 3, 2016 - 05:12
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4
I really enjoy this breakfast recipe! I used sweetened almond milk to up the sweetness a touch and I cooked it a bit longer in the microwave to make sure it thickened. Definitely a repeat!
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Kristen Gonzales
June 14, 2016 - 07:45
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5
Made this for my son this morning and he was practically licking the bowl!
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Lynn Sawyer
June 12, 2016 - 12:02
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5
This is so good!!! Have already made it twice. Thanks!
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September 10, 2016 - 13:45
Can I use PB2 Instead of Regular Peanut Butter
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February 17, 2020 - 11:46
Absolutely! I would mix it right into the milk before cooking the oats.
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