This simple sweet potato oatmeal is made super easy in the microwave and is a delicious and comforting breakfast on a busy weekday.
This Is The Oatmeal I Make All Fall Long
This simple recipe sprung straight from my breakfast cravings for a good old fashioned oatmeal breakfast. I had some extra sweet potato in the pantry, and while rooting around for the oats I figured, hey, why not?
What I love about this maple sweet potato oatmeal is that it’s a sneak attack breakfast. One where I sneak good-for-you stuff into family favorites and nobody’s the wiser.
Given that sweet potatoes are just that — sweet — I knew the seasonality of this slow-burning carb wouldn’t distract from my favorite combo of oatmeal with maple and brown sugar. In fact, it would just add more energy to the beginning of my day. Adding a handful of almonds just sweetened the pot.
Heidi’s Tips for Recipe Success
Steam or bake the sweet potatoes for a neutral sweetness. Steaming the peeled sweet potato cubes or baking them whole (skin on) will soften the flesh without infusing it with any unwanted flavors.
Avoid steel cut oats. This is meant to be a super quick breakfast for fall mornings, so I suggest using quick or old-fashioned oats. Steel cut oats have a much longer cooking time, which is why I reserve them for lazy weekend mornings.
No microwave? No problem! Just add the milk, oats, and cooked sweet potato to a saucepan and simmer over medium heat until thickened.
What’s in This Recipe?
The full recipe, with amounts, can be found in the recipe card below.
- Milk — You can use any milk you like. If using a non-dairy milk, grab something unsweetened and unflavored so the sweet potato can really shine.
- Cooked sweet potato — Baking a couple sweet potatoes over the weekend makes for super quick assembly throughout the week.
- Oats — Old-fashioned or quick oats are the best to use in this recipe.
- Salt — A pinch of salt enhances the sweet potato flavor and balances everything out.
- Toppings — I topped my bowl with brown sugar, pumpkin pie spice, pure maple syrup, and chopped almonds, but you can mix and match your favorite oatmeal toppings. (Around the holidays, I love adding a handful of candied pecans!)
How to Make Sweet Potato Oatmeal in 90 Seconds
- Combine in a microwave-safe bowl. I like to add the sweet potato to the oat mixture so it can flavor the oatmeal from the inside out.
- Microwave on high. 90 seconds should do it, but check every 30 seconds and give it a little stir if needed.
- Pile on the toppings. Feel free to get creative!
Heidi’s Tip: You can also make oatmeal in the Instant Pot. This is a great option if you want to make a larger batch of sweet potato oatmeal to feed several people.
If you make this recipe, please let me know! Leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating on this recipe below and leave a comment, take a photo and tag me on Instagram with #foodiecrusheats.
Sweet Potato Oatmeal Recipe
Ingredients
- ½ cup old-fashioned oatmeal (quick oats also work)
- ⅔ cup milk (any kind)
- 1 pinch salt
- ⅓ cup cooked sweet potato , mashed
Toppings (Optional)
- 1-2 teaspoons brown sugar
- pumpkin pie spice
- maple syrup
- chopped almonds
Instructions
- Mix the oats, milk, salt and sweet potato in a microwave safe bowl and cook on high for 1 minute 30 seconds.
- Remove from the microwave and sprinkle with brown sugar and a dash or two of pumpkin pie spice and stir. Drizzle with maple syrup, add a small handfull of chopped almonds and add more milk if desired. Serve warm.
Notes
More Oatmeal Breakfasts You’ll Love
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Jill Edwards
I love oatmeal pretty much any way I can get it. I had some leftover sweet potatoes from lunch today & my mind went looking. I tried your sweet potato oatmeal for my dinner & really loved it. I added some walnuts & found me another great way to have oatmeal.
What a great way to get your oats in Jill!
Ashleigh
Is there a way to make this (or any of your delicious oatmeal recipes, for that matter!) ahead of time? I’m a teacher so grab-and-go is a must! But I can heat up and eat at school if it’s already made up! I looooove sweet potatoes! So I can’t wait to make this!
Arabella
I love oatmeal and this is a great mix, thanks for sharing your recipe
Rony Jahid
This great idea. I love this sweet photo with brown sugar oatmeal. its very tasty and complement. I will try make everyday.
Mary M. Martinez
I’m going to try to eat healthier this year so this sounds like the perfect recipe to try.
Janie
Made this today. Was looking for a way to spice up my pre-long run oatmeal and give me the energy I needed for 14 miles. Saw on another website that almonds and sweet potatoes are good foods to give you energy and easy on your stomach. This was fabulous and it is now going to be my pre run staple!
balsamic vinegar ever
do eggs go bad when left out
Christy @ My Invisible Crown
This looks wonderful! I didn’t used to be a huge oatmeal fan unless there was a ton of good stuff to add so this is right up my alley!
Haley - egginon
Yum! I’ve put pumpkin on my oatmeal a lot but trying sweet potatoes sounds awesome!
Chung-Ah | Damn Delicious
Can you come over and make me breakfast, Heidi?!
Barbara @ Barbara Bakes
What a great way to change up oatmeal. Thanks for linking to my Amish oatmeal.
Tieghan
This combo does not sound weird at all to me! I kind of love it! I need to make more oatmeal like this…. meaning no chocolate involved for once! :)
Grace
Love it. I’m all for adding more vegetables into my breakfasts and oatmeal happens to be one of my very favorites. Definitely will be trying this. Mm!
Bev @ Bev Cooks
Goooood heavens, yes.
Liz @ The Lemon Bowl
I love this idea!! I’ve been putting leftover pumpkin in oatmeal so this is just a natural progression!! Drooling over the other oatmeal recipes as well.
Katie @ 24 Carrot Life
This looks so delicious! I am loving using sweet potato instead of pumpkin this time of year. It adds a natural sweetness and texture that is just so warm and yummy! Definitely going to be making this soon.
Laura (Tutti Dolci)
I love sweet potatoes, what a cozy fall breakfast!
Belinda @themoonblushbaker
YES finally some sweet potato love on the blog!
About time too, I am start to get sick of pumpkin in oatmeal. This sounds amazing for breakfast or any time for that matter.
Megan {Country Cleaver}
I have been eating sweet potato with spinach and egg every morning for weeks and I Love it – but never in a million years would I think to put it in oat meal!! You’re brilliant Heidi!! Testing this tomorrow.
Paul
Snap girl. Love that idea for morning oatmeal. Love the other also. Thanls
ashley - baker by nature
I love those vibrant little specks of sweet potato! This looks so comforting for a cold morning.
Angela @ Eat Spin Run Repeat
Aren’t ‘by-accident’ recipes the best?! Thanks so much for posting all of these – I actually just made an Oatmeal Fantasies board on Pinterest and am about to pin them all!
Johlene
I love oatmeal and this is the first time I see it served with sweet potato.. love it!! Xx
Katrina @ Warm Vanilla Sugar
The sweet potato in this is such a fabulous idea!! I need to try!