This easy strawberry oatmeal recipe is packed with all-natural strawberry flavor, made on the stove-top and comes out creamy and delicious. A great breakfast to meal-prep for the week!

I loathed oatmeal as a kid.

I can still remember how absolutely grossed out I was with my brother as he’d dig into whatever Quaker oat packet he grabbed from the box that morning before school.


This easy strawberry oatmeal recipe is packed with all-natural strawberry flavor, made on the stove-top and comes out creamy and delicious. A great breakfast to meal-prep for the week!

To tease me he’d lift up his spoon full of oatmeal and say “want some oatmeal, Ginnnnnaaaa?” (imagine this in an evil cackle sort of way) as he shoved it towards my face.

I’d quickly scoot to the other end of the table thoroughly disgusted and continue eating my Lucky Charms (best cereal ever).

That’s why I think it’s hysterical that a big, fluffy, warm bowl of oatmeal like these strawberry oats is one of the breakfast foods I find myself craving more and more as an adult.

Quaker seems to have really cornered the market on the fruit + cream oatmeal combinations but curiosity got the best of me and I had to pop over to their site and take a peek at the ingredient list for their strawberries & cream oatmeal.

Check out my strawberry oatmeal story for more info on this recipe!

Fresh strawberries make this strawberry oatmeal full of natural flavor and sweetness for a delicious, healthy and seasonal breakfast.
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Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but guess what? There’s no actual cream OR strawberries in their version. Ha. Surprised? I’m not but I had hoped to be proven wrong.

Good news though, this recipe for strawberry oatmeal might as well be called strawberries and cream oatmeal because it’s packed with real, fresh strawberries (and lots of them – it’s the perfect solution when you have a bunch of strawberries that need to be used or are on the verge of going bad) and milk. 

And the best part, it’s hardly any more work than throwing a packet (full of bogus ingredients) in the microwave. In fact, this recipe makes a generous 4 servings – enough to last you almost all week! Meal prep it on a Sunday for easy weekday breakfasts.

Packed with fresh, whole strawberries, this easy strawberry oatmeal recipe is fluffy, creamy and delicious for breakfast.

How To Make Strawberry Oatmeal

This is a classic stove-top oatmeal recipe. It takes just 10-15 minutes to naturally thicken once all the ingredients are in the pot.

Ingredients for homemade strawberry oatmeal:

  • oats – I use a combination of rolled & steel cut oats because I love the texture steel cut gives)
  • milk – any kind will do, even non-dairy if you prefer (I just started buying oat milk and that would be SO good in these oats, it’s super creamy and obviously dairy-free too!)
  • strawberries – no artificial flavor up in here, just the real deal with fresh berries!
  • salt – if you’re not putting a pinch of salt in your oatmeal, you’re doing it wrong, trust me.
  • chia seeds – these are optional but love how they help thicken oatmeal quickly and obviously they add a nice omega-3 boost too.
  • vanilla extract
Strawberry oats use real strawberries and milk to create a creamy, fluffy bowl of strawberry oatmeal you'll love for breakfast.

The method is simple and can be broken down into two parts:

  1. Combine the milk and water with most of the strawberries in a blender to essentially create “strawberry milk”.
  2. Add the strawberry milk to the rest of the ingredients in a sauce pot and cook over medium heat until the oatmeal is thickened and creamy.
Learn how to make strawberry oatmeal with this simple stove top method and fresh strawberries.

Is Strawberry Oatmeal Healthy?

Healthy is a relative term but if you consider fresh, whole, seasonal ingredients healthy like I do, strawberry oatmeal is definitely healthy.

It’s also gluten-free (make sure you’re using gluten-free oats) and if you use a milk alternative, it can easily be made dairy free as well. Strawberry oats are vegetarian and can be made vegan too.

Oats are a whole-grain and packed with fiber. They’re rich with anti-oxidants and can help lower cholesterol. The chia seeds in this recipe bring some extra omega-3s to your diet as well.

Looking for a gluten-free alternative to oats for breakfast? Try this creamy millet porridge.

How Should I Top It?

Oatmeal topping possibilities are endless! I did a thinned out peanut butter drizzle with some hemp seeds in the pictures and kept things simple.

More strawberry oat toppings to consider: chopped nuts, pepitas, flaxseed, cacao nibs, other fruit/berries, unsweetened coconut flakes, maple syrup, etc.

Can I Add Protein Powder?

I get it, you want some extra protein because let’s face it, a bowl of oatmeal is a bit carb heavy.

Yes, there’s always the option to add protein powder to this oatmeal. I like to choose an unflavored variety when doing so in this recipe so the natural flavors of the strawberries shine through. That said, vanilla flavored protein is also delicious and plays into the ‘strawberries and cream’ vibe of the oats.

Nuzest makes a plant-based pea protein I love and buy exclusively. They’re third-party tested for heavy metals which is something incredibly important to me, especially when using plant-based powders.

We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.

They have a regular smooth vanilla protein powder or, a digestive support protein powder which includes L-glutamine and probiotics for those with sensitive guts.

I’ve used both in this oatmeal and either is delicious!

Another Protein Option: Egg Whites

I’ve talked about this on Instagram before and gotten many doubtful commenters but YES, you can easily add egg whites to oatmeal and it’s not weird. I swear.

To a recipe of this size, I’d probably add 4 servings of egg whites from a carton for an extra 5g of protein per serving.

I add the egg whites toward the end of the cooking time and just make sure you stir well and they get thoroughly heated through. You won’t even notice they’re in there!

Gluten-free and easily made dairy-free, this strawberry oatmeal recipe is one everyone will love, even the kids.

Is This Sweet?

The only sweetness in this strawberry oatmeal is from the fresh strawberries themselves.

So the sweetness level of your berries will obviously make the overall sweetness of the recipe vary each time it’s made.

I don’t like to add any additional sweetener to mine while cooking and if I find it needs a little something upon first bite, I drizzle some maple syrup on top.

Is This Creamy?

Yes! Emphatically, yes! This recipe truly tastes like strawberries and cream oatmeal. Imagine a creamsicle type ice pop in oatmeal form – that’s what this is!

If you want to make this oatmeal even more indulgent and creamy, use whole milk or half and half. Yum!

Make oatmeal using fresh strawberries in this easy stove-top recipe.

Can I Make This Oatmeal With Other Fruit?

Totally! You can use the same cooking method for all sorts of fruit.

Peaches, raspberries, mango, nectarines, blackberries and bananas would all work great for a fruit and cream oatmeal. Swap out your fruit choice by season!

You can also try this peaches and cream oatmeal which has a coconut flair, this apple butter carrot cake oatmeal (made in the slow cooker) or, if you like cherries, this chocolate cherry steel cut oatmeal.

I’m also partial to apple cinnamon oatmeal the second cooler fall temperatures hit.

Bonus! – Turn Strawberry Oatmeal Into A Strawberry Oatmeal Smoothie

This recipe is almost like a two for one deal! If you want a creamy oat based smoothie, half the recipe and throw it all in the blender (you can always add more liquid to get the consistency you like) for a delicious strawberry oatmeal smoothie – perfect for an on the go breakfast.

You’ll get about 2 servings with those amounts.

If you like the sound of that kind of smoothie, try this Cinnamon Chestnut Oat Smoothie – it’s very similar using oats as the base and great in the colder weather months!

And for the warmer months when you want something strawberry flavored, try this chilled strawberry soup!

Easy strawberry oatmeal using fresh strawberries and a handful of simple ingredients comes together in minutes on the stove-top and is the perfect blank slate for all your favorite toppings.

Looking for more oatmeal recipes to try? 

Green Oatmeal – so fun for St. Patrick’s Day!
Triple Chocolate Steel Cut Oatmeal 
Overnight Muesli with Strawberries and Lemon – great for spring and summer as well!
Instant Pot Sweet Potato Steel Cut Oats
Gingerbread Oatmeal – for a cozy winter vibe!

And don’t forget baked oatmeal like this baked turmeric oatmeal or this baked apple oatmeal or, these fun cranberry orange oatmeal cookies bites and these apple cinnamon cookie bites.

4.43 from 85 votes

Strawberry Oatmeal

Servings: 4 servings
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 15 minutes
Total: 20 minutes
This easy strawberry oatmeal recipe is packed with all-natural strawberry flavor, made on the stove-top and comes out creamy and delicious.

Ingredients 

  • 1 cup rolled oats
  • 1/4 cup steel cut oats, *see note for omitting steel cut & using all rolled oats
  • pinch of kosher salt
  • 1 cup milk, of any kind
  • 1 cup water
  • 2 cups hulled and roughly chopped fresh strawberries, plus additional 1/2 cup diced strawberries
  • 1/2 tablespoon chia seeds, **optional, see note
  • 1/2 tablespoon vanilla extract
  • 1 scoop protein powder, ***optional, see note

Instructions 

  • Place rolled oats, steel cut oats, salt and protein powder (if using) in a medium sauce pot.
  • Combine the milk, water and 2 cups chopped strawberries in a blender and blend until smooth.
  • Pour the liquid mixture into the sauce pot.
  • Add the chia seeds (if using) and vanilla and stir to combine.
  • Cook oats, stirring frequently over medium heat until thickened, about 10-15 minutes.
  • Once thickened, gently stir in remaining 1/2 cup diced strawberries and serve.
  • Top with favorite oatmeal toppings like nut butter, chopped nuts, maple syrup, coconut flakes, hemp seeds, etc.
  • Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week.

Notes

*If you don't have steel cut oats, you can use all rolled oats. The steel cut oats give a little bit of texture to the oatmeal as they're chewier than rolled oats. Use 1 1/2 cups total of rolled oats if omitting steel cut oats.
**Chia seeds are optional but help make the oatmeal creamier and thicken faster. Plus, they add a nice omega-3 nutritional boost.
***Add for an extra protein boost. I prefer the taste of the listed protein but you may choose another protein powder type of your liking.

Nutrition

Serving: 1SERVINGCalories: 193kcalCarbohydrates: 33gProtein: 7gFat: 4gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 5mgSodium: 71mgFiber: 6gSugar: 6g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Breakfast
Cuisine: American
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Founder and Writer at Running to the Kitchen | About

Gina Matsoukas is an AP syndicated writer. She is the founder, photographer and recipe developer of Running to the Kitchen — a food website focused on providing healthy, wholesome recipes using fresh and seasonal ingredients. Her work has been featured in numerous media outlets both digital and print, including MSN, Huffington post, Buzzfeed, Women’s Health and Food Network.

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14 Comments

  1. I’ve always wondered what to do with my frozen strawberry and oatmeal. It didn’t occur to me to blend the strawberry until I see this recipe It’s my 1st time eating strawberry oatmeal and I must say, it’s very refreshing. I added coconut nectar since my berry is too sour. Otherwise, followed the recipe exactly and its yummy! The strawberry taste definitely brings fond childhood memory!