Leftover Oatmeal: 25 Delicious Recipes To Use It All Up!

Oatmeal… It’s one of those super-frugal breakfast meals that busy moms love to rely on. Quick, rolled, or steel cut- they’re all fair game in our home. I love to make a big pot of creamy oats, and sweeten it with brown sugar and cinnamon, or maple syrup, or homemade jam, or add bits of fruit and maybe some nuts.

I make oatmeal about twice a week, but I can never seem to get the proportions right. No matter how much I make, either I didn’t make enough or I make way too much. Some days my kids want three helpings, and some days they don’t want any. Are your kids like that, too?

Sometimes we’ll just reheat the leftovers the next morning or maybe have them for a snack, but usually, there isn’t enough for all of the kids to split. It works out better to use the leftover oatmeal in an entirely different recipe. I’m all about stretching leftovers to get the most out of them!

Here are a few recipes to inspire you to save that little bit of oatmeal leftover in the bottom of the pot to make something new and tasty…

Leftover Oatmeal Muffins

• 1 1/2 c. flour
• 1/2 c. brown sugar
• 1 tsp. salt
• 2 tsp. baking powder
• 1/3 c. milk
• 1/4 c. oil
• 1 egg
• 1/2 c. leftover cooked cereal (could be oatmeal or any hot cereal)

Visit Cooks.com for directions.

Easy Cinnamon Coffee Cake Muffins

Erin over at The Humbled Homemaker shares another delicious muffin recipe for using up those last two cups of leftover oatmeal!

• ½ cup butter
• 1 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 T molasses (optional)
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 2 cups cooked oatmeal (cooled)
• 1 ½ cups flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon

Visit The Humbled Homemaker for directions (and yummy photos!).

Leftover Oatmeal Cookies

• 2 c. sifted flour
• 1 tsp. baking powder
• 1/4 tsp. baking soda
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1 tsp. cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp. nutmeg
• 1 c. sugar
• 2/3 c. shortening (or coconut oil)
• 2 eggs
• 1 1/2 c. cooked oatmeal

Makes 4 dozen. Visit Cooks.com for directions.

Fried Oatmeal

Spread leftover oatmeal into a square or rectangular container and freeze until firm enough to cut.

Cut into slices about 1/4 inch thick. Lightly coat with flour, or crushed graham cracker crumbs. Heat about 2 tsp. coconut oil in pan on med-low heat. Place slices in the heated pan, and lightly brown on each side, allowing it to warm all the way through.

Top with maple syrup, powdered sugar, brown sugar, nuts, or whatever you like!

Leftover Oatmeal Bread

I’m gonna link to this one so you can see the full recipe on the blog. Turn leftover oatmeal into a fresh loaf of homemade bread. Feel free to substitute any leftover cooked cereal grains in this recipe!

Strawberry Leftover Oatmeal Smoothie

• 12 ounces, weight frozen strawberries
• 1 cup cooked old-fashioned oats
• 1 cup greek yogurt
• 3 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla
• 3 ounces water

Visit shewearsmanyhats.com for full recipe.

Leftover Oatmeal Pancakes

• 1 cup cooked oatmeal (1/2 cup dry rolled oats cooked in 1 cup water)
• 1 large egg
• ½ teaspoon vanilla
• ½ teaspoon cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, soft
• 2 tablespoons warm maple syrup

Visit healthyrecipesblogs.com for the full recipe.

Leftover Oatmeal Breakfast Bars

• 1/2 cup butter, melted
• 1/2 cup honey
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 2 cups leftover oatmeal
• 1 cup whole wheat flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
• 1/3 cup peanut butter
• 1/2 cup extras (raisins, chocolate chips, nuts, etc.)

Visit sherigraham.com for the full recipe.

Leftover Oatmeal Peanut Butter Balls

• 2 Tablespoons salted butter, at room temperature
• 3 Tablespoons raw honey
• ½ cup leftover oatmeal
• ½ cup creamy peanut butter
• ⅔ cup quick oats *
• ⅓ cup all-purpose flour
• 4 oz chocolate (dark or milk chocolate work)
• ½ teaspoon coconut oil (optional)

Visit pragmatickitchen.com for the full recipe.

Old Fashioned (Leftover) Oatmeal Cake

• 1¼ cups water*
• 1 cup rolled oats*
• ½ cup butter
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 2 eggs
• ½ teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1½ cups all-purpose flour

*Instead of cooking oats to make this recipe, use 2 scant cups of leftover oatmeal! Visit cookiesandcups.com for the full recipe (and lots of great photos!).

Creamy Coconut Oatmeal

• 2 cups prepared oatmeal
• 2 tablespoons whey, yogurt, kefir, lemon juice, or vinegar
• 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
• 2-4 tablespoons palm sugar or raw honey
• 1 cup whole coconut milk
• shredded coconut, toasted (optional)
• Dark Chocolate and Walnut Oatmeal Cookie Bars

Visit The Coconut Mama for the full recipe.

Pumpkin Pie Baked Oatmeal

• 2 Cup(s) Quaker® Oats Old Fashioned Oats
• 1 1/2 Teaspoon(s) pumpkin pie spice
• 1/4 Teaspoon(s) Salt
• 1/2 Teaspoon(s) Baking Powder
• 1 1/2 Cup(s) milk
• 1/4 Cup(s) pumpkin puree
• 1 Teaspoon(s) Pure vanilla extract
• 1/2 Cup(s) applesauce
• 1 egg – beaten
• 1 Whole chopped walnut to garnish – optional

Use prepared oatmeal instead of regular old-fashioned oats and milk for this recipe – it’s perfect for fall! You can find it on the official Quaker Oats website.

Chocolate Banana Smoothie

• 1 ripe banana
• 1 1/4 cup favorite milk product
• 1/2 cup cold, pre-cooked plain oatmeal
• 3 to 4 tsp Nesquik
• optional cinnamon and chopped nuts for garnish

This recipe is perfect for a quick snack or breakfast on the go! Learn more at Scattered Thoughts of a Crafty Mom.

Horchata: Cinnamon Flavored Oatmeal Drink

• 1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
• 1 (4-inch) cinnamon stick, broken into tiny pieces
• 4 cups water
• Sugar or agave nectar, as needed

You can make this tasty beverage with prepared, leftover oatmeal – or make it from scratch with the ingredients above. Everything gets blended together at the end! Check out the recipe at the Food Network.

Savory Steel Cut Oat Risotto

• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 medium red onion, chopped
• 1 small (2 pounds) butternut squash or 2 sweet potatoes, peeled and diced into ½” cubes
• 1 teaspoon salt, divided, more to taste
• Pinch of red pepper flakes
• 4 cloves garlic, pressed or minced
• 1 ½ cups Quaker Steel-Cut Oats
• 2 packed cups chopped kale
• ½ cup dry white wine*
• 6 cups water
• ¾ cup (1 ¾ ounces) freshly grated Parmesan cheese
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Did you know you can use leftover oatmeal in just about any risotto recipe instead of arborio rice? This tasty risotto has butternut squash in it and is a great use for all of your leftover oatmeal. You can also use sweet potatoes, beets, cauliflower, or any other vegetable of your choosing. What do you have left over?

Instead of adding steel-cut oats and 6 cups of water, halve the water and use your leftover oatmeal instead. The recipe can be found at Cookie and Kate.

Dad’s Sliced Sausage

• 2 lbs ground beef (use fresh only, not frozen)
• 1 1⁄2 cups rolled oats
• 1 cup water
• 2 teaspoons ground black pepper
• 2 1⁄2 teaspoons salt
• 1 1⁄2 teaspoons ground coriander

Instead of using the 1 ½ cups of oats and 1 cup of water, just add the same portion of leftover oatmeal. It’s a great recipe for dinner or a quick lunch and would taste excellent with the risotto recipe we already gave you! You can check out this savory, salty recipe at Genius Kitchen.

Oatmeal Soup

• 1 cup minced celery
• 4 1/2 cups milk
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 cups rolled oats

If you’ve already whipped up a batch of oatmeal, just skip the extra milk and oats and use 6 cups of cooked oatmeal instead. The recipe can be found at All Recipes. You could toss in other veggies, meats, or carbohydrates, too!

Oatmeal Patties

• 4 cups water
• 4 cups quick-cooking oats
• ½ onion
• 1/3 cup vegetable oil
• ½ cup spaghetti sauce
• ½ cup chopped pecans
• ¼ cup nutritional yeast
• 2 teaspoons garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• 2 teaspoons onion powder
• 1 teaspoon ground coriander
• 1 teaspoon sage
• 1 teaspoon active dry yeast

Simply sub out the water and quick-cooking oats for your precooked, leftover oatmeal. This savory recipe can be found at All Recipes. Oh – and it’s vegan! While they’re designed to be served with vegetables for a main dinner course or appetizer, they would also taste great as breakfast food, too.

Oatmeal Waffles

• 1 1/2 cups flour
• 1 cup oats
• 1 Tbsp. baking powder
• 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 1 1/2 cups milk
• 6 Tbsp. melted butter
• 2 Tbsp. brown sugar

These waffles are a great use for your cooked oatmeal. Just refrain from adding extra milk or oats and instead use your leftover oatmeal. You can even add tasty toppings, like chocolate chips, strawberries, or blueberries! The full recipe is at Butter with a Side of Bread.

Porridge Fingers

• 3 level tbsp of porridge oats
• 2 tbsp milk of choice
• 1.5 tbsp of crushed raspberries
• 1 tsp unsweetened desiccated coconut
• Dried fruit (if you would like a sweeter finger)

This is a great recipe for kids who are just learning to eat on their own and can be dipped into syrup, milk, or any other addition of your child’s choosing. Instead of using the porridge oats and milk, just use your precooked oatmeal at the same volume. The recipe can be found at Healthy Little Foodies.

Cauli-Berry Oats

• 1/2 cup rolled oats
• 1/2 cup cauliflower (chopped)
• 1/2 cup strawberries (diced)
• 1 1/3 cup plant milk
• 1/2 tsp stevia or to taste

This recipe is a great way to get your kids to eat more veggies! Instead of using plant milk and rolled oats, use equal parts of prepared oatmeal. The recipe can be found at Feasting on Fruit. You could also substitute other favorite vegetables, like beets or broccoli. Just make sure you chop them up very finely so that they blend well with the rest of the recipe.

Oatmeal Chocolate Cake

• ½ cup melted coconut oil (or melted butter)
• ¼ cup honey
• ¼ cup maple syrup
• ¼ cup yogurt (or buttermilk)
• 1 egg (or flax egg)
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 cup extra thick leftover oatmeal (not runny)*
• 1 cup whole wheat flour (or all-purpose)
• ½ tsp salt
• ½ tsp baking soda
• 3 Tbsp cocoa powder
• ¼ cup chocolate chips

This cake recipe is sure to become a family favorite. Try the complete recipe at Don’t Waste the Crumbs.

Healthy Oatmeal Pudding

• 2 cups cooked oatmeal
• 1/4 cup milk, almond milk, cream, or half and half
• sprinkle Stevia or your favorite sweetener to taste
• splash vanilla or almond extract
• nuts, raisins, and/or dried cranberries

If you’re watching what you eat but still have a bit of a sweet tooth, this recipe offers the perfect solution. You can find the full recipe for this tasty treat over at Thrfity Fun.

Creamy Custard Oatmeal Bowl

• 1/2 cup (45g) rolled oats
• 1 cup milk of your choice
• 1 egg yolk
• 1-2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1-2 tsp maple syrup
• Pinch of salt

This recipe includes making the actual oatmeal in the steps, as well as separate rolled oats and milk in the ingredients list. You’ll really only need to add eggs, vanilla, syrup, and salt – but you can view the full instructions over at Southern In Law.

It’s a delicious recipe that’s sure to impress at dinner parties – wait till you tell them you used leftover oatmeal from your toddler’s breakfast to make it!

Dark Chocolate Oatmeal Bars

• 1 cup rolled oats
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 cup sucanat
• 3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter
• 3 large eggs
• 1 Tablespoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup walnut pieces
• 6 ounces dark chocolate chips (could be subbed for any other type of chocolate, if you prefer)

Check out Veggie Converter for the full recipe. If you don’t like dark chocolate, you could make this with milk or white chocolate, too.

Other Uses for Leftover Oatmeal

You also don’t need to leave oatmeal in the kitchen! Here are some ways to use up leftover oatmeal that may not involve your stomach.

Oatmeal Face Mask and salve

Mix up some oatmeal and let it cool until it’s lukewarm. Apply it to your face to help treat acne, inflammation, and other skin problems. It can also relieve itchy skin caused by sunburn, poison ivy, and other irritations.

Oatmeal Odor Absorber

Place an open container in the refrigerator. It will help neutralize smells!

Oatmeal Modeling Clay

Turn oatmeal into nontoxic crafting clay! Since it will harden overnight, you can use it as a Playdough for hours and sculpt things like figurines and beads. Just mix in a little water to soften things back up. You can even add food coloring!

Still stuck for ideas? You can also add cooked oats and oatmeal to things like meatloaf, burgers, and meatballs – it will add moisture and a nice texture to help hold everything together. You can always freeze your oatmeal and save it for later, too!

Does anyone have any other good recipes for leftover oatmeal to share??