6 Deliciously Savory Ways to Dress Up Oatmeal

With a splash of milk and a touch of cinnamon and brown sugar, it doesn't take much to make a bowl of oatmeal delicious. However, we think savory oatmeal should get its time in the limelight. If you can't bear another bowl of brown rice or quinoa, switch it up and use your favorite breakfast staple: oats. Whether you're looking to shake up your morning routine, or you're running late for dinner and need something quick, savory oats are a healthy, easy meal that will keep you energized and full.

Eggs are the ultimate breakfast food, but even though there's so many different ways to prepare them, they can still get a little boring from time to time. Jazz up your next bowl of oatmeal with a runny egg, and some kale and avocado while you're at it, because a superfood-filled breakfast never hurt anybody.

Basil? In your oatmeal? Sounds kind of weird, we know. However, a drizzle of pesto over a mozzarella-infused bowl of oatmeal is a refreshing way to start your morning if you're sick of your go-to breakfast. We used store-bought pesto, but feel free to use up fresh basil in your own homemade batch. Either way, pesto tastes great on just about anything, and that sentiment holds true in this savory oatmeal bowl.

Oatmeal and turkey bacon are two great breakfast food options. This savory bowl of oats combines the two for a meaty concoction that's loaded with protein and fiber for a healthy start to your day. Make these on the weekend for a breakfast in bed, or scale up the recipe and serve it to a crowd.

Think oatmeal has to be sweet? This porky version with red-eye gravy will change your mind.

For a savory start to your morning, try one of our favorite combinations—cremini mushrooms, creamy goat cheese, and chopped fresh thyme. Creminis, more mature than your basic white mushroom yet still younger than a portobello, are the ultimate counterpart to soft goat cheese in this bowl of oats. If you can't find cremini, however, your favorite mushroom variety will do. Thyme adds a fragrant, herbaceous aroma that makes this dish super fresh.