Skip to Content

How to Make Savory Oatmeal with Smoked Bacon & Roasted Vegetables

Don’t sleep on savory oatmeal; it’s exactly what you need in your life on occasion. This garden-fresh version is fragrant and flavorful featuring old-fashioned oats cooked on the stovetop in a chicken-based broth.

oatmeal topped with bacon and vegetables in a blue bowl

Oats are a daily part of my diet whether if it’s blended in a smoothie or served as one of many different oatmeal dishes. If you’re going to commit to eating oats every day, then you gotta be open to new and different ways including savory oatmeal

Savory oatmeal isn’t really a big leap when you start to view oats for what they are, which are just grains like rice, couscous, quinoa, etc. all of which we eat during different day parts and mostly as part of a savory dish. Eating oats daily is a habit for me; savory oats are a tasty monotony breaker.

Savory Oats ingredients

How to make oatmeal savory (step by step)

There is nothing tricky about cooking oatmeal in a non-water/non-dairy based liquid. It’s the same directions just a different liquid source. For next-level flavor I like to toast the oats a little in ghee or regular butter before cooking.

So this recipe calls for cooking the oats in chicken broth. I like to make my own stock given it’s more flavorful and complex which gives the oats a wow component.

Serving suggestion

Serve as is since there is so much flavor already. Saute your vegetables hard for both flavor and texture. The caramelization on the onions adds so much depth of flavor. Same for the roasted red peppers. A fried egg on top wouldn’t be a bad idea at all either!

Tips for making oatmeal

  • If using store-bought stock, go for the low sodium version
  • Definitely toast your oats first in a pan with butter or ghee
  • Don’t limit your imagination when it comes to vegetable toppings
  • Scrap the bacon and replace the chicken stock with vegetable stock if you want to keep this vegan.
  • For a creamier oatmeal add milk or milk alternative, just be sure to keep liquid to oats ratio the same.

Cooking Oatmeal frequently asked questions (faqs)

What kind of oats work best?

Old fashioned or quick oats are your best bests. You don’t have to cook them, but they easily blend. Steel cuts you should avoid unless you don’t mind a very chewy and grainy smoothie.

What are other good toppings to consider?

Creative oatmeal recipes are all about the toppings. Zucchini/squash, green chilis (poblano or jalapeños), roasted fennel, or mushrooms would all be great in this dish. 

Will this work in an Instant Pot?

This is easily done in Instant Pot. It’s actually my preferred way, but I’d switch to steel cut oats, personally if going with the IP.

For other oatmeal recipes you might like, try these:

Blueberry Oatmeal Smoothie

Instant Pot Steel Cut Oatmeal

Overnight Blueberry Oatmeal

Raspberry Oatmeal Smoothie

Mango Pineapple Smoothie

Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal

Strawberry Oatmeal

Oat Smoothie w/ Dates

Green Smoothie

Curry Oatmeal

Overnight Oats w/ Fonio

For more details on the uses and benefits of getting more oats into your diet check-out this guide for making oatmeal.

If you make this savory oatmeal recipe or any other from the site, please come back and leave me a comment below with your feedback. Definitely take a photo of the dish and be sure to tag #foodfidelity so that I can see them.

You can also keep up with my food exploits as well as original recipes! You can find me on InstagramFacebookTwitter, and Pinterest. If you like any of the music you find on the site, visit me at Spotify to find curated monthly playlists.

oatmeal topped with bacon and vegetables in a blue bowl

Savory Oatmeal with Bacon and Roasted Vegetables

Delicious savory oatmeal cooked in chicken broth and topped with smoked bacon, roasted red peppers, cherry tomatoes, and caramelized onions.
Prep Time: 2 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Course: Breakfast
Cuisine: American
Servings: 2 people
Calories: 336kcal
Author: Marwin Brown

Ingredients

  • 1 cup old-fashioned oats
  • ½ tablespoon Clarified Butter or regular butter
  • 2 cups chicken stock
  • 6 strips of bacon
  • ½ cup cherry tomatoes halved
  • 1 small yellow onion diced or sliced
  • ¼ cup roasted red peppers roughly chopped
  • 1 green onion sliced diagonally
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

  • Heat medium sauce pan to medium heat. Add butter then saute oats for 1 minute
  • Add stock and cook according to package directions (bring to a boil then simmer for 5 minutes).
  • While oats are cooking, fry the bacon in medium skillet. Remove bacon and set aside on a paper towel lined plate or bowl
  • Saute onions in a tablespoon of rendered bacon fat 3-4 minutes. Add red pepper, garlic, and cherry tomatoes and cook 1-2 minutes.

Notes

  • If using store-bought stock, go for the low sodium version
  • Definitely toast your oats first in a pan with butter or ghee
  • Don’t limit your imagination when it comes to vegetable toppings
  • Scrap the bacon and replace the chicken stock with vegetable stock if you want to keep this vegan.
  • For creamier oatmeal add milk or milk alternative, just be sure to keep liquid to oats ratio the same.

Nutrition

Calories: 336kcal | Carbohydrates: 44g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 20mg | Sodium: 1760mg | Potassium: 586mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 333IU | Vitamin C: 22mg | Calcium: 48mg | Iron: 3mg
Subscribe To My YouTube ChannelSubscribe To My YouTube Channel for full length recipe videos. Click the bell icon to be notified when I post new videos.
My YouTube Channel
Tried this Recipe? Tag it Today!Mention @foodfidelity or tag #foodfidelity!

Sharing is caring!

Recipe Rating