Microwave Apple Oatmeal with Peanut Butter

This creamy Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal with Peanut Butter is made in the microwave in under five minutes and makes a hearty, filling breakfast for a busy morning. I am a huge fan of oatmeal in the morning like this easy Microwave Oatmeal in the morning or Baked Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal.

A large cup of coffee, this creamy apple peanut butter oatmeal, and fifteen minutes of quiet alone time is pretty much heaven lately. In real life, it's more like tossing this oatmeal in the microwave, scrambling to make coffee, and shoveling it into my mouth in the car. It's not pretty but this oatmeal tastes so good it makes me forget about the chaos around me for just a moment and relish in the peanut buttery goodness. Because let's be honest, everything tastes better with peanut butter.

The other thing I love about this oatmeal is that it keeps me full all morning. Between the fiber in the oatmeal and protein and fat in the peanut butter, it's a hearty breakfast that won't leave you looking for a snack in a couple of hours. Plus you can bulk it up with even more with flaxseeds, chia seeds, chopped nuts, bananas, or even an egg, like in this Microwave Banana Protein Oatmeal. 

Microwave Oatmeal Tips and Tricks

The most common complaint about microwave oats I hear is that the oatmeal spills out over the side of the bowl and makes a huge mess in the microwave. It's happened to all of us. The best way to prevent that is to use a bowl or mug that's large and deep. This gives the oats plenty of room since they will boil and bubble while they cook. 

Here are some additional tips and ideas for making this microwave apple oatmeal:

• Swap in crunchy peanut butter if you want to add some more texture. It's also delicious with almond butter, cashew butter, or sunflower butter.
• If you like sweeter oatmeal but don't want to add additional maple syrup, consider adding 1/2 mashed ripe banana for some extra natural sweetness. You can also add some applesauce. 
• This recipe will work with all kinds of fruit. Try it with pears, blueberries, strawberries, peaches, or plums.
• This will work with any kind of dairy milk, nut milk, oat milk, or even water. 

Will this work with steel-cut oats? instant oats?

This apple oatmeal recipe will work with quick-cooking steel-cut oats that can be cooked in the microwave. If you want to use traditional steel-cut oats, you will have to cook it on the stove since steel-cut oats won't cook in the microwave. Start by cooking down the apples in a touch of butter, coconut oil, or water. Once they are tender, add the oats, maple syrup, cinnamon, and liquid. Cook according to package directions or this basic recipe. 

If you are instant oats, you will want to cut down the cooking time and the liquid. Use 1/3-1/2 cup of liquid and only cook for 1-1.5 minutes until the oats are tender. Cooking them for too long will result in mushy oats. 

Can I make a large batch of this for meal prep?

This recipe is great for meal prep, especially since it tastes great hot or cold. If you are going to make a large batch, you have two options:

• Microwave option: Start by finding a large microwave safe bowl with enough space that the oatmeal won't bubble over when it cooks. Spray it with cooking spray and plan on 1/2-1 apple per serving. I find you can make up to 4 servings in the microwave without compromising the quality.  Cook the apples until they are tender. They may take longer since you are cooking more. Then add the oats, milk, maple syrup, and cinnamon. Stir together and microwave for 4-6 minutes until the oatmeal is tender. Watch it closely to make sure it doesn't overflow. Cooking time will depend on the strength of your microwave.
• Stovetop option: This is my preferred method for cooking a larger batch of oatmeal. Start by cooking the apples until tender. You can cook them in butter, coconut oil, or just a few tablespoons of water if you don't want to add any extra fat. Once they are tender, add the remaining ingredients and bring to a simmer. Cook on low for about 5 minutes, stirring often, until tender. 
• Overnight oats option: You can also prep this recipe as overnight oats. Cook the apples in the microwave until they are tender. Then add them to a container with oatmeal, milk, maple syrup, and cinnamon. Leave for at least 4 hours in the fridge or overnight. Top with peanut butter. Eat cold, room temperature, or heat up in the microwave. 

How long will this last in the fridge?

Once it is cooked, this will last in the fridge for about 4 days. Store it in an airtight container and it can be eaten cold or warmed up. You can also freeze this oatmeal once it is cooked and then reheat in the microwave. 

More easy oatmeal recipes

• Strawberry Banana Baked Oatmeal
• Oatmeal Smoothies
• Baked Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Oatmeal
• Microwave Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal

This recipe has been updated with new photos, tips, and recipe ideas.