
Let’s be real here – we ALL love pumpkin spice season at least a little bit (even if we don’t admit it). Well, this recipe is going to add even MORE Fall to your day. We combine sweet pie pumpkin, spices, dried cranberries, seeds, and steel-cut oats into the coziest oatmeal you’ll ever have! Pumpkin in a breakfast recipe? Yes please!

Cozy, Comfy, and Still Healthy!
Pumpkin spice oatmeal isn’t just a comforting breakfast – it’s also a healthy recipe! Just look at the nutritious ingredients we’ve packed in here.
- Pumpkin: one cup of pumpkin gives you a whopping 20% of your daily vitamin A and a respectable 10% of your vitamin C!
- Steel-cut oats: as we discussed in our big guide to oatmeal, oats have all kinds of health benefits. In fact, inside these little grains, you’ll find protein, fiber, vitamins, antioxidants, and slow-burning carbs (oats have a low glycemic index).
- Seeds: the nutrients here depend on which seeds you chose to add. We opted for:
- Flaxseed (a nutrition superstar, with protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals, and omega-3 fatty acids)
- Hemp seeds (with protein, fiber, B-vitamins and lots of minerals)
- Pumpkin seeds (a great source of protein, minerals, and vitamins)
- Sunflower seeds (even more protein, vitamins, minerals, plus fiber)

How to Make Pumpkin Spice Oats
When it comes to making perfect oatmeal, we’ve got you covered! Our “How to Make the Best Creamy Oatmeal” article is full of information, tips, and tricks. It’s definitely worth reading before you dive into this recipe. However, in case you’re short on time, here are the main tips for steel-cut oats:
- Always add a little salt to increase the depth of flavor.
- Cook oats in water for the best results. Check the recipe for the correct oats: water ratio.
- Get your water boiling first and then add your oats. That stops them from getting gloopy.
- Turn the heat down to a simmer immediately after adding the oats to avoid making them mushy.
- Stir the oats occasionally to give the oats a creamy texture and avoid burning them.

And special tips just for this recipe!
- Use a sugar pumpkin (also called a pie pumpkin, or sweet pumpkin). Other varieties just don’t work as well – they’re either not sweet enough, lack flavor, or are too fibrous.
- Grate the pumpkin instead of chopping it. Large chopped pieces can be dry and starchy, or may not even cook through! When grated, the pumpkin almost melts into the oats!
- Or, if you’re pressed for time, you can substitute your favorite jarred or canned pumpkin pie filling.
- Also, we used a pre-made pumpkin spice mix in our oatmeal (we like Trader Joe’s version). Of course, you can always make your own – here’s an easy recipe.
Oatmeal for Daaaays!
This recipe makes five servings of pumpkin spice oatmeal. If you aren’t feeding a crowd, or want to do some breakfast meal prep, just store it in the fridge inside a sealed container and scoop it out one serving at a time. Alternatively, if you don’t think you’ll finish it in a week, divide it into single-serve portions and freeze it!

We hope this Pumpkin Spice Oatmeal recipe brings a little holiday joy into your mornings! If you try it, don’t forget to let us know what you think with a comment and rating. Every bit of feedback helps make the blog Even Better.
And if you’re looking for more awesome things to do with oats, don’t forget to read our guide on How to Make the Best Creamy Oatmeal. Also, why not check out our Baked Pear Oatmeal and Zesty Hazelnut and Oatmeal waffles for more ways to get oats into your diet?
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Pumpkin Spice Oatmeal with Creamy Steel Cut Oats
- Author: Rachel Steenland
- Total Time: 30 to 50 minutes
- Yield: 5 servings 1x
Description
Our pumpkin spice oatmeal may be the coziest breakfast ever! Pumpkin, spices, steel-cut oats and more make a healthy yet dreamy breakfast recipe!
Ingredients
- 3 3/4 cups water
- 1 1/4 cups steel cut oats
- 1 cup grated pie pumpkin
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries
- 1/4 cup seeds (see notes)
- 3 tablespoons maple syrup or sweetener of choice
- 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
To serve:
- A splash of plant milk (our favorites are oat, almond and soy milk)
- Dried cranberries (optional)
- Seeds, such as flax, hemp, pumpkin and sunflower seeds (optional)
Instructions
- Cook the steel cut oats using a pressure cooker (Instant Pot) or stove-top method:
- Pressure cooker/Instant Pot: Place all ingredients into the Instant Pot, stir well. Cover with lid and move the valve to sealing. Press the ‘porridge’ button and cook for 20 minutes. Allow the pressure to release naturally for 20 minutes (don’t use the “keep warm” setting), then release any remaining pressure manually.
- Stove-top: place all ingredients into a large saucepan. Simmer for 20-30 minutes, until oats reach desired consistency (longer = creamier), stir regularly.
- Transfer cooked Pumpkin Spice Oatmeal into a bowl or large storage container. This recipe makes five servings of pumpkin spice oatmeal. If you aren’t feeding a crowd, or want to do some breakfast meal prep, just store it in the fridge inside a sealed container and scoop it out one serving at a time. Alternatively, if you don’t think you’ll finish it in a week, divide it into single-serve portions and freeze it!
- Serve your creamy pumpkin spice oatmeal hot (reheat in the microwave as needed for 1-2 minutes) with a splash of plant milk, and if desired sprinkle with a few extra cranberries and seeds.
Enjoy!
Notes
- Add up to 1/4 cup of seeds to the oatmeal. We liked to use a combo of flax, hemp, pumpkin and sunflower seeds, but use whatever you like. You can also add some nuts. Pecans and walnuts work great!
- If you don’t think you’ll eat all of your pumpkin spice oatmeal within the week, feel free to freeze portions and defrost/reheat as needed. Reheat defrosted oatmeal for 1-2 minutes in the microwave.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 to 40 minutes
Keywords: pumpkin spice oatmeal, pumpkin breakfast recipe
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