Clean Eating Pumpkin Oatmeal Casserole Recipe (2024)

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This pumpkin baked oatmeal with cranberries is destined to become a family favorite. Start your holiday mornings off right with a big bowl of oats, pumpkin, cranberries and so much more!

This delicious breakfast casserole dish is a perfect way to start off a holiday morning, and it’s packed with antioxidants!

Clean Eating Pumpkin Oatmeal Casserole Recipe (1)

Why You Should Totally Make This Pumpkin Baked Oatmeal Casserole

It’s the perfect casserole breakfast for a holiday morning. I love making this on Thanksgiving morning when I have to feed everyone AND be in the kitchen all day. It’s quick and easy, and everyone asks for seconds. Whole grain goodness AND everyone loves it? Oh yes, please. I need more of that in my life.

Is Baked Oatmeal Healthy?

Absolutely! But as with most things, it all depends on what you put in it. If you keep the other ingredients healthy (which this recipe does!), then the whole thing is healthy!

Recipe Adaptations

If you want to mix up the flavors a bit, you can try any of these additions or substitutions:

  • Pumpkin pie spice – No sugar added. The amount below can be adjusted within a range of 1 tsp. to 1 tbsp., depending on how strong you want the flavor.
  • Dried cranberries – Use them in place of the raisins. Just make sure they are fruit juice sweetened instead of sugar-sweetened.
  • Cinnamon – Not a pumpkin spice fan? Substitute the pumpkin pie spice for ground cinnamon instead.
  • Ground ginger – Use ½ a teaspoon at most.
  • Ground nutmeg – Use up to 1 teaspoon at most.
  • Ground cloves – Use up to a ¼ teaspoon at most.
  • Eggs – Whisk in some beaten eggs for extra protein. Anywhere between 2 and 3 eggs should be more than enough. Flax eggs can work, but I haven’t tried it myself so I cannot advise on it.
  • Unflavored protein powder – Just make sure to read the ingredients list! 1 to 2 scoops should be plenty here.
Clean Eating Pumpkin Oatmeal Casserole Recipe (2)

Can I Cook Oatmeal And Then Refrigerate It?

Absolutely! In fact, that’s the only way I ever make and store oatmeal. Just remember to wrap it well so it doesn’t dry out in the fridge.

Topping Ideas

If you really want to make this more decadent, you can add some delicious toppings. Here are some ideas:

  • Greek yogurt
  • A drizzle of maple syrup
  • Chocolate chips – put them on while the dish is still hot so they get a little melty.
  • Any nut you like if the pecans aren’t enough for you.
Clean Eating Pumpkin Oatmeal Casserole Recipe (3)

About The Ingredients

Unsweetened almond milk – You can also use unsweetened oat milk or light coconut milk. Dairy milk works fine too.

Pumpkin pureé – canned or homemade. Just make sure it’s not pumpkin pie filling. That’s a very different animal.

Pecan pieces– You can buy them in pieces, or chop whole pecans into smaller pieces

Fresh cranberries – Stock up and store them in the freezer for the coming months if you want to make this again.

Pumpkin pie spice – see link below under “recipes used”.). No sugar added if purchased

Honey – Any honey you have on hand will work. Maple syrup will work too, but the finished recipe won’t be as sweet.

Pure vanilla extract – Don’t use vanilla flavoring. Use the real stuff.

Steel-cut oats – You can also use traditional oats, but you won’t want to bake this dish as long if you do. Never use quick-cooking oats for this!

Golden raisins – You can leave these out if you wish, but they are so tasty in this dish!

Salt – This is optional, but helps to bring out the sweetness. The recipe below does not call for it. If you choose to add it, use a quarter of a teaspoon. Any salt you normally cook or bake with will do. I used pink Himalayan salt.

How To Make Pumpkin Baked Oatmeal

Clean Eating Pumpkin Oatmeal Casserole Recipe (4)

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. and measure all your ingredients.

Clean Eating Pumpkin Oatmeal Casserole Recipe (5)

In a casserole dish (9×13), stir together all of the measured ingredients in the casserole dish. You can use a large mixing bowl if you think it will be easier to mix that way, but I just mix it directly in the casserole dish.

Clean Eating Pumpkin Oatmeal Casserole Recipe (6)

Bake for 45 minutes or until the casserole is soft and cooked through.

Clean Eating Pumpkin Oatmeal Casserole Recipe (7)

Serve as is, or with your favorite topping.

Make Ahead Directions

Yes, you can prep this the night before and store it in the fridge. Just add everything except the oats. You can stir those in last minute before putting it in the oven.

How Far In Advance Can You Make Oats?

It depends on the recipe you use them in. But for this particular recipe, three days is the longest stretch of time that you can make ahead.

How To Store Pumpkin Baked Oatmeal

Wrap the dish in plastic wrap, or transfer the leftover oatmeal to an airtight container. Store this in the fridge for up to three days.

Can You Freeze Baked Oatmeal?

You sure can! In some recipes, there may be ingredients that won’t freeze very well, or discolor while in the freezer (such as bananas). But with a recipe like this, you can freeze for up to six months. I highly recommend freezing in single servings to make life easier, unless you plan on feeding many people at once. Once thawed, you can reheat in the microwave for 1-2 minutes or in the oven at 400 F. with foil over the top so nothing burns, until warmed through.

Recipe Supplies

You’ll want a good casserole dish and some pumpkin pie spice for this recipe. If you need either, you can click on either image to be taken to that product on Amazon. (Affiliate links)

Clean Eating Pumpkin Oatmeal Casserole Recipe (8)
Clean Eating Pumpkin Oatmeal Casserole Recipe (9)

More Healthy Oatmeal Recipes

  • Apple Pie Oatmeal
  • Peanut Butter Oatmeal
  • Peanut Butter Cup Oatmeal
  • Buttery Cinnamon Oatmeal
  • Gingerbread Oatmeal
  • Banana Bread Oatmeal

Recipes Used

  • Pumpkin Pie Spice

Pumpkin Baked Oatmeal Recipe Card

Baked Oatmeal with Pumpkin and Cranberries

A delicious breakfast you can prep the day before and stick in the oven for something super easy on a busy holiday.

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Course: Breakfast

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 45 minutes minutes

Total Time: 55 minutes minutes

Servings: 12 servings, approximate

Calories: 199.53kcal

Equipment

  • 1 Casserole dish (9×13)

Ingredients

  • 4 cups unsweetened almond milk
  • 1 cup prepared pumpkin (canned or homemade)
  • ½ cup pecan pieces
  • 1 cup fresh cranberries
  • 2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice (see link above), no sugar added if purchased
  • ¼ cup honey
  • 2 tsp. pure vanilla extract
  • 2 cups steel cut oats
  • ½ cup golden raisins

US CustomaryMetric

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. and measure all your ingredients.

    Clean Eating Pumpkin Oatmeal Casserole Recipe (12)
  • In a casserole dish (9×13), stir together all of the measured ingredients in the casserole dish. You can use a large mixing bowl if you think it will be easier to mix that way, but I just mix it directly in the casserole dish.

    Clean Eating Pumpkin Oatmeal Casserole Recipe (13)
  • Bake for 45 minutes or until the casserole is soft and cooked through.

    Clean Eating Pumpkin Oatmeal Casserole Recipe (14)
  • Serve as is, or with your favorite topping.

    Clean Eating Pumpkin Oatmeal Casserole Recipe (15)

Notes

Please note that the nutrition data given here is a ballpark figure. Exact data is not possible.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 199.53kcal | Carbohydrates: 32.17g | Protein: 5.6g | Fat: 6.27g | Saturated Fat: 0.61g | Sodium: 110.76mg | Potassium: 116.51mg | Fiber: 4.89g | Sugar: 10.76g | Vitamin A: 3182.45IU | Vitamin C: 2.24mg | Calcium: 127.3mg | Iron: 1.73mg

Recipe from the Gracious Pantry archives, originally posted 11/19/11.

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Clean Eating Pumpkin Oatmeal Casserole Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How to make oatmeal healthier? ›

Additions to make it healthier
  1. a couple of spoonfuls of nut butter, nuts, or seeds.
  2. a scoop of protein powder.
  3. beaten egg whites (mixed into oatmeal while cooking) or a fried egg on top.
  4. shredded cheese.
  5. Greek yogurt.
Apr 19, 2022

How to make oatmeal a full meal? ›

I'll be the first to admit that plain oatmeal usually isn't filling enough for a meal unless you pair it with a little protein and some healthy fats. For added protein, I like making one of my protein oatmeal recipes, savory oats (with an egg on top) or serving it with a couple hardboiled eggs on the side.

How to make a bowl of oatmeal? ›

Directions: Bring water or milk to a boil in a medium saucepan. Stir in oats, reduce heat to low. Simmer uncovered over low heat, stirring occasionally, for 25-30 minutes or until oats are of desired texture.

Why eat baked oats? ›

It's nutritionally balanced. Baked oats — particularly if you add some fruit, protein powder, and nut butter — are a great source of vital macro- and micronutrients.

What not to mix with oatmeal? ›

High-sugar toppings like chocolate, syrup, and dried fruit

As Best points out, "some of the worst ingredients that are mistakenly added to healthy overnight oat recipes include chocolate sauce, sugar, syrup, and dried fruit."

What type of oatmeal is healthiest to eat? ›

Steel-cut oats, also called Irish oatmeal, are the whole oat kernel that has been cut into two or three pieces using steel disks. This type of oats contains the highest amount of fiber, as it is least processed. Steel-cut oats take a little longer to cook, and result in a creamy and chewy porridge.

Can I just eat oatmeal all day? ›

Oatmeal is a nutritious snack that offers numerous health benefits when eaten daily. Yes, it is good to eat oatmeal every day considering its nutritional profile and health benefits, including weight control and heart-healthy effect.

How do you sweeten oatmeal without sugar? ›

How To Sweeten Your Oatmeal Without Sugar
  1. 1. Fruits. Using the natural sweetness of fruits to your advantage is an easy way to add a sweet flavor to your oatmeal. ...
  2. Plant Milks. Oatmeal is delicious with plant milk like cashew, soy, or almond. ...
  3. Syrups and Nectars. ...
  4. Seed and Nut Butter. ...
  5. Spices. ...
  6. Extracts. ...
  7. Protein Powders.
Mar 7, 2023

Is it OK to eat oatmeal for every meal? ›

Oatmeal's high fiber content and prebiotic qualities may benefit your body in more ways than one. Making oatmeal a regular part of your menu can potentially lower your disease risk, help your gut health thrive, make bowel movements easier and keep you feeling fuller for longer.

Is oatmeal better with milk or water? ›

Simple tip #1: Make oatmeal with milk (or a non-dairy alternative) versus water. Not only does oatmeal made with water taste way less delicious, but you're also missing out on the extra protein staying power that milk will add to the breakfast. Water will also make the oats more gummy instead of creamy.

Is oatmeal healthier with milk or water? ›

Milk is rich in fats, calcium, and Vitamin D that complements the nutrients in oats. Thus oats cooked in milk have benefits over oats cooked in water. Milk has fats, calcium, and Vitamin D that is normally absent in processed oats. Apart from adding a flavour, it also helps in keeping your muscles and bones healthy.

Are Quaker oats oatmeal healthy? ›

Are instant oats still a healthy breakfast option? A: Absolutely! As I said, the benefits really don't differ between the three types of oats. Also, we know that there are health benefits to eating breakfast, especially when it comes to diet quality and weight management.

What's the difference between baked oats and oatmeal? ›

Tips for making baked oats

The difference between baked oatmeal and baked oats is all in the texture. And getting that cake-like texture comes from adding the egg, but also blending the ingredients well.

Which is better overnight oats or baked oats? ›

The intensity of heat while cooking is the contributing factor, lower the heat better the nutrient availability. When you soak the oats overnight, it's almost like you're cooking them, but the process is much longer and slower, and it's done without heat. Hence, it is more nutrient rich than cooked version.

What are the pros and cons of eating oats? ›

Overall, oats are a low-risk, high-reward food. However, despite their numerous health benefits, there are a few things to keep in mind if you're new to the oat game. Oats are high in soluble fiber, which is good for digestion, but it may also cause bloating, increased gas, and abdominal cramps for some people.

Is eating oatmeal everyday healthy? ›

Oatmeal's high fiber content and prebiotic qualities may benefit your body in more ways than one. Making oatmeal a regular part of your menu can potentially lower your disease risk, help your gut health thrive, make bowel movements easier and keep you feeling fuller for longer.

Is it healthier to make oatmeal with milk or water? ›

Oatmeal prepared with water tends to have a slightly lower glycemic index compared to oatmeal prepared with milk.

What to put in oatmeal to build the healthiest bowl? ›

Fresh fruit will add fiber, vitamins, minerals and some sweetness to your oatmeal. Fruit's fat-soluble vitamins like A, E and K will best absorb if you add in a fat source like nuts, which will also add extra fiber and protein.

How do you cook oatmeal without losing nutrients? ›

Stovetop:
  1. Bring 1 cup of water (or nonfat or low-fat milk) and a pinch of salt (if desired) to a boil in a small saucepan.
  2. Stir in 1/2 cup of oats and reduce heat to medium; cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes.
  3. Remove from the heat, cover and let stand for 2 to 3 minutes.
Jul 13, 2023

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