Is Oat Bran Better Than Oatmeal?!
For me, at this moment in time… the answer is yes!
I’ve fallen out of a good breakfast routine in the last few years since having kids – mornings feel busy, I’m usually not very hungry, and more often than not, I just start the day with a coffee and a few nibbles of whatever the girls are having for breakfast. Not ideal.
But our good friend OAT BRAN is bringing me back!
- It’s creamy and soothing, like a porridge. Kind of reminds me of Malt O’ Meal from when I was a kid!
- It takes so little time to cook. Like, 3 minutes or less.
- The oat bran alone has 7 grams protein and 7 grams of fiber per serving, plus even more if you cook it into a creamy delight with milk and eggs and add some fruit, which I definitely do!
I use Bob’s Red Mill Oat Bran! (affiliate link) We are buying several of these bags every time I go to Kowalskis (which is where I’m buying it here in the Twin Cities). Bob’s also makes an organic version that you can buy if you’re looking to use organic oats!
You could go bonkers with it (cinnamon, nuts, chocolate chips, peanut butter, honey, etc.) but how I really love it is just plain and simple – a small steaming bowl with a drizzle of maple syrup, a melty knob of good butter, and a few juicy raspberries on top.
We’ve been eating so much of this that we ran out of oat bran a few weeks ago, and both of my girls – who typically love oatmeal – were very disappointed to go back to the regular stuff! They’re hooked on this oat bran right along with me. Guess we’ll be buying oat bran in bulk for the foreseeable future!
How To Make This Recipe
1
Simmer It Up.
Bring oat bran, water, milk, and salt to a simmer and let it get thick. This takes all of 2 minutes.
2
When it’s thickened, add your eggs!
Optional, but gives it extra creaminess and extra protein! Just be sure that the pan is over low heat and that you stir continuously to avoid scrambling the eggs.
3
Whisk on low heat until incorporated!
Keep it moving consistently, over low heat (or even off heat), to work the eggs in without scrambling them. It’ll get nice and thick and creamy!
4
Yum! You’re done!
I like to add butter, maple syrup, and some raspberries!
My Go-To Oat Bran
Total Time: 6 minutes
Yield: 3 servings (I make this for me + my two kids) 1x
Description
High protein, high fiber – I love this oat bran for breakfast! Creamy and soothing + quick and easy to make!
Ingredients
Units
Scale
- 1 cup oat bran
- 1 3/4 cups water
- 1 cup whole milk (or milk of choice)
- pinch of salt
- 2 eggs or 3 egg whites, beaten
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup (more to taste)
- butter for serving
- fruit for topping (I like raspberries)
Instructions
- Simmer: In a small saucepan, simmer the oat bran, water, milk, and salt. Cook until thickened, 2-3 minutes.
- Add eggs: Pour the eggs in and stir continuously over low heat until incorporated (if it’s too hot, the eggs will scramble, so make sure to stir vigorously and continuously to work them in gradually). I usually do this for 1-3 minutes until I feel that they’ve been heated enough to be cooked. You can use a whisk or a wooden spooon.
- You’re Done! Yum! Stir in maple syrup and more water or milk if needed. Serve with butter on top, raspberries, and a drizzle of maple syrup if you want!
Notes
If undercooked eggs are a concern, you’ll want to make sure you heat the oat bran up to 165 degrees in order to eliminate any salmonella risks with the eggs.
For a protein boost alternative, I also sometimes add collagen protein power to this! (affiliate link)
The longer you keep the oat bran over heat, the more it will thicken and absorb moisture. I often add more water or milk after adding the eggs, right before serving, to make sure it stays creamy and doesn’t get gloppy. The texture reminds me of cream of wheat!
- Prep Time: 0 minutes
- Cook Time: 6 minutes
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: oat bran, high protein breakfast, high fiber breakfast, quick breakfast recipe
Questions I’ve Gotten About This Oat Bran
I use Bob’s Red Mill (they have an organic option) and locally I buy it at Kowalskis. You can also buy it on Amazon! (affiliate link)
Sometimes I add a scoop of protein powder! Collagen protein powder is my protein powder of choice. (affiliate link)
Similar to cooked oatmeal, it will get gloppy and too tight if you keep it in the fridge after it’s cooked. If you want a make-ahead option, I would try preparing it more like overnight oats with a good soak in milk overnight!
Frozen blueberries, or other fruit, your favorite jams, a little bit of cream, peanut butter, chocolate chips, flax, hemp, chia! Lots of ideas!
