Ina Garten’s Go-To Breakfast Only Needs 3 Ingredients

Ina Garten's comforting recipes have long been a source of warmth during challenging times. When I'm seeking solace, I often choose dishes that evoke childhood memories, like Mom's snickerdoodles or an Ina Garten creation. This fondness for Ina began in my 20s when I joined the Barefoot Contessa fan club. Like many fans, I've grown to rely on her creations, from the uplifting Quarantini to celebratory meals such as Tuscan Lemon Chicken and Real Spaghetti and Meatballs. It led me to wonder if Ina herself turns to any of her own recipes for comfort—a question that adds depth to our appreciation for her culinary magic. 

Turns out, she does—but in a much simpler way than I ever would have imagined. When Parade Magazine interviewed the celebrity chef, cookbook author, and entertaining ace, they asked for her go-to comfort food. Her response was shockingly simple: “A bowl of oatmeal with maple syrup and butter.” 

Another fan was as curious as I was to dig in for more details for Ina’s signature mood-boosting dish, and reached out to our comfort food spirit guide via her website’s Ask Ina feature. Jackie W. from Pittsburgh says, “you mentioned in the article your favorite comfort food...oatmeal with butter and maple syrup. I would love to know how you make it!" Same, Jackie. Lucky for us, Ina went on to give us the scoop.

How to Make Ina’s Oatmeal Recipe

After poking around for other interviews with Ina in which she mentions this habit, I discovered that her a.m. oats have been a daily staple since at least 2014. Here’s how to recreate the recipe, according to Ina’s reply to Jackie:

1. Build your bowl. Place ⅓ cup quick-cooking oats and 1 cup water in a microwave-safe bowl or large mug.
2. Cook the oats. Microwave on high for 4 minutes.
3. Dress things up. Finish with a pinch of salt, splash of milk, butter (since Ina doesn’t specify the quantity, let your heart decide how much it would like that day), and a drizzle of maple syrup. Stir to combine and enjoy what Ina calls, “my favorite breakfast!"

What Makes This Oatmeal Recipe Special?

There were two details that surprised me the most about this recipe. First, the microwave method. I recall watching Ina stir together a batch of creamy stovetop oats for her Sunday Morning Oatmeal on Barefoot Contessa back in the day, but it makes sense that a busy entrepreneur like Ina would hit the “easy button” on weekdays. One of her mantras is “how easy is that?!” after all. When starting with quick-cooking oats like Ina advises—she prefers McCann's Quick & Easy Steel Cut Irish Oats—I really couldn’t detect a noticeable difference in texture compared to the stovetop oats I’ve tried in the past. A hot breakfast in 5 minutes flat is a pretty fantastic selling point.

The other feature that I didn’t expect about this easy breakfast recipe was just that…how simple it was. Since we think of staples like salt, butter, and water as “freebies,” you really need just three simple ingredients to follow in the footsteps of Ina: oats, milk, and maple syrup. The butter lends a lovely hint of richness, while the maple syrup and salt combo offers nice balance. The finished product was somewhat reminiscent of the maple-brown sugar instant oat packets I recall Mom frequently heating up (in the microwave, just like Ina!) before school when I was a kid.

Tips For Making Ina Garten’s Go-To Breakfast Oats

Ina’s oats are tasty and cozy as-is, but they’re basic enough that you can think of this as a canvas for other elements, too. Here are some ways to zhush up your bowl:

• Play around with the liquid-to-oat ratio. I’m more familiar with a 2:1 ratio of water to oats; Ina opts for 3:1. The result is still creamy and not runny, however, you can add a little more or less liquid as desired.
• Try an alternative to water. Water is quick, calorie-free, and available readily from the tap. However, if you’d like to infuse more flavor, try swapping in your favorite milk or plant-based milk alternative, or even a mix of milk and creamer. (We’re fans of Organic Valley’s flavored non-dairy oat creamers.)
• Go wild with garnishes. Apple pie or pumpkin spice blends or even simply a dash of cinnamon would be delicious stirred into these maple-flavored oats. You could also stir in fresh or frozen fruit, a scoop of pumpkin or apple butter, or a dollop of Greek yogurt. I can’t wait to shower my next bowl with Bourbon Brown Sugar Nuts for warm, sweet, nutty flavor and crunch.
• Round out the meal. Although oats are rich in fiber and energy-boosting carbs, they’re not incredibly protein-rich. (One-third cup has about 4 grams of protein, according to the USDA.) For more staying power, try Ina’s oatmeal with her Cacio e Pepe Scrambled Eggs or a Sausage and Potato Mini Egg Bakes.

The Verdict on Ina’s Signature Oatmeal Recipe

Ina’s comfort food oatmeal recipe has been on regular rotation for more than a decade, and I can understand why. Simple and classic, much like Ina’s timeless denim button-up, these oats are no-sweat to make even if you skipped the snooze button. Plus, they’re budget-friendly and a beautiful blank slate to dress up with accessories, depending on the season, your kitchen stock, and your mood. 

I’ve been on a Greek yogurt parfait kick for years myself, and thanks to Ina, I look forward to introducing a new option to my breakfast “capsule wardrobe.”