Apple Cheddar Oat Breakfast Skillet

Creamy oats, sautéed apples, sharp cheddar, and toasted pecans make a savory-sweet breakfast in 25 minutes.

Prep: 8 · Cook: 17 · Total: 25 · Serves: 4 · Difficulty: Easy · Rating: 4.7/5 (88 reviews)

Ingredients

• 2 medium Honeycrisp apples, diced
• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 1/2 cups old-fashioned oats
• 1 cup apple cider
• 2 cups whole milk
• 1 tablespoon maple syrup
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 3/4 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
• 1/3 cup chopped pecans
• 2 tablespoons sliced scallions

Instructions

1. Melt the butter in a 10-inch skillet over medium heat. Add the apples and cinnamon, then cook for 4 minutes until the edges soften and brown.
2. Transfer half of the apples to a small bowl. Stir the oats into the skillet and toast for 1 minute, coating them in the buttery apple juices.
3. Pour in the cider, milk, maple syrup, and salt. Bring to a gentle simmer, stirring to keep the oats from sticking.
4. Cook for 8 to 10 minutes until the oats are creamy and still have a little chew. Fold in half of the cheddar.
5. Top with the reserved apples, remaining cheddar, pecans, and scallions. Cover for 1 minute so the cheese softens.
6. Serve warm from the skillet with an extra drizzle of maple syrup if you like a sweeter breakfast.

Chef Tips

• The cider replaces some of the milk for a bright apple flavor without adding much extra sugar.
• Toast the oats briefly before adding liquid for a deeper, nuttier flavor.
• For a nut-free version, use pumpkin seeds or extra cheddar in place of the pecans.
• The sharp cheddar is the transformation that keeps this from reading like plain sweet oatmeal.

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