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Making instant oatmeal packets at home has never been easier! Follow this simple recipe to make this convenient breakfast.

Start with the classic brown cinnamon sugar recipe or make one of the popular instant oatmeal packet flavors by swapping some of the listed ingredients.

An oat canister with instant oatmeal in zip bags

Making Instant Oatmeal Packs at Home

While my family loves baked oatmeal and overnight oats, instant oatmeal is one of those breakfast household staples I always keep on hand. Those little packets, usually 10 to a box, are very convenient for making oatmeal on rushed mornings.

If you have kids (especially big ones), you know they can go through two or three packets in one sitting! That’s why I love making my own packets: they’re cost-effective, I can reduce the amount of sugar, and I can customize the packets to the flavors we like. More on this below.

What to Put in DIY Oatmeal Packets

Instant oats are the base of these packets. You can add powdered milk or omit it and use any milk instead of water to make your bowl of oatmeal. For delicious flavor, I include brown sugar, cinnamon, and a little salt.

How to Make Instant Oatmeal

Once you have epic homemade instant oatmeal packets, you simply grab one, empty it into a bowl, and add 1 cup of hot water. Then, stir to combine and microwave on high for 30 seconds to 1 minute. Once it’s warm enough, add your favorite oatmeal toppings and voilá! Breakfast is ready!

How Long to Store Homemade Instant Oatmeal Packs

Homemade instant oatmeal packets can be stored in the pantry for up to 2 months. When making these DIY Instant Oatmeal Packets, I put most of them back inside my larger quick oats canister for storage, but any container will work.

Instant Oatmeal Packet Recipes

There are plenty of instant oatmeal recipes and flavors you can make and store to enjoy a variety of breakfasts with no need to buy separate boxes for different flavors. Here are some tasty options:

Original: omit the cinnamon and brown sugar.
Apples & cinnamon: add 1 cup chopped dried apples to the bowl.
Chocolate: add ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder to the bowl and use white sugar.
Cookies & cream: crumble 4 Oreo cookies into the bowl, omit the cinnamon, and use white sugar.
Banana nut: add ½ cup finely chopped walnuts to the bowl and top with ½ banana after cooking the oats.
Cranberry almond: add ½ dried cranberries to the bowl and ¼ cup finely chopped almonds.

six homemade packets of flavored instant oatmeal labeled with the flavor's name

In case you only have old-fashioned rolled oats at the moment, I have a ton of recipes to use those oats up. Everything from apple pie overnights oats to savory oats and muffins!

Homemade Instant Oatmeal Packets

close up of an oat canister with instant oatmeal in zip bags inside and out

Servings: 20 packets

Prep Time: 10

Total Time: 10

Making instant oatmeal packets at home has never been easier! Follow this simple recipe to make this convenient breakfast.

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Ingredients

For the Instant Oats Packets:

10 cups instant oats, divided
1 cup powdered milk*
½ cup brown sugar
2 teaspoons salt
1 ½ tablespoons cinnamon , optional

For Serving:

⅔ cup water*

Instructions

Make the oatmeal mix:

In a large bowl, add 6 cups of instant oats, powdered milk, brown sugar, salt, and cinnamon.
Put 4 cups of oats in a blender and blend until they're powdery, stopping a few times to shake (if needed). Transfer the oats from the blender to a large bowl and mix with the oats and other ingredients.
Measure ½ cup of the oatmeal mixture and place it inside a zip bag. Repeat the process with the remaining mixture to fill all 20 bags.

Storage:

Store the pre-measured oatmeal packets in the pantry for up to 2 months.

To make oatmeal:

Empty an instant oatmeal packet into a bowl and add 1 cup of hot water. Stir to combine and microwave on high for 30 seconds to 1 minute.

Notes

You can omit the powdered milk from the oatmeal packet mix and use any milk instead of water to make your bowl of oatmeal.

Variety of Flavors:

Original: omit the cinnamon and brown sugar.
Apples & cinnamon: add 1 cup chopped dried apples to the bowl.
Chocolate: add ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder to the bowl, use white sugar.
Cookies & cream: crumble 4 Oreo cookies into the bowl, omit the cinnamon, and use white sugar.
Banana nut: add ½ cup finely chopped walnuts to the bowl and top with ½ banana after cooking the oats.
Cranberry almond: add ½ dried cranberries to the bowl and ¼ cup finely chopped almonds.

Other add-ins:

Chia seeds: ½ teaspoon per packet.
Flax meal: 1 teaspoon per packet.
Hemp seeds: 1 teaspoon per packet.
Protein powder: 2 tablespoons per packet, add additional water if adding more.