Instant Oatmeal Recipes

Skip the store-bought packets and make one of these quick and easy instant oatmeal recipes. They're made with budget-friendly, healthy ingredients, can be prepped ahead, and customized to use only your family's favorite flavors!

Jump to:

• How to Make Instant Oatmeal From Rolled Oats
• How to Make Instant Oatmeal
• Instant Oatmeal Flavor Recipes
• Cooking Instant Oatmeal Packets
• 7 Best Instant Oatmeal Recipes

Have you ever bought a package of instant oatmeal packets only for just half of them to end up being eaten? A few years ago, I started making my own instant oatmeal packets and focusing on just the flavor combinations that I know we all love. These are so easy to make and super cheap.

How to Make Instant Oatmeal From Rolled Oats

To make instant oatmeal recipes with rolled oats, you’ll need to give them a quick pulse in the food processor or blender first. To do this, add 1 to 2 cups of rolled, old-fashioned oats into a food processor or blender. Cover with the lid and pulse in 1-second intervals until the oats are slightly chopped. 

If you blend, you’ll wind up with oat flour, which isn’t a total loss because you could use that for blueberry oat bread, but today our goal is creamy hot instant oats.

How to Make Instant Oatmeal

For these recipes, I’m using my instant oatmeal packet recipe that I’ve reduced down to a single-serve portion. Here’s what you’ll need: 

• ½ cup quick oats
• ⅛ teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons brown sugar (depending on how sweet you want it)
• ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 snack-size zip bags
• 1 cup hot water

Instant Oatmeal Flavor Recipes

In the recipes below, you’ll find some delicious savory and sweet varieties as well as classic flavors. Dry ingredients can be stirred into the individual bags and stored in the pantry. Any cold or fresh items such as fruit, milk, yogurt, and honey will need to be added once the oatmeal is cooked.

Peanut Butter Instant Oatmeal

If you are prepping the instant oats ahead of time, save the peanut butter for topping the cooked oats. Otherwise, you’ll have a sticky mess in the container.

• ½ cup instant oats
• ⅛ teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons brown sugar
• ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 tablespoon peanut butter, or nut butter alternative (add it when serving the oatmeal)

Brown Sugar Cinnamon Instant Oatmeal

Reduce the amount of hot water needed by two tablespoons and replace it with your choice of half & half or whole milk.

• ½ cup instant oats
• ⅛ teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons brown sugar
• ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
• 2 tablespoons whole milk or half & half (add it when cooking the oats)

Chocolate Chip Instant Oatmeal Recipe

If you want to prep this ahead, stir regular or dark chocolate chips into the dry mix, and when you add hot water, they’ll melt right into the cooked oats.

• ½ cup instant oats
• ⅛ teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons brown sugar
• 1-2 tablespoons chocolate chips

Instant Oatmeal with Fruit

You can add dried fruit to the dry mix or top cooked oatmeal with fresh fruit. It’s entirely your call, but I love how dried fruit saves time and comes back to life when you add the hot water.

• ½ cup instant oats
• ⅛ teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon powdered milk, optional
• 2 teaspoons brown sugar
• ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
• 2 tablespoons dried fruit of choice- cranberries, banana chips, blueberries

Apples and Cinnamon Instant Oats

I had to recreate my kid’s favorite flavor into my DIY instant oatmeal packets.

• ½ cup instant oats
• ⅛ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
• 2 teaspoons brown sugar
• 1-2 tablespoons of dried apples (in the packet mix) or ¼ cup freshly chopped apple (add it before cooking).

High Protein Instant Oats

Any protein powder works, just make sure it’s a flavor you like. Once the oatmeal is cooked, top with yogurt and strawberries for an ultra hearty meal. An additional sweetener shouldn’t be needed if your protein powder comes flavored.

• ½ cup instant oats
• ⅛ teaspoon salt
• 1-2 scoops protein powder
• Greek yogurt (as a topping)
• Sliced strawberries (as a topping)

Cinnamon Raisin Instant Oats

My family loves my cinnamon raisin bread, so I used those same flavors for a hot bowl of oats. Top it off with sliced banana or a drizzle of peanut butter- pure heaven. 

• ½ cup instant oats
• ⅛ teaspoon salt 
• 2 teaspoons brown sugar
• ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
• 1-2 tablespoons raisins

Cooking Instant Oatmeal Packets

These homemade instant oatmeal recipes work just like the store-bought version. Follow the three steps below and you’ll have perfect instant oats every time.

1. Combine.
   Empty the packet of oats into a microwave-safe bowl. Add 1 cup hot, boiling water, and stir.
2. Microwave.
   Microwave the oats for one minute. Allow the oats to rest one minute until thickened and stir.
3. Top.
   Add your choice of toppings to the oats and enjoy!