Skip the store-bought instant oatmeal packet and make one of these quick and easy instant oatmeal recipes. They’re made with healthy ingredients and can be prepped ahead for easy breakfasts throughout the week. This budget-friendly option can be customized to use only your family’s favorite flavors!

Have you ever bought a package of instant oatmeal packets only for just half of them to end up being eaten? Each member of my family has their favorite flavor, and the others packets, well, they get skipped.

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. Plus, they mean a quick and easy breakfast for our busiest days.

There are so many ways to enjoy oats- whether it’s overnight, made in the slow cooker, or baked with berries into a warm and inviting breakfast, but nothing is more simple and inviting than a hot bowl of instant oatmeal. 

By the end of this post, you’ll learn how to make instant oatmeal at home and create various flavors using everyday ingredients. Let’s get started! 

How to Make Instant Oatmeal From Rolled Oats

Most instant oatmeal recipes will use quick oats, which are old-fashioned oats cut into tinier pieces allowing for faster cooking. You can still make instant oatmeal with rolled oats, but 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 cups 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

The original recipe for homemade instant oatmeal packets creates up to 24 servings. I usually prepare it in bulk, divide the mixture into zip bags, and disperse different add-in’s into individual bags, so we get several flavors from one batch. 

Instant Oatmeal Flavor Recipes

The sky is the limit when it comes to oatmeal toppings and add-ins. You can make it savory, sweet, or a combination, and in the recipes below, you’ll find some delicious varieties as well as classic flavors.

Keep in mind that 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.

If you want to boost the nutrition, feel free to add flax, hemp, or chia seeds to the base recipe above. Keep in mind the flax and chia seeds will thicken the oats quite a bit, so the amount of liquid added may need to be adjusted. Usually, an additional tablespoon or two does the trick.

Peanut Butter Instant Oatmeal

I can’t think of a heartier, more delicious way to top hot oatmeal than a generous drizzle of peanut butter. Combined with the cinnamon and brown sugar, this will be a go-to breakfast.

• ½ cup instant oats
• ⅛ teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons brown sugar
• ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 tablespoon peanut butter, or nut butter alternative

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.

Brown Sugar Cinnamon Instant Oatmeal

Brown sugar and cinnamon in oatmeal is a classic, and it’s not going anywhere. This version is made with wholesome, real ingredients and tastes even better than the boxed mix. Here’s how to make it:

• ½ cup instant oats
• ⅛ teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons brown sugar
• ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
• 2 tablespoons whole milk or half & half

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

Chocolate Chip Instant Oatmeal Recipe

Only 4 ingredients needed to make this chocolate paradise your breakfast. 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

Instant oatmeal with fruit can be done in two ways; adding dried fruit to the dry mix or topping 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

If you’d like to skip the dried fruit, add your favorite fresh fruit to the cooked oatmeal. Chopped apples, blueberries, strawberries, and bananas are all delicious ideas that add more nutrition, fiber, and bulk to the entire meal.

Apples and Cinnamon Instant Oats

Apple cinnamon oatmeal is my kid’s favorite flavor so of course, I had to recreate it into my DIY instant oatmeal packets. You can add either 1-2 tablespoons of dried apples to the packet mix or freshly chopped apple to the oats before cooking. 

• ½ cup instant oats
• ⅛ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
• 2 teaspoons brown sugar
• ¼ cup chopped apple

If you want an epic overnight oats version of this recipe, you’ll find it here. 

High Protein Instant Oats

Sneak some extra protein into your morning oats with protein powder, any of them work- just make sure it’s a flavor you like. Once the oatmeal is cooked, top with Greek yogurt and sliced strawberries for an ultra hearty meal.

• ½ cup instant oats
• ⅛ teaspoon salt
• 1-2 scoops protein powder
• Greek yogurt
• Sliced strawberries

*Additional sweetener shouldn’t be needed if your protein powder comes flavored.

Cinnamon Raisin Instant Oats

My family loves the flavors and aroma of toasted cinnamon raisin bread, so why use those same flavors in 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. In less than 3 minutes, you can have a bowl of warm and delicious breakfast. Follow the three steps below and you’ll have perfect instant oats every time.

Combine
Empty the packet of oats into a microwave-safe bowl. Add 1 cup hot, boiling water, and stir.

Microwave
Microwave the oats for an additional minute. Allow the oats to rest 1 minute until thickened and stir.

Top
Add your choice of toppings to the oats and enjoy!

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