This post may contain affiliate links. Read our disclosure policy here.
Tasty, creamy oatmeal you can make in the microwave super fast using quick oats? Yes, please! You’re going to love it so keep reading for all the tips.
Quick Oats in the Microwave
The quickest breakfast of all quick breakfasts? Making quick oatmeal in the microwave! It’s as simple as making quick oats on the stove, yet there are some tricks to get the best consistency and keep the overflowing mess away. Yep, we’ve all gone through that!
While I love overnight oats on busy mornings, I also enjoy a delicious bowl of oatmeal that I can assemble fast using any oats I have around by microwaving old-fashioned oats or cooking this recipe even faster using quick oats and still making the most of all the oatmeal health benefits.
Since everyone in my family loves different flavors, we customize our bowls with our favorite toppings or use my homemade instant oatmeal recipes to satisfy everyone’s cravings. So simple and so good!
Ingredients
Oats to water ratio is key for epic quick oats in the microwave. But before we jump to the amounts, here’s what you need to know about the ingredients:
- Quick oats: the thin, small flakes, also known as instant oats.
- Brown sugar: optional for sweetness.
- Cinnamon: also optional but oh so delish!
- Salt: a pinch is enough to make oatmeal tastier.
- Milk or water: use only water or dilute milk with water. If you only use milk, the oatmeal will be too thick.
- Toppings: your favorites or some of the tasty ones I’ll share below!
Is Microwave Oatmeal Better with Milk or Water?
While you can microwave quick oats using water or milk, oats with water are pretty plain, and when you use milk, it makes the oatmeal thicker and creamier, and it also adds flavor. In the end, you pick!
How to Microwave Quick Oats
Making quick oats in the microwave is super simple, and it won’t be any mess if you follow these steps and tips:
- Combine
To keep oatmeal from overflowing, use a bigger bowl than you think you need to combine quick oats and liquid. - Microwave
Microwave for 1 minute and stir. Add 30 extra seconds if needed. This will vary depending on microwave wattage. - Serve
Grab your bowl of oatmeal and load it up with your favorite toppings!
Ratio of Oats to Water
When cooking quick oats in the microwave, the optimal ratio is 2:1 quick oats to water, which means 1 cup of water for each ½ cup of oats. This same ratio applies when using milk.
| Servings | Oats | Water |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | ½ cup | 1 cup |
| 2 | 1 cup | 2 cups |
| 3 | 1 ½ cups | 3 cups |
| 4 | 2 cups | 4 cups |
Easy Toppings for Quick Oats
A warm bowl of oatmeal is not the same without the best toppings and I’ve you covered! Grab any fruit in cubes or slices; add berries, honey, Greek yogurt, or dried fruit; or sprinkle seeds, nuts, or chocolate chips. Check this list with 100 of the best oatmeal toppings, and you’ll want to add them all! Or almost!
Microwave Quick Oats
Ingredients
- ½ cup quick oats
- 1 teaspoon brown sugar, optional
- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon, optional
- Pinch of salt
- ¾ cup milk or water
- Fruit, for topping
Instructions
Combine ingredients:
- In a microwave-safe bowl, place the quick oats, brown sugar, cinnamon (if using), and a pinch of salt.
- Pour the milk or water into the bowl and mix to combine. Make sure to use a large enough bowl for the oats to cook.
Microwave:
- Microwave on high for 1 minute. Cook for an additional 30 seconds if necessary.
Serve:
- Remove the oatmeal from the microwave and serve as is or topped with your favorite toppings.
Kat says
Microwave overflows are the absolute worst to clean up in the morning. Your advice about the bowl size actually helps since I usually just guess. Adding fresh fruit makes such a huge difference for breakfast.