This instant oatmeal recipe makes a warm, creamy bowl of oats that is perfectly sweetened, lightly spiced, and ready in minutes. Made from simple pantry staples, the prepared oatmeal cooks up tender and filling with a texture that feels comforting and homemade, not gummy or overly processed.
It is the kind of breakfast that keeps you satisfied all morning and tastes just as good plain as it does topped with fruit, nuts, or a drizzle of maple syrup.
Love the idea of gluten-free recipes that incorporate heart-healthy oats? Try these easy homemade granola bars, my Grandma’s oatmeal macaroons, or these healthy chocolate chip oatmeal bars.
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Quick Look at This Recipe
- ✅ Recipe Name: Instant Oatmeal Recipe
- 🕒 Ready In: 5 minutes
- 🍞 Method: Stovetop
- 👪 Yield: 1 serving per cup of mix
- 🍽 Calories: Approximately 150 per serving before toppings
- 🥄 Tools: Mixing bowl, measuring cups, saucepan
- 📖 Dietary Info: Vegetarian, easily gluten-free
- ⭐ Why You’ll Love It: Simple, nourishing, customizable, and fast
- 👩🍳 Tip: Prep several jars at once so breakfast is always ready
What Makes This Recipe Unique
- Versatile – Customizable for taste preferences and dietary needs.
- Time-Saver – Homemade pantry mixes are one of the simplest ways to make cooking from scratch practical. Store your instant oatmeal mix alongside this biscuit mix recipe, fluffy homemade pancake mix recipe, versatile homemade cake mix, DIY brownie mix in a jar, and this homemade muffin mix.
- Frugal – Budget-friendly compared to store-bought packets.
Key Ingredients:
A full ingredients list, including measurements, can be found in the recipe card below.
- Oats – Quick cooking oats work best for this instant oatmeal recipe. They soften quickly and create a creamy texture without long cooking times.
- Brown Sugar – Lightly packed brown sugar adds gentle sweetness. Adjust the amount to suit your family, or skip it and sweeten when serving.
- Add-ins – Dried fruit, nuts, seeds, or coconut can all be mixed in to make this oatmeal your own.
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Instant Oatmeal Recipe Instructions
Preparing the Mix
Step 1: Combine oats, brown sugar, salt, cinnamon, and any dry add-ins in a large bowl. Mix until evenly distributed.
Step 2: Portion into one-cup servings and store in half-pint Mason jars or small zip-top bags.
To Prepare the Oatmeal
Step 3: Add one portion of the instant oatmeal mix to a small pot.
Step 4: Pour in 1½ cups of water per one cup of oats. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium-low.
Step 5: Cook for 3 to 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the liquid is absorbed. Serve warm.
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Recipe Tips
- I use my canning funnel to quickly add all ingredients to each jar, avoiding a mess.
- You can store your mixes in Ziplock bags or any other container they’ll fit in. Glass canning jars are just my personal preference.
- Stir while cooking to prevent sticking
- Add a splash of milk at the end for extra creaminess
- Use gluten-free certified oats if needed
- Double or triple the batch for easy meal prep
Serving Suggestions
- Top with butter and fresh cream
- Add fresh or dried berries (learn how to dehydrate fruit at home).
- Try other fruits, such as peaches, apples or toasted coconut.
- Sprinkle with chopped walnuts or pecans
- Add chia seeds or ground flax for extra fiber
- Swirl in almond butter or peanut butter. (I love this homemade peanut butter recipe.)
- For the chocolate lover, top with chocolate chips.
Storage Instructions
Store dry instant oatmeal mix in an airtight container in a cool, dark pantry for up to 6 months. Portioning into individual jars makes busy mornings effortless. You can also store the mix in one large container and scoop out servings as needed.
FAQ’s
For this instant oatmeal recipe, use 1 cup of oatmeal mix to 1½ cups of water for perfectly tender, creamy oats.
Yes, you can dehydrate fully cooked oatmeal and rehydrate it later, which makes it great for camping, food storage, or quick meals on the go.
Try adding dried berries, chopped nuts, chia seeds, coconut, cinnamon, maple syrup, or a spoonful of peanut butter for extra flavor and nutrition.
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Did you make this Instant oatmeal recipe? If so, please leave a star ⭐ rating in the recipe card below (this really helps me out)… then, snap a photo and tag me on social media @melissaknorris so I can see! I love getting a glimpse of what you all make in your kitchens.
Instant Oatmeal Recipe
Equipment
- Mixing Bowl
- Measuring Utensils
- Storage Container
- funnel I use my canning funnel to transfer ingredients to my jar, avoiding mess.
- Saucepan Glass canning jars are just my personal preference.
Ingredients
- 6 cups oats quick cooking
- 2 cups add-ins see list in notes
- 1 cup brown sugar or to taste
- 2 teaspoons salt I love Redmond Real Salt. Use code “Pioneering” for 15% off.
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon optional
Instructions
Assemble the Jars
- Mix all ingredients in a large bowl.
- Portion into one cup individual servings and pour into half-pint Mason jars or small Ziplock bags. Pro-Tip: You can also store the prepared oats in one large container and spoon out a cup of oats or the amount you need when cooking.
Cooking the Oatmeal
- Dump one portion of instant oatmeal mix into a small pot and cover with 1½ cups of water. Increase the water ratio in equal amounts (1 cup of oats to 1½ cups water) if cooking multiple servings.
- Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook. Cook for 3 to 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. The oatmeal is cooked and ready to eat when the water is absorbed.
- Serve warm as is or with butter and a little fresh cream.
Notes
- I use my canning funnel to quickly add all ingredients to each jar, avoiding a mess.
- You can store your mixes in Ziplock bags or any other container they’ll fit in. Glass canning jars are just my personal preference.
- Stir while cooking to prevent sticking
- Add a splash of milk at the end for extra creaminess
- Add chia seeds or ground flax for extra fiber
- Use gluten-free certified oats if needed
- Double or triple the batch for easy meal prep
- Top with butter and fresh cream
- Add fresh or dried berries (learn how to dehydrate fruit at home).
- Try other fruits, such as peaches, apples or toasted coconut.
- Sprinkle with chopped walnuts or pecans
- Add chia seeds or ground flax for extra fiber
- Swirl in almond butter or peanut butter. (I love this homemade peanut butter recipe.)
- For the chocolate lover, top with chocolate chips.
This is so much cheaper than buying certified gluten free instant oatmeal packets, and it tastes so much better, too!
What is the measurements for ingredients would love to have. Do you vacuum seal jars ? How long does it keep long term?
I don’t see where the measurements for each ingredient are included – specifically the brown sugar, cinnamon and salt or is it all just to your preference. I see the utensils to use are 1 cup and 1 teaspoon but they aren’t mentioned with the ingredients. Can you please specify – Thank you.