Homemade instant oatmeal packets are quick and easy to make, giving you a hot, satisfying breakfast in minutes with wholesome ingredients. They’re more affordable than store-bought packets and can be customized with your favorite flavors and mix-ins.
DIY Oatmeal Packets
While I'm a big fan of oatmeal recipes like cinnamon spice oatmeal and overnight oats, homemade instant oatmeal packets are my absolute fave!
They're so convenient for rushed mornings and they taste great. For this version, I used brown sugar and cinnamon but the flavor options are endless!
They're budget-friendly to make at home (always a plus!) and I can control the amount of sugar! They're easy to make and customize, but don't take my word for it, try it and see for yourself.
Ingredients you'll need:
- Quick cooking oats - I prefer Bob's Red Mill, but store brands work just as well. Just make sure you buy quick-cooking oats, not old-fashioned (rolled) oats. Quick-cooking oats are cut and rolled thinner, so they cook faster and have a softer texture. If you prefer regular oats, try my brown sugar cinnamon oatmeal!
- Brown sugar - I love the flavor of brown sugar! That being said, you can use sugar or coconut sugar for meal prepped packets. If you're not meal prepping packets, you can sweeten a bowl with honey or maple syrup too!
- Cinnamon - Cinnamon is optional, but a great addition. During the fall, pumpkin pie spice is a good swap.
- Kosher salt - Salt brings out flavor even in oatmeal!
I have tons of oatmeal recipes to use up old fashioned oats too! Try my almond butter oatmeal or my almond butter energy balls.
How to Make Instant Oatmeal Packets at Home
- Combine all the ingredients (minus the water) in a large bowl.
- Stir well, then divide the oats into small ziplock baggies. You should have a little more than ½ cup per packet.
- Store the instant oatmeal bags in the pantry in a cool, dry place or airtight container. Keep them away from moisture!
How to make oatmeal with homemade packet
- Dump the packet into a medium bowl. Or follow the directions for one bowl of oatmeal.
- Heat ⅔ cup of water until it's very hot. (You don't have to use it all!)
- Pour the water over the oatmeal until you get the right consistency. You may not need it all. It depends on how thick you like your oatmeal.
- The oatmeal thickens as you stir it and it cools a bit.
Flavor Combinations
The great part about homemade oatmeal packets is how easy they are to customize!
- Apple cinnamon - Add chopped dried apples to the mix. You could also shred some fresh apple into it when you make a bowl of oatmeal.
- Chocolate - Add ½ cup of dutch cocoa powder and swap the brown sugar with sugar.
- Peanut butter & jelly - Add peanut butter powder and chopped peanuts to the mix. Top your bowl of oatmeal with strawberry jam.
- Carrot cake - Add raisins and chopped pecans to the mix. Stir in shredded carrots before you dig in to your bowl of oatmeal.
- Banana nut - Add chopped walnuts or pecans to the mix. Top bowl of oatmeal with sliced bananas.
- Protein - Add your favorite protein powder to the mix.
Toppings
Truly, the sky is the limit for toppings! If it sounds good, go ahead and try it!
- Fruit - Sliced bananas, blueberries, quartered strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, etc. Bananas are a fave!
- Nuts - Peanuts, roasted almonds, pecans, walnuts, sliced almonds, hazelnuts, or roasted pistachios
- Granola - Just use your favorite brand or try my homemade maple walnut granolal!
- Nut butter - Almond, cashew, or peanut butter
- Freeze-dried fruit - Freeze dried strawberries, raspberries, or pineapple
- Jam - Raspberry, strawberry, or blueberry
- Seeds - Chia seeds, flaxseeds, pepitas
- Sweetener - Drizzle honey, maple syrup, or light agave on top
Storage Tips
- Homemade instant oatmeal packets can be stored in your pantry for up to 2 months (but mine never last that long).
- Feel free to double or triple this recipe if you have a large family or go through oatmeal quickly.
Instant Oatmeal Recipes
Homemade Instant Oatmeal Packets
Homemade instant oatmeal packets are quick and easy to make, giving you a hot, satisfying breakfast in minutes with wholesome ingredients. They’re more affordable than store-bought options and can be customized with your favorite flavors and mix-ins.
Equipment
- snack bags
- Measuring cups
- Measuring spoons
Ingredients
To meal prep 8 bags of instant oatmeal:
- 4 cups quick cooking oats see note for gluten-free
- 8 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 4 teaspoons cinnamon
For one bowl of oatmeal:
- ½ cup quick cooking oats
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- ⅙ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ to ⅔ cup hot water
Instructions
To meal prep the instant oatmeal packets:
- In a large bowl, combine the quick cooking oats, brown sugar, kosher salt, and cinnamon. Stir well until throughly combined.
- Use a ½ cup measuring spoon to evenly divide the mixture into 8 snack baggies.
- Zip the bags and set aside until ready to use.
To make one bowl of instant oatmeal:
- Heat the water in the microwave or in a small saucepan on the stovetop until it’s very hot!
- In a medium bowl. Combine the oats, brown sugar, cinnamon, and kosher salt. Stir to combine. Or if you meal prepped bags ahead of time, dump one bag into a medium bowl.
- Pour the hot water over the oatmeal and stir until combined. The oatmeal will thicken as it sits. If you prefer thicker oatmeal, use less water.
Video
Notes
Liquid to oat ratio: The more water you add, the looser the oatmeal will be. If you add less water, it will be thicker. Keep in mind that the oatmeal may seem a little bit liquidy at first, but it thickens as it cools. I typically heat ⅔ cup of water per bowl of oatmeal, then I add ½ cup of it to the oatmeal. If it's too thick, I add a little bit more.
Note: I do not recommend adding the water to the oats before you heat it up. In my experience, adding water to the oatmeal mixture then heating it in the microwave ended with gloopy, mushy oatmeal.
Gluten-free: If you're gluten-intolerant or celiac, be sure to purchase oats that are labeled gluten-free!
Nutrition
Calories: 198kcalCarbohydrates: 40gProtein: 6gFat: 3gSaturated Fat: 0.5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 295mgPotassium: 165mgFiber: 4gSugar: 12gVitamin A: 3IUVitamin C: 0.04mgCalcium: 39mgIron: 2mg
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
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