Overnight Oats with Instant Oatmeal Packets

The easiest breakfast ever! Overnight oats with instant oatmeal packets take two minutes to prep and are a blank slate for delicious mix-ins.

Why You'll Love it:

You can make overnight oats with instant oatmeal! I do it all the time. Just dump your favorite flavor into a small jar, add milk, and stir. It's easier than milk and cereal.

Instant oatmeal packets come in so many different flavors, the mix-and-match flavor combos are endless!

Overnight instant oats is the perfect vehicle for sweet and crunchy toppings like fresh fruit, crunchy granola, and seeds or nuts. The best part? It only takes 2 minutes to prep the night before. Yes, please!

Key Ingredients:

Instant oatmeal packets - I tested this recipe with Quaker instant oatmeal packets, Quaker's gluten-free version, and an off-brand. You can buy any flavor or brand you like.

Milk of choice - I used unsweetened almond milk, but dairy or any plant-based milk works great. Just use a milk you like the flavor of. All plant-based milk varieties taste different, varying in taste between brands too!

Jar or bowl - Use a small jar or bowl. The oatmeal packets aren't very big. If you want more oatmeal, you can double the recipe and use a medium sized bowl or jar.

Toppings - Grab your favorite toppings! The sky is the limit. I used blueberries, bananas, and slivered almonds this time around.

How to Make Overnight Oats with Instant Oatmeal:

Overnight oats are super simple! First grab a small jar or bowl. I prefer a jar with a lid, because then I don't have to cover it with saran wrap.

Dump the instant oatmeal packet into the jar.

Pour in your milk of choice. It should cover the oats just a smidge, but not by much.

Stir to incorporate the oats and the milk.

Add mix-ins of choice. I don't like to add fresh fruit the night before. It gets too soft. But that's a personal preference. You could add nut butter, granola, cinnamon, maple syrup, shredded coconut, dried fruit, or jam!

Seal the lid on the jar and place in the fridge for at least 4 hours, or overnight. If using a bowl, cover with saran wrap or foil.

Add your favorite toppings and enjoy!

Recipe Tips:

• For thicker oats, use ⅓ cup of liquid. For softer oats with more liquid, use ½ cup. I prefer ⅓ cup and my husband prefers ½ cup, so it comes down to preference.
• If using Quaker's gluten-free instant oatmeal packets, increase the liquid to ½ cup. The packets contain more oats and thus need a bit more liquid.
• If you don't like to measure, that's okay too! Just add enough liquid to cover the oats and a splash more so they can expand.
• You can make overnight oats with old fashioned oats too! Just swap the instant oatmeal packet with ½ cup of rolled oats, then add ½ cup of liquid.
• For less sugar and sweetness, use Quaker's lower sugar oatmeal packets or their original flavor.

Toppings & Mix-ins:

My favorite part! Instant oatmeal overnight oats is the perfect vehicle for delicious toppings and mix-ins! Here's a few of my favorites:

• Nuts - Sliced almonds, walnuts, chopped pecans, pistachios.
• Seeds - Pumpkin, chia, flax. Make sure to add a splash more liquid if you add chia or flax seeds, since they absorb liquid.
• Fruit - Blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, sliced bananas, diced apples, etc.
• Nut butter - Peanut, almond, cashew, or sunflower seed butter.
• Sweeteners - Honey, maple syrup, chopped dates, jam, or a sugar substitute like monk fruit.
• Spices - Cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, etc.
• Miscellaneous - Shredded coconut, chocolate chips, dried fruit, raisins, freeze-dried fruit, bee pollen, cocoa powder.

Variations:

• Gluten-free - Use Quaker's gluten-free instant oatmeal packets. Increase the liquid to ½ cup. These packets hold more oats than their regular products.
• For a less sweet option - Buy the original flavor and add your own sweetener. Maple syrup is my favorite option!
• Dairy-free - Use plant-based milk and dairy-free toppings!

Flavor Combinations:

• Strawberry banana - Use strawberries and cream instant oatmeal packet. Top with sliced bananas.
• Blueberry almond - Use blueberries and cream instant oatmeal packet. Top with fresh blueberries and sliced almonds.
• Maple walnut granola - Use maple and brown sugar instant oatmeal packet. Top with granola, sliced bananas, and walnuts.

Instant Oats vs. Old Fashioned Oats

Both start out as oat groats that are steamed and flattened. Instant oats are cut into smaller pieces and rolled very thin, so they cook quickly!

While instant oats are more processed, the nutrition of the two is largely the same.

So why use instant oatmeal packets for overnight oats?

• Convenience - The packets are premeasured and presweetened. Just dump, mix, and go!
• Texture - The texture of instant oats is softer than rolled oats. Regular overnight oats are slightly chewier in texture.
• Flavor - You can choose from tons of flavors! Peaches & cream, strawberries & cream, maple and brown sugar, apples and cinnamon, cinnamon and spice, etc.

Overnight Oats Recipes:

• Overnight Oats without Yogurt
• Overnight Oats With Water
• Protein Powder Overnight Oats
• Dark Chocolate Overnight Oats