Get your DIY on, and make a batch of Homemade Instant Oatmeal Packets! They are portable, quick to prepare, and can be customized with your favorite shelf-stable ingredients.
Prepping a bunch of instant oatmeal packets at home saves you tons of money; plus, you don't have to guess what ingredients are hidden in each bowl. This recipe gives you six different flavor combination ideas, but feel free to let your creativity shine!
The Coined Breakdown
- Total Cost per serving: $0.30
- Total Cost (10 packets): $2.95
- Those Other Guys: $3.19 per 10-pack variety box
Ingredients
The base recipe for instant oatmeal packs is very simple - quick oats, and salt. We're then going to take that, divide it into 10 bags, and add our mix-ins.
I believe the best ratio is as follows: for every ½ cup of oats, stir in 2 teaspoons of sweetener and ¼ cup of dried fruit (if using). Feel free to adjust to your preference!
Flavor Combination Ideas
Apple Pie: Add in freeze-dried apples, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and brown sugar.
Banana Nut: Use freeze-dried bananas, brown sugar, and chopped nuts like pecans or walnuts.
Blueberry Cheesecake: Stir in freeze-dried blueberries, cheesecake-flavored pudding mix, and your favorite sweetener.
Cinnamon Roll Latte: So great for breakfast! Add espresso powder, maple sugar, cinnamon, and powdered milk.
Maple Brown Sugar: A combination of maple sugar, brown sugar, and cinnamon creates this classic flavor.
Strawberries & Cream: Simply mix in freeze-dried strawberries, your sweetener of choice, and powdered milk.
How to Prepare Homemade Instant Oatmeal Packets
You can either make your oatmeal over the stove, or in the microwave!
In the Microwave:
Add the instant oatmeal packet to a microwave-safe bowl. Pour in 1 cup of liquid, either water or milk.
Microwave for 2 minutes, stirring halfway. Add any additional liquid as needed to reach your desired consistency.
On the Stovetop:
Whisk one instant oatmeal packet into 1 cup of liquid, either water or milk.
Stir on medium-low heat until thickened. Add any additional liquid as needed to reach your desired consistency.
Variations and Substitutions
- Dairy-Free Options: Use powdered soy milk or powdered coconut milk to keep everything dairy-free.
- Other Mix-Ins: Basically any shelf-stable ingredients can work well in these oatmeal cups!
- Chia Seeds
- Flax Seeds
- Hemp Hearts
- Almonds
- Cashews
- Walnuts
- Dates
- Dried Apricots
- Peanut Butter Powder
- Cocoa Powder
- Coconut Sugar
- Protein Powder
- Shredded Coconut
- Baked Oatmeal: Another way I love to meal prep a lot of oats at once is with baked oatmeal! I have a few recipes on the site that are reader favorites.
- Carrot Cake Baked Oats - a nutrient-packed breakfast that tastes as indulgent as dessert!
- Peach Cobbler Baked Oats - Made with sautéed peaches in a brown sugar syrup. So good.
- Peanut Butter & Jelly Baked Oatmeal - This recipe is made with homemade jam which is so easy and flavorful.
- Apple Pie Baked Oats - Another deliciously sweet meal with tons of fiber to start your day!
Recipe FAQs
I recommend 2 teaspoons of sweetener per bag. You may need more or less, depending on your tastebuds.
In addition, different sugars have different levels of sweetness - using coconut sugar vs. brown sugar, for example.
My local stores have powdered milk in the same aisle as the hot chocolate packets. You can also find it online!
There's a few methods to get super creamy oats.
First, add 2 teaspoons of blended oats to the base recipe. This makes our texture even more like the store-bought kind.
When you're cooking the oatmeal, use milk instead of water as your liquid.
Finally, stir in a little butter and coffee creamer once the oatmeal is done!
Other Grab & Go Breakfasts You'll Love!
If you tried this Homemade Instant Oatmeal Packets Recipe, or any other recipe on my website, please leave a star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below. I love hearing from you! Thanks for visiting!
Homemade Instant Oatmeal Packets
Equipment
- Small Storage Bags
Ingredients
Base Recipe (Makes 10)
- 5 cups quick oats
- 1 tsp. salt
For Maple Brown Sugar Oatmeal, Add:
- 1 teaspoon maple sugar
- 1 teaspoon brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
For Banana Nut Oatmeal, Add:
- ¼ cup freeze-dried bananas
- 2 tablespoons chopped pecans
- 2 teaspoons brown sugar
For Strawberries and Cream Oatmeal, Add:
- ¼ cup freeze-dried strawberries
- 2 teaspoons powdered milk
- 2 teaspoons brown sugar
For Blueberry Cheesecake Oatmeal, Add:
- ¼ cup freeze-dried blueberries
- 2 teaspoons cheesecake pudding mix
- 2 teaspoons brown sugar
For Apple Pie Oatmeal, Add:
- ¼ cup freeze-dried apples
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon allspice
- 2 teaspoons brown sugar
For Cinnamon Roll Latte Oatmeal, Add:
- 1 ½ teaspoons espresso powder
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 2 teaspoons powdered milk
- 2 teaspoons maple sugar
Preparation Ingredients
- 1 cup water or milk
Instructions
Base Recipe (Makes 10)
- Mix together the oats and salt, then divide into 10 different storage bags or containers.Each portion will have ½ cup of oats.5 cups quick oats, 1 tsp. salt
- Next, add in the various ingredients to create your favorite flavor combinations.
Maple Brown Sugar
- For each packet, add in 1 tsp. maple sugar, 1 tsp. brown sugar, and 1 tsp. cinnamon.1 teaspoon maple sugar, 1 teaspoon brown sugar, 1 teaspoon cinnamon
Banana Nut
- For each packet, mix in ¼ cup freeze-dried bananas, 2 tablespoons chopped pecans, and 2 teaspoons brown sugar.¼ cup freeze-dried bananas, 2 tablespoons chopped pecans, 2 teaspoons brown sugar
Strawberries and Cream
- For each packet, pour in ¼ cup of freeze-dried strawberries, 2 teaspoons of powdered milk, and 2 teaspoons of brown sugar.¼ cup freeze-dried strawberries, 2 teaspoons powdered milk, 2 teaspoons brown sugar
Blueberry Cheesecake
- For each packet, mix in ¼ cup freeze-fried blueberries, 2 teaspoons of cheesecake-flavored pudding mix, and 2 teaspoons of brown sugar.¼ cup freeze-dried blueberries, 2 teaspoons cheesecake pudding mix, 2 teaspoons brown sugar
Apple Pie
- For each packet, pour in ¼ cup freeze-dried apples, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, ½ teaspoon nutmeg, ¼ teaspoon allspice, and 2 teaspoons brown sugar.¼ cup freeze-dried apples, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, ½ teaspoon nutmeg, ¼ teaspoon allspice, 2 teaspoons brown sugar
Cinnamon Roll Latte
- For each packet, mix in 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 2 teaspoons powdered milk, and 2 teaspoons of maple sugar.1 ½ teaspoons espresso powder, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 2 teaspoons powdered milk, 2 teaspoons maple sugar
To Prepare
- Microwave Instructions: Add the instant oatmeal packet to a microwave-safe bowl. Pour in 1 cup of liquid, either water or milk.Microwave for 2 minutes, stirring halfway. Add any additional liquid as needed to reach your desired consistency. Stovetop Instructions:Whisk one instant oatmeal packet into 1 cup of liquid, either water or milk. Stir on medium-low heat until thickened. Add any additional liquid as needed to reach your desired consistency.1 cup water or milk
Viviana says
These flavor combinations are genius!! I’ve already made the strawberries and cream (childhood favorite) and the espresso cinnamon roll. So good and easy to prep.
Shani H. says
I was a strawberries and cream girl too! Thank you so much for leaving a review 🙂