Instant oats are a convenient breakfast on the go, full of fiber and whole grains. When you make your own instant oatmeal packets, you can save money and customize the flavors and ingredients to suit your preferences.
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Oatmeal is a great breakfast. Not only is it cheap to make, but it’s also full of whole grains which are said to be good for digestion and heart healthy.
While there are many commercial products on the market, from Quaker Oats to Kodiak, making your own instant oatmeal packets is a great way to avoid high prices as well as artificial preservatives and flavors.
With our easy base recipe for instant oats, you can create your own custom flavor variety pack, adding different mix-ins to suit your preferences.
Why Make Homemade Instant Oatmeal Packets?
Traditional oats are easy to cook. There are so many great oats recipes, from Raspberry Baked Oatmeal to Not Mushy Oatmeal. It’s even great served as an Oatmeal Bar with a variety of toppings. Why lean on instant oats?
It’s quick. Traditional oatmeal can take awhile to prepare on the stove; baked oatmeal takes even longer to cook in the oven. Instant oatmeal packets make a quick and easy breakfast that takes just minutes to prepare.
It’s easy. A convenient breakfast can make your mornings go so much more smoothly. Serving food that is easy to prepare and easy to clean-up is like having the best of both worlds. A meal that the kids can actually do prep all themselves is like icing on the proverbial breakfast cake!
It’s cheap. A walk down the cereal aisle will show ya that it’s a pretty common thing, but also pretty pricey! Making your own instant oatmeal packets is so much cheaper.
Ingredients
Here’s what you’ll need to make your own instant oatmeal packets:
rolled oats – I use what’s often labeled old fashioned rolled oats which are 100% whole grain. If you want what’s closest to the commercial packet, you can use quick oats or blitz the old fashioned ones in the blender for a few minutes. Quick oats are more processed so they cook more quickly, but I prefer the thicker variety.
salt – Don’t skip the salt. It really helps the oatmeal flavor. You just need a pinch per packet. When I’ve compared with commercial packets, I’ve found that they use more salt than you might think. Taste yours until you find the amount you like.
sugar – Use whatever dry sweetener you like, such as brown sugar, white sugar, or stevia. I make my own brown sugar which I think tastes amazing in oatmeal.
powdered milk or whey protein powder – If you like creamy oatmeal, be sure to add a bit of powdered milk. Since I like creamy oats and extra protein, I use unflavored whey protein powder. It adds some creaminess with extra protein.
additional mix-ins – There’s no limit to what you can add to your instant oatmeal packets. I like to add chia seeds, flaxseed meal, dried fruit, nuts, and/or chocolate chips. (Scroll down for some ways to save money on these items.)
Variations of Instant Oatmeal Packets
There are lots of ways that you can jazz up your instant oatmeal packets. Consider these different flavor combinations:
- dried apples and cinnamon
- dried cranberries and walnuts
- dried cherries and almonds
- dried pineapple and coconut
- dried blueberries and nutmeg
- dried banana and chocolate chips
Containers for Instant Oats
Making your own instant oatmeal packets is incredibly easy. You can use plastic sandwich or snack bags or small meal prep bowls with lids. Small mason jars work great.
I love this set of glass bowls with bamboo lids. It’s perfect for heating the oats in the morning.
You can save the plastic bags and reuse them if you like. I sometimes make a few batches in disposable cardboard cups with lids for those days when I’m really in a rush. They are great for traveling.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Here’s how to make instant oatmeal packets:
Lay out the containers you’re going to place them in. You can make just one bag, but since they last a good long while, it’s more efficient to make many single-serve batches at once.
Using assembly line process, add oats in all your containers. Then the salt. Continue with the rest of your ingredients.
Seal up the containers and store them in the pantry. Store in the freezer for longer freshness.
Note to families: When my kids were very little, I made them ¼ cup batches of oatmeal packets. This was a better size for small tummies.
Serving Instructions
To serve: Place the dried oatmeal mixture in a bowl, add ½ to 1 cup boiling hot water and cover. Let sit 2 minutes. Stir and serve.
If you’re using protein powder, I recommend stirring the dry mix before you add the water and then stirring it well after adding the water. Then cover.
Save More Money with the Good Cheap Eats System
Save more of groceries when you plan, shop, and cook the Good Cheap Eats way.
Plan budget meals – Oats is one of the best budget groceries to add to your list. Keep this instant oats recipes in your regular breakfast rotation.
Plan to use leftovers – This includes leftover ingredients as well as leftover prepped . Make sure that your don’t let the dried fruit go to waste. You only need a little dried fruit for each oatmeal packet. Make Trail Mix or this fruity bundt cake with what’s left.
Shop your kitchen – Shopping the kitchen will save you money and prevent overbuying. Oats, salt, and sugar are easy to keep on hand. Use up the little bits of chocolate, nuts, and dried fruit you already have. You can even use sprinkles or leftover holiday candy for a fun twist in your oatmeal.
Shop the best store for you – Not all grocery stores offer the best pricing. For ingredients for instant oatmeal, focus on stores like ALDI or Walmart for best everyday pricing. Learn how to know the best grocery store for you.
Shop the sales and clearance – Don’t discount traditional grocery stores. Shopping the sales and clearance saves me a small fortune. I recently found rolled oats on clearance at my local Ralphs for half the price of ALDI!
Cook meals you love – If you make homecooked meals so good, you won’t be tempted toward take-out or convenience foods. Play with this recipe so that you can customize your instant oatmeal packets to be exactly like you like them.
Cook extra to freeze – Making extra for the future buys you time for your Future Self. Oats will eventually go rancid. If you like, you can stash a few oatmeal packets in the freezer to extend their shelflife. I did this when my kids were younger and their appetites were more unpredictable.
More Budget Breakfast Ideas
Tell us what you think!
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Instant Oatmeal Packets
Ingredients
Base oatmeal mix
- ½ cup rolled oats
- dash salt
- 1 teaspoon brown sugar
Optional add-ins
- 2 tablespoon whey protein powder or dried milk powder
- 1 teaspoon flax seed meal
- 1 teaspoon chia seeds
- ½ tablespoon dried fruit such as raisins, dried cranberries
- dash ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a small snack bag. Shake to combine. Store in freezer for longest shelf life.
- To serve, empty packet into a bowl. Add ½ cup to 1 cup boiling water. Cover and rest for 2 minutes before serving.
Notes
Nutrition
This post was originally published on March 11, 2010. It has been updated for content and clarity.
michelle waite
a friend of mine posted this recipe on her blog a couple of months ago. I have made a couple of batches for dh to take to work. I bought some Quaker instant oatmeal at Target on sale to get some gift cards. He is working his way through that stash, then we will return to this recipe. His co-workers were jealous and coveting his breakfast when they saw him preparing and eating the oatmeal.
Lisa
Thanks! I am trying to make more food from scratch to save money. I will add this to the list.
Jodie
Have you ever tried oat groats overnight in a crockpot? Oat groats are more minimally processed forms of oats and have a higher nutritional value.
A friend of mine taught me how to cook them overnight in a crockpot so they’re ready in the morning. 🙂 It’s just 3 cups water and 1 cup of oat groats on low. In the morning you add whatever you want – cinnamon, sugar, frozen or fresh fruit, etc.
It is a bit more chewer than regular or instant oatmeal but it smells so good waking up to the smell of oatmeal in the morning. 🙂
Tanya
Great idea! I just might have to try it. Thanks for posting it!
Sarah @ Mum In Bloom
Making your own instant oatmeal is a great idea and your recipe looks good too. An idea to cut-back on the amount of baggies (and trash) would be to refill one of your oatmeal containers, put instructions on front of how much to scoop out of your prepared “mix”, and how much water to add. Less baggies, less garbage, reusing your container – perfect ;o)
Jessica Fisher
You’re right. In fact, a reader recommended that in this post and posted a recipe. But, I was worried that ingredients would settle and it really wouldn’t be a “mix.” Have you done this before?
niki
Great post!
I had tried to make my own instant oatmeal before and it was a frugal flop. But I am always up to trying new things, so I am determined to try your way to see if I fare better.
Thanks for hosting!
FishMama
@niki, maybe just make a few test bags and see how it goes. That’s what we did. It was quite time consuming to fill all the bags, so you want to be sure it will work when you’re done.
Becky
Love the idea of the instant oatmeal mix! What if you mixed it all up and put it in a glass jar with a 1/4 cup measure and scooped out a rounded scoop into each bowl instead of the baggies? It would save money and baggies. Sometimes when I store stuff in the baggies, the food in it has a plastic-y taste.
Jessica Fisher
Good idea, Becky. A reader suggested that in this post which is what got me thinking this way in the first place. Her recipe is there. I just worried that the stuff wouldn’t stay mixed. Have you done this before?
Becky
@Jessica Fisher,
I haven’t done it before, but after reading your post, I’ve got it on my list for this week 🙂
Fleur
@Becky, I tried mixing a big batch in a jar & it was good, but the cinnamon & sugar did sink to the bottom a bit. It wasn’t really a problem, as I just gave the jar a little shake before you using it.
Patti
It is my understanding that the only difference between regular oats and quick oats is basically the size of the oats. So you can make “quick” oats from your regular oats by putting them in the blender or food processor to cut them up a bit. You can also make oat flour this way. I know that adds a step but helps if you have a lot of regular oats to eat first or there is a huge price difference!
FishMama
@Patti, we tried that in our “taste testing.” I was very hopeful since I have 5# of old fashioned. But, it didn’t cook up as “instant” as they like. And since the point for me was to have a kid-can-make-it-himself breakfast, I figured I needed to play it safe. But, I think it does work. Just different texture.
Everyone’s got texture issues. 😉
Kaara
Yeah this is a texture issue house as well! “Mom! It feels funny on my tongue!!! ” lol gotta love them!
Lori at Couponomic Stimulus Package
What a great idea!!! I will be trying this for our family soon!
Donna
My kids love it when I make these up for them. I will have to try your recipe.
I have four here if you scroll down,
http://momsfrugal.blogspot.com/search/label/Instant%20Oatmeal
just in case you’re interested 😉
Jessica Fisher
Wow! What a collection!
Chelle
Since starting a gluten free diet we’ve had to go with the gluten free oatmeal, which means really expensive and for instant forget it. I’ve found the key really is in the salt for cinnamon mixtures…and the longer you let it sit mixed the better it tastes. The only problem with the bags I’ve found is some (especially ziploc brand) leach this awful chemical smell/flavor…My favorite way is with almonds and peach slices, that is really good, sugar free, too!
christa todd
I’m not a mom (although I was a nanny for the same family for 11 years… They’re my kids 🙂 ) but I love this recipe and as a busy grad student with an incredibly limited income…. I will be using this often.
I also love that you have Watkins cinnamon! It is definitely above and beyond the rest. I know… Because my mom sells it 🙂
I really enjoy your blog and twitter…
Jessica Fisher
Thanks, Christa! My aunt has been the personal assistant of the Watkins heirs for 20+ years. So, Watkins is a household name in these here parts. 😉
Ryann
Awesome post! My mom and I are planning a 5-7 day hike on the Appalachian Trail in September and are looking for packable meals that we could cook on the trail and that would be filling… this fits the bill! Thanks!
Sarah
@Ryann,
We too are planning a 4 day hike in July and were planning to take oatmeal. I kind of had this in mind…so glad to have the recipe perfected for me. 🙂
Sienna
I started using steel cut oats instead of oatmeal… much healthier and really tasty.
Megan
When you first mentioned eating instant oatmeal in the morning, I meant to send you this link.
http://www.recipezaar.com/Instant-Oatmeal-Ala-Home-Homemade-97444
We LOVE this oatmeal, and I always add a ton of flax seed meal and some frozen berries to make it even more healthy.
Creative2xmom
We eat a lot of oatmeal in our house too. it’s frugal and filling. and so much cheaper than yogurt which is really the only other thing my kids like in the mornings. So I’m always stocking up on oatmeal. Thanks for the recipe.
Nikki
Oops! I accidentally posted twice. You can remove my duplicate if you want. I love your tip by the way!
Susie's Homemade
Huh! I never would have thought of that:-)
Alea
This sounds exactly how I like my oatmeal! I will definitely be trying this as soon as I use up my boxes of oatmeal.
BTW, You can’t have too much cinnamon in your oatmeal! 🙂
Liz@HoosierHomemade
Love this idea! I’m wondering about adding some nuts or dried fruit of some kind to add more flavor. My family likes the instant oatmeal with fruit.
Thanks for hosting!
~Liz
Jenelle
@Liz@HoosierHomemade,
Liz,
I make my own packets with dried cranberries and waluts. I think any dry fruit you like would work out great.
Jenelle
Liz@HoosierHomemade
@Jenelle, Thanks! I appreciate you letting me know!