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.
norma
is it just mixed with the hot water are is it micro for a bit like the ones in the pkgs.
Jessica Fisher
just mix with water. The serving directions are listed above. Sometimes, we cover it with a plate and let it set for a few minutes to steam.
Heather
I do the same thing, but I store them in in squatty 1/2 pint canning jars (not for ones used while hiking though). I can grab it, add water, eat out of it, and then wash and reuse so I’m not wasting so much plastic. It’s great for work!
Jessica Fisher
That sounds like a great idea!
Martha
HI- I am going to look on the other recipe links but did I miss where you tell how to make it up when the kids or whoever are going to eat it? My daughter(10) usually just makes real oatmeal in the morning if she wants it. So I haven’t had instant since I was a little kid (25 yrs ago!)
Does it have to be microwaved or do you just add hot water? If you only use hot water could I store it in the smaller glass jars and then they could just mix and eat it in that? We are all about no disposables at our house when possible (much cheaper!).
And one more…. That seems like a really small serving…. have you found that is what they actually eat or do they eat more than one? And if they always eat 2 have you tried making it in a bigger batch?
THANKS!!!
Jessica Fisher
My kids are pretty small, so one portion is often enough. Some have two bags. We reuse the bags, so it’s not as disposable as it seems. I prefer to have the indiv portions because a mix is going to separate. This way, it’s just the right proportions.
As the post directs, add 6 Tablespoons hot water.
Rachel
Would you tell me the reason for adding the dry milk powder? I don’t want to purchase a big box of it if it isn’t necessary for the packets. Thanks! Love your recipes!
Jessica Fisher
@Rachel, you don’t have to have the milk. It just makes the oatmeal a little creamy. Feel free to leave it out — and maybe add a little milk at serving time if you like.
Kristina @ A Home Made by Kiki
Just wanted to let you know that we tried these this week. My girls love the instant oatmeal packets, but I have a hard time getting them to eat stovetop oatmeal. This is a great option to keep my costs down! They loved it!
Michele
I’ve made my own “instant” for years but did it with fitness in mind. I thought I would share my receipe in case you have someone trying to “loose weight and gain muscle” as one of your readers. The protein helped me feel less hungry later in the morning and ensured I met my minimum for my fitness routine.
Put 1 serving of quick oats & 1 scoop of vanilla protein powder in each baggie. Then when you are ready to cook simply pour the baggie into a bowl, add water and microwave per quick oat instructions. After it comes out of the microwave dump in a snack cup of fruit and cream (the cream adds all the sugar you need and the fruit as a nutrition boost. You choose what fruit, but I prefer pineapple).
If you prefer an even lower sugar option, open a can of blueberries and dump some of them in. Be aware that this will discolor the mixture, makes it less travel friendly and also cost more.
Christyn
I usually wait and add my protein powder after the oatmeal is cooked and has cooled a little,. The protein powder I used has a warning not to heat above 130 degrees….changes the texture to something less than favorable.
Prerna
OMG, dunno how I missed this.. Just what I need to make my mornings more productive and healthy. Thanks a ton, Jessica for sharing this. Will be doing this today.
Tracy
These are so much better than store bought packets! We like to add raisins. My husband takes a bunch to work to keep in his desk for a hearty breakfast at his desk each morning. He saves the baggies and brings them home for a refill as needed. Works great for a man that doesn’t like to take the time to eat breakfrast!
Melissa
All I have to say is THANK YOU. My husband has instant oatmeal every morning and this is going to save us a ton of money!
Kristen
What a great idea – seriously… seems so simple, yet genius! Thanks for sharing!
michelle waite
Sorry about all the comments on this post, but this morning I decided to snag a packet of store bought instant oatmeal for breakfast. I have been making my own oatmeal from scratch for a long time. It was so NASTY. I choose oatmeal with real ingredients that I cut up, chopped or grated anytime over store bought instant. It is usually much cheaper too.
Next time I want oatmeal, I will just make it myself. The extra time in preperation is time well spent.
Momma K (Keri)
I LLLLOVE this idea! I am forever making our own ziploc baggies of snacks for the boys because it’s SO much more economical. I never thought of this one – can’t wait to try it. Thanks : )
angie
this will come in handy on the busy mornings thanks for the great tip
Jenelle
I don’t pre-package in baggies, but I do make my own ‘Mixes” in the morning at home. My daughter eats her breakfast at daycare so I just dump everything but the water in a tuperware bowl and then cook it in the microwave when we get there. Her favortes are to mix in fresh banana or apple sauce. I’ve also used frozen bluberries and strawberries.
Hattie
Love your DIY instant oatmeal idea! I am going to try it, since I have several canisters of quick oats that I stocked up on recently when it was a good deal!
I tried a freezer breakfast burrito recipe from another blog today–I now have 8 large sausage-egg-cheese-salsa burritos individually wrapped and sitting in a bag in the freezer for my hubby pull out and microwave for his breakfast-in-the-car mornings. I hope that they are good! They certainly looked like they will be–I may have to have a breakfast-in-the-car morning myself…:)
Anna
Why didn’t I think of this before?? I am so trying this out!
Angela
Hmm… I must try! : )
Jessica
Thanks for sharing this! I’m the oatmeal eater in our house & I love the idea of making it for even less $ than I can buy it! I go through it quickly too…so making it this way will be great! & I love the idea of adding dried fruit….yum! I usually add frozen blueberries that I thaw for a few secs. in the micro. Adds just the sweetness I need w/o extra sugar!
Alicia
We aren’t big oatmeal eaters around here, but maybe I’ll have to try this. I wonder what other flavors (besides cinnamon) I could try…
Adding dried fruit would be yummy.
Megan
My son is allergic to cinnamon so we add brown sugar or maple syrup. Those are his favorites. I really like raisins in mine.
michelle waite
Sorry, one more comment. I have friend who use mason jars to store the oatmeal, to avoid using plastics and save on ziplock bags. I give DH the whole batch in a tupperwear dish and he keeps it in his locker at work and then just mixes it with water in a coffee mug.