Oatmeal – How to Make Homemade Instant Oatmeal
Homemade instant oatmeal makes it easy for you to eat your oatmeal, whether at home or away.
Oats is a whole grain that contains vitamins, minerals, fibre and phytochemicals that work together to satisfy your hunger, manage blood sugar levels, improve blood cholesterol and help guard against heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, obesity and some cancers. It comes in various forms – naked or hulless oats, steel cut oats, large flake oats, quick oat and instant oats. All of them are whole grain oats, they’re just cut or rolled to different sizes. At a whole grain panel discussion I participated in with nutrition researchers we discussed if there was a nutritional difference between the size of oats. The smaller the oats, the higher the glycemic index, meaning the more likely it is to spike blood sugar levels. So when you can, go for the largest oats you can, but know that no matter what size, you’re getting the benefits of whole grains.
No Time for Oatmeal?
Don’t worry, this homemade instant oatmeal mix solves that dilemma. After spending less than 10 minutes making this mix with these simple ingredients, you’ll be able to make a bowl of oatmeal in 3 minutes. One batch of mix will make about 18 bowls of oatmeal.
Add whatever fruits, nuts and seeds you want – fresh, frozen or dried. And voila!
Take Your Oatmeal On the Road
You can even make instant oatmeal packages with your favorite dried toppings already added. Super convenient for when you’re on the go – at work or at play. 
Here’s my brother making a batch on a backcountry kayak adventure. Best oatmeal ever!
Okay, enough talk. Here’s how to make homemade instant oatmeal.
Recipe for Homemade Instant Oatmeal
Homemade Instant Oatmeal Mix
Ingredients
- 6 cups large flake oats divided
- 1/3 cup ground flax
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1 Tbsp pie spice or cinnamon
Instructions
- Combine 3 cups of oats, flax, sugar and pie spice in food processor. Pulse to a coarse powder.
- Mix with remaining 3 cups of large flake oats.
- Store mix in a well sealed container.
- If making individual portions, use 1/3 cup of mix per single serving. Add 1-2 tablespoons of fruit, 1 tablespoon of nuts or seeds and/or 1 tsp of powders (dried fruit powder, cocoa, etc.).
To Make Hot Oatmeal in Microwave
- Mix 1/3 cup mix with 1 cup of water in a microwaveable bowl.
- Heat on high for 1 minute. Stir and repeat two times. Careful, bowl will be hot!
- Stir and serve with your favorite toppings.
To Make Hot Oatmeal Using Boiling Water
- In a serving bowl, mix 1/3 cup mix with 1 cup of boiling water.
- Cover bowl and let rest for 5 minutes.
- Stir and serve with your favorite toppings.
Notes
Blueberry & Almond
Apple & Pecan
Banana & Nut
Cocoa Powder & Banana
Cherry & Almond
Cranberry & Orange
Apricot & Ginger
Strawberry & Rhubarb
Mango, Pineapple & Coconut
Cranberry & Walnut
Yogurt & Raspberry
Pepitas & Jam Coconut Milk Powder or Milk Powder Add 1-2 Tbsp coconut milk powder or milk powder for added creaminess, flavour, calories and fat. Perfect for high energy adventures like backcountry camping.
Here are a few more pics of the process and some of our favorite combinations. Here’s what the coarse powder looks like in the bowl of the food processor.
Chopping half of the large flakes, makes this mix cook up fast. Keeping the other half whole adds great texture and offers the low glycyemic, long lasting benefits of large flake oats. Perfect compromise.
Here’s a banana walnut version. 
And here’s a strawberry and rhubarb version. I know, you probably don’t have dehydrated rhubarb kicking around your house – that’s okay, the point is use whatever you love and have access to – dried cranberries, raisins or apricots are great too.
We have a big jar of mix in our cupboard for everyday use. For lunch bags or camping, we pre-make little baggies or use the vacuum sealer.
Another way to get quick oatmeal in the morning is to make some overnight oats. Mix at night and it’s ready to eat in the morning.
When it comes to homemade convenience, this recipe is one of my favorites. For more recipes, check out the complete list at Homemade Convenience Foods.
So tell me, do you eat oatmeal? Do you have a favorite topping? If not oatmeal, what’s your favorite breakfast food? Drop me a line or post a photo on Instagram. Add #getgettys so I can follow along.
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Thanks for sharing!