Homemade Instant Oatmeal

Cut your morning cook time by making your own Homemade Instant Oatmeal (also called instant oats).  By toasting and grinding old fashioned oats ahead of time, these toasted oats cook in just 3-5 minutes and makes the best instant oatmeal!

Lightly roasting oats brings out its subtly sweet and nutty flavor. Making Homemade Instant Oatmeal is a much healthier choice than buying store-bought packaged instant oatmeal which oftentimes has a high sugar content.

Instant Oatmeal Recipe

You only need organic old fashioned oats (rolled oats) and a food processor or blender to make this instant oats recipe

• 4 cups old fashioned oats (rolled oats) – I use Bob’s Red Mill oats

How to Make Instant Oatmeal

This heart healthy breakfast comes together in about 20-25 minutes (10-15 for toasting oats and 5 minutes for cooking oatmeal)

• Bake. Spread old-fashioned oats on a baking sheet and bake for 10-15 minutes or until just lightly toasted. It can burn quickly, so keep an eye on it.
• Process. Pour the toasted oats in a food processor and pulse until coarsely chopped.

How to Cook Instant Oatmeal

I love everything about this quick oatmeal recipe! After you’ve toasted the rolled oats, you can either cook the toasted oats over the stove in about half the time it takes to cook regular oatmeal, or pour boiling water into a cup and stir in the toasted oats and let them soak to cook. 

• Cook. Bring water to a boil in a sauce pan. Add oats to a cup or bowl and stir in enough boiling water to just cover oats. Let stand 3-4 minutes. Or add 1 cup water  to a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Stir in oats and cook for 3-4 minutes. Remove from heat and add in your favorite instant oatmeal flavors.
• Instant oatmeal flavors. Add cinnamon, nuts, sliced banana, berries, raisins, honey, pure maple syrup, etc.
• Milk. Pour in your favorite almond milk, oat milk or coconut milk.  

Is Instant Oatmeal Good For You

Instant oatmeal has the same nutritional benefits as rolled oats (old fashioned oats).  However, store bought instant oatmeal is processed and oftentimes contains additional ingredients like refined sugar, flavorings, powdered skim milk and additives. 

Health Benefits of Oatmeal

• Oats are among the healthiest grains you can consume.  (1) (2) (3)
• Good source of vitamins B1, B5 and folate and magnesium, zinc, iron and manganese.
• Rich with beta-glucan, a type of fiber, which may aid weight loss.
• The fiber found in oatmeal helps to lower blood sugar levels and reduces risk of heart disease.
• Good source of avenanthramides (a powerful antioxidant) which may help to dilate blood vessels and lower blood pressure, and improving blood flow.
• Lowers LDL cholesterol levels (the bad kind). (4)

Oatmeal Weight Loss

• Oatmeal is rich with fiber which enhances satiety and helps with appetite control so we’ll consume fewer calories (less snacking in between meals).  (4) (5)
• One cup of plain cooked oatmeal (without any toppings and milk) contains only 150 calories.  It provides 5 grams of fiber and about 6 grams of protein.

More Healthy Oatmeal Recipes You’ll Love

• Baked Oatmeal
• Heart Healthy Overnight Oats
• Quinoa and Oatmeal Cereal
• Steel Cut Oatmeal
• Hot Oatmeal Cereal

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Yield: 12 servings

Homemade Instant Oatmeal

Cook Time 20 minutes

Total Time 20 minutes

Cut your morning cook time by making your own Homemade Instant Oatmeal (also called instant oats).  By toasting and grinding old fashioned oats ahead of time, these toasted oats cook in just 3-5 minutes and makes the best instant oatmeal!

Ingredients

• 4 cups old fashioned oats (rolled oats) - I use Bob's Red Mill oats

Cooking Toasted Oats

• 2/3 cup water
• 1/3 cup toasted oats

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Spread old-fashioned oats on a baking sheet and bake for 10-15 minutes or until just lightly toasted. It can burn quickly, so keep an eye on it. Stir the oats a couple of times so they bake evenly.
3. Pour the toasted oats in a food processor and pulse until coarsely chopped.

How to Cook Instant Oatmeal

1. Bring water to a boil in a saucepan. Stir in the toasted oats, reduce heat to a low simmer and cook for 3-4 minutes or until most of the water is absorbed.
2. Alternatively add toasted oats to a cup or bowl and pour boiling water over them. Stir and let stand 3-4 minutes until most of the water is absorbed.
3. Add in flavorings such as cinnamon, nuts, banana, berries, raisins, honey, pure maple syrup,