Cut your morning cook time by making your own Homemade Instant Oatmeal (also called instant oats).  This instant oatmeal recipe is an easy one to make. By toasting and grinding old fashioned oats ahead of time, these toasted oats cook in just 3-5 minutes.

A clear glass jar of rolled oats.

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 stuff which oftentimes has a high sugar content.

A cookie sheet with old fashioned oats and a metal measuring cup on it.

Instant Oatmeal Recipe

The only things you will need to make this recipe is a blender or food processor and some old fashioned oats (rolled oats).

  • Rolled oats. We use old fashioned oats (rolled oats). I use Bob’s Red Mill oats gluten-free and organic oats.

Find printable recipe with measurements below.

A food processor filled with old fashioned oats.

How to Make Instant Oatmeal

This recipe 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.

A food processor filled with rolled oats to make homemade instant oatmeal.

How to Cook Instant Oatmeal

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 add-ins.
  • Add-ins. Add cinnamon, nuts, sliced banana, berries, raisins, honey, pure maple syrup, etc.
  • Milk. Add your favorite almond milk, oat milk or coconut milk.  

A clear glass mason jar filled with homemade instant oatmeal.

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. 

A light blue bowl filled with cooked instant oatmeal and sliced bananas and berries.

More Oatmeal Recipes

Homemade Instant Oatmeal
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).  This instant oatmeal recipe is an easy one to make. By toasting and grinding old fashioned oats ahead of time, these toasted oats cook in just 3-5 minutes.

Ingredients

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

Notes

For Cooking Homemade Instant Oatmeal

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

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,

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

12

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 115Total Fat: 2gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 2mgCarbohydrates: 21gFiber: 3gSugar: 0gProtein: 4g

theharvestkitchen.com attempts to provide accurate information, however, this nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate only. The nutritional information provided comes from online sources and calculations. See full disclaimer on About page.