Oatmeal is a staple around here. We eat it for breakfast almost every day (even in the summer!).
We used to buy the pre-packed single packets all the time, but then realized they were really killing our budget, so we switched to this homemade recipe.
You can add whatever “extra” ingredients to this as you’d like. We really like peanut butter & honey, and I also enjoy it with just a bit of honey and some fresh fruit.
After doing the cost comparison from buying the ingredients in bulk, to buying the pre-packaged Quaker Oats single servings boxes, I determined that not only is making these homemade instant oatmeal packets better for you, but it is cheaper as well.
Pre-Packaged Servings (2 packets – 56g): $0.34
Homemade Servings (59g): $0.19
That’s a savings of about 40%, and you eat oatmeal as much as we do, you will recognize that that is a significant savings.
Homemade Instant Oatmeal Packets (Click here to print this recipe.)
Ingredients (1 Serving):
- 1/2 Cup Quick Rolled Oats
- 2 Teaspoons Milk Powder
- 1 Tablespoon Brown Sugar
- 1/2 Teaspoon CinnamonIngredients (10 Servings):
- 5 Cups Quick Rolled Oats
- 1/3 Cup Milk Powder
- 2/3 Cup Brown Sugar
- 1 1/2 Tablespoons CinnamonInstructions (Mix):
1. Mix all ingredients together in a bowl.If you are making individual servings, package the ingredients in small zippered bags.
If you are making 10 (or more) servings, mix all ingredients together and store in a storage container.
Instructions (Oatmeal):
1. Add your single serving (or 1/2 cup, if you made the mix in bulk) to a bowl and then add 3/4 cup of water or milk and mix together.2. Microwave for 40-60 seconds (pay attention, because sometimes the oatmeal can bubble over). Mix again.
3. Add whatever else you would like (honey, peanut butter, fruit, cinnamon, nuts, etc.). Mix one last time and then eat and enjoy!
Thanks for this great recipe. I have teenagers who ask for the packets with the dinosaurs still….. I checked out the nutrition facts since I have a husband with high blood pressure and was SHOCKED by how much sodium was in one of those packs of oatmeal. Needless to say, no more dinos for the boys. I’ll try these with them and see how it goes. Thanks for a great site and all the good info. Good luck with your new addition!
this is an awesome recipe and i use it when we run out of pre packaged…….. but if you compare it to price per pack of the costco multi pack 8.99$ for 60… 14cents a pack its worth my costco card lol just my two cents though still love your recipe when we run out the kids get it with choc chips so they love both
I love my morning oatmeal. I always do 1/2 cup oatmeal to 1 cup water and 1/2 cup frozen fruit on top, cook 2.5 minutes. That seems to keep it from bubbling over. Also, if using dried fruit, put it in before microwaving so that the fruit plumps up.
Great site!
Hi:)
That’s great they at least tried it. I haven’t tried it yet and I’m hoping I like it and will play around with is I guess trying whatever I can to like the taste. If not, I’ll try how you make it:) At least your kids will eat oatmeal. I have teenagers, and my daughter just won’t eat breakfast. At least they have an early lunch at 10:50.
Thanks for sharing all of these wonderful tips. My husband retired a year ago and I saw you on Toronto’s Global news. I sent him the site and next thing he came home with a binder. I’m the one who is the saver and he’s the spender so it’s awesome. He told another friend about it who is retired as well and the other day his friend said lets keep track over the year and have a competition to see who saved more, lol. We still have kids at home though and they don’t, so think we might win:)
So great you are helping so many people out!!
Smiles
Linda
Linda: If I remember correctly, we had some dried fruit and honey.
Hi:)
Did you try adding anything to the steel cut oats? I haven’t tried them yet but I know you can wake up to them in the crockpot and someone suggested to try Almond Milk, cinnamon, brown sugar, yogurt, fruit, syrup or Agave. Since my only memories of porridge is it tastes like “glue” I’m going to give it another whirl. Trying to get my cholesterol down and I know how good this is for you:)
Linda: We did not like steel cut oats when we tried them.
I make oatmeal, 5 grain cereal, steel cut oats and other hot cereal in my little rice cooker…works great and is done in 15 mins or so without hovering around the stove!
Hi:)
What about using steel cut oats? They are suppose to be healthier for you and you can do them in the crockpot overnight. Only time I have tried oatmeal was when my mom tried to pay us 25 cents to eat it when I was a kid. Tasted like glue back then so now I’m on the search to try the steal cut oats and looking for a recipe to make them tasty. Was really surprised when I went to buy them at the bulk barn what they looked like.
oh and I forgot to state this…I ground up about 1/3 of the oatmeal into powder which only made it about a 1/4 cup, but it gives the kids a little bit of a smoother texture as well…they preferred that batch compared to the one without grinding it up!
Well I made a double batch of this recipe without the milk, and it is awesome! The kids are in their glory! They just add a little bit of milk like they would with store bought instant oatmeal!
Thanks so much for this! Now if I can just get the couponing on track, I’ll be set! Eh…newbie…what can I say:-)
jess: It’s not a MUST, but it does help to add a bit of smoothness to the oatmeal.
Do you have to use skim milk powder? It is extremely expensive here…for a small bag which is only about 2 cups it’s $10! Powdered creamer is also expensive even at the bulk stores!
Any suggestions? my kids love making their own oatmeal and I will be adding hemp hearts as I have two children that are disabled and need the extra protein in their diet.
nagyjess@accesscomm.ca
You know how much I love this recipe and have made it a lot. There I was last night making the packets, tired…turns out I used to much cinnamon…any ideas how to “tone” it down?
Thanks for the recipe. I’ve done a very similar recipe to yours except I add a spoonful of raisins.
It seems lately that I don’t even bother mixing up the recipe. I seem to have acquired the taste of plain oatmeal without sugar. I just buy a bag of 1 minute quick oats bring it to work, pour some in a bowl, add boiling water and voila! lol I don’t even measure! It only takes a few minutes to thicken up. I top it with a cut-up banana and a yoghourt on top. yummy! I worked my way to no sugar and nothing added…I love it this way now! My kids still need a bit of sugar…
Lois: Oops, I put too many numbers in there. Thanks for the heads up, I fixed it.
Oops — Under “Instructions,” what happened to Point Number 2? I see Point Number 1, 3 and 4.
Can’t wait to mix these up – thank you.
Lois MacKenzie
I was horrified to know that each “pre~packaged” envelope of oatmeal only has 1/3 cup in there and I use 2! For a box of store bought (8 pkg) I was paying about 2.50 when it was on sale! I told my husband I wanted to make my own packets (after reading the cost comparison)…he was able to get a 2.2kg bag of oatmeal for about 4.00 at Superstore and he also bought the “snack size” no~name baggies. I whipped up your recipe and put 1/2 cup in each baggie, then I placed all my baggies into a rectangle storage container. I will never buy store bough again…this is so simple! I will be checking out my local Bulk Barn for additions items to put in my packets. Thank you again!
Barbara: You’re welcome; so glad you like it!
Cassie, thank you again for posting the homemade instant oatmeal packets. I just finished making them, had a bowl and really love it! Thanks again!
Thanks for the idea. We already tried a few variation!
Anne: We eat it every day (1 portion for each of us), so we make a 10 cup size and leave it on the counter for as long as it lasts (5 days) and it’s fine. I’ve never kept it in ythe refrigerator, but I imagine it would last a bit longer if kept in there.
Hi Cassie,
Thanks so much for giving us this recipe. Whenever you had shared your weekly recipes, I’d often see this, with the words, “coming soon” after, and I’d think, “I’d really like the recipe for this!”
If I make the 10-cup amount (in bulk), would you recommend that this be stored in the airtight container in the ‘fridge, or would it keep stored in a cupboard? If it can be stored in the cupboard, how long do you think it would last? Thanks!
I don’t like the muchy feeling of stovetop oatmeal. Like Diana, I just do the boiling water or even just very hot water from the tap. Wonder if this would taste as good. I’ll have to try it out. Thanks for the recipe
I too love oatmeal! When Superstore had the gift card promo I bought lots of packets to donate but thought I’d try one just to see if they had improved in the 30 years since I had one…NOT!
I get different costs though. They were on for $2.49. I’m guessing the cheapest they could ever be found is $1.99 for 10 or .20 per packet. I just finished using my $1/kg bags of oatmeal, 12 cups per bag, 1/2 cup per serving 4 cents/serving. The oatmeal I have now is from Bulk Barn @ .13/kg or $1.30 a 12 cup bag or 5 1/2 cents/serving. Even at $2.89 a bag that is still only 12 cents/serving. I guess dry milk is expensive! The packet and 1/2 cup of oatmeal both say about 43g/serving; not sure how as the 1/2 of oatmeal with 1 cup of water in the microwave for 2 1/2 minutes makes at least twice as much! (and yes, do use a large bowl as it does bubble up nicely in 2.5 minutes!)
My favourite is to add cut up fresh peaches or nectarines (one large or 2 small), about a teaspoon of brown sugar and about a splash of cream. Blueberries are good with nectarines too….or strawberries…or raspberries…you won’t believe the difference just a tablespoon of cream makes. Seems that it is much cheaper to add coffee cream than dry milk powder too.
Diana: Yes, you can do that also.
Emily: Thanks so much for the great tips! My husband likes his oatmeal made on the stove top better as well – but he’s lazy, so he usually does it this way!
I make this one;
- 1/3 cup quick oats
- 1 tbsp crushed walnuts
- 1 tbsp dried cranberries (or raisin)
- 1 tbsp of brown sugar
- 2 tsp of cinnamon
Add 2/3 cup of almond milk and microwave for 2 minutes. You can use boiling water but I’m not a fan of the texture and much prefer the taste of almond milk.
I have read recipes on the internet for making your own packets of oatmeal that you can use boiling water with. Typically they use quick cooking oats and a pulse some in a blender/food processor to make a powder. Then using 1/4 cup oats plus 2T of the powder. I have not tried this so can’t say if it works. Additional add ins vary by the recipe.
When making multiple servings of oatmeal and if I am at home (not at an office of in a motel room where only can get boiling water or use a microwave) I find the stove top to be the easiest way and I must say I like the result the best. It is made in the same time as running multiple servings through the microwave and is easily done while other morning tasks happen (getting coffee ready, empty dishwasher or whatever.
If you like your dried fruit plumped some, put the raisin or whatever in the bowl first, and pour in the hot oatmeal. Let stand for a few minutes and then stir. The fruit will absorb some moisture.
We go through a lot of oatmeal. Best ongoing deal here is to buy the large box at Superstore of Quaker (5kg). It has 2 bags inside.
I was wondering if you could just use boiling water instead of microwaving?
Found a good deal on prepackaged oatmeal at Food Basics during their back to school sale. Works out to 0.20 per serving for the Selections Lifestyle store brand.
This oatmeal also has flax (Omega 3). We add wheat germ to our oatmeal.
To increase nutrition value per serving, we top it with dried cranberries, couple pecans, walnuts, almonds and soy milk.
thank you for this recipe. now i can buy the cheaper gluten free oats(bulk) and do this. b/c the gluten free instant packs run about $6 a box here.