Microwave Oatmeal (4 Flavors!)

Here’s an all-inclusive guide on all things Microwave Oatmeal, with four different recipes! I’m sharing my go-to base oatmeal recipe plus a recipe for Banana-Peanut Butter Oatmeal, Strawberries and Cream Oatmeal, and Maple-Brown Sugar Oatmeal.

We made an entire guide on How To Make Oatmeal on the stovetop (with four different recipes!) and we’ve shared a similar guide for making Overnight Oats (with four more different recipes). While the recipes on both of those guides are incredible, they all take a bit more prep and cook time (hot oats) or a long chilling time (overnight oats).

With these Microwave Oatmeal recipes, we’re looking for the quickest possible prep time while not making any sacrifices on flavor!

Microwave Oatmeal

I was practically raised instant oatmeal packets—maple and brown sugar was always my go-to! And, I’ll admit I still enjoy them every now and again. They’re a nostalgic breakfast for me!

You really can’t beat the convenience and how quickly they come together. That is, until today’s post—Microwave Oatmeal that’s nearly as easy as the packets—no more than 5 minutes of prep time! And, these oats are ridiculously tasty, thick, and creamy!

Not only is it more economical to make your own oatmeal, but also, when you ditch the packets, you can make your bowl of oats exactly how you’d like them. You don’t need to worry about what preservatives or chemicals may be lurking in your breakfast.

What Oats To Use

There are three types of oats and the difference between them is how much the original ‘groat’ has been processed. Groats are the hulled kernels of grain, and are the most unprocessed version of the whole grain. The more the grain is processed, the more it affects the taste, texture, and cooking times.

For these microwave oatmeal recipes, we’re using Quick Oats. Quick oats are partially cooked, dried, and then rolled and pressed thinner than old-fashioned oats. They cook up quickly and yield a great creamy texture in a short time in the microwave.

We don’t recommend using quick oats in stovetop oatmeal because that can make them mushier. But with the short cook time and the microwave as the heat source, they end up wonderfully creamy instead of mushy.

Microwave Oatmeal Ingredients

While oatmeal can be made with just oats and water, I’m all about truly delicious oatmeal that you’ll be craving the next day. So, here are a few more add-ins, and they’re all pantry staples that don’t take much effort or time to add.

• Quick oats: They cook super fast and turn out nice and creamy—almost like porridge.
• Plant-based milk: Any milk works, but I like unsweetened almond or macadamia milk best. They add more flavor than water and make the oats super creamy—without many extra calories. (especially if you get 30-calorie almond milk or 40-calorie macadamia nut milk). It also gives the oatmeal much creamier texture. Use 1%, 2%, or whole milk for extra creamy oats with a richer flavor.
• Light brown sugar: Just a little bit of sugar takes oats from meh to amazing! Try coconut sugar or maple syrup if you want a natural option. Start with a little since it’s always easy to add more. And on the flip side, if you want it sweeter, increase the sugar or sprinkle some on top of the oats right out of the microwave.
• Salt: It might be a small amount, but it brings out all the flavors—don’t skip it!
• Flavor enhancers: I love adding vanilla extract and ground cinnamon to my base recipe, but you can skip one or use more if you want.

Microwave Oatmeal Toppings

With the four recipes I’m sharing today, I also recommend some topping ideas in the recipe card. But toppings for oatmeal are truly endless! Use the base recipe and create your own bowl of oats using some of the ideas below:

• Bite-sized pieces of fresh fruit: Bananas, pineapple, kiwis, strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, mango, etc.—try whatever fresh fruit you like.
• Small frozen fruit: I prefer fresh, but frozen berries are quite good in oatmeal—especially wild frozen blueberries. (yum!)
• A handful (or two) of granola: Granola adds a fun contrasting texture.
• A handful (or two) of nuts: Try sliced or slivered almonds, chopped pecans, chopped walnuts, chopped pistachios, chopped cashews, or peanuts.
• Chia seeds: These small seeds are packed with good nutrients, are rich in antioxidants, and provide fiber, iron, and calcium. They add a nice textural topping.
• Dried fruits: Raisins, dried cranberries, currants, dried cherries, dried blueberries, dried figs, chopped dates, etc. are all great on top of oatmeal.
• Nut butter: Almond butter, cashew butter, or peanut butter drizzled over oatmeal is delicious. Or get a flavored almond butter for even more flavor—we love these!
• Coconut: Toasted, unsweetened coconut adds a nice texture and flavor.
• Sweetener: A sprinkle of brown sugar or drizzle of honey, pure maple syrup, or agave nectar makes a tasty topping for a bowl of hot oats.

Oatmeal Tips

• Let the oatmeal sit: While you likely wouldn’t want a bowl of piping hot oats straight out of the microwave, it’s important to let the oats stand and cool a bit. They’ll thicken as they sit and the flavor gets better too.
• Taste test: Before sitting down to enjoy the oats, make sure to give them a quick taste. If it needs more flavor, add a pinch of salt or a bit more sugar.
• Cook how you like it: Want thicker oats? Microwave 30 seconds more to soak up more liquid. I like mine creamy, so 90 seconds plus a short rest is perfect. If you do microwave longer, just keep in mind they keep firming up after cooking.
• If the oats get too dry, stir in a splash of milk or creamer to make them creamy again.
• Get to know your microwave: Each microwave is a little different. If yours tends to run hotter, start with less time. If it runs cooler, you may need more time added on. It might take a a few tries with your microwave, but once you’ve tested the oats a couple of times, you’ll know the exact timing to use.

More Easy Breakfast Ideas:

• No-Bake Healthy Breakfast Cookies
• Chocolate-Chia Seed Pudding
• Chocolate Chip Pancakes
• Protein Breakfast Cookies
• One-Pan Breakfast Potatoes and Bacon