Easy Homemade Instant Oatmeal Packets Kids Love

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Oatmeal to go is DIY instant oatmeal packets that are quick and easy to make. You get full control over the flavors (along with the sugar content), and only need hot water to turn into a hot breakfast perfect for on-the-go, lunch boxes, or add milk and refrigerate for overnight oats. Gluten-free.

Kids love oatmeal to go! Just like store-bought oatmeal packets, kids can make these packets all on their own. All they have to do is add hot water and grab a spoon to enjoy!

For parents, oatmeal packets provide the flexibility we are looking for in the mornings. As we tackle the morning routine, we can know our kids are making a delicious and nutrient-dense breakfast.

Oatmeal in a white bowl topped with slices of banana.

With homemade oatmeal packets, you get full control over the ingredients. Help your kids assemble these packets with flavors while controlling the sugar content. The whole family will be impressed with how customizable these packets really are!

A variety of homemade instant oatmeal flavors in containers.

We are so excited for you and your family to create a variety of instant oatmeal flavors. Grab the equipment and ingredients needed and get started today!

Table of Contents

Equipment

medium-sized mixing bowl
stir spoon
blender
measuring spoons
airtight storage containers

Ingredients

3 cups gluten-free quick cook oats
dried fruit
cinnamon and sugar
peanut butter powder
hot chocolate mix
trail mix

A bowl of oats and a small food processor filled with pureed oats.

How to Make

Puree oatmeal. Add 1 cup of oatmeal to a blender. Puree until finely chopped.
Combine oats. Combine the pureed oats with the regular gf quick cook oats. Divide between 5 containers.
Add toppings. To each container add toppings of your choice.

A variety of toppings for homemade instant oatmeal.

Quick Oats

This recipe uses gluten-free quick oats – they cook much quicker than gluten-free versions of old-fashioned or steel-cut oats because they are rolled thinner. Perfect for rushed mornings!

A container of oats surrounded by a variety of toppings

Oatmeal Add Ins

There are so many possibilities when it comes to choosing oatmeal add-ins. It is fun to get creative with mixing in a variety of ingredients. Your kids will have a blast creating their oatmeal flavors. To give them some inspiration, we are sharing our four favorite flavors!

Dried Fruit with Cinnamon and Sugar
Chocolate Peanut Butter
Dried Fruit and Nuts
Trail Mix Blend

PRO TIP: Use dry shelf-stable mix-ins for instant oatmeal if the plan is to store at room temperature for future use.

Dried Fruit with Cinnamon and Sugar

2 tablespoons dried fruit + 1 teaspoon cinnamon and sugar

Dried mango and pineapple are the top two picks by my kids. Encourage your kids to try a variety of dried fruits to find their favorite. Here are a few tasty dried fruit options to consider adding:

Mangos
Pineapples
Apples
Bananas
Apricots
Blueberries
Cranberries
Cherries
Strawberries
Figs
Dates
Prunes

A container of chocolate oats surrounded by a variety of toppings

Chocolate Peanut Butter

2 tablespoons peanut butter powder + 1 tablespoon hot chocolate mix

Kids absolutely love the flavor of hot chocolate paired with the peanut butter powder. We use our recipe for the BEST Hot Chocolate Mix for this combination!

A container of oats with trail mix on top surrounded by a variety of toppings

Dried Fruit and Nuts

2 tablespoons dried fruit + 2 tablespoons nuts

There are a variety of dried fruits and nuts to choose. We recommend using any that you have on hand. If you are looking for a few highly recommended combinations, check these out!

Dried Fruits	Nuts
Apples	Pecans
Bananas	Peanuts
Apricots	Macadamia
Blueberries	Walnuts
Cherries	Almonds

MIX IT UP: Swap any seed for the nuts to accommodate food allergies in your home. Flax, chia, sunflower or pumpkin seeds all make delicious alternatives!

Trail Mix Blend

2 tablespoons trail mix

Kids enjoy trail mix blends packed with nuts, seeds, fruit, shredded coconut, mini chocolate chips and granola. Experiment with a new trail mix blend each time!

FAQ

Why do you puree 1 cup of the oats for this recipe?

Pureeing will turn the oats into oat flour. This thickens the oatmeal to create the creamy texture that kids look for.

How much hot water do you pour into a single packet?

Use 1/2 – 3/4 cup of hot water depending on how thick you want the oatmeal.

How do you cool down hot oatmeal for young kids?

You can add ice cubes, frozen fruit, or 1-2 Tablespoons of cold water to the oatmeal.

How long can you keep homemade instant oatmeal?

With shelf-staple add-ins, these homemade instant oatmeal packets can be kept for 3 months in the cabinet, pantry or on the countertop. We recommend storing in a container as pictured, a ziplock bag or mason jar.

Hot water being poured into a container filled with oats.

How To Prepare

Add hot water or milk to the instant oatmeal packet. Let sit for 3-5 minutes then serve immediately.

Enjoy overnight oats? Add cold water to the oatmeal packet then set in the fridge overnight.

More Oatmeal Recipes

More Easy Breakfast Ideas

CKC Features both Gluten-Free Guidance and Kids Cooking Instructions: If you’re new to eating gluten-free we understand it’s overwhelming trying to figure out which foods may contain gluten and which ones don’t. All of our gluten-free recipes marked with this symbol ✅ represent foods that need to be checked for gluten or cross-contamination.

The ⭐️ symbol in the recipe below denotes the steps in which kid cooks may need a helper (depending on age). If there is no ⭐️ symbol, that step (or recipe) doesn’t require a helper.

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Oatmeal to Go

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5 from 1 vote

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 0

Total Time 10

Servings 5