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Tasty, creamy oatmeal you can make in the microwave super fast using quick oats? Yes, please! You’re going to love it so keep reading for all the tips.
Quick Oats in the Microwave
While I love overnight oats, I also enjoy a delicious bowl of oatmeal that I can assemble fast using any oats by microwaving old-fashioned oats or cooking this recipe even faster with quick oats and still making the most of all the oatmeal health benefits.
Microwave quick oatmeal is as simple as making oats on the stove, yet there are some tricks to get the best consistency and keep the overflowing mess away.
Is Microwave Oatmeal Better with Milk or Water?
You can microwave quick oats using water or milk. Oats with water are pretty plain, while if you only use milk, the oatmeal will be too thick. I like to dilute milk with water to make the oatmeal thicker and creamier, while adding flavor. In the end, you pick!
How to Microwave Quick Oats
Making quick oats in the microwave won’t be any mess if you follow these steps and tips:
- Combine oats with liquid.
To keep oatmeal from overflowing, use a bigger bowl than you think you need to combine quick oats and liquid. - Microwave.
Microwave for 1 minute and stir. Add 30 extra seconds if needed. This will vary depending on microwave wattage. - Serve.
Grab your bowl of oatmeal and load it up with your favorite toppings!
Ratio of Oats to Water
When cooking quick oats in the microwave, the optimal ratio is 2:1 quick oats to water, which means 1 cup of water for each ½ cup of oats. This same ratio applies when using milk.
| Servings | Oats | Water |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | ½ cup | 1 cup |
| 2 | 1 cup | 2 cups |
| 3 | 1 ½ cups | 3 cups |
| 4 | 2 cups | 4 cups |
Easy Toppings for Quick Oats
Grab any fruit in cubes or slices; add berries, honey, Greek yogurt, or dried fruit. Check this list with 100 of the best oatmeal toppings, and you’ll want to add them all!
Microwave Quick Oats (No Overflowing Mess!)
Ingredients
- ½ cup quick oats
- 1 teaspoon brown sugar, optional
- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon, optional
- Pinch of salt
- ¾ cup milk or water*
- Fruit, for topping
Instructions
Combine ingredients:
- In a microwave-safe bowl, place the quick oats, brown sugar, cinnamon (if using), and a pinch of salt.
- Pour the milk or water into the bowl and mix to combine. Make sure to use a large enough bowl for the oats to cook.
Microwave:
- Microwave on high for 1 minute. Cook for an additional 30 seconds if necessary.
Serve:
- Remove the oatmeal from the microwave and serve as is or topped with your favorite toppings.
Notes
- Use only water or dilute milk with water. If you only use milk, the oatmeal will be too thick.
- Nutritional information is calculated without any toppings.
Kat says
Microwave overflows are the absolute worst to clean up in the morning. Your advice about the bowl size actually helps since I usually just guess. Adding fresh fruit makes such a huge difference for breakfast.