But I used to think I didn’t like it. I thought it was a texture issue. It was, in part, but mostly it was a taste issue.

See, I would buy one of those boxes of flavored oatmeal packets and try them out. They seemed quick, they seemed healthy, they seemed like a good idea.

They were not.

They were mushy and runny and full of weird additives masquerading as apples and cinnamon or undisclosed “berry” flavors.

Finally, my then-boyfriend, now-husband turned me on to real oatmeal. You know, made using just oats.

Hello breakfast! 😍

Plus, it’s so quick and easy. It’s ready in just 3 minutes and it’s so warm and cozy and comforting.

It’s also a naturally gluten-free, vegan and vegetarian breakfast. (Make sure you choose gluten-free oats if that is a concern.)

You can certainly make yours on the stove, but we’re partial to the quick microwave trick.

It’s fast and easy and you can then eat it straight from the bowl that you cooked it in, so you don’t have an extra pot to clean up like you would if you made it on the stove.

It’s really simple too, but let me offer some tips to ensure you don’t end up with a mess in the microwave.

How to make oatmeal in the microwave:

• Put 1/2 cup of oats (1 serving) into a decent sized microwave bowl. It needs to big enough so it doesn’t bubble over and make a mess while cooking.
• Add your choice of liquid, about 2/3rds of a cup. You can use all water, all milk (even a non-dairy milk like soy milk) or a combination of them.
• Place the bowl in the microwave and set it for 2 minutes, 45 seconds. Also, be sure to reduce the power to 70% to cook the oatmeal. This prevents it from getting too hot and bubbling all over in your microwave. Not fun to clean up.

Note: You can play with the amount of liquid and how long you microwave the oats to get it to your desired consistency.

Voila, a steaming bowl of comfort is ready for you!

(If you are making more than one serving, I’d recommend doing each one separately. Or else using a really large bowl so it doesn’t bubble over.)

Rushing out the door? My husband scoops his into a cup and eats it with a spoon in the car on the way to work. 👍

Oatmeal also makes great baby food. You can add water or milk (breast, formula, etc.) and then puree it to the right consistency. More on that in this batch homemade baby food post, which has you make 5 different baby food purees in just 20 minutes. 🙌

My kids now (at 3 1/2 and 1 1/2 years old) still love oatmeal. J, in fact, usually requires more than an adult-size serving. He’s a big boy!

Delicious, easy, fast and even portable, microwave oatmeal is the answer to crazy mornings. And breakfast never had it so good.

We’re often lazy and go plain with our oatmeal around here. Well, actually, I sprinkle mine with sea salt because I like it savory. Strange, I know, but it hits the spot.

Other times, we want to fix up our oatmeal. Here’s a few ideas to try.

Topping ideas for microwave oatmeal:

* Top with a drizzle of honey or maple syrup or a sprinkle of brown sugar. A sprinkle of cinnamon is a nice addition too.

* Add some banana slices or diced strawberry or fresh blueberries.

* Top with dried fruit (raisins, dried cranberries or blueberries, dried apricots, etc.) and chopped nuts (walnuts, pecans or whatever you’ve got). My husband also will toss on just some trail mix from a bag mix for his oatmeal.

* Apple chips and other fruit “chips” add a fun crunchy topping.

* Stir in a couple spoonfuls of applesauce and a sprinkle of cinnamon. A baby/kid favorite here.

* Stir in a dollop of peanut butter and add some honey or banana slices. Or some mini chocolate chips.

* Top with scrambled eggs and soy sauce. My personal favorite. Strange I know, but don’t knock savory oatmeal till you try it!

Here’s a few other oatmeal recipes you might want to try:

• Chocolate oatmeal (sounds indulgent but it’s actually wholesome)
• Peanut butter oatmeal with cinnamon and apples
• Savory oatmeal bowl with mushrooms, spinach and a fried egg. Swoon!

Give oatmeal another chance. You’ll be glad you did.

Enjoy!

XO,

Kathryn

P.S. Check out all of my healthy oatmeal recipes for more breakfast inspiration.

Continue to Content

Yield: 1 serving

3-minute microwave oatmeal

Print

Microwave oatmeal is a super-fast breakfast with tons of topping options that serves up some serious comfort!

Prep Time 1 minute

Cook Time 3 minutes

Total Time 4 minutes

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup old fashioned rolled oats
• 2/3 cup liquid (water, milk or combination - see notes)

Instructions

1. Measure oats into a large microwave-safe bowl. It needs to be big enough so the liquid won't boil over while cooking.
2. Add liquid and make sure all of the oats are submerged.
3. Adjust microwave to 70% power then microwave on high for 2 minutes, 45 seconds.
4. Add your favorite toppings and enjoy!

Notes

Be sure your bowl is big enough, otherwise the oats and/or liquid will bubble over in the microwave while cooking.

You can use all water, all milk (including non-dairy milks like soy milk) or a combination of the two for the liquid in this recipe.

You can adjust the liquid (or add extra after it cooks) to get the oatmeal to your desired consistency. Same goes for microwave times - cook it a little longer to firm it up a bit more or a little less to keep it more liquidy.

Topping ideas for oatmeal:

* Top with a drizzle of honey or maple syrup or a sprinkle of brown sugar. A sprinkle of cinnamon is a nice addition too.

* Add some banana slices or diced strawberry or fresh blueberries.

* Top with dried fruit (raisins, dried cranberries or blueberries, dried apricots, etc.) and chopped nuts (walnuts, pecans or whatever you’ve got). My husband also will toss on just some trail mix from a bag mix for his oatmeal.

* Apple chips and other fruit "chips" add a fun crunchy topping.

* Stir in a couple spoonfuls of applesauce and a sprinkle of cinnamon. A baby/kid favorite here.

* Stir in a dollop of peanut butter and add some honey or banana slices. Or some mini chocolate chips.

* Top with scrambled eggs and soy sauce. My personal favorite. Strange I know, but don’t knock savory oatmeal till you try it!

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

1

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 154Total Fat: 3gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 2mgCarbohydrates: 28gFiber: 4gSugar: 0gProtein: 5g