Our Microwave oatmeal recipe is a game changer. No more sticking to pan and scrubbing dishes. You’ll be hooked on making oatmeal in the microwave.

Microwave Oatmeal Recipe in bowl with spoon

Microwave Oatmeal Recipe

We love oatmeal for breakfast and have it several times a week. But since we started making oatmeal in the microwave, there’s no turning back! Wow, the results are fantastic. After you understand your specific microwave wattage and power, you’ll be making perfect oatmeal again and again.

Use Old Fashioned Rolled Oats not quick Oats

There’s a difference between the two oats when cooking them in the microwave. The old fashioned rolled oats cook plump and perfect. It’s so delicious and fluffy, not mushy when you’re using whole oats. This recipe does not work for quick oats because those have a tendency to come out mushy. For best results buy the old fashioned rolled oats.

Microwave Oatmeal Recipe in bowl with spoon

Video: Making Easy Oatmeal in the Microwave with Old-Fashioned Oats

Breakfast just got easier & more delicious. Microwaving old-fashioned oats for a quick breakfast is super easy and tastes great. No extra pans to wash and the texture is perfect. Watch the video to see how simple and quick this technique is.

How to Cook Oatmeal in Microwave

  • Like we mentioned above, make sure you’re using old fashioned rolled oats or whole oats. We love the Bob’s Red Mill brand of Old Fashioned Rolled Oats.
  • Every microwave has a different power level, so make sure your microwave is set at the default “high” power.
  • Don’t forget to add a bit of salt. This really brings out the flavor of the oatmeal.
  • Use a bowl that is a little deeper or bigger than the amount of oatmeal you are cooking. This will allow more room for the oatmeal to expand and become fluffy.
  • Add a little milk at the end of the oatmeal is still a little dry. Leaving oatmeal covered while still hot with a microwave safe plate or cover will help the oatmeal soak up excess moisture and become fluffy.
  • All microwave oatmeal recipe details are in the recipe box below.

Quick Oats vs. Old Fashioned Oats?

Our microwave oatmeal recipe uses old fashioned oats because you’ll have better texture and bite. Quick oats will be mushy because of the way they’re processed. Quick oats are rolled thinner and pre-cooked for longer, which makes them quicker to cook but mushy. That’s why our recipe is for old fashioned oats because you have a much better texture. But if you want to use quick oats, just expect that the results will be mushier oatmeal.

Microwave Oatmeal Recipe in bowl with spoon
Microwave Oatmeal Recipe Quick and Easy | BestRecipeBox.com

Microwave Easy Oatmeal with Old-Fashioned Oats

Yield: 1 serving
Prep Time: 2 minutes
Cook Time: 4 minutes
Total Time: 6 minutes
This is for Old Fashioned Whole Grain Rolled Oats (different brands will use some variation of that – Rolled Oats, Old Fashioned Oats, Whole Oats, etc.) Do not use Instant or Quick Oats. They will cook mushy using this technique.
All microwaves cook differently even if they are of the same size and wattage. You might need to adjust your cooking time. After you cooked your first batch, you’ll know what time is best for your specific microwave and personal taste.
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Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup (40 g) rolled oats (old fashioned oats)
  • 3/4 cup (180 ml) water
  • pinch salt

Topping Ideas

  • Brown Sugar
  • Honey
  • Fresh or Dried Berries
  • Honey
  • Milk

Equipment

Instructions 

  • Add the oats, water, and salt in a microwave safe bowl. Stir to combine.
    Uncooked oats in bowl with water and salt
  • Microwave on High for 2 minutes. Let stand for another 2 minutes (if you need to remove the bowl from the microwave while it it standing – cover to allow the steam to continue cooking). Stir to fluff the oatmeal. If the oats are drier then you prefer, add a tablespoon of water or so and microwave for another 30 seconds.
    Microwaved oats in a bowl
  • Finish with any desired toppings.
    Oatmeal topped with berries and brown sugar

Notes

Refer to Your Microwave Manual for Safety & Cooking Guidelines
General microwave cooking time notes:
  • 600-800w – Lower Wattage Microwaves: More time often needed
  • 900-1100w – Average Wattage Microwaves
  • 1200-1300w – High Wattage Microwaves: Less time often needed
Microwave Safe Containers & Lids
  • Microwave safe glass (particularly borosilicate glass) & ceramic containers are the recommended choice. *Do not use cracked or otherwise damaged containers.
  • Microwave safe plastic containers are considered safe by the FDA but many health organizations caution against using them. 
  • Never use plastics (containers, bags, wrap, etc.) that are not labeled microwave safe. Never use styrofoam, metal, or aluminum foil. 
  • Lids – microwave safe glass, ceramic or silicone is best. A microwave safe plate works great as a lid. Parchment paper, wax paper, or paper towels work fine, but may not hold the steam in as much (many recipes benefits from the steam retention). Microwave safe plastic lids are considered acceptable. Usually we prefer to use a lid from glass, ceramic, or silicone and just use the microwave safe plastic lids that come with the containers for storing. 

Video

YouTube video

Nutrition Information per Serving

Calories: 154kcal, Carbohydrates: 27g, Protein: 5g, Fat: 3g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Sodium: 11mg, Potassium: 147mg, Fiber: 4g, Sugar: 1g, Calcium: 26mg, Iron: 2mg
Course: Breakfast
Cuisine: American
Calories: 154

Have you tried Savory Oatmeal?

We’re obsessed with a savory version of oatmeal, especially if you add a fried egg on top! On busy mornings one of our favorite savory breakfasts is making this simple oatmeal in the microwave. Then we’ll fry an egg, add some shaved parmesan cheese and some hot sauce on top. YUM! Or we’ll have a chili crunch savory oatmeal with the egg by adding a drizzle of our homemade chili crunch recipe.

Best Toppings for Sweet Oatmeal

There’s so many delicious options for making oatmeal more complete. Here’s some great ideas for a sweeter style of oatmeal toppings:

  • fresh fruit is the best! Fresh berries, ripe mango or pineapple is a great option. Blueberries and raspberries are always popular.
  • For fall, try sauteeing some fresh apple slices and add some cinnamon and brown sugar on top. This such a yummy fall inspired apple oatmeal recipe.
  • Chopped nuts adds great crunch. We love adding a handful of walnuts or pecans or chia seeds
  • Honey, maple syrup or agave syrup or your favorite sweetener
  • A nice light topping of brown sugar is lovely.
  • slices of banana
  • Have you tried peanut butter, cashew butter or almond butter on your oatmeal?
  • dried fruit like raisins, cherries or cranberries or chopped apricots
  • a drizzle of oat milk, almond milk or soy milk
  • for a sweet treat add some chocolate chips on top
  • a pinch of cinnamon or nutmeg
  • some dried shredded coconut

Other Great Microwave Breakfast Recipes

Love to learn more about our microwave recipes using fresh ingredients? Check out all our recipes in the microwave for breakfast, lunch, snacks and dinner. It’s super easy to learn how to cook fresh and wholesome meals in the microwave. It’s not just for reheating and this appliance definitely needs more credit for cooking real food in minutes. If you make any of our recipes, please share with us in the comments below. Or share your photo with us on social media. We’d love to see!