Make Ahead Instant Oat Jars are the perfect grab n' go breakfast for hectic mornings. Simple, nutrient packed, customizable and kid friendly.
I have to admit that I rarely do make oatmeal.. and when I do it comes out of a packet! Thanks for the inspiration with these little oatmeal jars. They are so healthy and easy to make!
-Thalia
What if I told you there's a cheaper + healthier alternative to purchasing instant oatmeal packets? Oats in a jar have quickly become a favorite portable breakfast option in our home. They're filling, nutritious, customizable and make-ahead friendly.
There are a LOT of things we love about prepping these Instant Oat Jars for a quick breakfast option, but at the top of the list is NO refined sugar! Don't get it twisted, you can make these guys as sweet as you like - but you are in control!
Purchasing instant oatmeal cups or packages from the store with similar nutritional profiles to these jars is EXPENSIVE. Quaker Oat Packets (while delicious) contain too many unknown ingredients and don't allow control of added sugar. Brands like Purely Elizabeth, which use ingredients similar to this recipe, can cost upwards of $3.00 per serving. These oat jars use high-quality, shelf-stable ingredients that can be bought in bulk (aka ... lower price), customized just for your family (use what you like and skip what you don't), and then assembled up to 3 months before eating. To serve, simply add boiling water to the pre-measured ingredients and stir. Breakfast is ready!
This recipe was inspired by my Apple Pie Overnight Oats recipe on this site, and pairs well with Simple Yogurt Parfaits.
Jump to:
🍓Ingredients
- instant oats (do not use old fashioned oats or rolled oats .. they will not cook fully)
- freeze-dried fruit (this is not the same as dried fruit)
- nuts
- seeds
- optional ingredients like coconut, peanut butter powder, cinnamon, cocoa, etc.
See recipe card for quantities and specific combinations.
📝 Preparation Instructions
Step 1: Add ½ cup of quick rolled oats to an 8 ounce mason jar.
Step 2: Add your favorite variety of freeze dried fruit (about ¼ cup).
Step 3: Add 2 tablespoons of your favorite nuts, seeds or both.
Step 4: Top with your extras of choice. We like chocolate chips or pb powder.
Hint: Freeze dried fruit is not the same as dried fruit. We recommend using freeze-dried as the texture most closely resembles fresh fruit
🥣 How To Prepare and Serve Instant Oat Jars
⭐️ Substitutions
- Gluten Free: These oatmeal jars can be made with gluten-free oats in place of regular instant oats. You may notice a slight texture difference.
- Nut Free: Add extra fruit or other preferred optional ingredients and skip on the nuts. You won't miss them.
🍴 Variations
This is less of an actual recipe post, and more of a method. Stick to using ½ cup of quick rolled oats, but fill the rest of the jar with whatever additives you like. I've found that as long as all the ingredients fit into the mason jar, adding ⅔ cup of water gives great texture every time. Here are a few of our favorite suggestions...
- Dark Chocolate + Strawberry: Oats, dried strawberries, flax seeds and chocolate chips.
- Blueberry Peanut Butter: Oats, dried blueberries, peanut butter powder and sliced almonds for crunch.
- Apple Cinnamon: Oats, dried apples, pecans, cinnamon
🔪 Equipment
I like to use these 8 oz. ball jars (<--affiliate link) for this recipe.
The jars are the perfect size to use for measurement purposes. Fill halfway (or to 4 oz.) with oats, and then use the remaining space to add in extras like nuts, seeds and dried fruit. It is also a great way to store these oat jars in your pantry. If you do not have 8 oz. jars you can use a 1-cup measuring tool to create your oat mixture and then seal in airtight plastic bags.
🥣 Storage
Instant Oat Jars can be stored in your pantry for up to 3 months. It is best to keep them in a cool dry space. Once liquid is added, the oatmeal is best enjoyed when served immediately.
❓FAQ
8 oz. mason jars are PERFECT for this recipe. The measurement lines show you exactly how many rolled oats to use and the rest of the space holds your add-ins perfectly.
If you do not have any mason jars hanging around, you can package the oats into individual sandwich bags. Use a 1-cup measuring tool (8 oz.). Fill measuring cup ½ full with oats and then add in the rest of your desired ingredients. Carefully pour into a sandwich bag. Remove air and seal. Store in a cool dry pantry for up to 8 months.
Instant oat jars can be assembled and stored up to 3 months in advance. Make sure to store them in a cool dry place.
We recommend freeze-dried fruit. It is going to give you a better texture in your oatmeal than dried fruit. Freeze-dried fruit is closer to fresh fruit in terms of nutrients and flavor. Most importantly, it rehydrates faster so that your fruit doesn't have the chewy texture of a raisin.
We purchase ours from Trader Joe's, Thrive Market or Whole Foods. A variety of freeze-dried ingredients can also be purchased from Amazon. Once you test your favorite flavors, you can save a great deal of money by buying in bulk and using the fruit as needed. It lasts A LONG TIME.
📖 Recipe
Make-Ahead Instant Oat Jars
- Total Time: 6 minutes
- Yield: 1 instant oatmeal jar 1x
Description
Make Ahead Instant Oat Jars are simple to assemble and fast to prepare on a busy morning. With nutrient dense ingredients like oats, nuts, seeds and dried fruit, breakfast recipes don't get more wholesome than this.
Ingredients
Oat Jar Assembly:
- ½ cup rolled oats
- ¼ cup freeze-dried or dehydrated fruit
- 1 Tbs nuts
- ½ Tbs of seeds (flax, hemp hearts or chia)
- Optional ingredients: coconut, peanut butter powder, cocoa, cinnamon, etc
To serve:
- ⅔ cup boiling water
- honey or maple syrup to sweeten
Instructions
Assembly instructions: Combine "oat jar assembly" ingredients listed above into an 8 oz. mason jar. Seal and store for up to 3 months in a cool dark area.
Serving instructions: Pour contents of one prepared oat jar into a bowl, add ⅔ cup of boiling water. Stir. If mixture is too thick, add an additional splash of milk or water. Top with honey or maple syrup to sweeten. Enjoy immediately.
** see notes for some of our favorite flavor combinations with measurements.
Notes
Peanut Butter Blueberry Instant Oatmeal: ½ cup rolled oats, ¼ cup dried blueberries, 1 Tbs pecans, ½ Tbs peanut butter powder, ½ teaspoon ground flax seeds (optional). Honey or maple syrup for serving.
Dark Chocolate Strawberry Instant Oatmeal: ½ cup rolled oats, ¼ cup dried strawberries, 1 Tbs pecans, ½ Tbs unsweetened cocoa powder, ½ teaspoon chia seeds (optional). Honey or maple syrup for serving.
Apple Cinnamon Instant Oatmeal: ½ cup rolled oats, ¼ cup dried apples, 1 tablespoon pecans, ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon, ½ teaspoon chia seeds (optional. Honey or maple syrup for serving.
NOTE: Nutrition information is based on the Dark Chocolate Strawberry Oatmeal with no sweetener added.
- Prep Time: 5 mins
- Cook Time: 1 min
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: no-cook
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 Jar
- Calories: 294
- Sugar: 2.3 g
- Sodium: 0.9 mg
- Fat: 10.3 g
- Carbohydrates: 37.9 g
- Protein: 7.7 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
➕MORE MAKE AHEAD BREAKFAST RECIPES
Posts Like Make Ahead Instant Oatmeal Jars:
Thalia @ butter and brioche
I have to admit that I rarely do make oatmeal.. and when I do it comes out of a packet! Thanks for the inspiration with these little oatmeal jars. They are so healthy and easy to make!
Simply Sissom
Hi Thalia! You will love them. Breakfast doesn't get any easier!
sdorttuiiplmnr
You actually make it seem so easy with your presentation but I find this matter to be actually something which I think I would never understand. It seems too complex and extremely broad for me. I am looking forward for your next post, I will try to get the hang of it!
Simply Sissom
You can do it! Just take it one meal at a time. Instant oatmeal jars are the perfect place to start!
Victoria K.
Please send me the grab N go breakfast book
Bailey Sissom
Hi Victoria! Thanks for your interest in my the Grab N' Go Breakfast Ebook. To get your FREE copy just enter your email address (so I know where to send it) into the box below the image of the Grab and Go Ebook. It will go straight to your in box! Enjoy:)
Bri
Instead of adding boiling water, could these be microwaved?
Bailey Sissom
Hi Bri. I think the microwave would work fine! You would want to pour the oatmeal contents out of the mason jar and into a large bowl though so that it doesn't boil up and make a total mess of your microwave. I hope you give these a try.. they are super simple!
Pat Dzaugis
A little confused. Do you put everything in the jar except for any fresh fruit and liquid then add liquid the night before and refrigerate? How long would one of these overnight oatmeals last in the refrigerator with the milk? I am guessing 2 days tops before it becomes a hot mess of goop.
Bailey Sissom
Hi Pat. These are not overnight oats.. they are a substitute for the oatmeal packs that you buy at the grocery store (assemble ahead of time and cook in the am). They would def become a hot mess of goop if left in the fridge with milk for a few days! Sorry the post was unclear... hope this helps!
Pam
Hi Bailey. We already eat oatmeal similiarly to your recipe and we add fresh fruit and a little milk, once cooked. I love the mason jar idea because I've been trying to really simplify my life especially in prep and clean cooking lifestyle and my family still prefers simple, clean-eating,home-cooked meals A wise man said,"... there is accomplishment through many advisors." Thanks so much for advising me. Please send me your Grab N’ Go Breakfast Ebook.
Bailey Sissom
Hi Pam! Thank you for your kind words. It really means a lot. I'm glad you found the post helpful. To get the grab n' go ebook simply go to simplysissom.com and click on "get my ebook." It is located in the sidebar. Or, if you are using a phone just scroll to the bottom of the post and enter your email so I know where to send your book:) Let me know how the oatmeal jars work for you!
Victoria Michalczyk
sorry - but don't see the "get my ebook' anywhere on your site - is this option gone now?
Bailey Sissom
It's still an option! Scroll down to the bottom of any post:)
Maureen Gabriel
Is there a way to use fresh fruit vs the dried out or freeze dried stuff?
Thanks
Bailey Sissom
Hey Maureen! I wouldn't put fresh fruit into the jars when you assemble them. I think it will get kinda mushy, unless you just make 1 or 2 and eat them the next day. Also, I like to make a TON and store them in the pantry (sometimes for quite awhile). With that said, you could definitely add fresh fruit after you cooked the oatmeal jars. I do it all the time!
Elysha
In the photographs there is something that looks like blueberries. Are those also available dehydrated?
Bailey Sissom
Yes! You can get dehydrated Blueberries. I found mine at Whole Foods, but I have seen them at Wal-Mart as well!
April Blackstone
Can you use milk instead of water and just microwave it? Using milk give it such a great texture and flavor.
Bailey Sissom
I haven't tried it, but I think that would work really well:)
April Blackstone
It works perfectly! This is such a great idea. I eat oatmeal every morning and while it's not a long tedious process it definitely helps when you're on a tight schedule. So glad I came across this post! Thank you 🙂
Peggy hardin
I would like your grab and go book. Thanks
Bailey Sissom
Hi Peggy! To get the ebook just head to this link, scroll to the bottom of the page and type in your email address so I know where to send it! Hope you love it! https://www.simplysissom.com/batch-prep-breakfast-sandwiches/
Lisa
I love this idea. Especially for camping. Where do you store these?
Bailey Sissom
Hi Lisa! I just keep them in our pantry. They last forever!
Eric Rodgers
Thanks so much for posting this! There's a coffee bar around the corner from my office that sells these at $4.99 a pop. I knew it had to be pretty simple (and less expensive) to put together myself, but didn't know just how easy. It's simple enough to prepare at work, with shelf-stable (or desk drawer-stable) ingredients.
Bailey Sissom
Hi Eric! So glad you found the post useful:) I have definitely been victim to coffee shop up-charging... it's just so convenient! I think you should coin the term "drawer-stable," lol!
Hannah
This may be a silly question but I want to avoid overflow... Add hot water to the mason jar and let it sit? Or pour the contents into a bowl then add hot water?
Thank you!
Bailey Sissom
Hi Hannah! Not a silly question at all:) I usually just use the mason jars for measurement and then pour the oatmeal into a separate bowl to cook/eat.
Rebecca
We like to use milk in our oatmeal to make it creamer...do you think one could add dry milk to the mixture to give it the creamy texture without having to add the milk? I know that I don't always have milk in the fridge at work.
Bailey Sissom
The recipe is super flexible!! I haven't tried it but I think it would be great:) If you give it a shot.. let us know how it went!
J. Bailey
You specified the use of dehydrated fruit , but your sample recipe calls for dried bananas. Are dried bananas the exception to the "no dried fruit" rule?
Would love a copy of your free e-book! Thank you for offering it.
Nina Stark
This is great...time to order some mason jars 🙂
Lewis Johnson
Perfect for meal preps.
Bailey Sissom
Yes!!