How to Make Oatmeal
Published 10/23/2023 • Updated 4/23/2025
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Welcome to a comprehensive guide to oatmeal! If you’ve ever wondered how to make oatmeal, you are in the right place.
To get straight to the point –> the easiest and most foolproof method to make oatmeal is on the stovetop. The ratio is 2 cups liquid to 1 cup rolled oats. Simply bring it to a boil over high heat and then reduce to low and let simmer for 3-5 minutes until thick.
9 days out of 10, I’m making oatmeal for breakfast. Some may call it an addition, but I call it a lifestyle 😛 Oatmeal is a quick and easy, 100% whole grain breakfast. You can make one serving or meal-prep it for the week. You can make it as basic as you want, or add flavors such as nut butter or banana to make it taste like dessert!
I am a basic oatmeal queen and usually use the microwave in the morning, but if I have the time, you can’t go wrong with stovetop oatmeal — thick, fluffy, and perfectly cooked.
I have tested every method of making oatmeal, along with all the different types of oats to give you the best ratio of liquid to oats and cooking instructions. This post is extremely thorough, so if you’d like our go-to stovetop oatmeal recipe, jump to the recipe card here!
Types of Oatmeal I Tested
I played around with 3 different variations of oatmeal because there is always a time and a place for each one.
- Steel-cut oats are essentially whole oat groats cut into 3 or 4 pieces to create smaller oat groats. Steel-cut oats are also referred to as Irish or Scottish Oats. They feel like thick pieces of rice when uncooked and their cooked texture has a chewy bite to it. A typical bowl of stovetop steel-cut oats can take around 40 minutes to cook because it is less processed than rolled or quick-cooking oats.
- Quick-cooking oats or “Instant Oats,” are the most processed byproduct of the oat groat, but take the least amount of time to prepare. Essentially quick oats are just rolled oats that have been chopped into smaller pieces so that they cook faster. When cooked, they have a creamy texture and can be cooked as fast as 2 minutes in the microwave.
- Rolled oats are another by-product of the oat groat. They are steamed and then rolled to produce a thin, flat, rolled oat. Rolled oats are also referred to as old-fashioned oats. This type of oatmeal cooks much faster than steel-cut oats and is easily found at pretty much every supermarket in America.
Different Oatmeal Cooking Methods We Tested
There are many different ways to prepare oatmeal. From the stovetop to the microwave to the Instant Pot, I am going to teach you how to cook oatmeal in every way possible!
- Stove-Top
- Slow Cooker
- Overnight
- Instant Pot
- Microwave
Stovetop Oatmeal
Looking to learn how to cook oatmeal on the stove? If you’ve got the time, stovetop oatmeal is the best way to get fluffiest oats in the world. Because you constantly have to mix stovetop oatmeal, the outcome is airy, fluffy oatmeal that everyone will love.
Good news, you can easily make quick-cooking oats, rolled oats, and steel-cut oats on the stove. Keep reading to find the standard ratio of oats to liquid.
Recipe used in photos: Banana Bread Stove-Top Oats.
Stovetop Steel-Cut
- 1 cup steel-cut oats
- 3 cups liquid
Instructions: Place 1 cup steel-cut oats and 3 cups liquid into a medium pot. Bring to a boil over high heat while continuously stirring. Then, reduce heat to low and let simmer, uncovered, for 20-30 minutes, stirring every so often. Cook until steel-cut oats are thick and creamy.
Stovetop Rolled Oats
- 1 cup rolled oats
- 2 cups liquid
Instructions: Place 1 cup rolled oats and 2 cups liquid into a medium pot. Bring to a boil over high heat while continuously stirring. Then, reduce heat to low and continue to stir for around 3-5 minutes, or until oats have thickened.
Stovetop Quick-Cooking
- 1 cup quick-cooking oats
- 2 cups liquid
Instructions: Place 1 cup quick-cooking oats and 2 cups liquid into a medium pot. Bring to a boil over high heat and continuously stir for 1-2 minutes or until oats have thickened.
Slow Cooker Oatmeal
Slow cooker oatmeal is one of my favorite ways to cook steel-cut oats because it’s very hands-off and easy to make. Add your steel-cut oats and liquid to the slow cooker, give it a mix, turn it on and in just a few hours you’ll have a hearty breakfast ready to go!
While you can make both instant oatmeal and rolled oatmeal in the slow cooker, we only recommend cooking steel cut oats because of the amount of work it eliminates in the cooking process.
Recipe used in photos: Crockpot Maple Cinnamon Steel Cut Oats.
Slow Cooker Steel-Cut Oatmeal
- 1 cup steel-cut oats
- 4 cups liquid
Instructions: First, spray the slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray. Then, place 1 cup steel-cup oats and 4 cups liquid into the slow cooker and mix. Cover and cook for 4 hours on high or 8 hours on low. If possible, stir steel-cut oatmeal every hour or so to prevent sticking. Remove from slow cooker once thickened.
Overnight Oats
Overnight oats are a fun twist on classic oatmeal. Soak your oatmeal for at least 2 hours or overnight with milk and chia seeds and you’ve got yourself a chewy, healthy breakfast option!
I love overnight oats because they’re served chilled instead of hot and I recommend always using chia seeds during this process so they get nice and fluffy! Good news, you can use all 3 types of oats for overnight oats. Keep reading to learn how.
Recipe used in photos: Classic Vegan Overnight Oats.
Overnight Steel-Cut Oatmeal (or quick-cooking steel-cut)
- 1 cup steel-cut oats
- 1 tablespoon chia seeds
- 2 cups liquid
Instructions: Place 1 cup steel-cut oats, 1 tablespoon chia seeds, and 1.5 cups liquid into a glass container and mix. Place in the microwave and cook on high for 1 minute. Mix again. Then, cover and place in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours or overnight.
Overnight Rolled Oats
- 1 cup rolled oats
- 1 tablespoon chia seeds
- 1.5 cups liquid
Instructions: Place 1 cup rolled oats, 1 tablespoon chia seeds, and 1.5 cups liquid into a glass container and mix. Cover and place in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours or overnight.
Overnight Quick Cooking
- 1 cup quick-cooking oats
- 1 tablespoon chia seeds
- 1.5 cups liquid
Instructions: Place 1 cup quick-cooking oats, 1 tablespoon chia seeds, and 1.5 cups liquid into a glass container and mix. Cover and place in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours or overnight.
Instant Pot Oatmeal
Instant Pot steel-cut oatmeal and Instant Pot oatmeal are a great way to cut the cooking time down, while still getting that chewy delicious texture you get from the stovetop or slow cooker.
While you can make quick-cooking oatmeal in the Instant Pot, I only recommend cooking steel cut oats and rolled oats because of the amount of work it eliminates in the cooking process.
Recipe used in photos: Instant Pot Steel Cut Oats.
Instant Pot Steel Cut Oats
- 1 cup steel-cut oats
- 3 cups liquid
Instructions: Place 1 cup steel-cut oats and 3 cups liquid into Instant Pot and mix. Close Instant Pot and turn the valve to seal. Set Instant Pot to high pressure for 10 minutes. When the timer goes off, quick release by opening the valve to vent. Mix steel-cut oats and serve.
Instant Pot Rolled Oatmeal
- 1 cup rolled oats
- 2 cups liquid
Instructions: Place 1 cup rolled oats and 2 cups of liquid into the Instant pot and mix. Close the Instant Pot and turn the valve to seal. Set the Instant Pot to high pressure for 3 minutes. When the timer goes off, quick release by opening the valve to vent. Mix oatmeal and serve.
Instant Pot Oatmeal Recipes
Microwave Oatmeal
Only have a couple of minutes for breakfast? Make either rolled oats or quick-cooking oats in the microwave in under 2 minutes!
Recipe used in photos: Cookie Dough Microwave Oatmeal.
Microwave Rolled Oats
- 1 cup rolled oats
- 1 and 1/3 cups liquid
Instructions: Place 1 cup rolled oats and 1.33 cups liquid into a microwave-safe bowl. Then, microwave on high for 1 minute. Remove from microwave and stir. Place back into the microwave for another 1 minute on high.
Microwave Quick-Cooking
- 1 cup quick-cooking oats
- 1 and 1/3 cups liquid
Instructions: Place 1 cup quick-cooking oats and 1.33 cups liquid into a microwave-safe bowl. Then, microwave on high for 1 minute. Remove and stir.
How to Make Oatmeal
Ingredients
- 1 cup rolled oats
- 2 cups liquid, we prefer milk
- optional add-ins: 1 medium mashed banana, 1/4 cup chopped pecans, 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon, and 1 tablespoon maple syrup.
Instructions
- Place 1 cup rolled oats and 2 cups liquid into a medium pot.
- Bring to a boil over high heat while continuously stirring.
- Then, reduce heat to low and continue to stir for around 3-5 minutes, or until oats have thickened.
Tips & Notes
- Nutrition information is without add-ins and uses unsweetened plain almond milk.
- You can easily substitute the rolled oats for quick-cooking oats in this recipe.
- Add a sweetener: we love using all-natural sweeteners in our oatmeal over refined sugars not only because it’s better for you, but it just tastes better! Really, is there anything better than the sweet and savory taste of maple syrup? Here are some of our favorite way to sweeten oatmeal using all-natural sweeteners: banana, coconut sugar, and maple syrup.
- Topping ideas and mix ins: we’re all about the toppings and mix-ins because it gives your oatmeal texture and an additional flavor profile. From pureed fruits and veggies to nuts and seeds, there are so many different ways to “spice up” your oatmeal! Here are some ideas: fresh fruit, nuts, seeds, protein powder, nut butter, and pureed fruit.
- Storage: store in an airtight glass container in the refrigerator for up to 3-5 days.
Watch It
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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Classic Oatmeal: Start your day off right with a bowl of classic oatmeal. Simply cook oats in water or milk and add your favorite toppings such as fresh fruit, nuts, and honey. This recipe is easy to make, nutritious, and can be customized to your taste preferences.
By adding certain fruits or nuts, I end up with a meal. this is a good recipe to make good dishes
This is such a fun post. I love your overnight oats the best!
When I think of the oatmeal, very few recipes come in the line, just adding particular fruits or nuts, that end up my meal. But could able to get some more recipes from this post.Thank you
I rarely, comment on blogs. But I have to give you props on this post! For years, I’ve been struggling to prepare oatmeal in a way that I enjoy. I followed your steps for the rolled oats on the stove top and they came out perfect! I added cinnamon, banana, and pecans for a wonderful breakfast. I can’t wait to try the method for steel cut oats!
Thank you
YAY!!! So glad you loved it.
I’m the same, Nicholas. I rarely comment on blogs, but this is awesome! I love buying plain oatmeal cups from https://shop.kodiakcakes.com/collections/kodiak-cups/products/plain-oatmeal-cup and customizing them for a yummy, but fast breakfast. But I just tried making a bowl over the stovetop following these steps and they turned out SO good. Thank you!
Regarding overnight oatmeal, my own experience has shown that leaving oatmeal with either milk, soy milk, yogurt, black sesame milk, etc. for two days in the fridge (or even 3 to 4 days) results in an even creamier and richer treat. I mix in peanut powder, cocao powder, roasted chestnuts, roasted sweet potatoes, bananas, cinnamon, apples, mangos, peaches, pinapples, peanut butter, golden kiwi, in either combinations or individually to be an outstanding way to start the day or as part of a low calorie, nutritious lunch. Variety is the spice of life, and overnight oatmeal is a perfect foundation for a variety that never gets boring. As a diabetic, I also find it is very easy on blood sugar levels.
GREAT suggestions!!