How Long To Cook Oatmeal In Microwave

microave oatmeal

Got 2 minutes? Then, you have time for a healthy breakfast! Make our 2-Minute Microwave Oatmeal. This recipe tastes exactly like chocolate chip cookie dough AND it's healthy.

There are so many ways to cook oatmeal (overnight, stovetop, slow cooker, and Instant Pot), but nothing is faster than using the good ol' microwave! That's right, it takes no more than 2 minutes to make the perfect bowl of oats in the microwave!

bowl of oatmeal with cashew butter and chocolate chips

Ever feel like there's not enough time for breakfast in the morning? WRONG! I'm here to give you the easiest healthy breakfast idea that will make you want to jump out of bed in the morning!

Basic Microwave Oatmeal Ratios

We love oatmeal because it's a whole grain, a healthy carb, and a super filling breakfast to nosh on in the morning. We rarely make oatmeal in its most basic form (oats + liquid) because we're always finding ways to dress it up. However, we thought we'd start basic and work our way into the magic.

Since microwave oatmeal is supposed to be a quick and easy breakfast solution, we only recommend using either rolled oats or quick-cooking oats in the microwave.

1/2 cup rolled oats
2/3 cups liquid
Method: Microwave on high for 2 minutes.

1/2 cup quick-cooking oats
2/3 cup liquid
Method: Microwave on high for 1 minute.

Liquid Options

While you can use water to make your oatmeal, you can also use many other different kinds of milk, which really make it creamy and delicious. Here are a few to try out.

almond milk
soy milk
cow's milk
whole milk
oat milk

We recommend using 2/3 cup of liquid per 1/2 cup of oats instead of the prescribed 1 cup of liquid on most oatmeal containers.

We do this because we think the best kind of oatmeal is thick, creamy, and a little meatier. If you use the full cup of liquid, you'll notice that 1. it takes longer to cook and 2. it's a lot soupier.

How to Make Microwave Oatmeal

First, place oats and liquid into a microwave-safe bowl. Then, mix. Add in any other mix-ins your heart desires and mix again.
Next, place the bowl into the microwave and cook on high for 60 seconds. Remove from microwave and stir. If you are using rolled oats, place them back into the microwave for another 30-60 seconds.
Finally, let oatmeal cool for 2-3 minutes before topping with your favorite toppings. Enjoy!

We prefer our oats to be thick with a bit of a bite. However, if you like a thinner oatmeal, feel free to add a few more tablespoons of milk to thin things out. You can do this before microwaving or after, either works!

oatmeal with cashew butter and chocolate chips in bowl

Microwave Oatmeal Variations

Speaking of toppings, you never want to eat oatmeal without some toppings! I mean, if you could turn plain oatmeal into cookie dough, why wouldn't you?! Here are some of our favorite combos.

cookie dough: 1/2 tablespoon cashew butter + 2 teaspoons maple syrup + 1 tablespoon mini chocolate chips
lemon cheesecake:2 teaspoons honey + 1 teaspoon lemon zest
peanut butter banana: 1/2 tablespoons peanut butter + 2 teaspoons honey + 1/2 medium banana (mashed)
apple cinnamon:1/2 medium apple (grated) + 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon + 2 teaspoons maple syrup

Got leftover microwave oatmeal? Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Video Tutorial

1/2 cup rolled oats
2/3 cup unsweetened almond milk
1/2 tablespoon cashew butter (any kind of nut butter will work)
2 teaspoons maple syrup
1/2 tablespoon mini chocolate chips (for topping)

In a microwave safe bowl, mix togehter rolled oats, unsweetened almond milk, nut butter, and maple syrup.
Place bowl in microwave and cook on high for 1 minute.
Stir oatmeal and place back in microwave. Cook for another minute. Remove and stir again.
Let cool for 2 minutes before topping with chocolate chips.

Quick-cooking oats: option to replace rolled oats with quick cooking oats. You will likely only need to microwave for a total of 1 minute on high instead of 2!

Serving Size: 1 Calories: 290 Sugar: 14 Fat: 11 Carbohydrates: 44 Fiber: 5 Protein: 7

Category: Breakfast Method: Microwave Cuisine: American

Keywords: microwave oatmeal

About Lee Funke

Lee is the founder of Fit Foodie Finds and based in Minneapolis, MN. She started this website in 2010 as a way to share her love for real food and wellness.