This recipe for Easy Maple Vanilla Cinnamon Instant Oatmeal Packets came about as the result of scheduled work travel. I wanted to have something that mimicked instant oat packets that I could bring on the road for me for a work trip. They needed to be quick to put together, easy to transport, and protein packed and fiber rich to keep me full during the busy morning of conference sessions. These packets exceeded my wildest expectations and today I'm sharing the recipe and tips with you here.

Ingredients for the Maple Vanilla Cinnamon Instant Oatmeal Packets

The recipe outlined will help to make four ½ cup servings which can be a great meal prep ahead or for travel prep. These simple ingredients help to enhance the flavor for instant oats that make a hearty breakfast on the go. Here's what we will use:

Steel Cut Oats: FoodData Central on the USDA site highlights the nutritional value of steel-cut oats. Steel cut oats absorb less liquid during their cooking time making these a great option for quick cooking oats. With 5g of protein and 4 grams of total dietary fiber, we're off to races in crafting a nourishing breakfast.
Old Fashioned Rolled Oats: I love the combination of both the old fashioned oats with the quick oats to craft a delicious oatmeal. The old-fashioned oats absorb more liquid than steel cut oats to help create a balanced texture. I also love using these in an overnight oats recipe like this one.
Ground flax meal: High in omega-3 and high in fiber helps to make for a filling breakfast.
Oat flour: I love the creamy texture this helps to create once the hot water is poured onto the bowl of oats. This also helps to thicken this oatmeal recipe.
Chia seeds: More omega-3 power and fiber with the chia seeds; hemp seeds can also be included here too even if used as a topping.
Maple sugar: The use of maple sugar in this instant oats recipe is the perfect way to create that maple flavor without the liquid. That makes this super travel friendly. Alternatively, you could drizzle maple syrup on top of the bowl of oats. You can also use brown sugar if you don't have maple sugar on hand.
Kosher Salt: A pinch of salt helps to balance out the tons of flavor in this recipe. Just a pinch will do.
Protein Powder of Choice: You can use any protein powder you like. I love the vanilla protein blend from Tejari for this recipe. This protein blend combined with the ground vanilla described below help to craft a tasty vanilla oatmeal for this delicious recipe.
Ground Cinnamon and Ground Vanilla: To enhance the flavor for this oatmeal, we add ground cinnamon and ground vanilla. This ground vanilla from Eat Beyond is a great way to add the vanilla flavor without the use of vanilla extract. Alternatively, you can add in a sprinkle of cinnamon on top of each bowl of oats and a splash of vanilla extract.
Optional: milk powder can be a great option to add the flavor of whole milk instead of adding a small cup of milk to the cooked oats. You can still get the creamy texture of the oats through the oat flour. And if you don't want to add the milk powder, you can definitely add a splash of milk or even a splash of your favorite plant-based milk like oat milk, almond milk, or soy milk.

How to Assemble the Maple Vanilla Cinnamon Instant Oatmeal Packets

Putting these types of oats together takes minutes. It's perfect for trying to get ahead on the meal prep for the week. It's also a great choice if you are looking to craft a delicious breakfast for on the road. In a large mixing bowl, add in the oats and all other ingredients. Stir it all together well.

If wanting to incorporate travel friendly toppings, you can also stir in any of your favorite toppings like dried fruit, nuts, and seeds. Give it a good stir and then portion out into an airtight container or small sandwich bags for traveling. And that's it! So easy.

Storing and Prepping the Instant Oat Packets

You can prep and store these oatmeal packets in a cool, dry place. For best results, use these prepared packets within a month. The next morning when you're ready to prepare this quicker version for cooked oatmeal, there are three ways you can do this:

Remove contents into a bowl. Pour enough boiling water to just cover the oats. Give the oats a gentle stir then allow them to sit for 3 to 5 minutes for the oats to absorb the liquid and thicken to your desired consistency.
Pour out contents into a bowl and add enough water to just cover the oats. Microwave on high for about 2 minutes, stirring halfway. Allow oats to sit for a minute more before stirring in toppings and serving.
A third option is you can cook these on the stovetop. Bring 1 cup of water to a boil in a small or medium saucepan over medium-high flame. Add in the measured ½ cup of oats and stir constantly until oats have absorbed the liquid and thickened slightly, about 5 minutes.

Once the regular oatmeal is cooked, you can topped and finish the oatmeal as desired.

Tips and FAQ

What are travel friendly toppings for this plain instant oatmeal? Packets of either almond butter or peanut butter are great! I love the travel packets of trail mix to add crunchy seeds and nuts. You can also add any dried favorite fruits to the top of this oatmeal. Some favorites are dried blueberries, cranberries, or freeze-dried fruits like strawberries and bananas. If making these are home, fresh fruit like fresh blueberries or ripe bananas are also great.
Can I use pure vanilla extract instead of the ground vanilla? You can absolutely use a teaspoon vanilla extract here instead of the ground vanilla. I use ground vanilla in this recipe to help keep it travel friendly for the road. However, if you're making this for a quick breakfast at home and want that hint of vanilla you can definitely add the vanilla extract at the end of the quick cooking time.
What's the best milk option to use? Any milk you like! You can use non-dairy milk like unsweetened vanilla almond milk or even coconut milk or cashew milk. You can also add a splash of whole milk or even a splash of half and half if that's your favorite way to enjoy this easy recipe.
How should I store these for travel? For this particular recipe, I love portioning out the oats for each single morning serving in sandwich bags. I love these compostable sandwich bags and they're my new favorite way to store the oats for travel.

Next time you're looking for a fast meal prep idea or travel friendly breakfast recipes I hope you give this a try. If you make it, please let me know how it goes! You can share in the comments below or on social media! Tag me on Instagram or on my Facebook page.

Cheers to the next nourishing meal. 🧡