Soak the oats overnight for one-minute microwave oatmeal in the morning.

Steel-cut oats normally require a good ten to twenty minutes of stovetop simmering to render them creamy and soft.

A minute or two in the microwave the next morning, and you’re good to go.

How To Make Overnight Oatmeal

Emma Christensen

For a not-at-all-morning person such as myself, this is game-changing.

Since they’re already fully saturated with liquid, all you really need to do is heat them up.

Single Serving Overnight Oats!

How To Make Overnight Oatmeal

Emma Christensen

Steel Cut Oats or Old Fashioned Oats?

Use whichever one you prefer.

In my microwave, I’ve found that 1 minute and 20 seconds in my microwave is perfect.

Overnight Oats Recipe oats with fruit and nuts

Emma Christensen

Yours might be slightly less or slightly more.

Just out of the microwave, the oats might still look a little loose and waterythis is fine.

Let them stand for a few minutes and they will thicken up.

overnight steel cut oats in a jar topped with raspberries and pistachios

Emma Christensen

Last but not least, pile on any toppings you like with your oatmeal and dig in!

The oats soaking in their liquid will keep for up to 5 days, refrigerated.

Refrigerate overnight, stirring a few times whenever you remember.

Pour steel cut oats into a jar for making easy overnight oats

Emma Christensen

The next morning, transfer the oats and liquid to a saucepan.

Place over medium-low heat and simmer until creamy and cooked through.

Secure the lid and swirl the contents a few times so that the oats are soaked.

Add water to the jar with steel cut oats

Emma Christensen

Combine a handful of chosen oatmeal toppings in a small container.

Remove the lid from the container and set aside.

If desired, transfer the oats and their soaking liquid to a separate microwave-safe bowl.

Let the steel cut oats and water sit overnight or up to 5 days

Emma Christensen

Microwave on high power for 30 seconds, then remove the oatmeal and stir.

Microwave for another 30 seconds, then remove and stir again.

Simple Tip!

Cover the jar of steel cut oats before refrigerating

Emma Christensen

Be especially careful with smaller containers.

This is ok.

After letting them stand for a few minutes, give the oats a stir.

The oatmeal should become thick and creamy as you stir.

Toppings for easy overnight oats

Emma Christensen

Toppings with jars of overnight steel cut oats

Emma Christensen

A jar of steel cut oats with a spoon lifted to show how the grains still look a little underdone after microwaving.

Emma Christensen

A jar of steel cut oats, standing after microwaving in order to thicken up

Emma Christensen

A jar of thickened steel cut oats, ready to eat

Emma Christensen

A spoon with creamy still cut oats lifted above a jar of steel cut oats

Emma Christensen