Even the best instant oatmeal just tastes like every other oatmeal, right? It’s just oats and water. So it certainly should taste the same. And yet, as our intrepid Sporked team started working our way through bowl after bowl of heart-healthy, low carb goodness, we realized there are some important differences that take an oatmeal brand from good to being the best oatmeal brand.
Our tasters for this ranking—including both oatmeal lovers (Sporked editor-in-chief Justine Sterling, Sporked writer Jon Gutierrez) and oatmeal haters (Sporked’s Jordan Myrick)—tasted each brand of instant oatmeal plain in order to truly experience the oatmeal-ness of the oatmeal. Was it the most interesting taste test ever? No. But it was certainly useful. And if it helps even one reader know which oatmeal to buy, then we’ve done our jobs. But we’re really hoping for at least two readers, so please check out our list of the best oatmeal out there—including the best organic oatmeal and the best gluten free oatmeal.
(Oh, and if you prefer flavored instant oatmeal, we have you covered there, too.)
The following article contains affiliate links that may generate a small commission to us when you make a purchase through the link. Learn more about how we work with affiliates here.
- Good + Gather Organic Plain Instant Oatmeal
-
When you need to take your oatmeal out on the town or you’re packing for a camping trip, Target’s instant oatmeal cup is the best oatmeal for you. First, let’s start with the appearance. The Good & Gather branding is undeniably appealing, so you can feel good about eating your disposable cup of mush in public. It’s also a generous portion, so you don’t have to worry about not packing enough for breakfast. This will fill you up. I promise. The oats are on the finer end, so you get a smoother porridge feel. It’s a touch sweet, but you can still easily add a few dried cranberries and shaved almonds. Big as the serving is, there’s room for some toppings. — Justine Sterling
Credit: Ryan Martin / Target
- Kroger Original Oats Instant Oatmeal
-
I am a savory oatmeal person. I usually skip the sugar and fruit, and instead combine soy sauce and chili crisp in my bowl, or maybe grate some parmesan cheese over the mush. If you’re like me, then this is the best instant oatmeal for you. It starts out savory—no sprinkle of sea salt needed. Of course, you could always add to it if your salty tooth craves even more umami. Slice up some cherry tomatoes and stir them in with just a touch of grated asiago. Or shake on some chili powder for a hit of spice. This surprisingly savory oatmeal opens the door for us salty oatmeal eaters. — Justine Sterling
Credit: Ryan Martin / Kroger
- Great Value Original Instant Oatmeal
-
What can we say about Walmart’s Great Value brand oatmeal? It is, as the brand name suggests, a great value. It cost us just $2 for a box of 12 packs. That’s a good deal for a filling breakfast. The oatmeal itself is great if basic. It’s smoother than some of the others, with smaller oats, but manages to retain some pleasant chewiness. This is the best instant oatmeal to fuel your day on the cheap. You eat it. It’s good. You get on with your life. Perfectly functional at a very reasonable price. — Justine Sterling
Credit: Ryan Martin / Walmart
- First Street
-
Smart & Final’s proprietary brand is a truly oaty oatmeal. I’m not trying to be glib. It really has a lot of genuine oat flavor, making it the best oatmeal brand for oatmeal diehards who like their bowls plain. Beyond earthy, there’s no other way to describe the flavor other than oaty. The texture is somewhere between a smooth porridge and a rougher oatmeal—just right for the Goldilocks among us who want their oatmeal just so. Take a bite, appreciate that toasty, oaty finish, and feel like you’re really eating the essences of oatmeal. — Justine Sterling
Credit: Ryan Martin / Smart & Final
- Purely Elizabeth Organic Recipe No. 05 Original Superfood Oatmeal
-
If you’re the type that loves to throw extra healthy ingredients into your breakfast, this is the best gluten free oatmeal for you. It is chock full of trendy “superfood” ingredients, including organic flax seeds, organic chia seeds, organic quinoa flakes, and puffed amaranth. And did I mention it’s organic? Well, they definitely do. (This would have been the best organic oatmeal, but for our number one best oatmeal pick.) But, despite all those extra ingredients, it still tastes like, well, oats. And tasting like the thing it should taste like is more than you can say for a lot of health food products. — Jon Gutierrez
Credit: Liv Averett / Amazon
- Quaker Instant Oatmeal Original
-
You can always count on Larry (the name of Quaker’s mascot, if you weren’t aware) for a quality oat product. That dapper, rosy-cheeked man is a hot bowl of oats personified. His plain, original product is cozy, creamy, and—I say this in the best way possible—bland. It’s the best instant oatmeal to act as a blank canvas for your imagination, and it’s particularly good with classic toppings like brown sugar, fresh or dried fruits, and nuts. It doesn’t get in the way; it supports those punchy flavors and textures. — Justine Sterling
Credit: Ryan Martin / Amazon
- McCann’s Imported Quick Cooking Rolled Oats Irish Oatmeal
-
You know how you have to let some oatmeal brands soak for a while before they smooth out to an even consistency? Well, I was surprised to find that McCann’s makes a creamy and smooth blend with almost no stirring, which was nice because I’m the kind of profoundly lazy person who says things like, “How long have I been stirring this ‘instant’ oatmeal?” If you’re that kind of lazy, then this is the best instant oatmeal (that’s actually instant) you can buy. And it’s also a good, traditional tasting blend, with a natural sweetness that seems made for oatmeal cookies. — Jon Gutierrez
Credit: Liv Averett / Amazon
- Bob’s Red Mill Instant Oatmeal Classic
-
As of April, 2020, Bob’s is an employee-owned company, which rocks. The natural foods maker presents itself as a wholesome source of better-for-you whole grain products, and it seems to follow through. It’s one of my go-tos and, despite its reputation for high prices, it’s not that much more expensive than the competitors. The oatmeal didn’t disappoint. Even Jordan, the aforementioned avowed oatmeal hater, gave it a ringing endorsement by announcing, “I don’t hate it.” The oats stay somewhat whole while cooking, so it’s not pure mush. It’s stick-to-your-ribs oatmeal; the best oatmeal for those 5 a.m. meals before plowing the fields…or rolling onto the side of your bed you now refer to as your “office.” — Justine Sterling
Credit: Ryan Martin / Amazon
- Better Oats Organic Bare
-
If we learned one thing during our initial oatmeal tasting, it was that the Sporked staff likes their oatmeal to have texture. And this one is a texture-lover’s paradise (as much as one can describe plain oatmeal as paradise). That’s because it features not just oats but also barley, wheat, rye, and quinoa. It’s a cornucopia of grains! It’s hearty, with a wonderful depth of flavor and even a touch of acidity (from the rye, perhaps). If you want to start your day with oatmeal that has personality in every bite, this is the best oatmeal brand for you—and it’s the best organic oatmeal, too. — Justine Sterling
Credit: Ryan Martin / Amazon
Best on the Go
Best for Savory Oatmeal
Best Cheap Oatmeal
Best Plain
Best Gluten Free Oatmeal
Best for Sugar and Fruit
Best Creamy Oatmeal
Best Beloved Company
Best of the Best
Other instant oatmeals we tried: One Degree Gluten Free Sprouted Quick Oats, Nature’s Path Organic Gluten Free Homestyle Instant Oatmeal, Kodiak Protein-Packed Oats, Trader Joe’s Old Fashioned Oats, O Organics, Signature Select, Nature’s Path