Justine Sterling
Jon Gutierrez
Oatmeal is one of the healthiest, most sensible breakfast options around, with only one drawback: when it’s plain, it’s boring as hell. And while some people may be searching for the best plain instant oatmeal, if you actually want to, say, enjoy your breakfast, we’d suggest trying one of the many, many flavored oatmeals on your local store shelves.
But with so many options, how do you figure out which one’s the best for you? Well, by a strange coincidence, Sporked’s resident oatmeal experts (Justine Sterling andJon Gutierrez) have eaten an entire breakfast buffet’s worth of flavored oatmeals, taking note of each one’s consistency and flavor. We even just sampled a whole new bunch of flavors to keep this list current. Here’s our list of the best oatmeal flavors we tasted.
Best Flavored Oatmeals, Ranked
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.
- Quaker Instant Oatmeal Dinosaur Eggs (Brown Sugar)
-
With all the amazing sugar-filled breakfast cereals out there, it can’t be easy to persuade your kid to have oatmeal instead. But that’s where this oatmeal’s gimmick comes in handy, as it’s filled with little “dinosaur eggs” that melt with the oatmeal, revealing little sugary dinosaurs. And yeah, it’s basically just sprinkling candy dinosaurs into regular brown sugar oatmeal, but even I thought they were fun. (And I am REALLY out of the intended age range.) After all, there’s a reason they sell so many dinosaur-shaped nuggets, right? If you’re trying to introduce your picky kiddo to oatmeal, this is the best oatmeal to try. — Jon Gutierrez
Credit: Liv Averett / Walmart
- Cinnamon Toast Crunch Instant Oatmeal
-
This was possibly the biggest surprise of all. Another cereal-inspired oatmeal, I expected this one to be extremely sweet. I thought it would be a bowl of sugar with a little bit of oatmeal in it. But, once again, I was wrong. (The taste test for this piece really made me confront my own biases and oatmeal assumptions.) It’s shockingly not that sweet. It’s much more spiced and cinnamon-y than it is sugary. “I think it’s incredible,” said my colleague Jordan Myrick. “This isn’t boring oatmeal, this is fun oatmeal.” And they aren’t even a CTC fan. That’s how good this is. — Justine Sterling
Credit: Ryan Martin / Walmart
- Trader Joe’s Apples & Cinnamon Instant Oatmeal
-
As an apple cinnamon oatmeal, Trader Joe’s doesn’t hit the mark. The cinnamon factor just isn’t there. But as a purely apple-focused oatmeal, it rocks. There are lots of chunks of sweet apples and seemingly apple puree mixed into the oatmeal itself. I’m honestly not sure how they packed so much apple into a dried packet of oatmeal. It’s a scientific wonder. But I do know this is a warming, cozy breakfast for a brisk fall day. Go ahead and add some cinnamon if you like—throw some nutmeg in there, too, while you’re at it. — Justine Sterling
Credit: Ryan Martin / Amazon
- KIND Oatmeal Apple Cinnamon Almond
-
I know KIND as a company that produces granola bars and granola bars alone. For me, they had no place in the oatmeal game. But after one bite I realized how wrong I was to try and keep them in a box. This oatmeal is a textural playground, with sliced almonds and tart chunks of apple. — Justine Sterling
Credit: Ryan Martin / Amazon
- Cocoa Puffs Instant Oatmeal
-
Yep, there’s a Cocoa Puffs oatmeal. There’s also a Lucky Charms oatmeal and a Trix oatmeal. But this one was the biggest cereal-inspired hit. Not only is the oatmeal itself flavored with chocolate, but it also comes with crunchy, mini cocoa nuggets for you to sprinkle on top of the porridge. While it’s not as sweet as you might think, it does taste a lot like someone stirred powdered brownie mix into a bowl of oatmeal. It certainly leans more indulgent than wholesome, but it’s still oats, so it’s at least a decent source of fiber. This is dessert oatmeal. Or oatmeal when it’s only 7:30 a.m. but you’re already having a bad day. — Justine Sterling
Credit: Ryan Martin / Amazon
- Quaker Protein Instant Oatmeal Banana Nut
-
I went into this expecting the banana flavor to be that harsh, artificial banana you find in hard candy, but was pleasantly surprised to find a nice mellow banana flavor balanced with walnut. This flavored instant oatmeal actually tastes like banana nut bread. The oatmeal provides just enough natural sweetness to make it taste authentic without being overly sweet. I also didn’t expect there to be actual walnuts in the mix, which give it a nice crunch. And the extra protein in the mix (12g per serving!) doesn’t show up in the taste, leaving you with a surprisingly sweet and hearty mix that reminded me of a fresh banana nut muffin, only without the guilt. — Jon Gutierrez
Credit: Liv Averett / Walmart
- Kodiak Oatmeal Power Cup (Chocolate Chip)
-
Bowls are annoying. You’ve got to buy them, wash them, rewash them—it’s a never ending hassle. Which is why I find it really handy to have single serve oatmeal cups that I can just throw in the trash when I’m finished like the lazy bum that I am. And this cup of high protein oatmeal is really tasty, with a chocolate flavor that has notes of Cocoa Krispies and hot chocolate packet. Plus, apparently there’s a ton of protein in there or something? (There is; there’s 14g of protein per serving, which is a lot.) I was too busy fantasizing about never washing dishes again. (SIGH) — Jon Gutierrez
Credit: Liv Averett / Amazon
- Bob’s Red Mill Instant Oatmeal Maple Brown Sugar
-
If you’re familiar with gluten free eating, you probably already know about Bob’s Red Mill, which offers a wide range of gluten free flours and baking mixes. And while this isn’t the best maple and brown sugar mix on this list (that’ll be coming up soon), it definitely delivers a nice, subtle maple flavor that really makes the whole thing taste like you used real maple syrup on your oatmeal. — Jon Gutierrez
Credit: Liv Averett / Walmart
- Signature Select Apples & Cinnamon Instant Oatmeal
-
There are many apple cinnamon oatmeals on the market. And they are all unique. Really. We tried many of them and they all tasted surprisingly distinct. Some were saccharine. Others were far too spiced. This one walked the line perfectly, balancing tart applesauce-esque flavor with a noticeable sprinkling of cinnamon. “This is the perfect breakfast food to me,” said Sporked managing editor Gwynedd Stuart. “The applesauce flavor makes it taste genuine.” It even includes chunks of apple for some pleasing textural variation. There’s something about it that screams “campfire breakfast” to me. But it would be equally satisfying at a desk. — Justine Sterling
Credit: Ryan Martin / Instacart
- Kroger Fruit & Cream Instant Oatmeal
-
I was extremely nervous about Kroger’s variety pack of fruit and cream oatmeals. Cream, in my mind, should not be something you rehydrate. But I was wrong to be trepidatious. The bright pink Strawberry & Cream is surprisingly tart and not overly sweet—though it could pass for dessert. The Bananas & Cream is the weakest of the bunch, but it’s still packed with dried banana flavor and scratches a certain itch. The Peaches & Cream are my personal favorite. It’s a bright and summery bowlful with plenty of tang. If there is any part of you that likes fruit in their oatmeal, you need to try this variety pack. — Justine Sterling
Credit: Ryan Martin / Instacart
- Signature Select Maple & Brown Sugar Instant Oatmeal
-
It’s not too sweet, it’s not overly mapley, it’s perfectly cozy and warming. There’s a hint of salt that helps elevate the overall flavor. This is comfort oatmeal. If you wake up in need of a hug and there’s no one there to pull you into their breast, try this oatmeal instead. The maple flavors will remind you of childhood pancakes and the creamy texture will sooth your innards. It’s a hug from the inside. — Justine Sterling
Credit: Ryan Martin / Instacart
Best Kid’s Oatmeal
Best Cinnamon Oatmeal
Best Apple
Best Texture
Best Chocolaty
Best Banana Oatmeal
Best Protein Oatmeal
Best Gluten Free Oatmeal
Best Apple Cinnamon
Best Fruity
Best of the Best
Gwynedd Stuart
Navya Hari
