Camping Oatmeal To Go
Cozy up to a warm mason jar of camping oatmeal-to-go! This simple recipe is your no-fuss, no-mess, make-ahead easy breakfast for the great outdoors—just add hot water and dig in!
Finding a warm, quick, and easy breakfast for camping can sometimes be a challenge. This camping oatmeal-to-go is my solution. It’s hearty, cozy, and best of all—totally prepped at home.
My boys are straight-up oatmeal fiends. When we camp, I plan to have this camping oatmeal-to-go at least one morning during our trip.
This make-ahead mason jar breakfast is packaged beforehand to make preparation at the campsite fast and easy.
For more make-ahead camping breakfasts, try these breakfast burritos or these breakfast sandwiches. And this roundup of 20+ make-ahead meals for camping is a one-stop shop for planning your whole camping menu.
Too busy to make this right away? Pin it for later! Pin this post to your favorite board on Pinterest and it will be there when you’re ready!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
This camping oatmeal is the ultimate great idea for your next adventure. It’s a lifesaver on cold mornings, a breeze to prep ahead of time, and it feeds even the hungriest campers.
You don’t need a pile of dishes, a stove, or a degree in culinary arts—just some hot water, a mason jar, and your favorite mix-ins.
It’s easy to customize and way healthier than those flavored instant oatmeal packets from the grocery store. Perfect for camping, busy mornings, or even weekday breakfasts on the run!
Looks amazing, right? Tastes even better, trust me.
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Our Camp Cooking Essentials
- Menu planning for camping is something that I always do to stay organized. Grab this free Meal Planner Printable to get started on your next trip.
- A pie iron camp cooker makes cooking over the open fire super easy. Check out these 20+ Pie Iron Recipe Ideas for tons of camp cooker inspiration!
- Foil pie plates make tinfoil packet meals even easier with the sturdy base that they provide.
- These grilling bags that I recently found are amazing! Simply add all of your ingredients to the bag at home, then throw it on the campfire or grill when camping in the great outdoors. Avoid the grill bags with plastic windows, though, as they melt.
Camping Oatmeal-To-Go
Here’s what we pack into our jars. Think of these as your oatmeal building blocks.
Ingredients
- Oatmeal – We like to use large flaked oatmeal as we find instant oats get too mushy.
- Hemp hearts (optional) – These tiny seeds sneak in extra healthy fats and protein. The boys have no clue they’re even in there.
- Brown sugar – A little sweet treat. The boys usually add a few more sprinkles to their jars.
- Ground cinnamon – Adds a cozy, spiced flavor.
- Optional mix-ins – Raisins, chia seeds, dried fruit, ginger, nutmeg, chocolate chips, nuts, freeze-dried fruit, etc.
You could really customize this mixture with all sorts of additions to suit your tastes. The goal is to fill the jar 1/2 full of ingredients and leave the rest of the space for water as the oats will expand to fill the jar.
Instructions
1. Grab a pint-sized mason jar and add your dry ingredients (oats, hemp hearts, brown sugar, cinnamon, and any extras). Fill the jar about halfway with ingredients, leaving room for water and oatmeal expansion.
Tip: Each pint will create 2 cups of cooked oatmeal, which is about one adult serving size. 250 ml jars are great for kids.
2. Seal it up and pack it in your camp food tote.
Tip: Doing the measuring and prep work at home means that less preparation time is needed while camping and the mess is kept to a minimum. Cleanup is a breeze too.
Here is an example of one of the boys’ prepared oatmeal jars. Note the mound of brown sugar!
3. When ready to eat, simply add enough boiling water to fill the mason jar (about 1 cup).
4. Replace the jar lid and let it sit for 10 minutes.
Carefully remove the lid, stir it up, and dig in!
Tips and Tricks
- For a cold option, make it into overnight oats by adding cold water or your favorite milk and refrigerating it in a cooler overnight.
- Swap hot water for coconut milk to make it extra creamy.
- Use steel-cut oats if you want a chewier bite—just give it a little more time to cook.
- Stir in a scoop of protein powder or oat bran for extra fuel on hiking days.
- Keep jars at room temperature, out of direct sun, to keep everything fresh.
- Customize each jar with different flavors so no one gets bored—chocolate chip for the kids, dehydrated fruits and nutmeg for the grownups.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use quick oats or instant oatmeal packets instead?
You can, but they get mushy fast. Large flaked oats or Bob’s Red Mill steel-cut oats give better texture.
Can I make this as overnight oats?
Definitely! Use cold water or milk, seal it up, and let it soak overnight in your cooler. Great for hot-weather camping days!
Is this recipe gluten-free?
It can be! Just be sure to use certified gluten-free oats if you or anyone in your group has Celiac Disease or a gluten intolerance.
Can I add fresh toppings?
Yes! Fresh fruit like berries, apples, and banana slices are always a win—just add them after cooking.
Next time you’re planning your camping breakfast menu, be sure to toss a few of these homemade oatmeal jars in your cooler. Your mornings will thank you, your kids will be full, and you’ll get to enjoy your coffee in peace. Probably.
Happy camping, oatmeal warrior!
If you love this camping oatmeal-to-go recipe, please give it a five-star review and help me share it on Facebook and Pinterest!
Camping Oatmeal To Go
Ingredients
- ¾ cup of oatmeal
- 2 Tbsp hemp hearts {optional}
- 2 Tbsp brown sugar
- ½ tsp ground cinnamon
- Raisins dried fruit, ginger, nutmeg, chia seeds, chocolate chips, nuts (optional)
Instructions
- Measure the ingredients into a pint sized mason jar.
- Fill the jar with boiling water, about 1 cup and place the lid back on.
- Allow the oatmeal to cook for about 10 minutes before eating.
Notes
- For a cold option, make it into overnight oats by adding cold water or your favorite milk and refrigerating it in a cooler overnight.
- Swap hot water for coconut milk to make it extra creamy.
- Use steel-cut oats if you want a chewier bite—just give it a little more time to cook.
- Stir in a scoop of protein powder or oat bran for extra fuel on hiking days.
- Keep jars at room temperature, out of direct sun, to keep everything fresh.
- Customize each jar with different flavors so no one gets bored—chocolate chip for the kids, dehydrated fruits and nutmeg for the grownups.
I just prepped this for our upcoming camping trip! Thank you!
Enjoy!! <3