This Air Fryer Oatmeal is the most easiest, fool proof, hands-free method to make oatmeal! You might never go back to making oatmeal in the stovetop or microwave again.
Looking for unique oatmeal recipes? Try my baked oatmeal cups or chocolate almond butter overnight oats recipe.
Why You'll Love This Air Fryer Oatmeal?
Why make oatmeal in the air fryer? Unlike on the stovetop or in the microwave, there’s no need to stand nearby and watch for it to boil over. Simply add the rolled oats and milk, set the air fryer, and let it do the work!
No stirring and no mess—just like my air fryer hard-boiled eggs, it’s perfect for busy mornings when you’re getting ready for school or work but still want a warm, comforting bowl of oatmeal.
This recipe is tried and tested with precise measurements, cooking time, and temperature for reliable results every time. Customize it with your favorite flavorings and toppings to make it your own!
Looking for more yummy air fryer recipe ideas? Check out my other air fryer recipes for more delicious inspiration!
-maria doss
Jump to:
Ingredients you'll need
Scroll down to the recipe card below for full information on ingredients and amounts.
- Oats - Use old-fashioned rolled oats for the best results. Avoid steel-cut oats for their longer cooking time and inability to achieve a creamy texture in the air fryer oatmeal.
- Milk - Whole milk makes it thick and creamy air fryer oatmeal.
- Sweetener - Any of your favorite oatmeal sweeteners like maple syrup, brown sugar, honey will be delicious in this air fryer oatmeal.
FAQ'S
A 6-inch metal baking pan is perfect for cooking one cup of oats in the Instant Vortex 6-quart air fryer. A smaller pan may cause overflow, while a larger one can lead to more liquid evaporation, resulting in drier oatmeal instead of a creamy texture. You can use either a metal or oven-safe glass pan.
An 8-inch baking pan is perfect for cooking 1 ½ cups of oats. The liquid measurements will change, but the cooking time and temperature remains the same.
Why Does Pan Size Matter So Much?
Pan size can make a bigger difference than you might expect when making oatmeal in the air fryer. The same recipe can cook differently depending on the size of the pan because the surface area affects how quickly the liquid evaporates.
A smaller, deeper pan has less exposed surface, so the liquid evaporates more slowly, resulting in thicker, creamier oatmeal. A larger, shallower pan exposes more of the oatmeal to the hot circulating air, which speeds up evaporation and can leave you with drier oatmeal.
That’s especially important in an air fryer, where hot air is constantly circulating across the surface. For the most reliable results, stick with the pan size recommended in the recipe rather than swapping in a much larger or smaller dish.ce.
Old-fashioned rolled oats are my top choice for air fryer oatmeal. They absorb the milk gradually while still holding onto some texture, giving you oatmeal that’s creamy and tender without becoming mushy.
Quick oats and instant oats aren’t ideal here. They absorb liquid much faster and can break down too much during cooking, resulting in a soft, gluey texture without much bite.
I also don’t recommend steel-cut oats. They’re much more dense and require a longer cooking time to become tender. The air fryer’s circulating heat isn’t the best environment for giving them enough time to soften properly, so they can remain firm or chewy in the center.
For the best results, stick with old-fashioned rolled oats as written in the recipe
I cook this oatmeal at 300°F rather than using a higher temperature. The gentler heat gives the rolled oats enough time to absorb the milk while helping minimize evaporation. This results in oatmeal that’s creamy and tender instead of dry or crusty on top.
There’s one more step that makes a noticeable difference: when the oatmeal is done, carefully remove the hot pan and cover it with a plate for about 5 minutes. This short resting period gives the oats extra time to absorb the remaining liquid, resulting in a softer, creamier consistency.
Want To Save This Recipe?
Enter your email below, and we’ll send the link straight to your inbox. Plus, you'll get more creative recipe ideas every Sunday!
Tips for Success
- Type of oats - Use rolled or old-fashioned oats for the air fryer oatmeal recipe.
- Add a pinch of salt - Don’t forget salt! A pinch of salt enhances the flavor without making it bland.
- Gluten-free - Use gluten-free oats to make it gluten-free.
- Best air fryer - I used Instant Vortex 6 quart air fryer!
- Pan size - A 6-inch baking pan is perfect for cooking one cup of oats, and an 8-inch pan is perfect for cooking 1 ½ cups of oats.
- Cook low and slow. The secret to cooking air fryer oatmeal is to cook at a low 300 degree temperature.
If you are looking for more oatmeal breakfast recipes, then try this baked oatmeal or carrot cake oatmeal.
More Air Fryer Breakfasts
Air Fryer Oatmeal
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups rolled oats
- 1 ½ cups milk
- 1 ½ cups water
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
Addins
- brown sugar as needed
- ground cinnamon as needed
Instructions
- 👩🍳 IMPORTANT TIP: Stick to the recommended pan size and ingredient measurements—changing them could cause the oatmeal to overflow or the liquid to evaporate too quickly, leaving you with a dry, less creamy texture.Refer to the notes for cooking one cup of oats!
- Cook. Grease an 8-inch round cake pan with a little butter or oil. Add 1 ½ cups oats, 1 ½ cups milk, 1 ½ cups water, and ⅛ teaspoon salt, and give everything a quick stir to combine. Place the pan in the air fryer and cook at 300°F for 15 minutes. No need to stir while it cooks—the air fryer does all the work!
- Rest. When the oatmeal is done, carefully remove the hot pan using oven mitts or kitchen towels and place it on a wire rack. Stir in some brown sugar and cinnamon to taste, then cover the pan with a plate and let it rest for 5 minutes. This gives the oats a little more time to soften and absorb the liquid, resulting in thicker, creamier oatmeal.
- Serve. Top with fresh fruits and chopped nuts. Serve!
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information, based on third-party calculations, should be seen as estimates, not guarantees, as various factors like product types, brands, processing methods, and more can alter the nutritional content in recipes.
Variations
- Banana nut – Stir chopped banana, walnuts and cinnamon into the cooked oatmeal. You might also love these amazing air fryer banana muffins.
- Pumpkin spice – Stir in brown sugar, canned pumpkin puree, pumpkin puree and a splash of cream into the oatmeal.
- Chocolate Peanut butter – Stir peanut butter, cocoa powder and honey/maple syrup into the cooked oatmeal.
- Chocolate Almond Butter - Almond butter, cocoa powder, honey and sliced banana, similar to our chocolate almond butter overnight oats recipe!
- Maple and Brown sugar – Stir maple syrup, brown sugar, chopped toasted pecans and ground cinnamon.
- Strawberries and cream – Stir in chopped strawberries, a splash of heavy cream (or coconut milk for a healthier take) and honey into the cooked oatmeal. You'll also love our strawberry overnight oats, which taste like a chocolate-covered strawberry!
- Carrot Cake - Stir in finely grated carrot, golden brown sugar, raisins, chopped walnuts and ground cinnamon. Top with lightly sweetened greek yogurt before serving, as the carrot oatmeal recipe
- Pina Colada – Stir in finely chopped pineapple, shredded coconut and a dash of coconut milk into the oatmeal. You might also love the healthy pina colada smoothie!
- Black forest cake – Stir in chopped fresh Bing cherries, cocoa powder, sugar, a dash of cherry liqueur and whipped cream, similar to the chocolate cherry overnight oats.
- Birthday Cake – Stir in sugar, vanilla extract and sprinkles into the oatmeal.
MADE THIS RECIPE AND LOVED IT? 💚 Please leave a ⭐️STAR rating and COMMENT below- I love to hear your feedback! Tag me with your creations on Instagram and find me on Facebook.
Hi, I’m Maria! I share easy, flavor-packed dinners, high-protein meals, and irresistible baking ideas. If you’ve ever asked, “Don’t know what to cook tonight?” you’re in the right place. And yes—there’s plenty here for breakfast, snacks, and dessert too. More about maria ->
Johanna Barnard
Excellent! Thank you.
Maria Doss
Hi Johanna, Happy to hear that, Maria
Brenda
Do you use the "air fryer" setting or "bake" setting when making the oatmeal?
Maria Doss
"Air fry" setting - Maria
Brenda
I haven't made anything yet. Just browsing thru the recipes. New to an air fryer trying to get comfortable with it.
Maria Doss
That sounds great! Good luck with the new air fryer - Maria♡