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Shamelessly easy, fast microwave mug granola is your busy morning bestie! Healthy, crunchy, cluster-ific, is is also vegan & gluten-free. Yum!
Almost Instant Microwave Granola
You could hang around the kitchen for 45 minutes to an hour, hand-crafting a jumbo batch of artisanal granola. Follow it up with 20 minutes of scrubbing bowls, measuring cups, countertops and a cookie sheet.
Or, you could make my above-pictured, wondrously delectable granola. In 5 minutes. In one mug.
You don’t have to share.
You can pinch yourself now. You’re not dreaming!
Recipe Benefits
- Quick and easy to make
- Ready in under 5 minutes
- Gluten-free
- Good source of fiber
- No refined sugar
- Makes one perfect serving (no waste!)
- Can be varied in countless ways!
Ingredients for Healthy Microwave Mug Granola
The exact amounts of each ingredient are indicated in the recipe card at the end of the post. Toggle between US Customary (volume) and Metric (weights) for preferred measurement option.
This is all that you need ingredients-wise. The salt is optional, so I’m not including it–or the water–in the “five” ingredients:
- rolled oats (certified gluten-free, as needed)
- maple syrup (I have options for using other sweeteners)
- chopped nuts or seeds
- chopped dried fruit
- oil of choice (e.g., coconut oil, olive oil or avocado oil)
Step by Step Instructions
Note that the complete directions are also in the recipe card below.
Now get your granola groove on! Here’s how:
Step One: Mix the Ingredients in a Large Mug
Place everything EXCEPT the dried fruit into a large mug.
Stir it up with a fork so the oats and nuts/seeds are coated. It’s important to leave out the dried fruit at this stage. Microwaving chopped dried fruit for several minutes leads to teeth-breaking bits of coal.
Step Two: Set Microwave to MEDIUM (50%) Power
Next, a moment of abject TERROR: You will need to (gulp) set the power level button (yes, said button exists on your microwave) to Medium (50%). You may have never touched this button before now. You can do it. Apply finger and push until it reads either Medium or 50% power. Breathe. You did it.
Step Three: Microwave the Granola on Medium Power
Microwave on Medium (50%) for 3-1/2 to 4-1/2 minutes total, stopping halfway through to stir (the oats and nuts/seeds at the bottom of the mug will toast faster than those at the top).
You read the correctly: toast. The oats and nuts/seeds get toasty, golden and fragrant. In the microwave. Really and truly!
Step Four: Stir in the Dried Fruit
Add the dried fruit (if using) and stir things up one last time. The granola will be perfectly crispy in a few minutes as the oats cool.
Step Five: Eat!
Eat the granola straight up as an energizing snack, or add a splash of your favorite milk for a complete meal. With the energy you’ve gained (oat power!), and the time you’ve saved, you will want to run, skip and jump for joy!
Add Flavors to Suit your Tastes
You can tweak this basic recipe with whatever nuts, seeds, dried fruit, dried coconut, extracts, citrus zest that suit your fancy. My fancy tends to be very fancy, so I often add a little bit of everything :). The base recipe is pretty forgiving, so adjust the sweetener and salt—a bit more, a touch less—or add a pinch of a favorite spice.
Happy eating!
More Healthy, Delicious Granolas to Try
- Healthy Oil-Free Granola (vegan, GF)
- How to Make Low-Calorie Granola {vegan, GF, 72 calories}
- Banana Bread Protein Granola (vegan, GF)
- Oil-Free Buckwheat Granola {vegan, GF, oat-free}
- Grain-Free Banana Granola {oil-free, no added sugar}
- Grain-Free Red Lentil Granola {vegan}
- Fresh Apple Pie Granola (vegan, gluten-free)
Fast Microwave Mug Granola (GF)
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup
- 2 teaspoons water
- 2 teaspoons oil, e.g. olive oil, avocado oil, or melted coconut oil
- optional: 1/8 tsp fine sea salt
- 1/3 cup quick-cooking or old-fashioned rolled oats, gluten-free if needed
- 1 tablespoon chopped nuts or seeds
- 1 tablespoon chopped dried fruit, e.g., raisins, apricots, cranberries
Instructions
- In the large mug (14 to 16 oz), mix the maple syrup, water, oil, salt, oats and nuts until blended.
- Microwave on Medium (50%) power for 2 minutes. Stir, making sure to stir up any syrup on the bottom of the mug. Microwave on Medium (50%) power for 1-1/2 to 2 minutes longer until oats are golden brown.
- Mix in the dried fruit, if using. Let stand for 2 to 3 minutes to cool before eating.
Hi, I don’t have a microwave available but I have an oven and air fryer working! I was wondering if I can bake/air fry the granola? And if so, how long and what temperature? Do I need to stir it halfway through or flip it? Sorry for all the questions, but i’d love to make this as an acai bowl topper. Also, can I reduce some of the maple syrup or will that effect the crunch or texture?
Hi Ava,
Yes, you can definitely make this in an airfryer or oven. Aim for a low temp (275 to 300 F) . The air fryer should only take about 20 minutes (check after 20), perhaps 35 to 45 in an oven. 🙂
Wow, this was so good and so easy to make! Turned out amazing. So crunchy and delicious, thank you!
@Emma Hurray! This is an oldie but a goodie— I’m so glad you like it!
I love this recipe! I’ve made it before plenty of times and I’d just like to say that the cook time for my weird microwave(i have no idea what wattage it is) is usually made with the 2 minutes suggested, and then 15-30 second increments(all on 50% power, ofc). When I first tried it, it burned! So if you are trying to make this, I would go with the 2 minutes, and then 15-30 second increments.
Timing aside, the taste is amazing! I’ve made it circa. 15 times and I’ve been happy with most of them(the ones I didn’t enjoy were the burned ones, but that’s it.)
Try this out!
This is amazing! Super clustery – I’m going to be making this like, everyday
Camilla,
This recipe has saved me twice this week. I made the original recipe for breakfast on Monday and tonight I added cocoa powder for a dessert version to go on greek yogurt. Yum!
Your recipes are so easy to follow and so adaptable too. And they work so well for people who have to avoid foods due to food sensitivities. It’s great to have nutrient-dense, minimally processed foods that are easy to prepare and tasty too. I also love the way you draw from ethnic foods that are lesser known to inspire your recipes. I already own two of your books and am adding more to my wishlist.
I hope the fruits of your labor are as rewarding to you as they have been to me and many of your readers!
The freshest, crunchiest muesli I have ever had – and it was toasted in the microwave?! What kind of dark magic is this?!
You are cracking me up, Jazz 🙂 I know, it’s crazy that it works and works so well. Enjoy the dark magic!
This was so good. Quick, easy and so versatile so you don’t have to have the same flavors every time. My version was with coconut oil, cinnamon, pecans and craisins. It made a perfect bowl of granola with milk. I don’t think I will buy store bought granola again.
I am thrilled to hear it Nita! This is a tried and true favorite at our house, so glad you found it and tried it!
Thank you so, so much! My first tr, (before I found your instructions) burned. And yes, I had no clue about the power button. I made a batch. I have a small lower power microwave so had to cook it a little longer but it turned out great! So happy!
Yay! So glad you gave it a second try and it turned out! I know, so handy to have granola in an instant 🙂
Awesome recipe! I had a craving for apple crisp so I omitted the nuts and fruit. I then replaced the sugar with some vanilla flavored liquid stevia instead of sugar. After cooking the oats I microwaved an apple for 3 mins. Mixed all together and topped with cinnamon! So good! Thanks!
This is so Yummy! I served it with a generous dollop of Greek yogurt and left over custard. Scrumptious! Thank you
Yay!!! So glad to hear it, Michael!
Thank you for sharing this recipe. I tried it-delicious. I can eat this all day.
I am starting to try microwaved recipes and finding your recipe made me happy:)
Yay! We are peas in a pod, Jubilee–I am a granola fiend myself 🙂
What a fun recipe! I usually lean towards experimenting with my own recipes, but I came across your site and had to check this out. I made the recipe using extra walnuts and dried cranberries. It turned out wonderful and made a great breakfast. No need to turn on the oven to make granola anymore! Some of the power pucks you have posted recently look interesting and I might want to try them!
Thanks so much for letting me know, Charlotte!
Can you sub jam for the maple syrup? I don’t have maple syrup and jam is quite sweet anyway. I’m just wondering if its consistency would work.
Ooh, jam sounds like a great idea. Normally I like low sugar jams, but to work in place of maple syrup, you would want a type that is higher sugar, or even a jelly (melt it a bit first)
Does this work with steel-cut oats?
Hi Lobelia,
No, you definitely wanted rolled oats–the steel cut would be rock hard. 🙁
Amazing! I was looking for a quick 20 minute granola recipe but 5 minutes is so much quicker and it was sooooo good! Another plus is that rather than a whole batch wherein I’m tempted to have a second helping it’s a built in portion control. And I sure would have taken a second helping of this cause it is way better than almost any store bought granola, full of flavor, even with no fruit added – eaten with “triple zero” vanilla Greek yogurt, and accompanied by a maple latte, breakfast doesn’t get any better than this! Love the versatility to try different variations each time. The coconut oil, maple syrup, cinnamon and vanilla variety comes highly recommended from me.
I am thrilled that you like it, Linnea! I know, so many yummy variations–go to town with your creativity! 🙂
So quick and absolutely delicious! I added ground ginger and cinnamon for a slightly spicier granola, and put it over Greek yogurt with fruit. So good!
This sounds delicious! Do you think I can expand the recipe to 6 servings in one bowl so that I can make a batch?
It’s worth trying! IT would probably take some extra time, though. 🙂
This was sooooooo good! Especially the taste of the roasted walnuts. I left out the dried fruit and added one chopped date after microwaving.
Yum, dates sound wonderful, Vera!
Wow, I tried this recipe and I fell in love! Is soooo easy and fast, but you don’t compromise on taste even a little. Thank you very much for sharing!!!
I am pleased as punch, Leah!!! 🙂
OMG–I just made this and it is sooooo good!!! It really does get perfectly toasty. I add a tbsp of coconut in the last minute of cooking and left out the dried fruit. LOVE!!!
So glad to hear it, Raven!