Enjoy a cozy, nutritious breakfast with banana bread baked oatmeal, packed with ripe bananas, warm spices and hearty oats. Naturally sweetened and packed with flavor, it's perfect for meal prep or a weekend treat. Serve it warm, topped with a drizzle of maple syrup or a dollop of yogurt.
This was a hit! Delicious!
- Cecilia
When you have ripe bananas, there are plenty of options - from whole wheat banana bread to chocolate chip banana bars to vegan banana chocolate chip muffins to cinnamon swirl banana bread to banana oat pancakes.
But one of my favorites is this banana baked oatmeal. If you love oatmeal, you can't go wrong with here. It doesn't hurt that you can make ahead and just heat up when ready!
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Why You Will Love This Recipe
- Easy - Whipping up a batch of this baked oatmeal is a breeze, taking no more than 5 minutes to combine all the ingredients before baking.
- Healthy - Not only are oats loaded with nutrients, but you get the added benefits of the banana.
- Kid-Friendly - It is great for both kids and adults.
- Quick Breakfast/Snack - You can prepare the dish, cut up some squares and then freeze. Then just warm up when you're ready to eat!
Ingredient Notes
- Old-fashioned oats - Most commonly used for baked oatmeal due to their texture and cooking time. Avoid using quick oats.
- Light brown sugar - While the natural sweetness of ripe bananas is usually sufficient, a small amount of sugar helps put it over the top.
- Baking powder - Prevents the baked oatmeal from becoming too dense and heavy.
- Spices - Adds warmths and complexity to the dish.
- Bananas - Use ripe bananas for the best flavor and sweetness. The riper the bananas, the sweeter they are, and they also mash more easily, contributing to the overall moisture and texture of the dish.
- Milk - Adds creaminess and helps cook the oats.
- Egg - Used as a binding agent and to add structure to the baked oatmeal. They also contribute to the protein content of the dish.
- Vanilla extract - Enhances the sweetness and overall flavor.
- Unsalted butter - Adds some fat and richness to the recipe.
- Walnuts - Added crunch which pairs well with the bananas.
Ingredient Swaps
As with any recipe, you can mix up the ingredients if you prefer. Some variations include:
- I like to use sugar for added sweetness, however you can use honey or maple syrup.
- Banana is my go-to for natural sweetener but a mashed sweet potato or even applesauce are good substitutes.
- If you're looking for dairy-free options or have lactose intolerance, you can use plant-based milk such as almond milk, soy milk, oat milk, coconut milk, or rice milk.
- If you want to make your breakfast vegan, make a chia seed egg instead of using an egg. Just mix 1 tablespoon of chia seeds with 2 ½ tablespoon water and let sit for 5 minutes before using.
- Instead of butter, you can try vegetable or canola oil.
How to Make Banana Bread Baked Oatmeal
Please note full ingredient list and instructions can be found in recipe card below.
Mix together the dry ingredients in a medium bowl. In a large bowl mash the bananas before adding the rest of the wet ingredients.
Add the dry ingredients and walnuts to the wet ingredients, mixing until combined.
Transfer to a square 8 inch baking pan and bake at 350°F for 30-35 minutes or until center is set.
Ripe Bananas Make the Difference
For the best flavor and texture, use very ripe bananas with plenty of brown spots. They add natural sweetness and moisture, making your baked oatmeal extra delicious!
Recipe FAQs
Old-fashioned oats are very similar to quick oats, but quick oats have been cut smaller.
As a result, quick-cooking oats cook faster, and they offer a more delicate texture in baked oatmeal. So use old-fashioned oats if you want a heartier texture.
Yes, replace the egg with a flaxseed or chia seed egg (1 tablespoon flaxseed/chia + 2 ½ tablespoon water) and use plant-based milk and oil.
Yes, you can use certified gluten-free rolled oats to make the recipe gluten-free. Make sure that all other ingredients are also gluten-free.
Yes, you can prepare ahead of time. After baking, allow it to cool, then store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a few days. Reheat individual servings in the microwave or oven when ready to eat.
You can keep the baked oatmeal in the fridge for 4 days or just keep in an airtight container or freezer bag in the freezer for 3 months.
Pro Tips/Recipe Notes
- You can adjust the sweetness level by adding or taking away sugar in tablespoon increments.
- Don’t skip out on roasting the walnuts. By roasting them they will stay crispy in the batter and bring out the flavor.
- Add ½ cup chocolate chips to the banana baked oatmeal if you want additional flavor.
- Allow the oatmeal to cool for 5-10 minutes before slicing to help it set and hold its shape.
Other Recommended Breakfast Recipes
If you’ve tried this banana bread baked oatmeal or any other recipe on Chisel & Fork, please let me know how it turned out in the comments below. These chocolate baked oats are also worth a try! You can also follow me on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest and YouTube to see more tasty meals and anything else I'm up to.
Banana Bread Baked Oatmeal
Ingredients
- 2 cups old-fashioned oats
- ⅓ cup light brown sugar
- 1 ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon nutmeg
- ½ teaspoon ground allspice
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 3 medium bananas, mashed
- 1 ½ cups milk
- 1 large egg, beaten
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted
- ¾ cup chopped walnuts, toasted
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray 8" square baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
- In large bowl, add oats, brown sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, ground allspice and salt and stir to combine. In another large bowl add mashed bananas, milk, beaten egg, vanilla extract, and melted butter and stir to combine.
- Add the oat mixture and ½ cup walnuts to the wet ingredients and stir to combine. Transfer to the greased baking pan and spread out evenly. Bake for 30-35 minutes or until the center is set. Remove from oven when ready and sprinkle with remaining toasted walnuts.
Video
Notes
- The riper the banana the sweeter it is which makes for great vegan banana muffins. You want a banana that has black/brown spots on the peel.
- You can adjust the sweetness level by adding or taking away sugar in tablespoon increments.
- Don’t skip out on roasting the walnuts. By roasting them they will stay crispy in the batter and bring out the flavor.
- Add ½ cup chocolate chips to the banana baked oatmeal if you want additional flavor.
- Allow the oatmeal to cool for 5-10 minutes before slicing to help it set and hold its shape.
Jheelam says
Oatmeal is my go-to breakfast option. Your recipe sounds exotic as I've never heard about it. Gonna try it this weekend for sure. 🙂
LaRena Fry says
Sounds delicious!!
Chris says
Just tried this! Super tasty!
Nicole says
How does this do without eggs?
Ryan says
Hey Nicole,
I haven't made this without eggs so I can't speak to it, but a lot of my recipes I replace with chia seed eggs if you are trying to be vegan and those always work great. Check out how to make those here - https://minimalistbaker.com/make-chia-egg/.
Cecilia says
This was a hit! Delicious!
Ryan says
Awesome to hear!