This Baked Oatmeal recipe is an easy healthy make-ahead breakfast that’s perfect for busy mornings! Baked oats made with eggs for protein, milk (or dairy-free milk), and sweetened with fruit (no added sugar!). It’s kid-friendly and perfect for serving with nut butter, maple syrup or your favourite toppings!
Estimated reading time: 11 minutes
Every now and then there’s a recipe that’s such a HUGE hit in our household and it becomes a staple – a dish that finds its way into our regular rotation because our family members are begging for it. This Baked Oatmeal recipe is exactly that.
It’s a super easy breakfast recipe our family LOVES for so many reasons: it’s quick to throw together on a weeknight in just a couple minutes, it’s easy to customize with whatever ingredients or add-ins you have on hand (like fresh or frozen fruit, nut butter, and spices), it keeps in the fridge for days so we can enjoy it throughout the week on all our busy mornings before work and school, and it’s SO delicious warmed up in the microwave with a splash of milk and a drizzle of maple syrup on top.
It’s a recipe we make again and again, and we know your family’s going to love it as much as ours does!
Baked oatmeal is a simple breakfast dish made by combining mashed bananas, eggs, milk and rolled oats with a few other basic ingredients to create an oatmeal dish that’s soft and moist but sliceable – perfect for a warm, baked breakfast.
The eggs not only help hold the baked oatmeal together, they also add protein to the dish, making it a stick-to-your-ribs breakfast for the whole family.
It can be prepared and baked ahead of time and stored in the fridge in an airtight container or it can be served fresh from the oven – your choice!
It’s easy to customize with different flavours like berries, apples, peanut butter and bananas, and even chocolate chips!
It can also be made vegan by replacing the eggs with more mashed bananas, applesauce, or even pureed pumpkin, and adding vegan milk instead of conventional dairy milk.
Making baked oatmeal is SO easy and it’s made even easier with a few simple tips and tricks to ensure your success!
For the best texture, use old-fashioned rolled oats. Quick oats will work in this recipe, but they can soak up a little too much moisture and it’s possible that your oatmeal bake will end up a little on the mushy side. We don’t recommend steel-cut oats for this recipe as they’re too tough and hardy.
Make sure there are no large chunks of banana. The banana is the ingredient that sweetens the dish so it’s important that it’s distributed well throughout the mixture.
Adding eggs helps the baked oatmeal hold together as it bakes, so be sure to add the eggs OR add applesauce in place of the eggs for added moisture.
Adding cinnamon and vanilla really adds a lot of flavour to this recipe, so be sure not to skip it.
Baked oatmeal just isn’t the same without added berries or other fruit for added texture and flavour. Feel free to experiment with a variety of add-ins like apples, peaches, pears, or sliced bananas, and consider adding nuts, chocolate chips, or dried fruits for extra flavour and texture​​​​.
To ensure your baked oatmeal doesn’t stick and is easy to serve, make sure to grease your baking pan thoroughly.
If you’re short on time in the mornings, mix the ingredients and bake the oatmeal the night before, storing it in the fridge. In the morning, simply portion it out and reheat before serving.
Bake your oatmeal covered for the first 20 minutes and then uncovered for the last 10. This will give it a sliceable consistency but help it retain moisture with just the right amount of caramelization on top and around the edges.
Here are some common issues you might encounter when making this oatmeal bake recipe and how to solve them!
If your oatmeal turns out too dry, it could be due to over-baking or not using enough liquid. Be sure to bake it covered with foil for 20 minutes of the baking time. If it looks like it’s drying out, check to be sure your oven isn’t too hot.
If it’s too mushy and isn’t cooking in the middle, you might have added too much liquid or used the wrong type of oats. Stick to old-fashioned rolled oats and bake for a little longer than the recipe calls for, if necessary.
Be sure to add a pinch of salt, the vanilla and cinnamon for flavour. If you leave out any of these ingredients your oatmeal bake will most certainly lack flavour. Feel free to add other flavours if you wish, like nutmeg, ginger or other spices.
If after storing it in the fridge the oatmeal bake seems dry, add a splash of milk or dairy-free milk and warm it in the microwave. Warming it up with a little bit of milk with help it rehydrate and soften. Be sure to store it in the fridge, covered with plastic wrap to lock in the moisture.
We don’t recommend adding sugar to this recipe, but if you find it’s not sweet enough feel free to add some brown sugar, maple syrup and/or fresh fruit on top!
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Whether or not you agree that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, in our opinion it’s DEFINITELY the most delicious! We love a good breakfast or brunch and we’ve even been known to make breakfast for dinner once a week (at least!). Here’s a compilation of our most-loved breakfast recipes we think you’ll LOVE!
- Air Fryer Breakfast Potatoes
- Homemade Granola
- Strawberry Peach Smoothie
- Healthy Buttermilk Pancakes
- Air Fryer Eggs
- Easy Skillet Tomato Spinach Frittata
- Fruit Salad
- Blackberry Kale Superfood Smoothie
- Tropical Fruit Breakfast Parfaits
- Egg Bites
- Healthy Green Protein Smoothie
- Banana Pancakes
- Buttermilk Waffles
- Greek Yogurt Muffins with Chocolate Chips
- Cheesy Leftover Mashed Potato Pancakes
- Pumpkin Spice Pancakes
To make this oatmeal bake recipe you’ll need this basic kitchen equipment on hand (paid links):
- mixing bowl
- liquid measuring cups
- measuring cups and spoons
- Whisk
- Silicone Spatula
- 9-inch x 9-inch square baking pan
To make this basic oatmeal bake recipe you’ll need to be sure to have these ingredients on hand (paid links):
- 2 bananas OR 1 banana and 2 eggs
- 1 3/4 cups milk
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 cups rolled oats
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- a pinch of salt
- 2 cups mixed berries divided – 1 1/2 and 1/2 cups
Take your baked oats to the next level with one of these creative twists on the classic!
- Apple Cinnamon: Mix in diced apples and a generous sprinkle of cinnamon and nutmeg. This combination gives a classic, comforting taste reminiscent of apple pie.
- Banana Nut: Add sliced bananas into your oatmeal mixture and add chopped nuts such as walnuts or pecans. This creates a rich, banana bread-like flavour.
- Chocolate Chip: Stir in chocolate chips for a dessert-like treat. You can use dark, milk, or white chocolate chips, depending on your preference.
- Tropical: Add diced pineapple, mango, and shredded coconut for a tropical flavour. Replacing the milk with coconut milk can also enhance the tropical vibe.
- Pumpkin Spice: Add canned pumpkin instead of the mashed bananas and add pumpkin pie spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger. This is perfect for a fall-inspired breakfast.
Time needed: 40 minutes
Follow these steps to make the BEST baked oats!
- Mash the banana first.
Mash the banana well so it can be evenly distributed throughout the mixture.
- Mix the wet ingredients.
Whisk together all the wet ingredients in a liquid measuring cup.
- Mix the dry ingredients.
Add all the dry ingredients to a bowl and mix.
- Add the fruit.
Mix the wet and dry ingredients together and add the fruit. Stir gently.
- Bake covered, then uncovered.
Add the batter to the prepared pan, baking it covered with aluminum foil for 20 minutes, then removing the foil and baking for another 10 minutes.
- Serve or refrigerate for later.
Serve hot with milk and maple syrup or brown sugar, or cool, store in the fridge, and serve later reheated in the microwave.
Can I make baked oatmeal with instant oats?
We recommend using old fashioned rolled oats instead of instant oats as instant oats can break down very quickly, creating a mushy texture.
Can I make baked oatmeal vegan?
Yes! Omit the eggs and replace them with more mashed banana or applesauce, and replace the milk with your favourite dairy free milk.
How should I store leftover baked oatmeal?
We recommend storing this baked oatmeal in the fridge, covered, for up to 3 days.
Can I freeze leftover baked oatmeal?
Yes! Freeze in individual portions in airtight containers for up to 3 months and then thaw in the fridge overnight. Reheat in the microwave before serving.
Can I use steel cut oats for baked oatmeal?
We don’t recommend using steel cut oats because they create a hardier, dryer texture. Old fashioned rolled oats are best for baked oatmeal.
Can I make baked oatmeal without eggs?
Yes! Feel free to omit the eggs in this recipe and add extra mashed bananas or applesauce instead of the eggs.
What kind of pan is best for baked oatmeal?
We recommend a glass or ceramic square pan that’s about 9-inches by 9-inches, or equivalent.
Is baked oatmeal good for you?
Yes! It’s packed with healthy fibre, protein and sweetened with fruit.
Are baked oats as healthy as overnight oats?
Yes, in fact they have even more health benefits like added protein thanks to the eggs!
We hope you love this easy breakfast recipe as much as we do! Let us know in the comments below, what’s your favourite healthy make-ahead breakfast? We’d love to know!
More Oatmeal Recipes
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Baked Oatmeal
Recipe: Equipment
Recipe: Ingredients
- 2 bananas OR 1 banana and 2 eggs
- 1 3/4 cups milk
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 cups rolled oats
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- pinch salt
- 2 cups mixed berries divided 1 ½ and ½ cups
Recipe: Instructions
- Preheat your oven at 180℃ (355℉).
- Mash your banana(s) in a large bowl.
- In a liquid measuring cup, add the milk, the vanilla and the eggs (if using). Mix well and add the mashed banana. Mix again.
- In the big bowl mix the oats, cinnamon, baking powder and salt.
- Pour the wet mixture over the dry and mix just until everything is combined.
- Add 1 1/2 cups of berries and carefully fold them in.
- Spray your 9×9 baking dish with cooking spray and pour your batter into it. Spread the rest of the berries on top and cover with aluminum foil.
- Bake at 180℃ (355℉) covered with aluminum foil for 20 min, then remove the foil and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes.
Recipe: Notes
Storage Instructions
Store in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-5 days.Air Fryer Instructions
To make this in an air fryer, follow the same instructions to make the batter and air fry at 180 C(355℉) for 25-30 minutes, uncovered.Serving Suggestions
Serve with a splash of milk and a drizzle of maple syrup, added peanut butter for extra protein, and/or some brown sugar.Recipe: Nutrition
Notice: Nutrition is auto-calculated, using Spoonacular, for your convenience. Where relevant, we recommend using your own nutrition calculations.
Question: can you use frozen berries? Does it affect the amounts of the fruit and/or other ingredients in the recipe?
Yes! We use frozen berries all the time. They tend to colour the oatmeal mixture a little bit, but otherwise they work great
Delicious! I followed the recipe to the letter, making the one banana +2 egg version for more protein. I also threw in a little cardamom because that’s what I do to a lot of my baked goods. There is just two of us, so we refrigerate the leftovers and use the air fryer to reheat and crisp the edges. Thank you for the recipe.
We’re so happy you enjoyed it! Thank you for taking the time to leave your feedback!