EASY BANANA BAKED OATMEAL

EASY BANANA BAKED OATMEAL
This easy banana baked oatmeal takes just minutes to prepare with 4 simple ingredients and is ready after 30 minutes of baking time for a warm, healthy breakfast perfect for the whole family. This recipe is vegan, gluten-free and oil-free.
HOW TO MAKE BAKED OATMEAL
Oven baked oatmeal is very easy to make with minimal ingredients and can be customized with fun add-ins like chopped nuts, coconut or berries. This version of baked oatmeal is made with mashed banana. To make it, all you need to do is mash up some ripe banana then mix with oats, ground flaxseed, cinnamon and non-dairy milk of choice and bake in the oven until firm.

STEP 1.
Mash banana in a metal or glass baking dish. I used an 8×8 square dish.

Peeled banana in a glass baking dish being mashed with a fork.
STEP 2.
Add the rest of the ingredients. I used rolled oats, ground flax, cinnamon, sea salt and almond milk.

Rolled oats, ground flax, cinnamon and mashed banana with a wooden spoon in a glass baking dish.
STEP 3.
Mix well then bake for 30 minutes at 350 degrees F.

Mixed baked oatmeal ingredients in a glass baking dish before going in the oven.
STEP 4.
Once it comes out of the oven, let it sit for 10-15 minutes then slice into 6 equal pieces. It can be enjoyed right away with your favorite toppings or stored in the fridge for later and enjoyed cold or reheated as needed.

Finished baked oatmeal recipe in a glass baking dish on a grey back ground.
Baked oatmeal with blueberries and peanut butter on a small white plate.
OVEN BAKED OATMEAL INGREDIENTS
This baked oatmeal recipe is super simple and calls for just 4 ingredients. This recipe is more of a functional, everyday breakfast or snack than a fancy brunch table dish but I love it for a simple, quick and breakfast option.

Rolled Oats. This recipe works best with rolled oats, also known as whole oats or old fashioned oats. Large flake oats are suitable as well. The recipe will still work with quick oats or istant oats but I’d recommend using whole oats for best results. This recipe does not work with steel cut oats.
Banana. You’ll need two ripe mashed bananas to make this recipe. The banana acts as a binder and helps to sweeten the dish.
Chia or Flax Seed. You can use either chia seeds or ground flaxseeds to help bind the recipe. Both of these ingredients provide healthy fats, vitamins, minerals, fiber and antioxidants to the recipe.
Almond milk. I used almond milk for the liquid but any plant-based milk works.
Close up of a slice of baked oatmeal with blueberries and peanut butter on a white plate.
OPTIONAL ADD-INS OR TOPPINGS
I like to keep this baked oatmeal recipe basic and just use the ingredients listed above but you can also play around with all sorts of healthy add-ins to switch up the flavor. Use any of the following add-ins or mix and match, up to about 3/4 cups total.

chocolate chips
shredded coconut
chopped apples
fresh blueberries, raspberries or chopped strawberries
any chopped fresh fruit
BAKED OAT TOPPINGS
Rather than adding these ingredients to the oats before baking, I like to use them as toppings so I can switch it up each day. I love blueberry and peanut butter, tahini and jam, sliced banana and almond butter or cinnamon sauteed apples and walnuts.

Topping Ideas: 10-minute Chia Seed Jam // Sautéed Apple // Caramelized Banana // Date Caramel Sauce

FLAVOR VARIATIONS
Almond Joy Baked Oatmeal: Add 1/4 cup each chocolate chips, chopped almonds and shredded coconut.

Peanut Butter Banana Baked Oatmeal: Add 1/4 cup natural peanut butter. Chocolate chips would be amazing in this too.

Baked Apple Oatmeal: Add 1/2 cup diced apple, 1/2 tsp of ginger and 1/4 cup of chopped walnuts.

Carrot Cake Baked Oatmeal: Add 1/3 cup each raisin and grated carrot. Some coconut and pineapple are good in this too.

Blueberry Oatmeal Bake: Add 3/4 cup of fresh blueberries and use the optional cinnamon and vanilla. Coconut and ginger are good additions to this.

Healthy Baked Oat Recipe on a small white plate with a fork, peanut butter and fresh blueberries.
EXTRA SWEETENING OPTIONS
The recipe as written is not super sweet. I like it how it is and don’t find the need for any additional sweetener since I usually top it with nut butter and berries. However, if you’d like to sweeten it up a bit, add 2 tablespoons of pure maple syrup, raw honey (not vegan) or coconut sugar.

ADD SOME LIFT
I didn’t add baking powder to my recipe but many baked oatmeal recipes do. If you’d like to add a bit of lift to the finished dish, add 1 tsp of baking powder to the recipe and make sure you use the salt as well.

PERFECT MEAL PREP RECIPE
I like to prep a batch of these on Sundays and stash them in the fridge. They’re perfect for a quick, energizing, easily digestible bite before early morning workouts and to grab for a healthy snack. You can eat them cold or reheat in the oven or microwave to enjoy warm.

EASY BANANA BAKED OATMEAL

This super easy baked oatmeal recipe is perfect for easy breakfasts and pre-workout snacking. Enjoy a slice warm from the oven topped with berries and peanut butter then store the rest for quick breakfasts all week.

INGREDIENTS
2 cups rolled oats (150 g)
2 ripe bananas, mashed (approx. 220 grams)
2 tbsp ground flaxseeds (14 g)
1 3/4 cups almond milk
1/2 tsp sea salt (optional, enhances flavor)
1 tsp cinnamon (optional, enhances flavor)
1 tsp vanilla extract (optional, enhances flavor)
INSTRUCTIONS
Pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Place the mashed banana in an 8×8 square baking dish. Use a fork to mash it into a smooth paste.
Add the oats, flax, milk, salt, cinnamon, and vanilla and mix well.
Bake in the oat mixture in the oven for 30 minutes.
Let cool for 15 minutes in the pan before cutting into 6 squares. Serve right away or store in the fridge up to 4 days. The baked oatmeal squares can also be frozen for up to 3 months in an airtight container.
NOTES
You can double the recipe and use a larger casserole-sized dish to make 12 oatmeal squares.