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Home | Recipes | Baked Steel Cut Oatmeal

Baked Steel Cut Oatmeal

Published on April 23, 2024 by Stephanie Kay

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Whether you’re doing some meal prep or entertaining for a weekend brunch, this one-pan baked steel-cut oatmeal is a great way to make a healthy, high-fiber breakfast for a crowd.

Slice of baked steel cut oatmeal in a bowl with milk, sliced banana, strawberries, and blueberries on top.

If you’re anything like me and you love oats for breakfast, but you don’t always have time to make it in the morning, this baked steel-cut oatmeal is the recipe for you. This recipe is quick and easy to make and keeps well in the fridge and freezer for days and weeks to come, which makes it the perfect dish for breakfast meal prep.

And the best part is, it’s super versatile. Once you get the basic recipe down, you can add different spices, fruits, nuts, and flavors you like to make your version of these delicious and healthy baked steel-cut oats.

Baked steel cut oatmeal in a white baking dish cut into slices with slices of banana and blueberries on top.

Why You’ll Love It

  • High in Fiber – With over 5 grams of fiber per serving, these baked steel-cut oats are a great way to start the day.
  • Kid-Friendly – These are a healthy kid-approved breakfast.
  • Versatile – This baked steel-cut oatmeal recipe is super versatile as you can add any mix-ins you like.
  • Great for Meal Prep – These oats keep well in the fridge and freezer making them great for meal prep.
Ingredients for baked steel cut oatmeal: steel cut oats, milk, maple syrup, butter, egg, vanilla extract, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and fresh berries for serving.

Ingredients + Substitutions

  • Steel-Cut Oats – Because you can’t make steel-cut baked oatmeal without steel-cut oats. You can swap them for rolled oats if desired, however, I do not recommend using quick-cooking oats or instant oats.
  • Milk – To add some protein and cook the oats. The recipe calls for regular milk, but you can use almond milk or coconut milk if desired.
  • Egg – To bind the oats and add a bit of protein.
  • Butter – To ensure the oats are moist. You can use coconut oil if needed.
  • Maple Syrup – To sweeten the oats and add some flavor. Honey and brown sugar will also work.
  • Vanilla Extract – To add flavor and fragrance.
  • Cinnamon – To further flavor the oats, feel free to omit it if you like.
  • Leavening Agents – A mixture of baking powder and salt to ensure the oats are light and fluffy.
Egg and maple syrup in a white mixing bowl.
Egg, maple syrup, melted butter, and vanilla extract in a large mixing bowl.

Dietary Adaptions

To Make it Gluten-Free: Use certified gluten-free steel-cut oats.

To Make it Dairy-Free: Swap the milk for unsweetened almond milk or coconut milk and swap the butter for coconut oil.

To Make it Egg-Free: Swap the egg for one “flax egg”.

Wet ingredients and steel cut oats in a large mixing bowl.
Wet and dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl.

How to Make Baked Steel Cut Oats

  1. Mix the dry ingredients. In a medium bowl, combine the steel-cut oats, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon.
  2. Mix the wet ingredients. In a large bowl, add the butter, maple syrup, egg, vanilla extract, and milk and whisk until well combined.
  3. Mix the batter. Add the oat mixture to the milk mixture and stir to combine until a batter forms, then transfer the batter to a greased 9×9 baking dish.
  4. Bake the oats. Transfer the baking dish to an oven at 375°F and bake the oats for 45-50 minutes until the middle is set and the sides are golden brown.
  5. Serve and enjoy! Once baked, allow the baked steel-cut oatmeal to cool slightly, and then serve it with toppings of your choice.

You can find the detailed instructions in the recipe card below.

Steel cut baked oats ready for the oven.
Baked steel cut oats out of the oven.

Red’s Nutrition Tip

There is a common misconception that steel-cut oats are much healthier than rolled oats, but that is not entirely true. In fact, steel-cut oats and rolled oats contain a very similar number of calories, carbohydrates, fiber, protein, and fat per serving, they are simply processed differently, and both can be included in a healthy diet.

White baking dish with steel baked steel cut oats cut into slices with fruit on top.

Serving Suggestions

Add some mix-ins. To boost the flavor content of this baked oatmeal recipe, you can mix in a cup of fruit, nuts, or chocolate chips. I recommend frozen blueberries, frozen raspberries, diced bananas, chopped apples, chopped pecans, chopped walnuts, or a mixture of them.

Serve with protein. These baked oats are a great source of complex carbohydrates and fiber; however, they are low in protein. Serving oatmeal with a source of protein, such as Greek yogurt, skyr, cottage cheese, scrambled eggs, or breakfast sausages, can help to create a balanced meal.

Serve with healthy fats. To ensure your steel-cut oats breakfast is complete with all three macronutrients, you can top them with a source of healthy fats such as a drizzle of almond butter or peanut butter.

Serve with fiber. While the oats contain 5 grams of fiber per slice, serving them with a topping or side of fresh fruit can help to increase the fiber and micronutrient content of the meal.

Add a touch of sweetness. While these baked steel-cut oats do contain some sugar, you can add an extra touch of sweetness by finishing them with a drizzle of pure maple syrup or honey.

Overhead shot of a piece of steel cut baked oatmeal with milk, sliced banana, strawberries, blueberries, and cinnamon on top.

Storage + Reheating

To Refrigerate: Allow the baked steel-cut oatmeal to cool completely and then cover it with aluminum foil or plastic wrap or transfer it to an airtight container and store it in the fridge for up to 5 days.

To Freeze: To freeze baked oatmeal whole, cool completely, then cover the baking dish with plastic wrap and/or aluminum foil and then place the entire baking dish in a freezer-safe bag. To freeze leftovers or individual portions, transfer the baked oatmeal to an airtight container and place it in the freezer. Baked oatmeal can be frozen for up to 3 months.

To Reheat: To reheat steel-cut baked oatmeal whole, allow it to thaw completely, and then cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and warm it in the oven at 350°F for 10-15 minutes. To reheat individual portions of the baked oatmeal, place a thawed portion in an oven-proof baking dish in the oven for 5-10 minutes or in the microwave in a microwave-safe dish for 1-2 minutes.

Close up of a bowl of baked steel cut oatmeal served with milk and maple syrup and berries on top with cinnamon and a spoon.

More Baked Oatmeal Recipes:

  • Carrot Cake Baked Oatmeal
  • Banana Bread Baked Oatmeal
  • Mixed Berry Baked Oatmeal
  • Morning Glory Baked Oatmeal
Print
Slice of baked steel cut oatmeal in a bowl with milk, sliced banana, strawberries, and blueberries on top.

Baked Steel Cut Oatmeal

Author: Stephanie Kay

This baked steel-cut oatmeal is quick and easy to make and serves a crowd. Serve it on its own for a simple breakfast or top it with milk or yogurt, maple syrup, and berries for a balanced meal.

  • Author: Stephanie Kay
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 45 minutes
  • Total Time: 55 minutes
  • Yield: 6 slices
  • Category: Breakfast
  • Method: Baked
  • Cuisine: American
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Ingredients

  • 2 cups steel-cut oats
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon (optional)
  • 1 egg
  • 1/3 cup maple syrup
  • 2 tablespoons butter, melted
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 3 cups milk

Add-Ins (optional):

  • 1 cup berries, apple chunks, and/or chopped nuts

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 375°F and grease a 9 x 9 baking dish or a similar-sized baking dish with butter.
  2. In a medium bowl, add the steel-cut oats, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon, and stir to combine. Set aside.
  3. In a large bowl, add the egg and maple syrup and whisk until well combined. Then add the melted butter, vanilla, and milk, and whisk again until combined.
  4. Add the dry ingredients to the large bowl of wet ingredients, stir to combine, and then transfer the oat mixture to the greased baking dish. The mixture is going to be very liquidy, but don’t worry, it will absorb the milk in the oven. (Optional: If adding any add-ins, such as fruit, nuts, or chocolate chips, gently mix them in at this time.)
  5. Transfer the baking dish to the oven to bake for 45-50 minutes until all of the milk is absorbed, the middle is set, and the sides are golden brown.
  6. Once baked, remove the baked oatmeal from the oven and allow to cool for 5-10 minutes to set. Then slice and serve with toppings of your choice.
  7. Any leftover steel-cut baked oatmeal can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days or in the freezer for 3 months.

Notes

To Use Rolled Oats: Swap the steel-cut oats with 3 cups of rolled oats.

To Use Almond Milk: Swap the milk for 3 cups of almond milk and add it in step #3.

To Use Coconut Oil: Swap the butter for 2 tablespoons of melted coconut oil and add in step #3.

To Use Brown Sugar: Swap the maple syrup for 1/3 cup brown sugar and add in step #3.

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    Comments

    1. Clare Marshall says

      July 16, 2024 at 3:52 pm

      Really like this easy recipe. I used normal oats, brown sugar instead of syrup and coconut oil. Like to have it warm with yogurt and fruit. I’ve put the remaining portions in the freezer 😊

      Reply
    2. Nikki Stafford says

      November 5, 2024 at 7:45 pm

      I love this oatmeal bake! Easy & heats up well for meal planning

      Reply
    3. Anonymous says

      February 3, 2025 at 1:33 pm

      Could you add protein powder to this?

      Reply
      • Stephanie Kay says

        February 3, 2025 at 3:42 pm

        Absolutely!

        Reply
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