Name: Banana Bread Baked Oatmeal
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 45 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 1/2 cups mashed banana (about 3 ripe bananas); 1 egg; 2 cups milk; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; 1/4 cup brown sugar, or maple syrup; 2 1/2 cups rolled oats; 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon; 1 teaspoon baking powder; 1 teaspoon salt; 1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional); Butter, for greasing

Made with whole grains and ripe bananas, this banana bread baked oatmeal is a delicious and nutritious way to start the day. Whip it up on the weekend and enjoy it for breakfast all week long.

White baking dish with slices of banana bread baked oatmeal and a golden serving spoon.

If you’re looking for a healthy breakfast meal prep idea, look no further than this banana bread baked oatmeal recipe. This simple recipe combines the flavors of banana bread with the convenience of baked oatmeal to create a make-ahead meal the whole family will love.

You can enjoy this banana bread baked oatmeal on its own, hot or cold, for a quick on-the-go breakfast on busy weekday mornings or enjoy it as part of a hearty weekend brunch served with yogurt, eggs, and fresh fruit.

Slice of banana bread baked oatmeal on a white plate with slices of banana, walnuts, and a drizzle of peanut butter on top.

Why You’ll Love It

Easy to Make – Made with pantry staples and ready in less than 1 hour, this banana bread baked oatmeal is quick and easy to prepare.
Feeds a Crowd – This recipe makes 6 servings and can easily be doubled or tripled to feed more.
Full of Fiber – Made with whole grains, this banana baked oatmeal has 6 grams of fiber per serving and is a filling way to start the day.
Stores Well – This banana bread baked oatmeal keeps well in the fridge and freezer making a great make-ahead meal or meal prep idea.

Ingredients for banana bread baked oatmeal; rolled oats, ripe bananas, brown sugar, egg, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, walnuts, and milk.

Ingredients + Substitutions

Rolled Oats – To create the base of this banana baked oatmeal. You can use old-fashioned oats rolled oats or quick oats. Steel-cut oats and instant oats are not recommended.
Bananas – Some ripe bananas to add the banana bread flavor to the baked oatmeal.
Milk – To bake the oats and add some protein.
Brown Sugar – To sweeten the oats. You can use pure maple syrup if preferred.
Egg – To bind the oats. To make the recipe vegan or egg-free, you can swap the egg for one “flax egg”, see the notes section of the recipe card for details.
Vanilla Extract – To add flavor and fragrance.
Leavening Agents – A combination of baking powder and salt to ensure the banana bread baked oatmeal is light and fluffy.
Walnuts – While optional, they add some crunch and healthy fats. If you don’t like walnuts, chocolate chips would be a good alternative.

Mashed banana, brown sugar, vanilla extract, and egg in a white mixing bowl.

Dietary Adaptions

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

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

To Make it Vegan: Swap the milk for unsweetened almond milk or unsweetened vanilla almond milk and swap the egg for a “flax egg”.

Wet ingredients with rolled oats, cinnamon, baking powder, salt, and walnuts in a white mixing bowl.

Batter for banana bread baked oatmeal in a white mixing bowl.

How to Make Banana Bread Baked Oatmeal

Combine the wet ingredients. In a large bowl, add the mashed bananas, brown sugar, egg, milk, and vanilla extract, and whisk until well combined.
Add the dry ingredients. Add the rolled oats, cinnamon, baking powder, and salt to the bowl and stir until well incorporated. Add the chopped walnuts and fold them into the batter.
Bake until golden brown. Transfer the oatmeal mixture to a 9 x 9 baking dish and bake at 375°F for 35-40 minutes or until the center is set and the top and sides are golden brown.
Serve and enjoy! Once baked, remove the banana baked oatmeal from the oven and allow it to cool for 5-10 minutes before serving it with toppings of your choice.

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

Batter for banana baked oatmeal in a white baking dish.

Batter for banana baked oatmeal in a white baking dish with banana slices on top.

Red’s Nutrition Tip

If you are concerned about the sugar content in this banana bread baked oatmeal, there is no need. It’s important to understand that the majority of the sugar in this dish is from natural sugars present in the bananas, milk, and oats, and there is very little added sugar in this recipe, a mere 3/4 tablespoon per serving. While you can swap the maple syrup for brown sugar if preferred, it will provide the same amount of sugar and a similar nutritional value.

Banana bread baked oatmeal in a white baking dish with ripe bananas, walnuts, a plate and fork, serving spoon and tea towel on the side.

Serving Suggestions

This banana bread baked oatmeal is a great source of carbohydrates and fiber, therefore, pairing it with some protein and healthy fats can help to create a more balanced meal. This banana baked oatmeal would pair well with:

Yogurt
Greek yogurt
Skyr
Cottage cheese
Hard-boiled eggs
Peanut butter
Almond butter
Banana slices
Blueberries

Banana bread baked oatmeal sliced in a baking dish with a gold serving spoon on the side.

Can I use steel-cut oats?

Steel-cut oats are not recommended in this banana bread baked oatmeal recipe. Steel-cut oats require more liquid and take longer to cook than rolled oats, therefore, the ratios and timing in this recipe will not work.

Can I add protein powder?

Yes! You can increase the protein content of this banana bread baked oatmeal recipe by adding 1 scoop of plain or vanilla protein powder to the batter along with the wet ingredients.

Slice of baked banana bread oatmeal on a plate.

Storage + Reheating

To Refrigerate: Allow the banana baked oatmeal to cool completely and then cover with aluminum foil or plastic wrap or transfer it to an airtight container and store 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 banana bread 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.

Overhead shot of banana baked oatmeal on a white plate with drizzled peanut butter, cinnamon, and banana slices on top.

More Baked Oatmeal Recipes:

You can also check out my whole wheat banana bread, strawberry banana bread, banana oatmeal pancakes, and banana nut muffins for more banana filled recipes.