Easy Baked Oatmeal

Name: Easy Baked Oatmeal
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 45 min
Ingredients: 2 cups rolled old-fashioned oats; 1 teaspoon cinnamon; 1 teaspoon baking powder; 1/2 teaspoon sea salt; 2 cups milk (I like using unsweetened vanilla almond milk); 1/4 cup coconut sugar or brown sugar; 1 Tablespoon ground flaxseed (or 1 egg); 1 Tablespoon melted coconut oil; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; 2 ripe bananas (sliced OR 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce); 1 1/2 cup mix-ins (a blend of nuts, fruit or chocolate chips); cooking spray

By Brittany Mullins

4.28

447

Published Mar 25, 2020, Updated Mar 14, 2023

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Easy baked oatmeal + all the best baked oatmeal recipes in one place, with a flavor for every season and occasion! Baked oatmeal is perfect for meal prep and so delicious.

I’ve been sharing one baked oatmeal recipe a month for over a year! I’ve had so much fun coming up with creative flavors and you love making them so it’s a win, win!

Grid of four examples of oatmeal bakes, samoa in upper left, peach in upper right, pecan cinnamon in bottom right, strawberry banana chocolate chips in bottom left.

Why Baked Oatmeal?

I honestly LOVE all types of oatmeal (and I have a ton of oatmeal recipes here on EBF), but baked oatmeal is definitely one of my favorite ways to enjoy oatmeal. Here’s why:

Topping the list is the fact that it’s the perfect meal prep recipe, but also fancy enough for a brunch. I love making baked oatmeal on the weekend and enjoying it for breakfast all week long.
You only need one mixing bowl and one baking dish for these recipes. Minimal dishes? Score.
The flavor combinations are endless! As you can tell, I’ve shared 14 flavor combinations so far and I don’t see myself slowing down anytime soon.
While many of the baked oatmeal recipes sound indulgent, all of the ingredients in my baked oatmeal recipes are wholesome, nutritious ingredients.
They can be allergen friendly. Sensitive to dairy? Use a dairy-free milk. Need to make vegan? Swap in a flaxseed egg in place of a traditional egg. Gluten-free? Check!

Mixing bowl with mixture for maple pecan baked oatmeal before it is baked.

How to Store and Reheat Baked Oatmeal

You can store baked oatmeal in airtight containers in the refrigerator for 4-5 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months. When freezing, I recommend cutting the oatmeal into portions, wrap in plastic wrap and place the portions in a large freezer bag. The individual servings make it easier for reheating.

To reheat the entire pan of baked oatmeal: cover with foil and reheat in the oven at 350ºF for about 20 minutes or until warm. For individual portions: set oven or toaster oven to 350ºF and bake for 5-10 minutes. You can also reheat in the microwave for 1 minute. Once warm, add your toppings and enjoy!

Do I Need to Use Baking Powder for Baked Oatmeal?

Baking powder is a rising agent and helps lighten the texture of the baked oatmeal. It prevents it from becoming too dense or heavy. That said, if you don’t have baking powder or simply want to skip it, you certainly can.

Side by side photos of maple pecan oatmeal in a baking dish before and after being baked.

Notes and Substitutions

Egg – All of my baked oatmeal recipes either call for an egg or a flaxseed to bind the dish together. Eggs also help make the oatmeal creamy. You could also use chia seeds or skip the binder all together. I’ve found that the baked oatmeal still turns just fine without using the egg or flaxseed.
Oil – A lot of my baked oatmeal recipes call for melted coconut oil, but you can skip it or swap it with another oil, melted butter (or ghee) or even applesauce or mashed banana.
Bananas – Don’t love bananas? Try using applesauce, pumpkin or mashed sweet potato instead of the mashed bananas.

Baked Oatmeal Turned Out Too Soggy?

All of my baked oatmeal recipes are a bit soft, but shouldn’t be too soggy. If a recipe calls for mashed bananas, make sure the mashed bananas aren’t overly ripe or that could add extra liquid. If yours turns out gooey or soggy, you might need to cook it longer.

Can I Add Protein Powder To Baked Oatmeal

I’ve added a scoop of protein powder without adding in more liquid and it turned out just fine! If you’re adding more than one scoop of protein powder you might want to add more liquid.

Can You Swap Rolled Oats For Steel Cut Oats or Quick Oats?

You can use steel cut or quick/instant oats for baked oatmeal, but you need to follow a recipe that calls for those oats because the liquid ratio is different. I do have an apple cinnamon baked steel cut oatmeal recipe I would suggest if you’re looking for a recipe that calls for steel cut oats.

The Perfect Ratio

Customize your own baked oatmeal but make sure you keep the ratio of liquid to oats the same. For most recipes you’ll use 1 part oats to 1 part liquid. I prefer to use unsweetened almond milk, oat milk or coconut milk but any milk works!

Baked oatmeal in a white baking dish with bananas and pecans.

Can You Make Baked Oatmeal Ahead of Time?

Yes, you can totally make baked oatmeal ahead of time. There are a couple options that work really well.

Option 1: Bake and Then Reheat Before Serving

Prepare baked oatmeal as the recipe suggests. Once baked, let the oatmeal cool, cover the baking dish and place in the fridge. You can do this 1-2 days in advance. When ready to serve, take oatmeal dish from fridge, cover with foil and reheat in a 350°F oven for about 20 minutes. For individual portions, set toaster oven to 350°F and bake for 5-10 minutes or reheat in the microwave for 1 minute.

Option 2: Prep as Much as You Can Without Baking

Mix together your dry ingredients in a bowl, cover and let sit out on the counter until morning.
Mix together all the wet ingredients in another bowl, cover and store in the fridge until morning.
In the morning, simply mix the wet and dry ingredients together, pour oatmeal mixture into your prepared baking dish and bake as recipe suggests.

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Blueberry Baked Oatmeal

This blueberry baked oatmeal is studded with blueberries and naturally sweetened with bananas and pure maple syrup. Can be made with fresh or frozen blueberries! Gluten-free and vegan-friendly.