4.34 from 571 votes

Easy Baked Oatmeal

Name: Easy Baked Oatmeal
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 50 min
Ingredients: 2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats; 1 teaspoon cinnamon; 1 teaspoon baking powder; ½ teaspoon sea salt; 2 cups milk of choice (I like using unsweetened vanilla almond milk); ¼ cup maple syrup; 1 large egg; 1 Tablespoon melted coconut oil; 1 teaspoon vanilla; 2 ripe bananas (sliced OR ½ cup unsweetened applesauce); 1 ½ cups chopped pecans (divided OR your choice of mix-ins (a blend of nuts, fruit and/or chocolate) )

Brittany MullinsUpdated Jul 22, 2024

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Servings: 6

50 mins

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This baked oatmeal recipe is a yummy breakfast dish that can easily be customized with your favorite mix-ins. It comes together in 1 bowl and is perfect for meal prep.

If you haven’t noticed, I am obsessed with baked oatmeal. I love it so much that I have been sharing one recipe every month for over a year! I’ve had so much fun coming up with creative flavors and you all seem to enjoy making them so it’s a win, win!

The recipe I’m sharing here is my go-to baked oatmeal. It’s the first recipe I ever made and it’s a great place to start if you’re new to baked oatmeal because it has a classic flavor (that anyone will like) and is super easy to make!

Baked oatmeal topped with chopped nuts in a white square baking dish.

What is Baked Oatmeal?

Baked oatmeal is healthy breakfast dish made by combining oats with a liquid, some sweeteners and flavorings and baking the mixture in the oven until it becomes firm and golden. The texture is similar to bread pudding and it’s really tasty and a fun way to switch things up from traditional stovetop oatmeal or overnight oats.

There are a couple popular variations including the style I’m sharing here with rolled oats and another viral version called blended baked oats that bakes up similar to a cake!

A slice of baked oatmeal served on a white plate with maple syrup and fresh berries.

Why You’ll Love Baked Oatmeal

I personally LOVE all types of oatmeal, but baked oatmeal is definitely one of my favorite ways to enjoy oatmeal. Here’s why:

Meal prep – It’s the perfect meal prep recipe. Quickly whip up a batch during your weekend meal prep and reheat it for breakfast all week long.
Easy – You only need one mixing bowl and one baking dish. Minimal dishes? Score!
Customizable – The flavor combinations are endless! As you can tell, I’ve shared 20+ different recipes and counting. There are so many ways to switch things up so you’re never bored.
Healthy – It’s lightly sweetened with maple syrup and made with healthy, nutritious ingredients, but doesn’t taste super duper healthy (aka like cardboard).
Allergen-friendly – It’s allergen friendly. Sensitive to dairy? You can use a dairy-free milk. Need to make it vegan? Swap in a flaxseed egg in place of a traditional egg. Gluten-free? Just be sure your oats are certified gluten-free.

// ★★★★★ Review //

“This is my go-to base when I make baked oatmeal! I’ve played around with add ins, protein powder, milks, etc – and they are all good! My family loves it.” – Jennie

Ingredients for baked oatmeal: bananas, pecans, milk, egg, baking powder, rolled oats, maple syrup, coconut oil, cinnamon, vanilla and salt.

Ingredients Needed

old fashioned rolled oats – be sure to used rolled oats, not quick oats. I like using these certified gluten-free oats from Bob’s Red Mill.
baking powder – a rising agent that helps lighten the texture of the baked oatmeal. It prevents it from becoming too dense or heavy.
ground cinnamon – cinnamon is the perfect warming spice for oatmeal, but you can also add more spices if you’d love. Ginger and nutmeg would be nice additions.
sea salt – to bring all of the flavors together.
unsweetened almond milk – any dairy-free milk works, but I like to use unsweetened vanilla almond milk. Dairy based milk works too if that’s what you have on hand.
maple syrup – pure maple syrup is the perfect natural sweetener to use in my opinion! If you don’t have maple syrup you can use honey, agave, monk fruit maple or your preferred sweetener.
egg or flaxseed – this helps bind everything together. You can use a regular egg or ground flaxseed. If you’re using the flaxseed, no need to make a flax egg with water, you can just mix the ground flaxseed directly in with the rest of your ingredients.
coconut oil – to add moisture and richness to the recipe. If you don’t want to use coconut oil, olive oil, avocado oil or butter works too!
pure vanilla extract – a nice flavor enhancer.
ripe bananas – sliced ripe bananas will act as a binding agent while providing plenty of sweetness. You can also use 1/2 cup applesauce instead of the bananas if you prefer.
pecans – I used chopped pecans as the mix-in and topping for this recipe, which adds healthy fats, texture and protein. Feel free to use your favorite variety of nuts. Any will work!

For a nut-free variation, swap the pecans with your favorite mix-in of choice. Fresh fruit, dried fruit or chocolate chips are all great options!

How to Make Baked Oatmeal

While there is a bit of cook time, this recipe is so easy to whip up in one bowl. Here’s the process:

Step 1: Preheat your oven to 375° F and spray an 8×8 inch square baking dish with cooking spray.

Step 2: In a large bowl, mix together the oats, baking powder, cinnamon and salt. Add in the milk, maple syrup, egg, coconut oil, vanilla and bananas. Stir to combine.

Step 3: Add in 1 cup of chopped pecans to the oat mixture and mix to combine. Carefully pour the oatmeal mixture into the prepared baking dish and scatter the remaining pecans on top.

Step 4: Placed oatmeal in the oven and bake for 35-40 minutes, until the top is nicely golden and a toothpick comes out clean.

Step 5: Remove from the oven and let cool for a few minutes. Portion into 6 slices and serve. I love serving it with fresh berries and a drizzle of nut butter, but you can also drizzle on a little maple syrup if you want it a bit sweeter.

Woman's hand pouring maple syrup over a slice of baked oatmeal on a plate served with fresh strawberries.

Baked Oatmeal Topping Ideas

The options are endless when it comes to toppings for baked oatmeal. Here are some ideas:

Maple syrup – I love adding a drizzle of maple syrup over my oats. Highly recommend!
Fresh fruit – You can’t go wrong with fresh fruit. My faves are mixed berries and banana slices, but any fresh fruit will be delicious.
Nut butter – I love adding a drizzle of peanut butter or almond butter to my baked oatmeal.
Nuts – For some crunch, top your oatmeal with chopped nuts like pecans, walnuts or almonds.
Coconut – Another option for some crunch would be to top your oats with toasted coconut.
Greek yogurt – For some added protein add a scoop of Greek yogurt (or any yogurt) before serving.

A slice of baked oatmeal served on a white plate alongside fresh berries.

What to Serve With Baked Oatmeal

Baked oatmeal is not only a great everyday breakfast recipe, it’s also a lovely addition to a brunch spread. Here are some ideas on what to serve it with:

Eggs: Pair it with a savory egg dish! Try this dairy-free spinach quiche or these delicious egg whit bites.
Fruit: A bowl of fresh fruit like this easy fruit salad recipe will be an excellent addition.
Protein: Serve this oatmeal with a breakfast protein of choice like chicken sausage, bacon or turkey bacon. For a vegan option, try this tempeh bacon.
Cocktail: if you’re serving this recipe for an adult brunch pair it with some mimosas or these peach bellinis.
Coffee: Serve this oatmeal with a warm cup of plain coffee, this iced coffee or a homemade pumpkin spice latte.

Baked oatmeal topped with chopped nuts in a white square baking dish with a woman's hand removing one slice.

Can You Make Baked Oatmeal Ahead of Time?

Yes, you can totally make it 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.

How to Store and Reheat

Baked oatmeal is perfect for meal prep because it stores beautifully. Here’s how you can store and reheat leftovers:

In the fridge: Allow the oatmeal to cool, then cover the baking dish or transfer individual portions to an airtight container. It’l stay fresh in the fridge for up to 5 days.
In the freezer: Store in the freezer for up to 3 months. To do this, let the oatmeal cool completely, then cut into individual portions and store in freezer-safe containers or bags.
Reheating the entire pan: Cover with foil and reheat in the oven at 350ºF for about 20 minutes or until warm.
Reheating 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!

Frequently Asked Questions

Is baked oatmeal healthy?

Yes, it’s a healthy breakfast option. There is a great balance of macronutrients – healthy fats from the egg, coconut oil and nuts, fiber from the oats, and lean protein from the egg.

Why did my baked oatmeal turn out 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.

Do you have to refrigerate baked oatmeal?

Yes! Since this recipe is moist it should be stored covered in the fridge or freezer. If you store it at room temperature bacteria can grow quickly and spoil your oats.

Can you swap rolled oats for steel cut oats?

You can use steel cut or quick oats for baked oatmeal, but you need to follow a recipe that specially calls for those types of oats because the liquid ratio is different. I do have a baked steel cut oatmeal recipe.

Can I add protein powder to baked oatmeal?

Yes! I’ve added a scoop of protein powder to my recipes without needing to add more liquid! If you’re adding more than one scoop of protein powder you might want to add more liquid. I recommend following my protein baked oatmeal recipe.