Tropical Oatmeal

4.67

39

Save to FavoritesPrintJump to Recipe

This post may include affiliate links. Thank you for your support.

This creamy bowl of tropical oatmeal cooks up in under 10 minutes on the stovetop. It combines rolled oats with coconut milk and banana and is topped with fresh mango and toasted coconut.

Nothing warms me up like a bowl of oatmeal on a cold morning especially if it involves flavors that make me think of white sand, suntan lotion and piña coladas. This bowl of tropical oatmeal does just that with flavors of banana, mango and coconut. It’s delightful… and now one of my favorite oatmeal variations.

So if you’re in the mood for a tasty bowl of oats that will have you daydreaming about exotic islands give this little combo a shot.

Bowl of oatmeal topped with fresh mango, banana slices and toasted coconut.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

  • Loaded with tropical flavors thanks to the fresh banana and mango, coconut milk and toasted coconut.
  • Loaded with fiber from oats, healthy fats from coconut milk and shredded coconut and vitamins and minerals from the fresh fruit.
  • Comes together in just 10 minutes!
  • Dairy-free, vegan and totally customizable.
Ingredients measured out to make Tropical Oatmeal: vanilla, cinnamon, water, coconut, oats, banana, maple syrup, coconut milk and mango.

Ingredients & Substitutions

  • old fashioned oats – rolled oats make for such a creamy bowl of oatmeal. I love Bob’s Red Mill old-fashioned rolled oats. Make sure you grab gluten-free oats if needed.
  • coconut milk – this adds a tropical twist and creaminess to the oatmeal. You can use regular or light canned coconut milk. You can replace the coconut milk with any non-dairy or dairy milk of choice. You can also use all water if you prefer. The flavor will change slightly and the oatmeal might not be as creamy, but it’ll still be delicious.
  • water – instead of cooking the oats in all coconut milk, we’re doing half coconut milk and half water to reduce the saturated fat.
  • banana – half a banana is used in the oatmeal for some creaminess and natural sweetness, while the rest can be saved for topping.
  • cinnamon and vanilla extract – nice flavor enhancers!
  • toppings â€“ these are optional, but I love adding fresh mango, fresh banana slices, toasted coconut and a drizzle of maple syrup (or sweetener of choice). For the toasted coconut, make sure you’re using unsweetened coconut.
Side by side photos of a pot showing the before and after of ingredients to make Tropical Oatmeal, into a creamy pot of oatmeal.

How to Make

Place oats, milk, banana slices, cinnamon and vanilla in a medium-sized pot. Cook on medium-low heat over the stovetop for about 6-7 minutes, stirring occasionally so the oats don’t stick. Banana slices should cook down and become creamy.

Remove from pot, add oat mixture to a bowl and top with extra banana slices, mango chunks, toasted coconut flakes and a drizzle of maple syrup, if desired.

Woman's hand pouring maple syrup over bowl of tropical oatmeal.

Customize Your Oatmeal

  • Use different fruit – fresh pineapple, kiwi, peaches or really any fruit would be delicious.
  • Use different toppings – feel free to great creative when it comes to the toppings! Nuts, chia seeds, dried fruit and a drizzle of nut or seed butter are all great options.
  • Add protein – stir in 1/2-1 scoop of vanilla protein powder, whisk in egg whites after cooking or add a scoop of Greek yogurt. Check out my full post on protein oatmeal for other ways to add protein to your oats.
Far away bowl of oatmeal topped with fresh mango, banana slices and toasted coconut.

How to Meal Prep & Store

This tropical oatmeal recipe is great because you can easily double or triple the recipe for meal prep so you have breakfast ready to go for a few days.

Just store your leftovers in the fridge in an airtight container for 3-4 days. When you’re ready to eat, warm the oatmeal in the microwave for 1-2 minutes, stirring every 30 seconds until they reach your preferred temperature. You might want to add an extra splash of milk or water because as the oats sit they’ll likely thicken up. Add your favorite toppings and enjoy!

More Oatmeal Recipes

Be sure to check out all of the oatmeal recipes as well as the full collection of breakfast recipes on EBF!

Want to save this recipe? Enter your email below and we’ll send the recipe to your inbox. Plus you’ll get great new recipes every week!
4.67 from 3 votes

Tropical Oatmeal

This creamy bowl of tropical oatmeal cooks up in under 10 minutes on the stovetop. It combines rolled oats with coconut milk and banana and is topped with fresh mango and toasted coconut.
Prep Time: 3 minutes
Cook Time: 7 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes
Servings: 1

Ingredients  

  • ½ cup old fashioned oats
  • ½ cup canned coconut milk, regular or light
  • ½ cup water
  • ½ banana, sliced
  • pinch of cinnamon
  • splash of vanilla
  • toasted coconut flakes, for topping
  • mango chunks, for topping
  • banana slices, for topping
  • maple syrup, for topping

Instructions 

  • Place oats, milk, banana slices, cinnamon and vanilla in a medium sized pot. Cook on medium-low heat for about 6-7 minutes, stirring occasionally so the oats don’t stick. Banana slices should cook down and become creamy.
    Cooked oatmeal mixed together in a pot.
  • Remove from pot, add to a bowl and top with extra banana slices, mango chunks, toasted coconut flakes and a drizzle of maple syrup, if desired.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 bowl | Calories: 504kcal | Carbohydrates: 92g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Sodium: 42mg | Potassium: 563mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 31g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Breakfast
Cuisine: American
Keyword: tropical oatmeal
Did you make this recipe?Mention @eatingbirdfood and tag #eatingbirdfood!

About Brittany

Hey there, I’m Brittany, the creator of Eating Bird Food, cookbook author, health coach and mama of two littles. Here you’ll find quick and easy recipes that make healthy fun and enjoyable for you and your family!

More about Brittany
Chicken fajita filling on a sheet pan with a wooden spoon. Tortillas are resting on the bottom of the sheet pan.
Get Your FREE High-Protein Meal Plan
Struggling to eat enough protein? Subscribe to my email list and I’ll send you a 3-Day High-Protein Meal Plan with a Shopping List!

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




39 Comments

  1. hi brittany! those oats like FABULOUS! i had seen this milk in the store but was weary…now i really want to buy it! do you think you could do this recipe as overnight oats too?

  2. Your oatmeal concoction looks delicious! I haven’t seen that particular flavor yet, but I’m certainly going to be on the lookout for it!

  3. Hello, hello! Long time no see ;p I heard about that new milk from Almond Breeze! Sounds interesting 🙂 take me to the tropics too! I did FaceTime with my mom today and she showed me around their house (in Florida) and I virtually basked in their sun lol. I hope all is well (pshh they are beyond well!!)

    XOXO, so much love to you!

    1. Hiii lady! I hope you are doing well in NYC. I’m missing you here in Richmond. Let’s meet up somewhere warm. 🙂 xoxo

  4. I have to thank you SO much for introducing me to…cooked oats basically. I never used to cook oats because I didn’t think it necessary, I would just eat them plain with (organic) milk and some cranberry-nut mix. I still think that combo is divine but I am enjoying the warmths of cooked oats for winter. I make mine with a blend of coconut milk and water, then toss some coconut rasps in there.

    You guys in the US are so lucky, you seem to have a much better choice of health-food/good-for-you options available, despite being the country of fast food. In Germany, I wouldn’t even know where to buy Almond Milk!

  5. 5 stars
    My 21 month old daughter and I loved this oatmeal! I added some raisins and a touch of pure almond extract too. My daughter is in her picky eating stage now and she even asked for seconds! We have been having difficulty getting her to eat much lately, so thank you!

    1. Ahh that makes me so happy to hear, Amy!! I’m so glad she enjoyed this oatmeal. 🙂 Thanks for taking the time to come back and leave a comment + star rating. I really appreciate it!

  6. 5 stars
    Incredible recipe! I’ve mostly been relying on protein powder + oatmeal, so this was my first foray into oats sweetened without the sweeteners from protein power. I was so surprised with how well this turned out, and I crave it every morning for breakfast!

    1. YUM! I am so excited to hear that you gave this recipe a try and it turned out great for you. So glad you are loving this oatmeal. Thank you for coming back and sharing your review + star rating, I apprecaiate it!

    1. Hi Lyn – I do not recommend making this recipe with steel cut oats, you would need to adjust the liquid ingredients, since steel cut oats absorb more liquid and take longer to bake. I have a delicious baked steel cut oat recipe HERE. Let me know if you give it a try!

See More Comments