Say hello to the cozy, craveable crossover you didn’t know your breakfast routine needed: Banana Bread Baked Oatmeal. It’s like your favorite banana bread took a deep dive into warm, hearty oats—and came out better than ever. Naturally sweet, full of texture, and perfect for meal prep, this bake hits the sweet spot between comfort food and a practical breakfast.
Steps to make Banana Bread Baked Oatmeal
Step 1: Gather your ingredients.
Step 2: Combine egg, vanilla and mashed banana
Step 3: Peel three very ripe banana and add to a sturdy bowl. Our loose rule is if they are perfect for eating, they aren’t ripe enough for cooking.
Step 4: Mash with a handheld masher or use a fork to mash bananas to a pulp. I like large lumps of nanner in everything I make, but you can reduce this to near liquid if you want.
Step 5: Combine.
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Step 6: Add oats to milk.
Step 7: Pour into prepared baking dish.
Step 8: Bake and cool.
Step 9: Serve and garnish as desired.
Tips for the Best Banana Nut Baked Oatmeal
- Make it ahead. This dish is ideal for breakfast casserole make-ahead healthy baked oatmeal meal prep. Store in the fridge and reheat throughout the week.
- Go gluten-free or dairy-free. Swap in gluten-free oats and your favorite plant-based milk to turn this into a gluten free banana baked oatmeal or dairy free baked oatmeal recipe. (We use Silk Half-and-Half Alternative in our coffee, so in a pinch I’ll add a bit of water to this to make a plant-based “milk” and it works fine.)
- Want bars instead of casserole? Let it cool completely, then slice it into squares. Voila—baked breakfast oatmeal bars that travel well.
- Banana game strong. Use the ripest bananas you’ve got for the best flavor. It’s one of our favorite breakfast recipes using bananas for a reason. But the sweet banana flavor is at its peak with very brown bananas.
- Customize your crunch. Walnuts are classic in this banana walnut baked oatmeal, but pecans, sliced almonds, or no nuts at all work just as well. If you must, ½ cup raisins can go in at this step too.
- Oats matter. Stick to old-fashioned rolled oats for the best texture. Steel-cut is too chewy and quick oats come out mushy. No quick oats allowed in oatmeal banana recipes healthy enough to keep you full till lunch.
Banana Walnut Baked Oatmeal
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Ingredients
- ½ cup brown sugar packed
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 ½ cups over-ripe bananas mashed
- 2 eggs
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 ½ cups old-fashioned oats not quick oats or steel-cut
- 2 cups milk
- 1 cup chopped walnuts divided
Instructions
- Preheat and prep: Set your oven to 350°F. Lightly grease or spray a 2-quart (8×8 or similar) baking dish with non-stick spray.
- Mix dry ingredients: In your big mixing bowl, use a fork to combine the brown sugar, salt, baking powder, and cinnamon.
- Add wet ingredients: Mash the bananas if you haven’t yet done so. Then stir them in with the eggs and vanilla extract. There will be a few lumps.
- Add oats and milk: Pour in the oats, milk, and ¾ cup of the chopped walnuts. Stir until combined.
- Assemble: Pour the mixture into your greased baking dish. Sprinkle the top with the remaining ¼ cup of walnuts. Cover the dish tightly with foil.
- Bake: Slide the pan into the center of the oven. Bake for 30 minutes. Then remove the foil and bake for another 10 minutes, or until the top is golden brown.
- Serve: If adding to a bowl with a cream top, this can be spooned out warm. Or wait until room temp and cut into bars.
