Get a nutritious head start on your mornings with this easy baked oatmeal recipe! The flavor variations make it anything but boring.
Recipe Overview
Why you’ll love it: A healthy, flavorful, and simple breakfast you can customize.
How long it takes: 10 minutes prep, 30–40 minutes baking.
Equipment: mixing bowl, baking dish, oven
Servings: 4
Some mornings are busy, tired, or both. That’s why simple, make-ahead breakfasts matter. Baked oatmeal is a great solution: it’s nourishing, easy to prepare, and keeps well so you can grab a portion and go.
About This Recipe
This baked oatmeal is a straightforward, make-ahead breakfast that reheats well and adapts to many flavors. Make a big batch and enjoy it all week — warmed for a minute in the microwave and topped with milk or yogurt, it’s a satisfying morning meal.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Oats: Use old-fashioned rolled oats for best texture. Quick oats work but will be softer. Don’t use steel-cut oats.
- Milk: Any milk — dairy or plant-based — is fine.
- Sweetener: 1/4 cup of coconut sugar, brown sugar, maple syrup, or honey adds a touch of sweetness.
- Egg: One egg binds the bake; use 2 tablespoons ground flaxseed for a vegan option.
- Coconut oil or butter: Just 1 tablespoon for richness; other mild oils also work.
- Baking powder: A little lift makes the texture lighter.
- Pinch of salt: Boosts flavor — optional but recommended.
- Cinnamon and vanilla: Classic flavorings; feel free to swap or add spices to suit your taste.
- Variations: Apples, berries, bananas, nuts, pumpkin, and more — see the variations list below.
How To Make Baked Oatmeal
Preheat the oven, grease a baking dish, combine all the ingredients in a large bowl, and stir until combined. Pour the mixture into the prepared pan.
Bake for 30–40 minutes, until the oatmeal is set and golden. Let it cool slightly, cut into squares, and serve warm with milk or a dollop of yogurt and fresh fruit, or refrigerate for later.
Serve with yogurt, milk, or fresh fruit for a hearty breakfast that fuels your morning.
There are many ways to enjoy oatmeal beyond baking. It can be cooked in a slow cooker or Instant Pot, pan-seared for a crunchy exterior, or formed into cookies or energy bites.
FAQs
Oats are a nutritious whole grain, rich in fiber, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. They can support weight management, help control blood sugar, and benefit heart health. The healthiness of baked oatmeal depends on added ingredients—limit excess sugar and fats for a healthier dish.
This recipe bakes 30–40 minutes at 375°F. Bake time varies with pan size: a smaller pan produces a thicker bake that may need more time, while a larger pan spreads the mixture and cooks faster.
Yes. Because it contains milk and egg (unless made vegan), store baked oatmeal in the refrigerator for up to six days.
Make It Your Own
Use the base recipe and experiment with additions: apples and cinnamon, berries, bananas and nuts, maple and pecans, pumpkin, peanut butter, applesauce, shredded carrots, chocolate chips, citrus zest, or spice blends like apple pie or pumpkin pie spice. Mix and match to find your favorite combination.
Make-Ahead Ideas
Make a double batch and refrigerate or freeze portions for easy breakfasts. To bake fresh in the morning, mix dry ingredients the night before and keep the wet mixture chilled. In the morning, combine and bake while you get ready.
Storage & Reheating Tips
Refrigerate: Store in a covered container for up to six days.
Freeze: Cut into portions and freeze up to six months; thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
Reheat: Warm in the microwave in 30-second intervals until heated through.
More Breakfast Ideas
Pancake Mix – with 100% Whole Wheat Option
French Toast Recipe
Chocolate Protein Pancakes
Tropical Smoothie Recipe
Baked Oatmeal Recipe – with flavor ideas!
Ingredients
- 2 cups rolled oats (old-fashioned)
- 2 cups milk (cow’s milk, almond milk, or oat milk)
- ¼ cup coconut sugar, brown sugar, or maple syrup
- 1 large egg or 2 tablespoons ground flax seeds (flax meal)
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil, melted or butter
- 1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
Variations
- Apple Spice: add 1 large apple, chopped (about 1 cup) + ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- Berry: add 1 cup berries
- Banana Nut: add 1 cup sliced banana and ½ cup chopped walnuts
- Maple Pecan: add ½ cup chopped pecans and use maple syrup as sweetener
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F and grease an 8×8, 9×9, or 11×7 pan with nonstick spray or coconut oil.
- Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and mix until combined.
- Pour into the prepared pan and bake 30–40 minutes, or until set and golden brown. Serve warm with milk or yogurt, if desired.
- Store leftovers in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to 6 days. Reheat in the microwave in 30-second intervals until warm.
Notes
- Nutrition is estimated using 2% milk, coconut sugar, egg, and coconut oil; variations are not included.
- Vegan option: use non-dairy milk, coconut oil, and ground flax instead of egg.
- Baked oatmeal freezes well. Cut into portions, wrap, and freeze up to 6 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is an approximation.
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