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This banana oatmeal is creamy and lightly sweet, with the best banana flavor! It’s a healthy breakfast that’s fast and easy to whip up.
Looking to mix up your mornings? Try this creamy Banana Oatmeal! Adding banana to your morning oats adds a little natural sweetness and creamy texture. Here it’s offset with warm spices and vanilla to make a cozy and easy breakfast. We’re always looking for ways to mix up our daily oatmeal intake: peanut butter oatmeal, baked oatmeal, overnight oats. This one is a fun variation that’s perfect to fit into the rotation. Here’s how to make it!
Ingredients for banana oatmeal
This banana oatmeal is a fast version of our Banana Baked Oatmeal, one of our fan favorite recipes. But instead of taking 1 hour to make, it’s less than 10 minutes! Most of the ingredients are pantry staples that are easy to have on hand. Here’s what you’ll need:
- Butter or coconut oil, for toasting the oats
- Old Fashioned rolled oats (do not use instant oats or steel cut oats)
- Ripe bananas
- Salt
- Cinnamon and cloves (or allspice)
- Vanilla
- Water
How to make banana oatmeal: toasted and chewy!
No gloppy or soggy oatmeal here! This method makes oats with a chewy texture and a slightly nutty, toasted flavor. It’s a little different from your standard bowl of creamy oats: and a lot more delicious! Here’s how to make the best pot of banana oatmeal:
- Toast the oats in butter or coconut oil until fragrant. It takes just a minute or two, but it makes a big difference.
- Add liquid and cook on low without stirring. This easy method makes the oats chewy with separate grains, instead of a gooey mess.
- If you like it creamier, add milk at the end. Add as much milk as you like to get to a creamier texture to these oats.
Variation: banana baked oatmeal
This banana oatmeal is a quick and easy version for weekday mornings. But want to make a showy version for brunch with the same flavors? Try our baked oatmeal! It’s one of our favorites because it’s packed with cozy flavor. Don’t forget the nut butter topping: it really makes the recipe! Here’s the Banana Baked Oatmeal recipe.
Oatmeal toppings
Once you’ve got a cozy bowl of banana oatmeal, top it to your heart’s content! It makes for a healthy breakfast idea that’s also gluten free. Our favorite topping for oats is nut butter, to add even more protein and make it beautifully filling. Here are some ideas:
- Nut butter: Try peanut butter, almond butter, cashew butter or pecan butter: all delicious.
- Honey or maple syrup: The banana adds a good amount of sweetness: but you can add a light drizzle of maple to amp the flavors a bit.
- Banana slices: Of course! Save out a bit of one banana to have a few slices
- Fruit sauce: Try a swirl of our Raspberry Sauce or Blueberry Sauce.
- Pepitas or chia seeds: Top with pumpkin seeds or chia seeds
- Bee pollen: Also adds a nice crunch and confetti look
Storage info
This banana oatmeal is best fresh: but you can also refrigerate any leftovers! Store them refrigerated for up to 3 days. When you are ready to eat, it’s nice to reheat them and swirl in just a little milk (dairy or non-dairy) to loosen up the texture. You can reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave.
More banana recipes…with oatmeal!
Got ripe bananas? There are so many ways to use them in combination with oats to make tasty meals. Here are some of our favorite banana recipes that also star oats:
- Make our fan favorite Healthy Banana Bread Muffins: blended with bananas and oats and perfectly fluffy!
- Whip up a batch of Banana Oatmeal Pancakes, Vegan Banana Pancakes or Go-To Banana Pancakes.
- Blend an Oatmeal Smoothie, which tastes just like oatmeal.
- Try our Blueberry Banana Bread, Sour Cream Banana Bread, or Chocolate Chip Banana Bread.
This banana oatmeal recipe is…
Vegetarian, vegan, plant-based, dairy-free and gluten-free.
Easy Banana Oatmeal
This banana oatmeal is creamy and lightly sweet, with the best banana flavor! It’s a healthy breakfast that’s fast and easy to whip up.
- Prep Time: 2 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 minutes
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 2 to 3 servings 1x
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Oatmeal
- Diet: Vegan
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon salted butter or coconut oil
- 2 cups Old Fashioned rolled oats (do not use instant oats or steel cut oats)
- 2 mashed ripe bananas (or save half of one banana for topping)
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ⅛ teaspoon cloves or ¼ teaspoon allspice
- ½ tablespoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups water
- Milk, oat milk or almond milk, for serving (optional)
- Maple syrup or honey, for serving (optional)
Instructions
- Melt the butter or coconut oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the oats and toast for about 2 to 3 minutes, stirring often, until fragrant.
- Add the salt and cinnamon and cloves. Turn the heat to low and carefully pour in the water, milk, vanilla and banana, stirring. Cover and cook for 5 minutes until tender, then remove from the heat. Taste and add 2 more pinches salt. Serve immediately for a chunky texture, or stir in ½ cup milk for a creamier body. The texture is intentionally chewy (not gloppy or soggy!). You can also stir in 1 tablespoon maple syrup to the pot for a slightly sweeter flavor, or simply add a drizzle on top. Top with desired toppings and serve.