This delicious banana oatmeal recipe turns an ordinary bowl of oatmeal into the perfect breakfast. Overripe bananas are a match for the nutty flavor of instant oats. Plus, when no one wants to eat bananas with brown spots, you won’t have to let them go to waste. The natural sweetness of bananas makes for a great way to enjoy a healthy breakfast without added sugar.
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Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Quick: We all have those busy mornings that get crazy, but that’s no excuse not to eat a healthy breakfast. With banana oatmeal, you can have it on the table fast and be out the door on time.
- Delicious: This great recipe tastes like a sweet treat that is sure to satisfy your sweet tooth without adding sugar.
- Good for you: This is one of those healthy oatmeal recipes you don’t want to miss. With bananas and heart-healthy oats, you can keep your high blood pressure in check while eating something that fully nourishes and sustains you at the start of your day.
Nutrition For Mental Wellness
One medium banana is 75% water. It contains 22.8g of carbohydrates, 2.6g of fiber, 1.1g of protein, and 0.3g of fat. Bananas are rich in vitamin B6. They are also a good source of potassium and vitamin C.
A cross-sectional study found that adult females who consumed high amounts of bananas (4 or more per week) had higher rates of depressive symptoms. Meanwhile, adult men who consumed a moderate amount of bananas (1-3 per week) experienced decreased depressive symptoms. Does this pique your interest? This is my jam! I have an MS in Nutrition and Functional Medicine.
Ingredients + Notes
This ingredient list is simple, and hopefully, you’ve got everything you need in your kitchen to whip up banana oatmeal today. It’s one of the best healthy breakfast recipes you’ll find, and it’s super quick to make, too!
- Rolled Oats: I definitely prefer rolled oats when making oatmeal like this. They cook quickly and have a great texture.
- Oat Milk: Oat milk lends a creamy texture to your banana oatmeal, making it taste more heavenly overall. If you’d like to make your own plant milk instead, try this homemade cashew milk or simple almond milk recipe.
A full list of ingredients with exact amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
Recipe Variations + Substitutions
Try this banana oatmeal recipe, and you’ll love it, though if you’re missing one of the key ingredients, these variation tips will help you make it using a substitution.
- Sweeteners: Pure maple syrup is always my first choice for natural sweetness. If you’re out of it in your kitchen, try stevia, monk fruit sweetener, or brown sugar.
- Non-Dairy Milk Options: While I always have oat milk on hand, if that’s not your preferred plant-based milk, you can use soy milk, almond milk, or any other non-dairy milk. If you don’t have those, boiling water also works.
- Extracts: Vanilla extract will always work in your favor to create the best-tasting bowl of oatmeal. However, you could also use banana extract for even more banana flavor or something like strawberry extract to contrast.
- Oats: I use old-fashioned oats in this recipe, though instant oats or rolled oats are other viable options. The thing to keep in mind is that you need quick-cooking oats for a recipe like this, not steel-cut oats.
How To Make Banana Oatmeal
In just under 10 minutes, you’ll have this incredibly delicious banana oatmeal to enjoy. I provide a microwave method and a stovetop method so that you can make it in whichever way works best for you.
- Pour oat milk into a microwave-safe pitcher or mug and microwave for 30-60 seconds (until very hot). (Alternatively, heat the plant-based milk on the stove in a small saucepan until it just starts to simmer.)
- Prepare the banana:
- Cut half of the banana into slices and set aside for topping.
- Add the other half of the banana to your oatmeal bowl and mash it.
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- Add rolled oats, maple syrup, and salt to the bowl and pour steaming hot oat milk over the top.
- Let sit until the oats have soaked up most of the liquid, which takes 3-5 minutes.
- Stir oatmeal and add the sliced banana to the top, along with your favorite toppings.
Topping Ideas
Gather your favorite mix-ins and put them on top for more deliciousness in every spoonful of this healthy breakfast!
- Banana Slices: If you have some ripe bananas left over after the mashing, top your banana oatmeal with the slices.
- Fresh Berries: Berries also work great as a topping for your banana oatmeal. Blueberries and strawberries are a perfect match.
- Nut Butter: Go for almond butter or peanut butter for an extra pop of protein and flavor.
- Chia Seeds: Adding chia seeds on top will give this a crunchy layer. You can also see my other recipes for chia oatmeal bowls that can easily work with bananas.
- Chocolate Chips: Make this taste like an indulgent dessert with a few chocolate chips thrown in. They’re so yummy with bananas!
Serving Suggestions
Healthy banana oatmeal is a delicious recipe on its own. However, if you are looking for a more filling meal, here are my suggestions.
- Smoothies: This protein-packed Almond Butter Smoothie or PB Banana Smoothie are great choices.
- Drinks: Have an iced Strawberry Matcha, a cozy Golden Milk Latte, or a Matcha Latte.
- Baked goods: Pair this homemade banana oatmeal with a Vegan Blueberry Muffin for an extra treat.
Storage Tips
I always make my oatmeal right when I plan to eat it though I know many of you like to meal prep. You may also be unable to finish such a filling serving, in which case you can save the remainder to eat later or use it for peanut butter, banana oatmeal cookies, or banana bread cookies.
- Fridge: To keep banana oatmeal in the fridge, you should put it in an airtight container. Try to eat it as soon as possible, though don’t keep it longer than 2-3 days.
- Freeze: Freezing your leftover banana oatmeal is another option, especially if you want to use it in other recipes. You can keep it there for a maximum of 3 months.
FAQ
Absolutely! Oatmeal with banana has soluble fiber, which is great for helping lower your risk for heart disease. Bananas also contain loads of potassium, and together with the oats, it’s an excellent combination for your health that also tastes amazing.
Yes, oatmeal and bananas make an outstanding breakfast. These two things can keep you feeling full and satisfied for longer, allowing you to have the energy to master all your morning tasks.
You don’t have to eat oatmeal every morning, but you surely can. It’s such a nutritious breakfast and can help you meet your health goals.
Steel-cut oats or Irish oats are among the best for your health, though they won’t bode well in this recipe since they take longer to cook. Rolled oats and quick oats still offer plenty of health benefits for you, and they cook quickly too.
More Vegan Breakfast Recipes
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Recipe
Banana Oatmeal
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup of old-fashioned oats
- 3/4 cup of oat milk
- 1/2 teaspoon maple syrup
- Pinch salt
- 1 banana, peeled
Instructions
- Pour oat milk into a microwave-safe pitcher or mug and microwave for 30-60 seconds (until very hot). (Alternatively, heat the plant-based milk on the stove in a small saucepan until it just starts to simmer.)
- Prepare the banana: Cut half of the banana into slices and set aside for topping. Add the other half of the banana to your oatmeal bowl and mash it.
- Add rolled oats, maple syrup, and salt to the bowl and pour steaming hot oat milk over the top.
- Let sit until the oats have soaked up most of the liquid, which takes 3-5 minutes.
- Stir oatmeal and add the sliced banana to the top, along with your favorite toppings.
Video
Notes
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- Fridge: To keep banana oatmeal in the fridge, you should put it in an airtight container. Try to eat it as soon as possible, though don’t keep it longer than 2-3 days.
- Freeze: Freezing your leftover banana oatmeal is another option, especially if you want to use it in other recipes. You can keep it there for a maximum of 3 months.
Nutrition
Did you make this recipe?
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Reference
Ji, T., Li, X., Meng, G., Gu, Y., Zhang, Q., Liu, L., Wu, H., Yao, Z., Zhang, S., Wang, Y., Zhang, T., Wang, X., Cao, X., Li, H., Liu, Y., Wang, X., Wang, X., Sun, S., Zhou, M., Jia, Q., … Niu, K. (2020). The association between banana consumption and the depressive symptoms in Chinese general adult population: A cross-sectional study. Journal of affective disorders, 264, 1–6. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2019.12.008
This was so good.
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