Easy Baked Oatmeal Recipe

By
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Southern-cuisine expert and cookbook author Diana Rattray has created more than 5,000 recipes and articles in her 20 years as a food writer.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 12/21/22
Tested by
Tracy Wilk
Photo of Tracy Wilk
Tested by Tracy Wilk
Tracy Wilk is a professional pastry chef, recipe developer and chef instructor, and, most importantly, a firm believer in sprinkles.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Easy Baked Oatmeal in a baking dish and on plates

The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck

Prep: 15 mins
Cook: 40 mins
Total: 55 mins
Servings: 6 to 9 servings
Yield: 1 pan

Baked oatmeal is a quick and easy way to prepare a bowl of oatmeal for the whole family. It's an all-in-one casserole of oats, milk, maple syrup or honey, eggs, and flavorings. Made with ingredients from your pantry, baked oatmeal is an excellent alternative to packaged instant oatmeal, and it offers much more texture and flavor.

The flavor possibilities are limitless. Mix-ins can include a cup or two of berries, chopped nuts, chocolate chips, raisins or currants, dried cranberries, or chopped dates, or add another fresh or frozen (unthawed) fruit. You may also add mashed ripe banana or about 1/4 cup of applesauce to the mixture, or swirl in a few tablespoons of your favorite fruit preserves just before baking.

Baked oatmeal is generally gluten-free, but always check the label on your oats to be sure. You can even make the dish vegan if you like, using non-dairy milk and an egg substitute. Serve baked oatmeal with yogurt, or drizzle with fresh fruit syrup.

“This recipe is like overnight oats, but baked, warm and delicious. I love that you can mix and match flavors here or make the batch early in the week and have a warm breakfast ready to go every morning. I would definitely make this recipe again.” —Tracy Wilk

baked oatmeal/tester image
A Note From Our Recipe Tester

Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup unsalted butter, plus more for the baking dish

  • 3 cups rolled oats

  • 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

  • 1/2 teaspoon fine salt

  • 2 large eggs

  • 1 3/4 cups milk

  • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

  • 1/2 cup maple syrup

  • Fresh or frozen berries, optional

  • Coarsely chopped pecans or walnuts, optional

  • Chocolate chips, optional

  • Maple syrup or yogurt, for serving, optional

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Easy Baked Oatmeal ingredients in bowls

    The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck

  2. Position a rack in the center of the oven and heat to 350 F. Grease an 8-x 8-inch or 9-x 9-inch baking dish with butter or baking spray.

    Greased baking dish

    The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck

  3. Melt 1/4 cup of butter in a small saucepan over low heat or microwave in a microwave-safe bowl until melted. Set aside.

    Melted butter in a bowl

    The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck

  4. In a large bowl combine the rolled oats, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt. Stir to blend the ingredients.

    Rolled oats, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt in a bowl with a wooden spoon

    The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck

  5. In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, vanilla, and maple syrup until combined.

    Eggs, milk, vanilla, and maple syrup in a bowl with a whisk

    The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck

  6. Add the egg mixture and melted butter to the oats, then mix until well blended.

    Oat mixture in a bowl with a wooden spoon

    The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck

  7. If desired, stir in 1 to 2 cups of any additional mix-ins, such as berries, nuts, or chocolate chips.

    Oatmeal with betties and nuts in a bowl, with a wooden spoon

    The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck

  8. Pour the oat mixture into the prepared baking dish, spreading into an even layer. Bake until golden brown and set, 35 to 45 minutes.

    Baked oatmeal in a baking dish

    The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck

  9. Let cool for 5 minutes. To serve, slice or scoop the baked oatmeal onto plates, then drizzle with syrup or top with yogurt, if desired.

    Easy Baked Oatmeal in a baking dish and on plates

    The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck

Recipe Variations

  • Vegan With Flax Eggs: To make 2 flax eggs, combine 2 tablespoons of ground flax seeds with 6 tablespoons of warm water. Mix and let stand for about 20 minutes. or until the texture is like gelatin.
  • Add about 1/4 cup of pumpkin, applesauce, or mashed banana.
  • Swirl a few tablespoons of jam or preserves into the oatmeal before baking.
  • Use non-dairy milk, such as coconut, almond, oat, or soy milk.
  • For more servings, double the recipe and bake in a 9-by-13-inch baking pan or 3-quart baking dish for the same amount of time.
  • Replace the maple syrup with honey, use brown sugar, or a combination of brown sugar, maple syrup or honey.


How to Store

  • Cover and refrigerate leftover baked oatmeal for up to 3 to 4 days.
  • Reheat single servings in the microwave with a small amount of milk, stirring every 20 seconds, until hot.

Can I use steel-cut oats for baked oatmeal?

While there are recipes for baked oatmeal made with steel-cut oats, they have different texture and moisture requirements, so they will not work as a one-to-one replacement for the rolled oats in this recipe.

Do I need to use baking powder for baked oatmeal?

Baking powder is a leavening agent and lightens the baked oatmeal. It may be a bit denser if you make it without the baking powder.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
239 Calories
9g Fat
34g Carbs
7g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 6 to 9
Amount per serving
Calories 239
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 9g 11%
Saturated Fat 4g 22%
Cholesterol 59mg 20%
Sodium 281mg 12%
Total Carbohydrate 34g 12%
Dietary Fiber 3g 11%
Total Sugars 14g
Protein 7g
Vitamin C 0mg 1%
Calcium 148mg 11%
Iron 2mg 8%
Potassium 223mg 5%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)