Banana Bread Overnight Oats Recipe

Bananas and oatmeal; two breakfast favorites combined in one healthy meal. This dish is easy to prepare and sure to please. See how easy it is to make banana bread overnight oats in three different ways.

If you love banana bread, this healthy banana bread oatmeal recipe should definitely be in your morning breakfast rotation!!

A full canning jar filled with this Banana Bread Oatmeal Recipe and topped with banana slices, chocolate chips and chopped pecans.

What Is Banana Bread Overnight Oatmeal?

Banana bread oatmeal is oatmeal that has been flavored to taste just like banana bread. Only, with the right ingredients, it can be a whole lot healthier. They are typically soaked in milk overnight, making them a no-cook, ready-to-go, breakfast.

Getting That Banana Bread Flavor In Your Oatmeal

This is all about the bananas. While the spices play a big part, the intensity of the banana flavor relies on the bananas you use. The more ripe your banana is, the more intense the flavor will be, just like with banana bread.

What Is The Difference Between Steel Cut Oats, Rolled Oats, And Instant Oats?

Oats are oats. The difference between all of these is how they are cut and processed.

Steel-cut oats are the toughest and least processed of all oats. They are also considered the healthiest.

Rolled oats, also known as traditional or old fashion oats, are literally rolled to flatten the whole oats.

Instant oats, also known as quick-cook oats, have had the healthiest parts of the oat grain removed in order to make them quicker and easier to cook. They are the least healthy of all the different cuts of oats and are what you find in the flavored oatmeal packets.

The finished Banana Bread Oatmeal Recipe in a canning jar topped with sliced bananas.

How To Cook Banana Bread Overnight Oats

You have three options for making this. You can bake it, cook it or make overnight oats. Below are the methods for all three. Take your pick!

What Is Baked Oatmeal?

Baked oatmeal is oatmeal baked in a casserole dish in the oven. It’s a great way to make oatmeal without having to stand at the stove. Plus, you can prep it the night before for convenience.

Can I Use Steel Cut Oats?

You can use steel-cut oats for the stovetop version of this recipe, but not for the overnight version. Steel-cut oats don’t get soft enough to eat by simply soaking them overnight. You’ll want to use rolled (traditional/old fashion) oats for that.

Special Dietary Needs

Gluten-Free – This dish can be made gluten-free by choosing gluten-free ingredients.

Dairy-Free – This can be dairy-free by using dairy alternatives.

Vegan – This can be vegan by using maple syrup, vegan milk, vegan chocolate chips, and flax eggs (for baked oatmeal).

How to Serve Banana Bread Overnight Oats

This is more or less a stand-alone dish. My favorite pairing is a good cup of coffee. It’s much like having coffee and a banana muffin.

All the Banana Bread Oatmeal Recipe ingredients collected on a wooden table.

Banana Bread Overnight Oats Ingredients

Banana – The riper the bananas are, the more banana flavor they will have. But don’t use blackened bananas as you would for banana bread. That won’t taste good here.

Vanilla extract – Use the real stuff, not vanilla flavoring.

Maple syrup – Use real maple syrup, not pancake syrup.

Milk – Any milk will work. Try almond milk, oat milk, or cashew milk for plant-based milk.

Old-fashioned oats – It’s important to get this exact type of oats. Another term for them on the packaging would be “Traditional Oats”. Just make sure they are not quick-cooking oats.

Flaxseed – You can substitute with chia seeds if you prefer.

Ground cinnamon – Just cinnamon, not cinnamon sugar.

Salt – Whatever type you normally cook with will work fine here.

Mini chocolate chips – These are optional but tasty.

Pecans – These are optional. You can also use walnuts if you prefer.

Stovetop Ingredients

  • 1 cup traditional oats (dry)
  • 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
  • ½ tsp. ground cinnamon
  • ¼ tsp. ground nutmeg
  • 1 tbsp. honey – You can use maple syrup as well. Add more to taste if needed)
  • 1 medium banana (brown, OR 2 yellow bananas)
  • 2 cups milk – or use the same amount of milk as the water called for on the package of oats. I used unsweetened almond milk. Any non-dairy milk will work here if needed.
  • 1 pinch salt – This is very little salt. Just enough to bring out the sweetness of the banana, but not actually make the dish salty.

Optional Ingredients For Stovetop Oats

Add these after cooking, at serving.

  • 1 tablespoon flaxseed
  • 1 tablespoon mini chocolate chips
  • 3 tablespoons pecans, chopped

Baked Banana Bread Oatmeal

  • 2½ cups dry oats
  • 2 cups milk
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
  • 1 tsp. ground cinnamon
  • ½ tsp. ground nutmeg
  • 2 tbsp. honey – You can use maple syrup as well. Add more to taste if needed)
  • 2 medium ripe bananas
  • 1 pinch salt

How To Make Overnight Banana Bread Oatmeal

A half-sliced banana on a cutting board.

In your overnight jar, add your banana. Smash well with a fork.

Vanilla extract in an open canning jar.

To the mashed bananas, add vanilla, maple, and milk. Mix together.

Oats, spices and sweetener added to an open canning jar.

Add your oats, flaxseed, cinnamon, and salt. Stir and mix together.

Chopped pecans and chocolate chips added to the oats in an open canning jar.

Add your chocolate chips and nuts. Fold in.

Pecans and chocolate chips stirred into an oat mixture in an open canning jar.

Cover with a lid, and place in the fridge overnight. You can choose to garnish with more of the ingredients such as banana slices, pecans, chocolate chips, and/or cinnamon.

A spoon lifts some of this Banana Bread Oatmeal Recipe out of a canning jar, towards the camera.

Open the jar in the morning and enjoy straight from the jar or transfer to a bowl!

How To Make Stovetop Banana Bread Oatmeal

A blue bowl filled with stovetop banana bread oatmeal.

Begin cooking oats to package directions using milk instead of water. (Use the same amount of milk that the package calls for in water)

To the cooking oats add the cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla extract.

When the oats are done, mash the banana into the oats and stir in the honey.

How To Bake Banana Bread Oatmeal

A white bowl of baked banana bread oatmeal topped with sliced bananas and flaxseed.

Whisk together all the wet ingredients. Stir in the dry ingredients and pour everything into an oiled casserole dish. Bake in the oven at 375 F. for 40-50 minutes. Traditional oats work best for this. The casserole dish can be a 9 x 13, or close to that.

How to Store Leftover Banana Bread Overnight Oats

No matter how you cook them, you will want to store them in the fridge in an airtight container. They will last in the fridge for up to three days.

Can You Freeze Oatmeal?

You can freeze the cooked versions. I recommend freezing this in portioned sizes. I like to use muffin tins or Souper Cubes to freeze this. Do not freeze overnight oats.

Recipe Supplies

More Healthy Oatmeal Recipes

Banana Bread Overnight Oats Recipe Card

Recipe updated 12/22/21. The original recipe is below the recipe card.

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A full canning jar filled with this Banana Bread Oatmeal Recipe and topped with banana slices, chocolate chips and chopped pecans.

Banana Bread Overnight Oats

The spices here were used with quick cooking oats and are a mild flavor reminiscent of traditional banana bread. If you prefer a stronger flavor or find that using longer cooking oats don’t end up with much flavor, feel free to double up on the banana, spices and honey. You can stir them in at the end to intensify the flavor to your liking.
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Course: Breakfast
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Servings: 2 servings
Calories: 241kcal

Ingredients

Overnight Oats Ingredients

  • 1 medium banana (brown, OR 2 yellow bananas)
  • 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
  • 1 tbsp. honey (or maple syrup)
  • 1 cup milk (as needed – I used unsweetened almond milk)
  • ½ cup traditional oats (dry)
  • 1 tsp. ground cinnamon
  • ¼ tsp. ground nutmeg
  • 1 pinch salt
  • 1 tbsp. flaxseed
  • 1 tbsp. dark chocolate chips (I used Lily's brand)
  • 3 tbsp. chopped pecans

Stovetop Ingredients

  • 1 cup traditional oats (dry)
  • 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
  • ½ tsp. ground cinnamon
  • ¼ tsp. ground nutmeg
  • 1 tbsp. honey (or more to taste)
  • 1 medium brown-ish banana (or 2 yellow bananas)
  • 2 cups milk (any kind)
  • 1 pinch salt

Add After Cooking Or To Overnight Oats

  • 1 tbsp. flaxseed
  • 1 tbsp. dark chocolate chips
  • 3 tbsp. chopped pecans

Baked Ingredients

  • cups dry oats
  • 2 cups milk
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
  • 1 tsp. ground cinnamon
  • ½ tsp. ground nutmeg
  • 2 tbsp. honey (or maple syrup)
  • 2 medium bananas
  • 1 pinch salt

Instructions

Overnight Instructions

  • In your overnight jar, add your banana. Smash well with a fork.
    A half-sliced banana on a cutting board.
  • Add in your vanilla, maple, and milk. Mix together.
    Vanilla extract in an open canning jar.
  • Add your oats, flaxseed, cinnamon, and salt. Stir and mix together.
    Oats, spices and sweetener added to an open canning jar.
  • Add your chocolate chips and nuts. Fold in.
    Chopped pecans and chocolate chips added to the oats in an open canning jar.
  • Cover with a lid, and place in the fridge overnight. You can choose to garnish with more of the ingredients such as banana slices, pecans, chocolate chips, and/or cinnamon.
    Pecans and chocolate chips stirred into an oat mixture in an open canning jar.
  • Open the jar in the morning and enjoy!
    A spoon lifts some of this Banana Bread Oatmeal Recipe out of a canning jar, towards the camera.

Stovetop Instructions

  • Begin cooking oats to package directions using milk instead of water. (Use the same amount of milk that the package calls for in water)
    To the cooking oats add the cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla extract.
    When the oats are done, mash the banana into the oats and stir in the honey.
    A blue bowl filled with stovetop banana bread oatmeal.

Baked Instructions

  • Whisk together all the wet ingredients.
    Stir in the dry ingredients and pour everything into an oiled casserole dish.
    Bake it at 375 F. for 40-50 minutes.
    Traditional oats work best for this. The casserole dish can be a 9 x 13, or close to that.
    A white bowl of baked banana bread oatmeal topped with sliced bananas and flaxseed.

Notes

Please note that the nutrition data below is a ballpark figure. Exact data is not possible. Data does not included the milk.

Nutrition

Serving: 0.5the recipe | Calories: 241kcal | Carbohydrates: 48g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 3g | Sodium: 3mg | Potassium: 357mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 14g | Vitamin A: 40IU | Vitamin C: 5.1mg | Calcium: 33mg | Iron: 2mg

Recipe from the Gracious Pantry® archives, originally posted on 3/24/2012.

Original recipe before update:

Ingredients

  • 1 cup traditional oats (dry)
  • 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
  • 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg
  • 1 tbsp. honey (or to taste at serving)
  • 1 medium banana (brown, OR 2 yellow bananas)
  • milk (as needed – I used unsweetened almond milk)

Instructions

  • Begin cooking oats to package directions using milk instead of water. (Use the same amount of milk that the package calls for in water)
  • To the cooking oats add the cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla extract.
  • When the oats are done, mash the banana into the oats and stir in the honey.

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48 Comments

  1. Sounds yummy! Can’t wait to make it!

  2. I’ve been using your recipes for my toddler (including this gem) and he loves them! Thank you for the delicious and healthy choices 🙂

    1. The Gracious Pantry says:

      My pleasure! 🙂

  3. Made this for breakfast this morning! I don’t usually care for oatmeal just plain, so this was really nice 🙂 Kids liked it too. Yay!

    1. The Gracious Pantry says:

      Lori – Fantastic! So glad you enjoyed it!

  4. Will this recipe save in the friday for a couple of days, with the bananas added? Or is it best to add the banana right before eating?

    1. The Gracious Pantry says:

      Tara – I’m not sure about Friday. Maybe if you made it tomorrow (wed), it would be okay.

  5. I tried this for breakfast this morning & it was amazing! I chopped a few walnuts and sprinkled the top. I am a newbie at clean eating & I think your blog will be very helpful to me in my journey to a more healthy me. Thanks for providing me with some much needed information!!!!

    1. The Gracious Pantry says:

      Denaya – My pleasure! I’m so glad you enjoyed the oatmeal! 😀

  6. Kisha Lestagez says:

    Hello today is my first day of clean eating and I fell upon your website trying to find a recipe for my very bland oatmeal this morning. This was recipe was awesome. My kids and I lapped it up without hesitation! Thank you so much!

    1. The Gracious Pantry says:

      Kisha – That’s fantastic! Welcome to clean eating! 😀

  7. Wow! This was fantastic! Definitely my new favorite oatmeal recipe. Love your website. I have been eating clean for about 2 months now and your website has been a great source of knowledge and has some of the most delicious recipes I’ve been making, recently. I still allow for the occasional treat once a week, but I will never go back to eating processed crap again. Thank you!

    1. The Gracious Pantry says:

      Ashley – My pleasure! I’m so happy you’re enjoying my recipes! 😀

  8. Debbie McDaniel says:

    This oatmeal is so delicious. I look forward to having it for breakfast!

    1. The Gracious Pantry says:

      Debbie – Fantastic!!! I’m so happy you like it! 😀

  9. Would this be a good diabetic option? I am new to eating that way. I want to eat clean.

    1. Deb – I’m not a dietitian, so I can’t give you that type of advice. I am pre-diabetic though and I can tell you that in my experience, bananas seem to really spike my blood sugar. So you’d want to ask somebody or closely monitor your blood sugar. The oats are high in carbs as well, but they have lots of fiber too. I would be cautious with this one.