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My oatmeal breakfast bars are chewy, soft, and the healthy way to start your morning. Made with three ingredients, they bake in just 15 minutes!
Need more healthy breakfast recipes? Try my overnight oats, oatmeal breakfast cookies, breakfast muffins, or protein oatmeal next.
If I know I have a hectic week or a bunch of early morning meetings lined up, I make my oatmeal bars.
They store like a dream and taste fresh all week long. Plus, the added fiber and healthy fats leave me feeling like I got a real breakfast and keep me from getting hangry before lunch.
Table of Contents
Why I love this recipe
- Made with 3 ingredients. And only one bowl!
- Healthy. Like my healthy granola bars, these bars are chock full of hearty oats and are naturally egg, dairy, and gluten-free.
- Ready in 15 minutes. These bars are a whiz to make, and the oven does the hard work.
- The whole family will love them. If you’ve been looking for a recipe that convinces kids to eat their oats, you’ll love these healthy breakfast bars.
- Perfect for meal prep. I usually make these bars on Sunday evenings. That way, they’re ready to grab and go the rest of the week.
★★★★★ REVIEW
“I was serving these bars for our dessert and my husband and grandson and I loved them!! I need more recipes like this one, so so easy! Thanks so much!” – Donna
Ingredients needed
- Rolled oats AND/OR oat flour. Adds a chewy and hearty texture while also being high in fiber and protein. Quick oats will work, but they won’t be as dense. I like to use a mix of rolled oats and oat flour for a softer more uniform texture.
- Bananas. Adds sweetness and moisture to the bars. The browner the bananas the sweeter the bars will be.
- Peanut butter. Smooth and drippy with no added sugar or salt. You can swap this out for almond butter, cashew butter, or a nut-free alternative like sunflower seed butter.
- Optional mix-ins. Maple syrup or honey for added sweetness. I like to also fold through some chocolate chips because why not?
How to make oatmeal breakfast bars
I’ve included step-by-step photos below to make this recipe easy to follow at home. For the full printable recipe instructions and ingredient quantities, scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Step 1- Make the bar batter. In a large bowl, combine all of the dry and wet ingredients. Stir in mix-ins, if using them.
Step 2- Bake. Transfer the mixture to the lined pan and bake for 15 minutes or until the top is firm. Let them cool in the pan completely before slicing and serving.
Arman’s recipe tips
- Swap the mashed banana. If you’d rather not use bananas, use equal portions of unsweetened applesauce or pumpkin puree. If you make this swap, you’ll want to add some honey or maple syrup to make up for the sweetness.
- Make them gluten-free by using gluten-free oats.
- Add protein. Add 1/4 cup (34 grams) of your favorite protein powder to the batter for an extra boost of protein and staying power.
- Experiment with mix-ins. Fold in sunflower seeds, dried cranberries, cherries, or chopped walnuts.
- Enhance the flavor of the bars. Add cinnamon or one teaspoon of vanilla extract.
Storage instructions
To store: Leftover bars should be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two days or in the refrigerator for up to one week.
To freeze: Place the cooled bars in a freezer-safe container and freeze for up to six months.
Frequently Asked Questions
There is no need to add an egg as the banana binds everything together well.
Yes! Swap out the oats for equal parts quinoa flakes or buckwheat flakes.
More ways to enjoy oatmeal
- Brownie baked oatmeal
- Baked oats
- Oatmeal smoothie
- Healthy oatmeal pancakes
- Or any of my oat based recipes
Oatmeal Breakfast Bars
Video
Ingredients
- 1 cup peanut butter can sub for any nut or seed butter of choice
- 4 cups rolled oats * See notes
- 6-7 medium bananas mashed
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 180C/350F. Line an 8 x 8-inch pan with parchment paper and set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the oats, mashed bananas, and peanut butter and mix well. If adding maple syrup or honey, add it now, along with any other mix-ins.
- Transfer the batter to the lined pan and bake for 15 minutes, or until the top is firm.
- Remove the pan from the oven and let them cool completely, before slicing and serving.
Notes
Nutrition
Originally updated October 2022, updated and republished July 2024
Very easy to make. It is slso nice that you can “mix” shapes of bars. Round, circle, amazing.
What a great meal prep breakfast or snack.
Love your recipes esp the least ingredient ones
I was serving these bars for our dessert and my husband and grandson and I loved them!! I need more recipes like this one, so so easy! Thanks so much!