Easy Baked Berry Oatmeal Recipe

Are you looking for a simple oatmeal recipe that is so much better than plain cooktop oatmeal? Let me introduce you to this delicious, easy-baked berry oatmeal recipe. This is perfect for your meal prep planning on the weekend, or even a delicious dish for brunch.

Oatmeal is a great way to start the day. It is healthy, inexpensive, and so delicious! It is also a breakfast the whole family will love.

It will quickly become a favorite in your house, just like it is in ours!

Why does this baked oatmeal make the best breakfast?

Simple to make. This baked oatmeal is just so easy to make and perfect for busy mornings. You can either mix it in a bowl or throw it in the blender as I did. Let it do all the work for you. The prep time on the oats takes about 5 minutes, that's it!

A healthy breakfast- Oats and berries are such a healthy way to get the day started. Check out this article from Mayo Clinic for more information on just how healthy it can be. Don't let this overshadow the health benefits of berries either. Check this article Harvard's school of public health.

Inexpensive- Oats are cheap, and a great way to feed yourself or your family on a budget. I buy my oats at Costco or even in the bulk bins at my local Winco, and it is under a dollar a pound! Sure, berries are a little more expensive, but be sure to make this dish when the berries are in season.

Ingredients

• Regular oats- These are also called old-fashioned oats. I never use quick oats or instant oats as they turn to mush too quickly. Steel-cut oats won't cook quickly enough for the time this bakes in.
• Milk- I used almond milk for mine, but you can also use cow's milk if you want or any other non-dairy milk such as oat milk or soy milk.
• Melted butter- coconut oil will also work if you prefer.
• Pure maple syrup- you can use other sweeteners for this if you want, but I love the mellow and healthy sweetness maple syrup gives. Other options would be honey, brown sugar, or even coconut sugar.
• Eggs- I use these as a binder, but I also love the texture they add. I have heard you can also use flax eggs, but have not tested this personally.
• Chia seeds- These are a great source of protein, but will also thicken your oatmeal up as well.
• Cinnamon- this is optional but adds a nice dimension to the oats and berries.
• Vanilla extract- It will only take a little bit, but it enhances the flavor.
• Fresh berries- I used fresh blueberries in mine, but you can use raspberries, strawberries, and blackberries. Be sure to choose ripe and juicy berries for the best flavor. You can also use frozen berries. I will make note of this in the tips section.
• Nuts- these are optional, but I love to add them. I used pecans in this recipe, but also love walnuts.

How to make

Blender method

Add all ingredients but the berries and nuts if you are using them to the blender.

Pulse it 5-6 times until everything is all mixed.

Pour it into your prepared pan. Sprinkle the berries and nuts on the top and bake until it is golden brown.

Remove and it is ready to serve.

No equipment method

Start by mixing your wet ingredients in a medium bowl. I like to mix this with a whisk to ensure the eggs are mixed in well.

Add in the dry ingredients and mix them with the wet ingredients. Last, mix in the berries and nuts.

Pour the oat mixture into the prepared pan for baking.

Bake and remove. It is ready to serve.

Top tips

• For added protein, add about ½ cup of nut butter. My family loves almond butter and peanut butter, but use whatever you like.
• I prefer fresh fruit for this, but you can also use frozen berries. Just know it will take longer to bake if you do. I generally plan on adding 5-7 minutes to the baking time.
• I baked mine in this round pie dish, but know you can also bake it in a 9x9 square baking dish.
• Because there is the sweetness of the berries in the oatmeal, you don't need to use as much sweetener as you usually do.
• When I am making this baked oatmeal for brunch or a get-together, I like to bake it in a pretty ceramic dish. Then I can serve it right in the baking dish.
• While you might be tempted to sub in olive oil, I would not recommend it. I feel like it has too strong of a flavor.
• For tips on freezing oatmeal or reheating oatmeal, check out these posts.
• If you are making baked oatmeal for meal prep, or just have leftovers, this will hold well in the fridge. Wait until the oatmeal is cooled to room temperature, then wrap it tightly with saran wrap or you can store it in a tightly sealed container. It will hold in the fridge for about 4 days.
• Maybe you want to make oatmeal cups? You can easily bake this in a muffin tin. It will only take about 10 minutes to bake though.

Variations for baked oatmeal

There are so many to add variety and texture to baked oatmeal, let me share some of my favorites.

If you want to leave out the berries and add in other fruits. What about exchanging them for sliced bananas and ¾ cup of peanut butter? I love this combo!

Sliced or grated apples are really tasty in baked oats too. You can add, ½ cup of raisins or currants, and chopped pecans or walnuts.

Another option is carrot cake oats. Omit the berries and add in 1 cup of carrots, ½ cup of nuts, and ½ teaspoon of nutmeg.

Pumpkin spice is another fun flavor. Add in 1 cup of pumpkin puree, and 1 teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice.

Other baked oatmeal recipes

This is not my only baked oatmeal recipe. Click below for some other favorites.

• Breakfast
• Oats