Chocolate Baked Oatmeal

Get ready to start your day in the most delicious way with our Chocolate Baked Oatmeal! It’s a quick and easy make-ahead breakfast that’s as indulgent as it is nutritious.

In this make-ahead morning meal, hearty oats, rich cocoa, and sweet maple syrup come together to create a decadent treat that’s also full of nutrients! Incorporate it into your weekly meal prep for a satisfying breakfast that’ll have you jumping out of bed in the morning!

Why You’ll Love Baked Oatmeal

If you’ve never had baked oatmeal before, prepare for your life to be changed. It has all the flavor of traditional oatmeal with an even more satisfying texture. Plus, it’s super versatile and great to prepare in advance, making mornings a breeze.

Even better, this version is loaded with rich chocolate, sweet maple syrup, warm spices, and mashed banana for truly decadent banana bread-inspired oats! Seriously, breakfast just doesn’t get better than this. 

What Is Baked Oatmeal?

If you’ve never had it, think of baked oatmeal almost like a breakfast casserole. You see, it has the standard ingredients you would expect to see in stovetop or microwave oatmeal. However, it also contains binders such as eggs. In addition, as the name suggests, it is baked in the oven. The end result is a thick, fluffy dish that’s soft and spongey to the touch and unbelievably satisfying. 

Are Baked Oats Healthy? 

Yes! One of the best things about baked oats is how versatile they can be. Starting with a base of oatmeal, milk, and eggs, they’re already loaded with complex carbs, protein, healthy fats, fiber, and even calcium! Then, you can easily add in fruits, veggies like pumpkin or cauliflower, chopped nuts, and more to make them even more nutrient-dense. For this recipe, we kept things simple, including antioxidant-rich cocoa powder and bananas for a sweet flavor and boost of potassium. 

Ingredients You’ll Need

For this recipe, we stuck to a simple ingredient list. Here’s the lowdown on what you’ll need: 

• Oats – Old-fashioned rolled oats work best. Steel cut and quick oats won’t yield the thick, fluffy texture we’re looking to achieve. 
• Maple Syrup – To sweeten the oats without the need for refined sugar. You can easily swap it out for honey if you prefer.

• Cocoa Powder – Not only does this create a dessert-like flavor, but it also packs in tons of antioxidants!
• Baking Powder – This is crucial to get your oatmeal to rise.
• Cinnamon – Adds extra depth to the flavor for a sweet, warm taste.
• Salt – Used to enhance the rest of the ingredients.
• Milk – This soaks into the oats, helping them cook and expand. Any milk you have on hand can be used.
• Bananas – These make your oatmeal extra tasty and help keep it moist. For the best results, use super-ripe bananas like you would for banana bread.
• Egg – Used to bind the rest of the ingredients, helping the finished oatmeal keep its shape.
• Vanilla Extract – For extra flavor.
• Chocolate Chips – We use dark chocolate chips, but any you like best taste great! You could even use gluten-free varieties if needed. 
• Butter – This adds extra richness to the oats, making them oh, so delicious. 

How to Make the Best Baked Oatmeal

We love to make a big batch of oatmeal for our whole family to eat throughout the week. It’s so much easier than cooking a new batch each day! 

1. Prepare: Preheat your oven to 350° Fahrenheit, and spray an 11×7 non-stick baking dish with cooking spray. 
2. Mix: Add all of the ingredients except for the chocolate chips to the baking dish, and stir until they are well combined. Then, sprinkle the chocolate chips on top. 
3. Bake: Place the dish in the oven until the oatmeal has set and is golden brown on top. 
4. Serve: Slice the oatmeal into bars, and serve with toppings of choice. 

Optional Toppings

To really treat yourself in the morning, try pairing your baked oatmeal with all your favorite toppings such as toasted nuts, unsweetened coconut flakes, fresh or dried fruit, peanut or almond butter, or even whipped cream! 

Flavor Variations

This chocolate oatmeal is our go-to for breakfasts the whole family will agree on. However, the flavor options for baked oatmeal are endless! Feel free to experiment and find your own favorite variations. For instance, you could omit the cocoa and include: 

• Pumpkin puree and pumpkin pie spice
• Chocolate chips in the oatmeal
• Frozen berries
• Chopped nuts
• Peanut butter

Storage 

Once baked, let your oatmeal cool completely. Then, cover it with foil, or transfer it to an airtight container, and keep it in the fridge for up to 4 days. Or, wrap each piece in parchment paper, transfer them to a sealable bag, and freeze them for up to 3 months. 

When you’re ready to eat, warm thawed oatmeal in the microwave in 30-second intervals. Or, place it in the oven at 350°F for 10 minutes or until it is heated through. 

More Easy Oatmeal Recipes

Looking for more tasty ways to eat oatmeal? Feast your eyes on these recipes for more oatmeal inspiration! 

• This One Pot Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal takes the instant oatmeal packs we grew up eating up a notch with bold flavor and fresh ingredients. 
• Whether you’re meal prepping for the week or preparing a weekend brunch, this Peach Blueberry Baked Oatmeal is a must-try recipe. 
• Full of fall flavors, this Baked Pumpkin Oatmeal is a nutritious breakfast that’s guaranteed to please. 
• Simple and budget-friendly, this Healthy Baked Banana Bread Oatmeal is a filling breakfast that tastes like your favorite dessert! 
• For great meal-prepping, try this creamy Strawberry Cheesecake Overnight Oats recipe.