Strawberry Baked Oatmeal

This easy Baked Oatmeal with fresh strawberries, bananas, and chocolate chips is one of our favorite oatmeal recipes. It's great for a weekend breakfast and keeps well in the fridge for meal prep. It's also a great snack for school lunches. 

When you need an easy breakfast recipe, baked oatmeal should be at the top of the list.  It's easy to make, versatile, and surprisingly good for you.  Plus the ingredients are things you probably already have on hand.

While we love all kinds of baked oatmeal, like this Apple Cinnamon Baked Oatmeal or Blueberry Baked Oatmeal, lately we have been taking advantage of all the summer strawberries. There is just something so satisfying about Strawberry Baked Oatmeal loaded up with fresh strawberry slices, bananas, and chocolate chips. 

Make sure to make a big batch! Cut these into individual squares to keep in the fridge or freezer. Then enjoy them cold, at room temperature, or warm them up for a healthy and filling breakfast or snack.

Ingredients For Strawberry Baked Oatmeal

This is a straightforward recipe, and there are lots of ways that you can customize it. Here is some additional information about what I used in my baked oatmeal.

• Oatmeal: Make sure to use old-fashioned oats for this recipe. Steel cut oats and instant oats will not work. If you use quick-cooking oats, the dish will have a softer texture, so I do not recommend using them. 
• Almond Milk: If you use vanilla almond milk, cut the vanilla extract in half. Always use unsweetened almond milk. Regular dairy milk also works.
• Maple Syrup: Pure maple syrup is the best in this recipe. You can also use honey or brown sugar instead of maple syrup.
• Eggs: Use the whole egg or just egg whites in this recipe. The eggs act as a binder and help the oatmeal to have structure so you can cut it into bars. Chia or flax eggs will also work. 
• Baking powder: Baking powder helps the baked oatmeal to rise and have a lighter texture.
• Cinnamon: To add some warm flavor to this recipe, cinnamon works well. Swap in another warm spice like ginger if you prefer. 
• Vanilla extract:  I love the combination of strawberries and vanilla. it reminds me of strawberries and cream. 
• Strawberries: Slice and stem the strawberries. You could dice them, but I love how sliced strawberries look. Frozen strawberries will also work, but they will turn the whole oatmeal dish pink.
• Bananas: For the best results, use ripe bananas when making oatmeal. It adds to the overall sweetness of the dish, so you don't need to add as much sugar.  
• Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips: Use any chocolate chips or chocolate chunks you like in this recipe. Leave them out if you prefer. 

What To Serve With Baked Oatmeal

If you are enjoying this as a light snack, add a little bit of whipped cream or Greek yogurt on top. So tasty! It's also yummy with a thin layer of almond butter or peanut butter.

For breakfast, I like to pair this with some turkey bacon or sausage. If I'm serving this as a "breakfast for dinner," I'll add something with more protein like scrambled eggs, quiche cupcakes, or a baked frittata.

Another option is pairing this with a smoothie. I recommend grabbing one of these oatmeal bars during busy mornings and eating it with a Mango Spinach Smoothie!

Recipe Tips And Ideas

Follow these tips to make sure that this oatmeal turns out sweet every single time!

• Use parchment paper: To prevent the oatmeal from sticking to your baking dish, line it with parchment paper first.
• Add more fruit: Make this with a combination of strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries.
• Add nuts or seeds: Drizzle it with melted peanut butter or your favorite type of nut or seed butter. This gives it a nutty and salty taste that accentuates the sweetness of the strawberries and bananas. You can also fold any chopped nuts, nut butter, or seeds right into the batter.
• More chocolate flavor: Add a few tablespoons of unsweetened cocoa powder to make the oatmeal entirely chocolate. This will also give it a richer taste.
• Double the recipe: To feed more people, double the recipe and bake it in a 9x13 baking dish. It may need a little extra baking time. 

How to Freeze Strawberry Baked Oatmeal

Yes, you can freeze the baked oatmeal. In fact, I love to freeze it and save it for later. This saves me a lot of time on busy days!

There are two ways you can freeze it - as individual squares or as an entire casserole.

To freeze the individual squares, let the oatmeal cool entirely and then cut out each piece. Then, lay the squares on a baking sheet in a single layer and place the sheet in the freezer for an hour or two. When they are completely frozen, store the squares in a plastic resealable freezer-safe bag.

If you know you will bake the oatmeal as a make-ahead meal, then use a freezer-safe baking dish. I like to use aluminum pans that come with lids. Let it cool completely and then seal it tight and store the whole casserole in the freezer.

When you are ready to reheat your baked oatmeal, just let it thaw in the refrigerator overnight and then warm it up in the oven.