How To Make The BEST Baked Oatmeal

If you haven’t yet tried Baked Oatmeal, you are missing out. This is the baked oatmeal recipe that gets two thumbs up every time we make it. 

Lightly spiced with cinnamon and full of sweet dried fruit, so much more exciting than your average bowl of oatmeal. Baked oatmeal makes eating oatmeal feel a little like a special treat–a treat that just so happens to be good for you.

 I’m showing you today how to make the BEST baked oatmeal. This is our family’s all-time favorite oatmeal recipe and we’ve made it so many times over the years that I’ve lost count.

Baked Oatmeal

My oldest son Sam has been making breakfast on his own for several years now. While I occasionally miss the baby days, there’s nothing quite like having kids old enough to get a hot breakfast on the table without any help!

We enjoy this Pumpkin Spice Baked Oatmeal in the fall, Summer Berries Baked Oatmeal in the warm months when our favorite berries are in season and even found a way to combine several of our favorite foods in Peanut Butter Banana Bread Baked Oatmeal.

This post could also be labeled “Baked Oatmeal for Beginners” since the recipe I’m sharing below is a staple oatmeal recipe that’s appropriate for any season and day of the week.

 Oatmeal Recipes

My family has a well-known love affair with oatmeal. We’ll happily eat oats simmered on the stovetop, slow-cooked in the crock-pot, baked into granola, cookies, and breads.

We like oatmeal in every way, shape, or form you can serve it. Muesli-style oats, nutty granolas, rich and creamy oats with sweet bites of fruit and melting brown sugar, chewy baked oatmeal combinations; I doubt that I will ever turn down a warm oatmeal cookie.

You can find a full list of some of our favorite oatmeal recipes right here.

With all of those varieties to choose from, I can still say, beyond any doubt, that our all-time favorite way to make oatmeal for breakfast is BAKED.

How to Make Perfect Baked Oatmeal

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 10-inch pan with butter or coat with cooking spray. Combine the oats, brown sugar, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon in a large mixing bowl. Stir to combine. Add the oil, eggs, and milk and stir to combine. Add the craisins and stir once more.
2. Scoop the oat mixture into the greased pan and bake for 30 minutes. The oatmeal should be lightly browned, slightly crisp on top and around the edges. A knife inserted will come out mostly clean with wet crumbs. Remove from the oven and let cool for 10 minutes before serving. Slice into servings or scoop servings with a spoon. Enjoy!

Freezer Meal Instructions: Let the oatmeal cool completely and then cut or scoop into portions. Store the oatmeal in airtight freezer bags or containers. Reheat in the microwave with a tablespoon of water.

Baked Oatmeal Recipe

There is something about sweet and chewy oatmeal that is guaranteed to make you smile, whether you choose to make a simple recipe or load it up with your favorite fillings.

It’s delicious warm right out of the oven or warmed up in the microwave. We love eating oatmeal for breakfast but we’ve also been known to heat it up for a midday snack. We enjoy this oatmeal with a glass of milk, cup of tea, or mug of coffee for a dose of energy and comfort.

Some baked oatmeals, like this Biscoff Banana Bread variety, also make fantastic desserts. Top with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or whipped cream and it’s as a good a sweet treat as anything.

Looking for a special Valentine’s Day breakfast idea? Heart Shaped Craisin Baked Oatmeal is too cute to pass up.

And this Peanut Butter Banana Baked Oatmeal has been my youngest son’s favorite for years now.

I love all those fancier varieties of oatmeal but at the end of the day, it’s hard to beat the simple and tasty enjoyment of this perfect Baked Oatmeal.

To make this recipe even better, it can also be made in advance then portioned into individual bags or containers for one portion meals. This is a lifesaver on busy mornings!

Looking for more amazing and easy Oatmeal Recipes? Put Overnight Baked Oatmeal with Fresh Cranberries, Pineapple and Coconut Baked Oatmeal, and Apple Pie Baked Oatmeal on your list to try next!

{originally published 1/26/16 – recipe notes and photos updated 2/28/22}