Quick And Easy Banana Oatmeal

A bowl of oatmeal topped with banana slices and a sprinkle of cinnamon. A spoon is resting on the side of the bowl, and a banana and striped cloth are visible in the background.

Banana oatmeal is one of those breakfasts that just feels like comfort food. With just a few basic ingredients like ripe bananas, oats, and a sprinkle of cinnamon, you can whip up a bowl of creamy oatmeal in no time. It’s healthy, satisfying, and totally customizable, so you can make it exactly how you like it.

Gina Dickson

Prep Time 3

Cook Time 12

Total Time 15

Serving Size servings

Ingredients

1 cup water
1 cup milk any type, dairy or non-dairy
3 tablespoons brown sugar
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon plus extra for topping
½ teaspoon salt
1 cup old-fashioned oats use gluten-free if needed
2 bananas 1 mashed, 1 sliced for topping
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoons heavy cream or thick coconut cream for dairy-free

Instructions

Prepare the Base

In a medium saucepan, mix water, milk, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Bring to a boil over medium heat.
1 cup water, 1 cup milk, 3 tablespoons brown sugar, ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon, ½ teaspoon salt

Add Oats and Banana

Stir in the oats and mashed banana. Lower the heat and let it simmer for 6-8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it thickens to your liking.
1 cup old-fashioned oats, 2 bananas

Flavor Boost

Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla extract.
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Serve

Divide the oatmeal into two bowls. Top with heavy cream, sliced banana, and a sprinkle of cinnamon. Enjoy warm!
2 tablespoons heavy cream

Notes

Tips and Variations

Consider toasting the oats lightly in a dry pan over medium heat for 1-2 minutes before cooking them. This is a great way to elevate the taste of your oatmeal without spending an additional cost.
If you want a smoother oatmeal, use a blender to blend the oatmeal after cooking.
Replace old-fashioned oats with steel cut oats to get more nutritional value. They'll take a bit longer to cook, though.
Use maple syrup instead of brown sugar for a more natural, rich sweetness.
Stir in some protein powder or a spoonful of peanut butter to boost your protein intake.
Add a dash of pumpkin pie spice or nutmeg for a cozy, fall-inspired twist.
To make this recipe vegan or dairy-free, swap whole milk for plant-based milk like oat milk or coconut milk. Skip the heavy cream and use coconut cream instead. Make sure your vanilla extract is alcohol-free.
If you follow a low-sugar diet, skip the brown sugar and rely on the natural sweetness of banana. Add stevia or monk fruit sweetener to add extra sweetness without the sugar. Try using unsweetened milk to keep things low in sugar.

Nutrition Facts