This is a variation of our stovetop oatmeal base recipe. If you love our oats recipes, you’ll love this simple banana oatmeal recipe! It takes less than 10 minutes to prepare, is made with pantry staples, packed with nutrition, and full of flavor. Make a batch of banana almond oatmeal for an energizing start to your day!
Must-Know Cooking Skills
For recipe success, learn how to:
Culinary Tips for Making Mashed Banana Oatmeal
Learning how to make stovetop oatmeal is as easy as 1-2-3! Combine, stir, and simmer – that’s it!
The basic oatmeal to water ratio is 1:2, but because we use milk for half of the liquid in the recipe, it is 1:1:1 (oatmeal:water:milk).
Combine the first five ingredients to ensure even flavor distribution.
If you want a creamier oatmeal, use a creamy milk. Skim and almond milk are thinner, whereas whole milk and cashew are creamier. Be mindful of daily saturated fat intake if using whole.
Don’t over-stir, or the oats will become gummy. Just a quick stir to mix everything together, and that should do the trick!
If your bananas aren’t quite ripe enough, roast them! This skill takes just a few minutes and will quickly sweeten the bananas to improve the taste and texture of the oatmeal.
You can change the type of oats you use in this recipe, depending on what you like and have on hand! Just note that cooking times may vary. Learn more about the different types of oats in this article: Different Types of Oats.
Ingredient Substitutions
- Water: substitute equal parts milk for extra creamy stovetop oatmeal.
- Milk or milk alternative: use any milk or milk alternative of your choice. We recommend plain varieties to reduce added sugars, but if you have sweetened on hand, leave out the added sweetener.
- Honey: substitute maple syrup, agave, or brown sugar. The banana may add enough sweetness for your taste, so feel free to leave out.
- Oats: old fashioned, rolled, or quick oats all work. Steel cut oats work in this recipe too, but note that cooking time increases. Cook according to package directions.
- Banana: you can also mash the banana first and whisk it in with the milk and water for a slightly different taste and texture. You can also add banana slices after cooking.
- Almonds: substitute any toasted chopped nuts or seeds. Chopped pecans, walnuts, cashews, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, ground flax seeds, or hemp seeds all add great texture and nutrition. Toast before adding for better flavor. You can also substitute 1 Tablespoon nut or seed butter.
Recipe Variations
Want to make your stovetop oatmeal vegan? Use a milk alternative, such as almond, soy, or cashew milk.
Need some recipe inspiration?
Use our stovetop oatmeal base recipe as a guide, or check out some of our favorite variations!
Equipment Recommendations
Use these kitchen tools for recipe success!
Is Stovetop Banana Oatmeal Healthy?
Yes! Hot oatmeal is a great breakfast to start your morning. (Read more about healthy oatmeal breakfasts here.) Packed with fiber, protein, and flavor, stovetop banana almond oatmeal will keep you satisfied and energized throughout your morning. This recipe features oats, milk, banana, and almonds.
Oats
Oats are whole grains, making them rich in disease-fighting phytochemicals and antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. Any variety of oats are a good source of fiber and complex carbohydrates. Fiber is important for digestion, satiety, stable blood sugar, good cholesterol, and healthy gut bacteria. Carbohydrates are important for energy and focus. (1, 2)
Milk or Milk Alternative
Whether you choose to use cow’s milk or a plant based alternative, you are sure to get some nutritional benefit. Cow’s milk is a great source of protein, calcium, vitamins A & D, and more. There are so many plant-based milk alternatives that it’s hard to generalize their benefits, so be sure to read the nutrition label. Soy milk is the most comparable to cow’s milk.
For more on this subject, check out our plant-based milk vs cow’s milk article!
Banana
Bananas contain prebiotic fiber, vitamins, and minerals – important for digestion, steady energy, and metabolism. Greenish bananas are firm and higher in prebiotic fiber. Brownish bananas are soft and higher in natural sugar, making them sweeter.
Almonds
Almonds contain plant-based protein and healthy monounsaturated fats which are good for heart health. These nutrients help you feel satisfied until your next meal.
Serving Suggestions for the Best Banana Oatmeal
Enjoy this oatmeal recipe as is, or add a splash more milk, a drizzle of nut butter, a sprinkle of dried fruit, or a few dark chocolate chips to your taste!
How to Store Cooked Banana Almond Oatmeal
Want to make a big batch of oatmeal today to eat throughout the week? Multiply the recipe by your desired yield, cook, cool, then place in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to one week. When ready to eat, dish out individual servings, add your favorite toppings, and enjoy hot or cold!
Want More Breakfast Oat Recipes?
Try out these base recipes, then have fun customizing them to your taste!
Baked Oatmeal Cups Base Recipe
Banana Almond Oatmeal
Ingredients
- ½ cup skim or almond milk
- ½ cup water
- 1 teaspoon honey (or to taste)
- ¼ teaspoon almond extract
- Pinch of kosher salt
- ½ cup old fashioned oats
- 1 ripe medium banana, thinly sliced
- 2 Tablespoons toasted sliced almonds
Instructions
- In a small saucepan, combine milk, water, honey, almond extract, and salt. Bring to a boil.
- Add oats and banana slices, reduce heat, and stir to combine. Simmer for 3-5 minutes or until oats are plump and liquid is mostly absorbed. Remove from heat and let settle for another minute before eating. Oatmeal will thicken as oatmeal cools.
- Top with toasted almonds. Enjoy!
