This strawberry banana oatmeal is one of those breakfasts I've made a hundred times because it's quick, comforting, and uses ingredients I always have on hand. Fresh strawberries and bananas make it naturally sweet and flavorful and the whole thing comes together in just a few minutes.
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Oatmeal is so boring, right?? But it doesn't have to be! I promise! Not only is oatmeal one of the easiest breakfasts to throw together, it's also one of the healthiest. And you can make it even more delicious with just a few super quick and simple fixes. Namely, some fruit and some brown sugar.
As you may already know, I love my oatmeal. A lot. The other day, I bought 2 lbs. of Quaker Oats because I'm obviously going to eat them all. Starting with this very easy oatmeal breakfast.
❤️ Why this recipe works
OK, so I realize this recipe is barely a recipe. Most of us know how to put together a bowl of oatmeal and adding fruit to it is not rocket science. But I kind of feel like this post is a bit of a public service announcement.
Attention friends: oatmeal is easy and strawberry banana oatmeal is ridiculously delicious with almost no work involved. Stop calling oatmeal boring and start waking up to this delicious and totally satisfying breakfast that will get you straight through to lunchtime.
Here's why the recipe works so well:
It uses real fruit for natural sweetness: fresh strawberries and bananas add flavor, color, and moisture without relying on other sweeteners.
It has the best texture: the oats stay creamy and soft, while the fruit adds just enough bite so the oatmeal doesn't get mushy or taste bland.
It's so customizable: you can make it on the stovetop or in the microwave, swap in different milks, add protein, or customize toppings depending on what you have on hand.
It's both fast and wholesome: everything cooks in just minutes and uses ingredients most people already have in the kitchen.
It's kid-friendly (but adults love it, too): if your kids aren't fans of oatmeal, I still think they may love this slightly sweet, fruit-packed bowl of oats.
Strawberry banana is basically my favorite flavor combination ever and though I might prefer a strawberry banana daiquiri, I feel like those are looked down on in the morning. So for now, I'm sticking with strawberry banana oatmeal.
🗒 Ingredients
Of course, the ingredients for this oatmeal are super simple. Here's everything you need (be sure to view the recipe card at the bottom of this post for ingredient amounts and full recipe instructions):
- Old-fashioned oats
- Water
- Light brown sugar
- Strawberries
- Banana
🍓 Recipe tips
- My best oatmeal making secret? The microwave is your friend. Especially when you're making oatmeal for one. I simply mix my old-fashioned oats and water in a small bowl and put them in the microwave for about 1 minute and 40 seconds.
- When you first take the bowl out of the microwave, it may still look a little watery, but don't worry, it will thicken up very quickly.
- Of course, you can also cook the oatmeal on the stovetop if you prefer. Keep the heat at medium to medium-low and stir frequently as the oats cook. This helps them thicken evenly without sticking to the bottom of the pan and gives you an ultra-creamy texture you don't get when the heat is too high. Add an extra splash of milk or water at the end if the oats thicken up more than you like.
- To prevent them from browning, slice the banana right before adding it to the bowl. If you're prepping ahead, toss the slices with a tiny splash of lemon juice or orange juice, just enough to slow oxidation without changing the flavor.
- Add the sliced strawberries after the oatmeal cooks. Stirring them in too early can cause them to break down and release extra liquid. For meal prep, I recommend storing the strawberries separately and spooning them over the oatmeal just after re-heating.
- If you want to make a big batch for meal prep, this oatmeal scales really well. Double or triple the oats and liquid and add enough strawberries and bananas so every bowl gets plenty. Larger batches may need another splash of milk at the end as the oats continue to thicken while they sit.
That's it! I told you this was an easy one.
And also a delicious one. Strawberry banana oatmeal is so much more fun and tasty than plain oatmeal and really only takes an additional minute or two to make!
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Of course, you can add in as much fruit as you want. The key is really stirring in chopped fruit while the oatmeal is hot... It kind of infuses the strawberry banana flavor throughout the oatmeal and tastes so much better than simply adding it on top!
🎉 Variations on recipe
I love the simplicity of this oatmeal, but there's also a lot you can do to take this recipe and alter it a bit. Here are some ideas:
- Obviously it's easy for you to control the sweetness of this oatmeal. If you don't like starting your day with added sugar, you don't have to add it at all.
- And if you need a lot of added sugar to make oatmeal appealing to you, feel free to add more. You can also try using maple syrup, honey, or agave.
- Make oatmeal with milk instead of water. Simply swap the water for the same amount of milk (dairy or non-dairy alternative). Oatmeal thickens faster when cooked in milk, so keep the heat a little lower and stir often to prevent sticking. If it gets too thick, just add a splash more milk at the end to loosen it back up.
- Sprinkle cinnamon top for even more flavor.
- Add nuts. If you like a little bit of crunch and even more nutrition in your oatmeal, add walnuts, cashews, or almonds.
- Other ways to add protein include adding a scoop of protein powder or a spoonful of peanut butter or Greek yogurt. You can also sprinkle in some chia seeds or hemp hearts.
- Add additional fruit. Of course, this is strawberry banana oatmeal. But blueberries, mango, raspberries, and blackberries would also be delicious!
⏲️ How to make ahead of time
Though this recipe is quick and easy to make, I totally understand if you want to make it ahead of time to make your mornings as simple as possible!
I recommend making the oatmeal, letting it cool a bit and then packing it in an airtight container (or multiple individual serving-size airtight containers) and storing it in the fridge. It should keep fresh for about 5 days.
You can reheat it either in the microwave or in a saucepan, but you may need to add a little more water (or milk) if it is too thick.
I do recommend adding the strawberry and banana topping right before serving otherwise the fruit may get soggy and the banana may brown.
I generally pair my strawberry banana oatmeal with a cup of black coffee- the only way I like my coffee and the perfect way to wake up.
❓ FAQ
🥣 More oatmeal recipes
If you're a fan of eating oatmeal for breakfast, but don't like it plain and want some added excitement, check out some of my other oatmeal recipes... I even have one for your pup!
I also love this Sweet Potato Pie Oatmeal from Minimalist Baker! And all kinds of overnight oats, like these Cinnamon Roll Overnight Oats.
This is the perfect breakfast, but to be honest, I enjoy oatmeal any time of the day. And even for dessert.
And this is one oatmeal I make over and over again, especially when strawberries are in season.
What's in your perfect oatmeal?
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Strawberry Banana Oatmeal
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Ingredients
- ½ cup old-fashioned oats
- 1 cup water (you can use milk if you prefer)
- 1 teaspoon light brown sugar
- 4 strawberries sliced
- ½ small banana
Instructions
- Add old-fashioned oats and water to a small bowl and place in the microwave for 1 minute and 40 seconds. Remove from microwave and stir. If cooking on stovetop, keep the heat at medium to medium-low and stir frequently as the oats cook. Add an extra splash of milk or water at the end if the oats thicken up more than you like.
- Stir in the brown sugar, half the strawberries, and half the bananas. Top with remaining strawberries and bananas. You can also top with more brown sugar if you want!
Notes
- If you want to make a big batch, double or triple the oats and liquid and add enough strawberries and bananas so every bowl gets plenty. Larger batches may need another splash of milk at the end as the oats continue to thicken while they sit.
- If making ahead for meal prep, cook oatmeal and let it cool before then packing in an airtight container (or multiple individual serving-size airtight containers) and storing it in the fridge. It should keep fresh for about 5 days. Add strawberries and bananas right before serving.
- To re-heat, add a splash of milk or water to oatmeal and then warm it in the microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring between each one, until it reaches your preferred consistency. If you're reheating on the stovetop, add a couple tablespoons of liquid and heat over medium-low, stirring often until creamy again.
- Feel free to add additional protein to oatmeal, like nuts, protein powder, peanut butter, Greek yogurt, chia seeds, etc.
Chris Williams says
Want!
Penny says
Today's Atlantic food Channel is also talking about Irish oatmeal today.
http://food.theatlantic.com/behind-the-counter/oatmeal.php
http://food.theatlantic.com/corbys-fresh-feeds/why-im-leaving-the-oatmeal-wilderness.php
I like McCann's Steel Cut Oats but I'm going to look for the Macroom's they are talking about.
Quaker Oats is always our cupboard. I did once buy the Costco Box of it. I think it was four of those big canisters. It lived here for a long time.
I like mine with a touch of honey or maple syrup.
Ben says
Is there a better way to start your day? Wait, maybe some mimosas! :-p
Anonymous says
Looks good! That's making me hungry now.
But I agree with Ben about the mimosas. It IS Friday.
Sara says
Last night I had Quaker (ONLY Quaker!) oatmeal with a spoonful of dark chocolate Peanut Butter and Co peanut butter and a banana. Delicious!
ttfn300 says
i've been on a savory kick, stirring in some cheese and spinach, topping it all off with an egg and salsa!
Joan says
Thanks. You gave me a good idea for my lunch. I have both strawberries and a banana that I need to use.
Meg says
YUM!
My perfect oatmeal has cinnamon, brown sugar, and raisins!
Kerstin says
What a great way to spice up breakfast! Bananas and strawberries are just so good together.
RebeccaC says
I guess I've never thought about it before, but I ALWAYS buy Quaker too. Always.
Stephanie S says
I am an oatmeal freak too!
Preferably steel cut oats. I know they take longer but if you boil them for a minute the night before and leave them covered all night, you can re-boil them the next morning... and in only 8-10 minutes they are ready! Much better than the 45 minute cook time they typically require.
This morning I got a little crazy ;P and put coconut flakes into my oatmeal while it was cooking.... so delicious!
Cinnamon and vanilla extract are requirements of oatmeal of course 🙂 But also...
Smashed up Banana...
Almond butter from Trader Joe's is really good mixed in!
Or a hand full of walnuts smashed up.... With dried cranberries and fresh blueberries cooked into the oatmeal. The cranberries soften and the blueberries get all warm and melty... nothing better then warm blueberries popping in your mouth!
They have bags of Rolled Oats from specifically gluten free factories (Cross contamination typically occurs in other oats). Even if you are not gluten free, these oats are somehow more delicious than any other Rolled Oats I've tried. Much more body... chewier. I dont know but something..
I just realized I know waaayyy too much about oatmeal...