Need a simple, healthy breakfast idea? Try this Chocolate Chip Baked Oatmeal! It combines old-fashioned and quick oats with milk, eggs, butter, chocolate chips and a few other pantry staples for a delicious easy recipe that the whole family will love.
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I know that overnight oats are all the rage right now. Personally, though, I’ve never been a fan. I struggle to get past the mushy texture and find them quite unappetizing.
But baked oatmeal? Now, that’s a different story! I can happily eat that every morning of the week!
Why We Love Easy Baked Oatmeal
- Simple & Quick. Just mix all the ingredients together, bake it and just like that you have a great busy morning breakfast recipe.
- Kid Friendly. Even picky eaters tend to like this recipe. I mean, there are chocolate chips after all!
- Healthier. More nutritious than many breakfast options, especially traditional breakfast cereal.
- Filling. We find a serving of this keeps us full until lunchtime.
- Stores Well. While we love eating it hot and fresh, leftovers are also delicious. Either enjoy it cold or simply reheat whatever portion you want to eat.
Chocolate Chip Baked Oatmeal Ingredients
- Quick oats. You can use all quick oats instead of half quick oats, half rolled oats- the texture will just be a bit different.
- Rolled oats. I love the slightly crunchier texture that these give the recipe!
- Brown sugar. You can easily adjust this amount to suit your preference.
- Baking powder.
- Cinnamon.
- Salt.
- Milk. You can use both regular milk or your favorite plant-based milk.
- Butter. Salted or unsalted will work. You can also substitute for melted coconut oil if you prefer.
- Eggs.
- Chocolate chips. We love using dark chocolate but semi-sweet or milk chocolate are good too.
How to Make This Recipe
STEP 1: Add all of the ingredients except for the chocolate chips, into a large mixing stir. Stir until combined. Add chocolate chips and mix well.
STEP 2: Spoon the oats mixture into a greased 9×9 baking dish, or one that is similar in size.
STEP 3: Bake for 30 to 35 minutes at 350 degrees or until the center is set and the edges are lightly browned.
STEP 4: Serve with your favorite toppings and enjoy!
Helpful Tips & Variations
- For a Double Batch: Just use a 9×13 pan and bake for a little longer.
- Storage: Store in an airtight container at room temperature for 2 days or in the fridge for 4-6 days.
- Freezing: Save time by making several batches at once and then freezing the extra. You can either freeze the oatmeal in the pan you baked it in, or cut it into squares and put it in a freezer safe container. If it’s more convenient, you can also cut the oatmeal into individual portions, wrap in plastic wrap and freeze that way.
Want to eat the oatmeal directly from the freezer? Simply defrost it using the microwave.
- Make Ahead: This one-bowl recipe can be mixed up the night before and baked the next morning. I don’t think this works quite as well if you are using only quick oatmeal since they will soak up the moisture more and the texture of the finished recipe tends to be a bit more mushy. But if that won’t bother you, go for it!
- Less Cleanup: For fewer dirty dishes, melt the butter directly in the mixing bowl before you add the other ingredients.
- Oatmeal Parfaits: To make oat parfaits, simply layer crumbled baked oatmeal with fruit and yogurt in a bowl.
- Additions: Serve baked oatmeal with milk or yogurt poured over it. Try topping it with some strawberries, blueberries, raspberries or peaches.
More Recipes You’ll Enjoy
- Easy Basic Homemade Granola
- Cinnamon Sugar Donut Muffins
- Healthy Double Chocolate Muffins
- Easy Homemade Caramel Frappe
Easy Chocolate Chip Baked Oatmeal
Ingredients
- 1 ½ c. quick oats (see notes below)
- 1 ½ c. rolled oats
- ½ to 1 c. brown sugar
- 2 tsp. baking powder
- 1 tsp. cinnamon
- 1 tsp. salt
- 1 c. milk (dairy or non-dairy)
- ½ c. butter, melted (or melted coconut oil)
- 2 eggs, beaten
- ½ c. chocolate chips
Instructions
- Add everything but the chocolate chips to a mixing bowl. Mix thoroughly, then stir in chocolate chips.
- Spoon into a greased 9 in. baking dish (or any similar sized baking dish).
- Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes or until edges are lightly browned and center is set.
- Enjoy plain, serve it with milk or yogurt or top it with your favorite fruit.
Notes
A reader commented on Facebook that she makes this into muffins (makes about 15), baking them for 18 to 20 minutes. They’re perfect for quick easy grab-and-go breakfasts!
- Oatmeal: You can use 3 c. quick oats instead of half quick oats, half rolled oats- the texture will just be different.
- Add-Ins: Feel free to try other add-ins such as apples, blueberries or bananas. The flavor options are quite versatile!
- Doubling: This can easily be doubled and baked in a 9 x 13 baking dish. You will just need to bake a bit longer.
- Make Ahead: This can be mixed up the night before and then baked in the morning. If using all quick oats, the texture will be a bit mushier, but it is still good. If using a mixture of quick and rolled oats, the texture will not change much.
- To Freeze: Cut the oatmeal into individual portions and either freeze them in a freezer-safe container or wrap each portion in plastic wrap and freeze. When ready to enjoy, pull out the amount you need and thaw ahead of time or defrost in the microwave.
Kim Hawkins
I just pulled this out of the oven. I looks and smells great! Do you refrigerate the cooled Baked Oatmeal?
Thank you!
Kim
ThriftyFrugalMom
I hope it tastes great too, Kim! 🙂 Yes, I typically refrigerate it, although it doesn’t really hurt it if it sets out for a day or two either- especially if your house is cool.
Kim Hawkins
Thank you.
YES, This is the most delicious guilt-free baked oatmela we have ever tasted! and so easy!!
I plan on sharing the link on our blog. Our daughter is a vegetarian, so I am always looking for high protein meatless recipes. This is a keeper!
Much thanks….
ThriftyFrugalMom
Delighted to hear you all loved it, Kim! And i’ll watch for the share- so very kind of you!
Yvonne
Just made this today. Our first time having baked oatmeal and we loved it. I made a few tweaks to be sure my husband liked it: cut the sugar in half as he’s not a fan of sweet oatmeal and used peanut butter in place of the butter. Served it with a dollop of natural yogurt on the side, but it would have been just as yummy on its own. Thanks for such a versatile, delicious recipe! 🙂
ThriftyFrugalMom
Oh, I love the peanut butter idea! So are you saying that you didn’t use any butter and only peanut butter? I want to try it too, because it sounds delicious. I’ve thought for a long time that I should figure out how to make a peanut butter oatmeal, but just never took the time to do it. So glad you all loved it! That’s always fun to hear. 🙂
Yvonne
Yes, I didn’t use any butter, only peanut butter. Making a few batches for the freezer this week. 🙂
ThriftyFrugalMom
Thanks! Definitely will be playing around with it. Yum!
Dorcas
I rarely come back to comment on a dish I’ve tried, but this was Extraordinary!! I made it with only 1/3 c. raw sugar, cashew milk, and coconut oil to make it dairy free, and I could hardly stop eating it! The cinnamon & chocolate chip combo is over the top! I’m putting it in the fridge for more breakfasts that I can look forward to. (on a very strict diet…) Thanks so much for posting this! 🙂
ThriftyFrugalMom
This just made my morning, Dorcas! 🙂 So glad you enjoyed it and I love how you tweaked it to fit your diet. I often cut back the amount of sugar a bit too, but I’ve never tried it with coconut oil. I can believe that would be yummy!
Christina
I see this recipe all the time and always forget to get chocolate chips so I can make it. I always have everything else. Where do you find chocolate chips at a good price? I’m thinking Aldi would be my best bet in my area but I wanted to ask you first where you get yours 🙂
ThriftyFrugalMom
Yup, Aldi’s my favorite spot for chocolate chips. And the last couple of years over Christmas they’ve dropped their price on them too, so I like to stock up then. And you can definitely make this recipe without the chocolate chips too- I do it all the time without them. The chocolate chips just make it extra good. 😉 You can even add in fruit if you like such as peaches, apples or blueberries too. It’s a pretty versatile recipe.
Cydnee
What a fabulous and delicious recipe! Yum!
ThriftyFrugalMom
Well, the chocolate chips are pretty enticing! 😉