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    Home » Recipes » Breakfast

    One Dish Peanut Butter Banana Oatmeal Bars 

    Published: Apr 8, 2023 · Modified: Aug 20, 2023 by Nicole Addison · This post may contain affiliate links · 11 Comments

    Jump to Recipe - Print Recipe

    Made with pantry staples, these peanut butter banana oatmeal bars are full of whole grains, healthy fats and chocolate goodness. It's a simple meal prep snack to kick the 3pm energy slump all week long.

    Stack of peanut butter banana oatmeal bars.

    I know meal prepping your snacks might sound a little boring and unnecessary, but here me out: snacks can be a powerful tool for upping your nutrition! That's right, snacking isn't a bad habit- it can actually be incredibly useful in maintaining stable energy levels, adding in extra nutrients, and preventing you from arriving at the next meal STARVING and eating past satiation. The real thing to focus on isn't snacking itself, but what snacks you choose!

    Listen, I know it can be easy to reach for packaged snack foods. They're easy, convenient, and tasty- aka the criteria for a go-to snack. But when I'm focusing on snacks as a nutrition tool, I also like to make sure my snacks are balanced and satiating too, so they actually keep me full until the next meal.

    Meal prepping healthy snack options like these peanut butter banana oatmeal bars has been a lifesaver. Not only are they ready in only 30 minutes, but they're made with just 5 wholesome ingredients that are packed with nutrition. These oatmeal bars are a mix between a granola bar, baked oatmeal and banana bread, making them an amazing snack or breakfast option. You can also whip these up in one pan, meaning less dishes and less mess.

    Grab your ripe bananas and let's get baking!

    Ingredients

    Ingredients for peanut butter banana oatmeal bars.
    • Bananas
    • Milk
    • Natural peanut butter
    • Oats (quick or rolled)
    • Baking soda
    • Salt

    Optional flavour boosters:

    • Vanilla extract
    • Cinnamon
    • Chocolate chips
    • Flakey sea salt

    Instructions

    Mashing bananas in a baking tray.

    Preheat the oven to 350 F and grease a 6x9 inch rectangular pan.

    Directly in the pan, mash your bananas using a potato masher or fork until a smooth paste forms.

    Mixing peanut butter with mashed bananas.

    Add in peanut butter, milk and vanilla extract (if using) mix until smooth.

    Mixing oats, cinnamon, baking soda and salt.

    Once smooth, pour in oats, salt, baking soda, and cinnamon.

    Adding chocolate chunks to oatmeal bars.

    Add mix-ins of choice.

    Sprinkling chocolate chips on top of oatmeal bars.

    Add any toppings like chocolate chips.

    Bake for about 17-24 minutes or until the top begins to brown a toothpick inserted into the center of the baking tray comes out clean.

    Cutting into a tray of peanut butter banana oatmeal bars.

    Sprinkle with flakey sea salt and enjoy! 

    Substitutions and Variations

    To make gluten-free: Use certified gluten-free oats.

    To make vegan: Use your dairy-free milk of choice.

    To make nut-free: Swap the peanut butter for sunflower seed butter! Obviously this will alter the taste a little, but sunflower seeds still have a great nutty flavour that tastes amazing in this recipe.

    This recipe is pretty versatile when it comes to your mix-ins. Chocolate chips or chunks are classic, but you can also try adding nuts, seeds, or shredded coconut. I like adding hemp seeds too for a boost of protein and omega-3s!

    Equipment

    • 6x9 inch rectangular pan

    Storage

    These peanut butter banana oatmeal bars can stay fresh for up to 5 days in the fridge in an airtight container. You can also make a larger batch and freeze them for up to 3 months in a freezer-safe container. To reheat, I recommend microwaving them for about 20 seconds, or until warm.

    Top Tip

    To avoid sticking, ensure you grease your pan thoroughly with non-stick cooking spray or butter prior to mixing your ingredients! If you do this, the bars should come cleanly out of the pan.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Can I add protein powder?

    Yes! I would replace ¼ cup of oats with ¼ cup of unflavoured or vanilla collagen or protein powder. I use Nuzest (code NOURISHEDBYNIC) or Organika Collagen (code NOURISHEDBYNIC30).

    How can I make these oatmeal bars a balanced breakfast? 

    These peanut butter banana oatmeal bars already have tons of healthy fats and fibre, so all you really need is protein! My favourite way to add protein is crumbling by one of the bars over a bowl of Greek yogurt- it's sort of like a soft granola and so yummy. Other options include serving with eggs, some cottage cheese or sprinkling with hemp seeds before eating!

    Can I use a different size pan? 

    Yes you can, however the cook time may vary slightly and the thickness of your bars may either increase or decrease depending on the size of your pan! A smaller pan will take longer to cook and a larger pan will result in thinner, quicker-cooking bars. Make sure you keep an eye on them and check frequently so they don't burn.

    Can I blend the oats for a smoother consistency?

    Yes! You can easily blend the oats before mixing if you don’t like the texture of oats. You can also use 2.25 cups of store bought oat flour instead of the oats if you desire.

    Can I use a bowl instead of mixing everything in the pan? 

    Yes of course! I usually mix everything in the baking pan to minimize clean up, but you can easily pour the mixed ingredients into the greased pan after mixing in a bowl.

    I don't like the banana. Can I swap it with something else?

    You could swap it with applesauce or pumpkin puree, but I would really recommend sticking with banana for the best flavour. The bananas also add a natural sweetness, so you may need to add some maple syrup if you swap them out. These are peanut butter banana oatmeal bars after all!

    Taking a bite of peanut butter banana oatmeal bars.

    More Easy Snack Recipes

    If you enjoyed these peanut butter banana oatmeal bars, you'll be a fan of these recipes too:

    • Banana and Carrot Muffins
    • One Bowl Banana Bread Oatmeal Cups
    • Fudgy Vegan Double Chocolate Banana Muffins
    • Banana Blueberry Oatmeal Muffins

    PS. I love seeing my recipes in action! If you decide to make these peanut butter banana oatmeal bars, don't forget to snap a photo and tag me on Instagram- @nourishedbynic or leave a comment and rating below letting me know how you liked it!

    📖 Recipe

    Close up of peanut butter oatmeal bars drizzled with peanut butter.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    5 from 7 votes

    One Dish Peanut Butter Banana Oatmeal Bars

    Made with pantry staples, these peanut butter banana oatmeal bars are full of whole grains, healthy fats and chocolate goodness. It's a simple meal prep snack to kick the 3pm energy slump all week long.
    Prep Time10 minutes mins
    Cook Time20 minutes mins
    Total Time30 minutes mins
    Course: Breakfast, Snack
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: 30 minute meals, Breakfast, brownies and bars, meal prep, Vegetarian
    Servings: 12 bars

    Ingredients 

    • 3 ripe bananas mashed
    • ⅓ cup milk
    • ½ cup natural peanut butter
    • 2.5 cups oats quick or rolled
    • 1 teaspoon baking soda
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • 2 teaspoon vanilla extract optional
    • 1 teaspoon cinnamon optional
    • ½ cup chocolate chips or chunks optional
    • Flakey sea salt optional, for sprinkling

    Instructions

    • Preheat the oven to 350 F and grease a 6x9 inch rectangular pan.
    • Directly in the pan, mash your bananas using a potato masher or fork until a smooth paste forms. Add in peanut butter, milk and vanilla extract (if using) mix until smooth.
    • Once smooth, pour in oats, salt, baking soda, cinnamon and chocolate (if using) , bake for about 17-24 minutes or until the top begins to brown a toothpick inserted into the center of the baking tray comes out clean. Sprinkle with flakey sea salt and enjoy.

    Notes

    *I have included an estimation of the nutrition information for this recipe below. However, always remember a recipe is so much more than just nutritional content and these numbers do not need to dictate your food choices. Please don't forget that both your body and soul need nourishment! The owner of this website is not liable for this estimation.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 198kcal | Carbohydrates: 26g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 1mg | Sodium: 145mg | Potassium: 260mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 30IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 31mg | Iron: 1mg
    Did you know....rating and sharing recipes is one of the best ways you can support your favourite food bloggers? If you make this recipe, I would love if you clicked the stars below to leave a rating and/or sharing a photo on social media by tagging @nourishedbynic or using the hashtag #nourishedbynic!

    More Healthy-ish Breakfast Ideas

    • Eating baked oats without banana with a fork, drizzling peanut butter on top.
      Baked Oats Without Banana
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      Flourless Pumpkin Oatmeal Cookies (Gluten-Free)
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      Cinnamon Roll Overnight Oats

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Laura

      April 24, 2023 at 12:10 am

      5 stars
      Easy- healthy- delicious! Thank you!

      Reply
    2. Katie M

      May 02, 2023 at 3:44 pm

      5 stars
      These are great! So easy and delicious. Will make again. My kid loved them.

      Reply
      • Tia

        July 10, 2023 at 2:25 am

        I'm not a big fan of oat desserts so I blended my oats before adding them. DELICIOUS!!!

        Reply
    3. A

      May 26, 2023 at 7:54 pm

      5 stars
      Delicious! I am always looking for ways to use up bananas and there's only so much banana bread one can eat. This is as good as any dessert and makes a great breakfast with some yogurt and fruit. I think it would also be great with a scoop of ice cream! Yum!

      Reply
    4. Katy

      June 06, 2023 at 8:16 pm

      5 stars
      I love the taste, but I’ve made these twice now and both times they just fall apart. It’s so hard to keep them in the shape of a bar.

      Reply
      • Nicole Addison

        June 06, 2023 at 8:29 pm

        Hi Katy,

        These are pretty gooey and moist bars so they will not hold together like a granola bar. Feel free to add an egg into the mix if you want them to stay as bars! Otherwise I love freezing these, using a fork or just adding them into my yogurt bowls!

        Nicole

        Reply
        • Katy

          June 08, 2023 at 9:26 am

          Thanks for the suggestion, I’ll definitely try an egg next time! My son loves them regardless. Such an easy and healthy breakfast on the go for him.

          Reply
    5. Nicole

      July 31, 2023 at 9:43 pm

      5 stars
      I love these! So easy and soooo yummy! My favorite is the texture of them. So gooey and delicious!

      Reply
    6. W

      October 14, 2023 at 1:09 am

      5 stars
      These were so delicious! Even better is that they're a snap to make!

      Reply
    7. Andrea

      November 09, 2023 at 7:23 pm

      5 stars
      Delicious with Greek yogurt. I used sun butter because I was out of peanut butter and it turned out green! I guess that’s a normal reaction to baking with sun butter. A bit of a shock. But still delicious! Now I know what to do for St. Patty’s day!

      Reply
      • Nicole Addison

        November 09, 2023 at 10:09 pm

        Haha! Yes!! Sunflower butter turns green when baked- it's always so shocking to see whenever I forget that! I'm so glad these turned out for you- and that you have a new St. Patrick's Day recipe!

        Reply

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    Nicole Addison, RD

    Hi I'm Nicole!

    I’m a Registered Dietitian, recipe developer and content creator on a mission to help individuals rediscover the joys of cooking with easy, accessible, healthy recipes.

    On my page you'll find yummy recipes, wellness tips, and even some of my favourite travel and lifestyle recommendations!

    More about me →

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