Berry Banana Stovetop Oatmeal

This easy berry banana stovetop oatmeal recipe is a healthy and delicious breakfast option. Made with old fashioned oats, it’s ready to eat in just about 10 minutes.

Call me a creature of habit, but I eat oatmeal for breakfast 99 percent of the time. I truly enjoy it so much because it tastes great, is warm and comforting, and keeps me full for hours until lunchtime. Occasionally I’ll do pancakes or a frittata on weekends, but I always come back to oatmeal!

As a Registered Dietitian, I can always get behind starting your day with a healthy, balanced breakfast. Oatmeal a healthy food on it’s own, and is the perfect vehicle for other nutritious foods like chia seeds, fruit, and nuts or nut butter, and even vegetables!

This berry banana stovetop oatmeal is made with simple, nutritious ingredients. You can make it in 10 minutes, so it’s an easy healthy weekday breakfast idea – especially when working from home! It’s vegan, gluten free, dairy free, and nut free (unless you top it with nuts or nut butter). It’s going to be one of your new favorite healthy breakfast recipes!

Looking for an even faster breakfast? Try making 2-minute microwave oatmeal with old fashioned oats or microwave steel cut oats!

Ingredients in berry banana stovetop oatmeal

You need just 5 ingredients to make berry banana stovetop oatmeal:

• Old fashioned rolled oats: I like old fashioned rolled oats for stovetop oats because they have a chewy texture but cook up faster than steel cut. You can use quick or steel cut oats for this recipe, but adjust the cooking time accordingly.
• Frozen mixed berries: I prefer to use frozen berries for this recipe, since they release their juices (and beautiful colors) into the oatmeal better as it cooks. I used a bagged mix of blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, and blackberries. You can use whatever combination of berries you like best!
• Banana: Mashed ripe banana adds natural sweetness and banana flavor.
• Chia seeds: These seeds add fiber, omega-3 fatty acids, and plant-based protein to this oatmeal recipe. You can omit them if you don’t have or don’t like chia seeds.
• Cinnamon enhances the sweet flavors in this stovetop oatmeal recipe.

Healthy toppings for stovetop oatmeal

Toppings add so much flavor and additional nutritional benefits to a bowl of oatmeal. Here are some of my favorite healthy oatmeal toppings:

• Fresh berries
• Sliced banana
• Warm cinnamon apples
• Chia seed jam
• Peanut butter or almond butter
• Walnuts
• Pecans
• Hemp seeds
• Raisins
• Greek yogurt

How to make berry banana stovetop oatmeal

Making stovetop oatmeal with old fashioned rolled oats is easy and simple. You just need oats and water as the base! To make two servings of stovetop oatmeal, boil 1 3/4 cups of water.

Once the water is boiling, add 1 cup of oats and chia seeds. Reduce heat to a simmer and cook, stirring frequently. When the oats start to thicken up, add the frozen berries, mashed banana, and cinnamon. Continue to cook to desired thick and creamy texture.

Stovetop oatmeal tip: Similar to making risotto, stirring stovetop oatmeal frequently helps release the starches from the oats, making the oatmeal even creamier.

Portion into two bowls and top with your favorite toppings. I love to add nut butter, fresh berries, and hemp seeds to this berry banana oatmeal.

How to store banana berry stovetop oatmeal

You can eat this stovetop oatmeal recipe right away, or store it in the fridge for later consumption. It keeps well for about 3 days.

Store cooked stovetop oatmeal in an airtight container without toppings. You can reheat it in the microwave for 1-2 minutes to make it warm. I recommend adding a splash of plant milk or water when reheating.

Add your toppings when the oatmeal is warm from the microwave.

Oatmeal nutritional benefits

Oatmeal is a very healthy whole grain food to include in your diet. It’s one of the best food sources of soluble fiber, which can help lower “bad” LDL cholesterol levels. One cup of cooked oatmeal (about 1/2 cup uncooked) provides:

• 4 grams of fiber
• 6 grams of plant-based protein
• A good source of calcium and magnesium
• An excellent source of Vitamin A and iron

The main type of soluble fiber in oats is beta-glucan. This type of fiber is linked to health benefits including reduced cholesterol levels and supporting gut health.

Berries nutrition benefits

Berries are incredibly nutrient dense fruits. All berries are very high in antioxidants, particularly blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries. Antioxidants help fight inflammation in our bodies and keep our cells healthy.

Berries are all good or excellent sources of fiber. Foods high in fiber support health benefits including weight management, gut health, and bowel regularity.

Did you know? Frozen berries have the same nutrient profile as fresh berries, and in some cases might be even more nutritious! Frozen fruits and vegetables are a cost effective and convenient way to increase your produce consumption.

Banana nutrition benefits

Bananas are a healthy fruit to include in your diet, and make for a convenient portable snack. One medium banana provides:

• 3 grams of fiber
• 9 percent of your daily potassium needs
• A good source of Vitamin C, copper, and manganese
• An excellent source of Vitamin B6

Chia seeds nutrition benefits

Chia seeds pack a ton of nutritional benefits. They are one of the best plant-based sources of omega-3 fatty acids. About 75 percent of the fat in chia seeds comes from omega-3 fatty acids. This type of fat is essential in our diets, because we cannot produce it on our own.

One ounce of chia seeds contains:

• 10 grams of fiber
• 5 grams of plant-based protein
• A good source of calcium and iron
• An excellent source of magnesium

More healthy oatmeal recipes to try

• Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal
• Peanut Butter and Jelly Oatmeal
• Zucchini Bread Overnight Oats
• Apple Cinnamon Baked Oatmeal Cups

Let me know if you love this recipe by leaving a comment or star rating below, and check out Instagram and Pinterest for more healthy lifestyle inspiration. Thanks for stopping by!

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