Easy Baked Oatmeal

This one's for all of the oatmeal haters out there. 

It's simple to make & has the same ingredients as regular oatmeal cooked on the stovetop, but isn't runny, goopy, or anything else that usually causes people to dislike oatmeal. The consistancy is more like an oat muffin, though a little chewier & less light.

I've come to this recipe by reading a lot of baked oatmeal recipes & by listening to the Bup's responses every time we eat oatmeal. He can't stand the runny kind. I do make stovetop oats, but they always take him a long time to eat. This is more like a bar, so it's quick & portable.

Plus, it requires much less hands on time. If I have the oven on to bake/roast something for dinner, I'll mix this together & through it in. No stirring over the stove & making sure it doesn't boil required. I recommend baking it at 350, but if your oven is anywhere from 300-450, you should be fine. Just adjust the baking time as needed. I've baked it at many temperatures, even changing while it bakes, & have had no problems. It's very forgiving.

Another great thing about this, is you can cut it into 6 & store it in the fridge. Then each morning you just pull out a slice, heat it & breakfast is ready.

If you'd like your oatmeal a little crispy, you can heat it in the toaster oven. I go back and forth between the microwave & the toaster oven, depending on what I'm in the mood for.

Easy Baked Oatmeal

Serves 6

2 c old-fashioned oats

1 c steel-cut oats

3 T chia seeds

1 T cinnamon

4 c almond milk

Optional Mix-Ins:

1 c pumpkin puree

1/2 c shredded zucchini

1 apple, chopped (this is what I did in the pictures)

1/2 c dried cranberries, raisins, or coconut

1/3 c chopped nuts, any kind

1/4 c maple syrup (if you like your oatmeal sweet, definitely add this)

Preheat oven to 350. Spray a 9x13 pan with cooking spray. In a mixing bowl, combine both types of oats, chia seeds, & cinnamon. Add milk & stir until no dry spots exist. Pour (carefully!) into the prepared pan. Bake for 30-35 minutes. If you add maple syrup or pumpkin puree, it may need to bake longer. You can tell it's done when the top is lightly browned & doesn't jiggle when you move the pan. Allow to cool, then cover & refrigerate. Heat before eating & top with fruit, nut butter, more almond milk, etc.