Banana bread oatmeal in the Instant Pot? Yes! With this Instant Pot Baked Oatmeal Bars recipe, you can make oatmeal breakfast bars with just a few minutes of hands-on time. They’re a delicious breakfast/brunch or dessert, and perfect for meal prep!
Easy Instant Pot Baked Oatmeal Bars
If you love baked oatmeal as much as I do, you’ll love this Instant Pot version made with bananas, cinnamon, dates, coconut, maple and chia seeds. It’s delicious and loaded with fiber and is vegan, dairy-free and gluten-free. For more pressure cooker ideas, you can see all my Instant Pot recipes here.
This Instant Pot Oatmeal Bars recipe is from Vegan Richa’s Instant Pot Cookbook; 150 Plant-based Recipes from Indian Cuisine and Beyond by Richa Hingle. Her book has so many wonderful vegan recipes for the Instant Pot, but I was really curious about this recipe which is actually in her dessert chapter. It was so easy to make and was so delicious, I had it for breakfast all week! I loved the addition of chia seeds and dates.
Richa says “I am not a big fan of gooey oatmeal, so I try to use it in recipes like this bar. This is a banana bread oatmeal bar. It has nuts and dates and makes for a great breakfast. The chopped pecan and cinnamon give it nice crumb-like topping.”
The Instant Pot makes this recipe so easy and may be my favorite way to cook oats now, including steel cut oats. And if you love these oatmeal breakfast bars, be sure to check out my blueberry baked oatmeal too.
Tools Needed
This recipe using the pot-in pot method. You will need an Instant Pot, the wire metal steamer rack that comes with your instant pot, and a 6 1/2 to 7 inch round glass, ceramic, metal or stoneware baking dish. I used the one that came as a set with my air fryer accessories.
How to Make This Oatmeal Bars Recipe
These oatmeal breakfast bars are easy to prepare, with just a few minutes of hands-on time.
- Make the banana mixture. Mash a banana until there are no lumps then combine with the milk and maple separate.
- Make the oat mixture. In a separate bowl, combine the dry ingredients. Add to the mashed banana and mix to combine.
- Cook. Transfer to a greased pan and spread evenly with a spatula. Sprinkle with cinnamon and place on a trivet or cake. Cover with foil, then add to the Instant Pot. Lock the lid, transfer the knob to sealing, and cook on high for 35 minutes. Allow to manually release.
- Cool and slice. Remove the trivet and pan from the Instant Pot. Cool for 15 minutes, then use a knife to loosen the sides and slice into 4 pieces.
- Enjoy. Top with chopped pecans and cinnamon, then serve.
Variations
Here are a few easy ways to customize your oatmeal bars recipe.
• You can make this nut-free: Simply omit the pecans.
• To make this Oat-free: she suggests using rice flakes or quinoa flakes instead of oats.
Can You Make These Oatmeal Breakfast Bars in Advance?
Yes, this oatmeal bars recipe is perfect for making in advance. Prepare as directed above, allow to cool completely, and refrigerate in an airtight container. They’ll last for up to 5 days, so you can have an easy breakfast on the go all week long.
More Instant Pot Recipe You will Love
- Instant Pot Baked Ziti
- Instant Pot Risotto
- How To Make Perfect Quinoa in the Instant Pot
- Instant Pot Steel Cut Oats
- Quick Beef Chili
Instant Pot Oatmeal Banana Bars
Equipment
Ingredients
- coconut or olive oil spray
- 1 large ripe banana, about 1 cup mashed
- 1/2 cup plain unsweetened nondairy milk, such as almond or oat
- 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
- 1 cup old-fashioned oats, (80 g)
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 tablespoons chopped pecans, divided
- 1 tablespoon unsweetened shredded coconut
- 2 tablespoons chopped dates or raisins, optional
- 2 tablespoons chia seeds
FOR TOPPING
- Chopped pecans
- Ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Pour 1 1/2 cups water into the Instant Pot.
- Oil a 6 1/2- to 7-inch round metal, glass, ceramic, or stoneware baking pan. (I used the one I bought for my air fryer)
- In a large bowl, mash the banana very well until there are no lumps. Add the milk and maple syrup and mix until well combined.
- In a separate bowl, mix together the oats, baking powder, cinnamon, salt, 1 1/2 teaspoons of the pecans, the coconut, dates or raisins, if using, and chia seeds.
- Add to the mashed banana and mix to combine.
- Transfer the batter to the prepared pan and even it out with a spatula. Sprinkle with cinnamon and place the pan on a trivet or rack.
- Cover with foil and then lower the trivet into the Instant Pot.
- Lock the lid into place, set the Pressure Release Knob to Sealing, cook at high pressure 35 minutes.
- Once the cooking cycle is done, let the pressure release naturally. Using silicone mini mitts, carefully remove the trivet with the pan and allow to cool for 15 minutes.
- Use a knife to loosen the sides and slice into 4 pieces.
- Top with the remaining chopped pecans and cinnamon, and serve. The bars can be stored, refrigerated in a closed container, for up to 5 days.
This was tasty 😋 and easy! Hardest part was finding a dish for my instapot. Decided to use my baby food/egg bite silicone mould since it fits. Made individual portions 🙌. Followed directions exactly. My 12yo daughter mixed it all up and was a nice recipes for us to do together!
Perfect!!
Clicking on the WW link from the recipe, it comes up as 5 WW points, not 3. That was a disappointment. And it didn’t include the toppings. I’d still like to try it when I have some ripened bananas.
Sorry for the confusion- it has been updated.
Very filling, nutritious breakfast! I’ve adapted the recipe to whatever I have on hand (pecans, walnuts, raisins…. Even mini chocolate chips!) and it’s fantastic no matter what I add. I also add a heaping tbsp of ground flaxseed for extra fiber and a boost of Omegas.
I love this recipe! Filling and flavorful without refined sugar. Thank you!
These are really good! I used instant oats, nonfat dairy milk, walnuts chopped fine and the rest of the ingredients listed other than the coconut. I don’t particularly like nuts, but love the crunch and protein they offer. I baked in the oven at 400deg for 20min. I probably could have went to 25min for them to be a bit crispier. Again, I used instant oats though. Topping with the greek yogurt is an excellent compliment!
How do I make this in the oven? I don’t have an instant pot.
I am going to bake this in the oven at 350F (180C) for 50 minutes. Will add 1.5 cups water to the mixture, as step 1 says to add it to the “instant pot”, which I don’t have. Oats absorb lots of liquid. I am sure it will come out nice and edible, if not tasty 😉
Can this be made in the oven? If so how.
Great recipe! Made these today or breakfast the next few days. Used chopped dates and coconut milk. Thanks for another great recipe!
Instead of instant pot oatmeal banana bars can they be air fryer or baked
Don’t have an insta pot. Can I make in oven at what temp and how long?
At what temperature is this recipe cooked in the oven & for how long?
Another winner. I really enjoyed this easy to make anytime treat.
I made a few mistakes while preparing; I couldn’t get the lumps out of the bananas so I used an immersion blender, along with the milk. I think it made the base to thin. Instead of a puree it was more liquid. The other error was the size of my pan. It was more wide,about 8′ circumference, than deep. Both errors caused, I beleive, my final product to lack the depth and height that is in the pictures Gina provided. I opted for 1 tablespoon of maple syrup. I figured the dates and bananas would be sweet enough. I was right. Next time I’ll either omit the maple syrup or just use use 1tsp. Despite my errors and the 1 modification the flavors and taste were scrumptious. All in all, this recipe is a new favorite.
This was good. I would reduce the maple syrup next time and also not use dried cranberries as it was sweeter than necessary and added more calories to this. 1/4 is small serving. I used two teaspoons of chia seeds and dried cranberries as my dried fruit. No nuts. Added a little Greek yogurt at the end
This recipe is fantastic! I’ve made it twice and flavor and texture was consistent. We’ve had it as an evening snack with berries and coconut whipped cream as well as for breakfast. Perfect anytime!
“Skinnytaste” was the title that caught my attention. I enjoy eating, but we must also balance our diet. At the same time, we must consume nutritious foods.
After mixing everything together, I was puzzling over the cook time when I realized I was using *instant oats* and that’s why 35 min seemed way too long! Whoops. I pressure cooked for 7 minutes with the quick oats and it came out great. Thanks for the recipe.
Made this as written with dates. So nice! I love the chew you get with baked oatmeal. Definitely a first time making baked oatmeal in the InstantPot!
Made this over the weekend for meal prep. Baked it in the oven since I don’t have an insta Pot. Added craisens. Warmed it up this morning in the microwave and put a dab of vanilla yogurt on top. It was delicious. Will definitely make again.
I made this recipe exactly as written in my Instant Pot. It was delicious. Tasted like a moist oatmeal spice muffin – without needing flour. I used raisins, next time will try dates or dried blueberries.
I’ve made them as directed in IP (great!), in the oven (wow!), over night oats (increased the liquid & turned out perfect) and this morning I air fried (BEST!). I intended on eating the overnight oats this morning but I felt like something warm so I took the mixture from the overnight oats and placed it in my IP with the air fryer attachment.
I don’t have a lot of space when using the attachment so I used foil paper to line 6” round cake pan, sprayed, filled with mixture, removed foil with mixture and placed in my air fryer basket.
Placed in preheated IP with air fryer attachment at 400° for 15 minutes. Perfection!
My method for making the recipe is I add everything except oats and chia (I omit the coconut & nuts to save cals but if I were to use them I’d add with the oats, not in blender) in my high power blender then I mix with the oats and Chia seeds, the bake in any of the methods mentioned above. I bet this would be fabulous cooked on the stove, too, just add a little more liquid 😋
Thanks for this info. Can you clarify…Are you saying you made a mold out of foil and put the batter in air fryer and then cooked???
I lost faith in my instant pot and donated it! Has anybody tried this in the oven and can share temp and cook time? Thanks!!
Since I didn’t have the insert for the InstaPot I made this in the oven. I quadrupled the recipe and put it in a 9 x 13 baking dish and cooked 40 mins @ 400 degrees. Turned out yummy and moist. I would suggest heating up in the air fryer.
Really liked it. I did use the banana and nuts and dates, and swerve brown sugar two tabs for the maple syrup. and almond milk. I left out coconut and chia seeds and maple syurp. Since less liquid from syrup I added a couple more tabs almond milk . It was very sweet with the banana and dates. I think I could leave extra sugar next time. I do think pumpkin or applesauce would work. The consistency just might be a bit different, and the sweetness would be different. This makes a “baked” oatmeal but it isn’t dry. It came out of the pan in a cute disc. I think if eating for breakfast 1/2 would go pretty fast! If think of it like a snack 1/4 was fine. I liked cooking it in the pressure cooker and the consistency of the oatmeal it gave.
Yes, I put mine in a 6 inch cake pan and baked it at 375°F for about 20 minutes.
Great recipe.
I placed half batter, layered grape jelly dollops , then cover with other half of batter. Turned out well.
Can you bake this in an oven?
Could you share a banana substitute?
I made this yesterday and used the strawberries I had purchased; smashed them to the consistency of mashed bananas. Don’t process to the point of being too watery. Tastes great!
Do you have to use non dairy milk, or is regular milk ok?
Any milk is fine
I really hate bananas. Could you recommend a substitute ?
Applesauce maybe?
I’m not a fan of bananas either, but could not taste the banana.
Is there a substitute for banaana?
Could these be cut and frozen after cooking?
Sure
I am super allergic to banana – would this work as well with pumpkin or applesauce?
I think it should work
Is there a way to make this if you don’t have an instapot?
Thanks
You can bake it, look at the directions my https://www.skinnytaste.com/baked-oatmeal-with-blueberries-and/#recipe or https://www.skinnytaste.com/baked-oatmeal-recipe-with-pears-bananas-walnuts/ for directions. I haven’t tried baking this so times may need to be adjusted.
Hi there, I wonder how this is different from baking in an oven? Is the texture different?
I baked in Instant pot yesterday. Flavor was fantastic. Texture was good.
Today I baked at 375 degrees for 20 min then I broiled for 3 min and flavor AND texture were fantastic!
I love this recipe so much that I even doubled the liquid and made overnight oats for tomorrow!
Can this be baked in an air fryer?
Me again 👋🏽 Ok, so now I made it in the air fryer this morning! I think this will be my go-to way of cooking it.
I’ve made them as directed in IP (great!), in the oven (wow!), over night oats (increased the liquid & turned out perfect) and this morning I air fried (BEST!). I intended on eating the overnight oats this morning but I felt like something warm so I took the mixture from the overnight oats and placed it in my IP with the air fryer attachment.
I don’t have a lot of space when using the attachment so I used foil paper to line 6” round cake pan, sprayed, filled with mixture, removed foil with mixture and placed in my air fryer basket.
Placed in preheated IP with air fryer attachment at 400° for 15 minutes. Perfection!
I know Gina I’m probably thinks I’m some crazy lady for the amount of times I have made this and commented and said she posted but I just love this recipe!
Farrah, would you please clarify. Did you make over night oats and then using foil instead of a bowl you poured the oats that were already finished ready to eat into the foil sand then put in the airfryer or did you take gina’s recipe above and put in air fryer to cook?
Not a fan of banana, would swapping with mashed sweet potato work for this?
Maybe!
I assume that this could be baked in the oven instead. What temp and for how long?
You can bake it, look at the directions my https://www.skinnytaste.com/baked-oatmeal-with-blueberries-and/#recipe or https://www.skinnytaste.com/baked-oatmeal-recipe-with-pears-bananas-walnuts/ for directions. I haven’t tried baking this so times may need to be adjusted.
What size InstaPot? Will the 3 quart work? We’re a two person household. Thanks!
I am not sure it would fit in a 3 quart.
Can I make this by baking in the oven?