Air Fryer Baked Oats
These Air Fryer Baked Oats are about to become your new morning staple. They’re warm, filling and come together in under 20 minutes. The crispy top in the air fryer is something that you don’t want to miss.
I make baked oats on repeat just like my Air Fryer Granola – especially on mornings when I want something warm and satisfying but don’t have the time or energy for anything complicated.
Baked oats are basically oatmeal – but better. You blend or mash the ingredients together, bake them, and end up with something that sits halfway between a bowl of porridge and a little cake. The banana acts as a natural sweetener and binder, so there’s no flour needed.
I’ve been cooking Air Fryer Recipes on this blog for years, and baked oats is one of those recipes that genuinely surprised me the first time I made it. The air fryer gives you that golden, slightly crispy top that you’d normally only get from a full oven bake – in a fraction of the time. My version uses a mashed banana as the base, which keeps everything sweet and moist without needing a lot of added sugar.
The batch I’m sharing today has peanut butter cups on top (no judgment, it was what I had!) but you can use your favorite mix-ins or whatever’s in your pantry.
Ingredient Notes
*(Quantities in the recipe card below).
- Rolled oats – Old-fashioned rolled oats work best here. They hold their texture and give you that slightly chewy bite inside.
- Ripe banana – The riper the better. It should be spotty and soft so it mashes easily and brings natural sweetness.
- Egg – Helps bind everything together and gives the oats a light, almost cake-like texture.
- Milk – Just a couple of tablespoons to loosen the mixture. Any milk works – dairy or plant-based.
- Maple syrup – Optional, depending on how sweet your banana is and how sweet you like it. Taste the mixture before baking.
- Vanilla extract – Adds warmth and rounds out all the flavours.
- Cinnamon – A little goes a long way here.
- Baking powder – Gives the oats a slight lift so the inside stays light and fluffy.
- Salt – Just a pinch.
- Mix-ins (choose your own): Berries, chocolate chips, chopped nuts, or dried fruit all work beautifully. Stir them into the batter before baking.
- Toppings: Add these AFTER baking, while the oats are still warm. Chocolate chips, peanut butter cups, a drizzle of nut butter – whatever you like. Don’t add them before going into the air fryer or they’ll burn.
How to Make Air Fryer Baked Oats
*(Full instructions in the recipe card below).
- Mash the banana: Grab a bowl that fits inside your air fryer basket. Mash your banana in it until smooth – a few small lumps are fine.
- Add the wet ingredients: Crack in the egg and beat it lightly into the banana. Add the milk, maple syrup, and vanilla and stir to combine.
- Add the dry ingredients: Add the rolled oats, cinnamon, baking powder, and salt. Mix everything together until well combined.
- Stir in your mix-ins: If you’re adding berries, nuts, or chocolate chips, fold them in now.
- Air fry: Place the bowl directly in the air fryer basket. Air fry at 350°F (180°C) for 13 minutes. The top should be golden and slightly crispy.
- Add toppings and rest: Add your toppings now while everything is still warm. If you’re using chocolate chips or peanut butter cups, they’ll melt nicely from the heat. Let the oats sit for 1 to 2 minutes – they’ll firm up a little as they cool.
Recipe Tips
- Use a bowl that fits your air fryer. This sounds obvious but it’s easy to forget! Choose an oven-safe bowl – ceramic, glass, or a small ramekin all work. If your air fryer is on the smaller side, you can split the batter between two small containers.
- Don’t add toppings before baking. I learned this the hard way – chocolate chips or anything sugary on top will burn in the air fryer. Add them after, while the baked oats are still warm. They’ll melt just enough without going anywhere.
- Want it more cake-like? For a smoother, more uniform texture closer to a mug cake, blend the mixture before baking instead of mixing by hand.
- Make two servings. Split the batter between two small oven-safe containers and bake at the same time. Great for meal-prepping two mornings at once.
Serving Suggestions
These baked oats are great on their own, but a drizzle of maple syrup over the top and a spoonful of Greek yogurt on the side completes it. The yogurt adds a nice cool, creamy contrast to the warm, crispy oats and much needed protein.
If you’re an oat lover like me, you’ll also want to try my Chocolate Banana Overnight Oats for a no-cook, make-ahead option. Or if you’re on a breakfast kick with the air fryer, my Air Fryer Granola and Air Fryer Pancakes are worth bookmarking too.
FAQs
My air fryer runs hot – will 13 minutes burn it?
Air fryers vary quite a bit. Start checking at 10 minutes. You want the top to be golden and set, not dark brown. If it’s colouring too fast, cover loosely with a small piece of foil.
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Recipe
Air Fryer Baked Oats
Equipment
- Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 1 cup rolled oats
- 1 ripe banana
- 1 egg
- 2 tbsp milk (any kind)
- 1 to 2 tbsp maple syrup (adjust to taste)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ tsp cinnamon
- ½ tsp baking powder
- Pinch of salt
Mix-ins:
- berries
- chocolate chips
- chopped nuts
- dried fruit
Toppings (add after baking):
- peanut butter cups
- chocolate chips
- nut butter drizzle
- maple syrup
Instructions
- Use an oven-safe bowl that fits inside your air fryer basket. Add the banana and mash until smooth.
- Add the egg and beat lightly into the banana. Stir in the milk, maple syrup, and vanilla extract.
- Add the rolled oats, cinnamon, baking powder, and salt. Mix until everything is well combined.
- Fold in any mix-ins you like – berries, nuts, or chocolate chips.
- Place the bowl in the air fryer basket. Air fry at 350°F (180°C) for 10 to 13 minutes, until the top is golden and set.
- Remove from the air fryer and add toppings while still warm. Allow to rest for 1 to 2 minutes. Serve plain or with maple syrup and Greek yogurt.
Notes
- For two servings, split the batter between two small oven-safe containers and bake at the same time.
- Do not add chocolate chips or sweet toppings before baking – they will burn. Always add toppings after.
- The riper the banana, the sweeter the baked oats. Taste batter before baking and adjust maple syrup accordingly.
- For a smoother, cake-like texture, blend the batter before baking.
- Mix and refrigerate in the bowl the night before for an even faster morning routine.
Nutrition
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