Oatmeal With Banana & Berries Recipe

Combine liquids and oats

In a medium saucepan, combine 1 cup water and 1 cup milk. Add 1 tsp salt and bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat.

Cook oats

Stir in 1 cup rolled oats. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook, stirring occasionally, until the oats have absorbed most of the liquid and reached a creamy consistency, about 5–8 minutes for rolled oats. If you prefer thicker oatmeal, cook a minute longer; for looser, add a splash of extra milk.

Prepare banana

While the oats cook, peel the banana. Slice half the banana into rounds for topping. Mash the remaining half with a fork until fairly smooth (leave a few small chunks if desired).

Add flavor

Once oats are nearly done, stir in mashed banana, 1 tsp vanilla extract, and 1 tsp ground cinnamon. Cook another 30–60 seconds to warm the banana and meld flavors.

Add sweetener and berries

Stir in 1 tbsp maple syrup or honey (adjust to taste). Gently fold in 3 oz mixed berries. If using frozen berries, add them a minute earlier so they thaw and warm through; if fresh, add at the end to keep their texture.

Transfer the oatmeal to a bowl. Top with sliced banana rounds, 2 tbsp chopped nuts, and 1 tbsp chia seeds or flaxseeds. If desired, drizzle an extra 1–2 tsp maple syrup and add 1–2 tbsp extra milk to reach your preferred consistency.