When you’re looking for a quick and nourishing breakfast idea that isn’t eggs, try these Caramelized Banana Bread Overnight Oats! You can prep everything in less than fifteen minutes and have a satisfying breakfast ready for you to grab on your way out the door. They’re sweet and decadent with a hint of char from the caramelized banana topping, adding a smoky depth to each bite. Prep ahead for a week worth of breakfasts you’ll actually look forward to! These are featured in the 2026 July meal prep plan.

caramelized banana bread overnight oats ingredient notes:

Bananas: This is the perfect recipe to make when you need to use up a bunch of bananas, but don’t have the patience to make actual banana bread. Bananas are a great source of potassium and fiber, helping to keep you full all morning long.

Cinnamon: Cinnamon helps give our oat mixture and the caramelized bananas that woody, almost peppery flavoring, without compromising the sweetness. Cinnamon is naturally anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial and also aids in digestion to help avoid blood sugar spikes — perfect to start your day with!

Chia Seeds: Our lovely little addition to all my overnight oats recipes, however you can always omit and opt for an additional 1/2 cup of oats. Chia seeds help kick off your day with an additional boost of Omega-3 and fiber, keeping you fuller longer.

Gluten-free Rolled Oats: They’re the star of any overnight oats recipe, and for good reason. Rolled oats are packed with fiber, protein, vitamins, and minerals, making them a breakfast superfood! I like to use rolled oats because they absorb the milk and other liquids, without becoming mushy in the fridge throughout the week, making them perfect for easy, prep-ahead, on-the-go breakfasts!

Vanilla protein powder: This helps us get that sweet, almost cake-like flavor, without actually baking the any banana bread. If using unflavored protein powder, I recommend using 2 tablespoons of additional maple syrup in the recipe. I highly recommend not skipping out, as the protein powder helps keep you full all morning long.

caramelized banana bread overnight oats

caramelized banana bread overnight oats

Recipe by Jenn Lueke

4.2 from 95 votes

Servings

Adjust servings

+

–

4

servings

Prep time

15

minutes

Cooking time

0

minutes

Chill time

6

hours

When you’re looking for a quick and nourishing breakfast idea that isn’t eggs, try these Caramelized Banana Bread Overnight Oats! You can prep everything in less than fifteen minutes and have a satisfying breakfast ready for you to grab on your way out the door. They’re sweet and decadent with a hint of char from the caramelized banana topping, adding a smoky depth to each bite. Prep ahead for a week worth of breakfasts you’ll actually look forward to! These are featured in the 2026 July meal prep plan.

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Ingredients

• Caramelized Bananas

• neutral oil spray

• 1 1/2 tablespoons raw honey

• 2 large ripe bananas, sliced into 1/4-inch rounds

• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

• Overnight Oats

• 2 large ripe bananas

• 4 teaspoons raw honey

• 2 cups gluten-free rolled oats

• 3/4 cup vanilla protein powder

• 1/4 cup chia seeds

• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

• 2 cups milk of choice (like almond, oat, or whole milk)

Directions

• Make the caramelized bananas: spray a large non-stick skillet with neutral oil spray and heat over medium-high heat. Add the honey, evenly spreading it out on the skillet, and carefully place all of the banana slices, evenly spaced apart, on the skillet. Cook until lightly browned and crisp, 3 to 4 minutes per side. Gently mix in the vanilla, cinnamon, and salt, and remove from the heat. Note: It’s okay if the bananas break a bit when you flip them! They don’t need to be perfect circles to provide the flavor on top of the oats.
• Mix the overnight oats: Divide the non-caramelized bananas between four 12-ounce jars or lidded containers (1/2 banana each) and mash them up until smooth. Add the honey (1 teaspoon each) and mash again. To each of the four jars, add 1/2 cup of oats, 2 tablespoons protein powder, 1 tablespoon chia seeds, and 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon.
• Mix 1/2 cup of milk into each jar until combined, ensuring no dry oat or chia pieces remain. Evenly divide the caramelized bananas between the four jars to top off the oats.
• Cover the jars and refrigerate for at least 6 hours to set. Keep refrigerated for up to four days.

Notes

• Store it: Refrigerate in sealed containers or jars for up to 4 days.
• Toppings: I love topping these with roasted, chopped walnuts for some crunch and extra protein! Adding a spoonful of Greek yogurt on top provides additional protein, too.
• Protein Powder: The protein powder provides sweetness, so if you choose to leave it out you will be losing both protein and flavor. I recommend increasing the honey in the oat mixture to 1/4 cup if you choose to omit the protein powder.

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