Peanut Butter Banana Oatmeal

Peanut Butter Banana Oatmeal is a healthy morning favorite that's full of peanut butter, bananas and chocolate chips. If you think you don't have time to make breakfast, think again – this dish comes together in a jiffy! This easy recipe is vegan and gluten-free.

Peanut Butter Banana Oatmeal

A few weeks ago I admitted that I don't like bananas. It's really the texture that I can't stand, because it's way too pasty. I don't mind the taste at all, so I often add banana to smoothies, and I like to bake with them.

Today I'm going to make another confession: I don't really like oatmeal, either. Much like bananas, I find it too paste-like. I can make it palatable by adding nuts and fruit for texture. It's a good breakfast on those mornings when I want something warm to start the day.

So why I have I combined two foods I don't like in one recipe? Honestly, I'm not even sure why I originally created it. I've been making this dish for breakfast for years. It may have been because I used to get way too many bananas for this banana-hating cook in the CSA box I used to subscribe to. Or it may have just been because I saw another recipe that intrigued me.

I originally called this recipe "Elvis Oatmeal," since the king was known for his peanut butter and banana oatmeal. I'm not sure if his sandwiches also included chocolate, but they should have, because chocolate makes everything better.

How to Make Peanut Butter Banana Oatmeal

It couldn't be easier to make this recipe!

• First you place the non-dairy milk and rolled oats a medium pot over medium-high heat and bring the mixture to a boil
• Then you reduce the heat to medium low and add the sliced banana and cinnamon. You should continue to cooking for 5 to 10 minutes, or until the oatmeal thickens.
• Once the oatmeal thickens, you stir in the peanut butter.
• Finally, you divide the mixture between two bowls, and top each with the peanuts and chocolate chips.

Your oatmeal will last in the fridge for a few days, so you can meal prep it in advance, if you like.

Vegan Chocolate Chips

When buying chocolate chips, be sure to check the ingredients for dairy products. I recommend checking the ingredients, even if it's a brand you've used before, as brands sometimes change their recipes without making one of it on the package. (I've had this happen too many times!)

There are a few accidentally vegan types of chips, such as Ghirardelli Semi-Sweet Chocolate Baking Chips and the Trader Joe's store brand chocolate chips. Some vegan brands to look out for include Enjoy Life, Sunspire, Pascha, and Divvies.

Natural Peanut Butter

When buying peanut butter, make sure it’s natural, with just peanuts and possibly salt in the ingredients. Don’t buy anything with added oils or sugar. There are a lot of different brands available, such as Maranatha, Santa Cruz, and Teddie. I usually buy either the 365  or Trader Joe's store brands. Be sure to give your peanut butter a good stir, because the oils can separate.

You can use either chunky or smooth peanut butter - it's up to you. I prefer chunky, because, once again, the texture of the smooth type is too close to paste for me. (But I do use smooth to make spicy peanut sauce.)

Other oatmeal recipes you might enjoy include:

• Apple Pie Oatmeal
• Baked Pumpkin Oatmeal
• Chocolate Cherry Overnight Oats
• Overnight Oats with Mixed Berries and Chia

Other easy breakfast recipes you might enjoy include:

• Chocolate Cherry Chia Pudding Parfaits
• Almond Joy Chia Pudding
• Multigrain Pancakes with Almond Butter Drizzle
• Chocolate Chip Banana Muffins