One-Bowl Banana Oat Muffins

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These Banana Oat Muffins are mixed in one bowl, so prep and cleanup couldn’t be easier. They’re made with simple ingredients, including whole wheat flour and oats for added fiber and hearty texture. With naturally sweet, overripe bananas, a bit of cinnamon, and a splash of vanilla, these healthier (and every bit as delicious) muffins are filled with comforting flavors the entire family will love.

This is the quintessential muffin recipe for busy people. Simple ingredients, even simpler preparation. Just mix together the ingredients in one bowl, and bake.

They might not teach this “one bowl” method in culinary school (most pros recommend mixing the wet and dry ingredients in separate bowls to limit gluten production), but this simplified method gets the job done. The muffins come out delicious, and cleanup is easy.

It’s the type of shortcut I make all of the time as a busy mom feeding my family in real life. There’s no need to overcomplicate things!

For breakfast, I recommend pairing these banana oat muffins with a higher-protein option, like a hard boiled egg, Greek yogurt, a veggie frittata, or white bean and avocado toast. They make a tasty, grab-and-go snack, too. Try spreading butter or your favorite nut butter on top for a little extra staying power!

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Ingredients
Instructions
Substitutions
Variations
Equipment
Storage
Top tip
FAQ
Pairing
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📖 Recipe

Ingredients

These banana muffins are made with simple ingredients that are probably in your kitchen already. It’s the type of recipe you can make whenever the mood strikes, without an extra trip to the store.

Mixing whole wheat flour and oats into the batter gives these muffins a some extra fiber, which makes them more hearty and filling. Fats from the olive oil and whole milk provide rich flavor and a tender crumb.

Sweet, overripe bananas, cinnamon, and vanilla bring on the flavor.

Ingredients with text labels to make banana oat muffins

Grocery list:

Bananas (look for ripe bananas in the discounted produce section.)
Egg
Whole milk
Sugar
Olive oil
Vanilla extract
All purpose flour
Whole wheat flour
Oats
Baking powder
Ground cinnamon
Salt

Optional add-ins:

chopped nuts (such as walnuts or pecans) or chocolate chips

See the recipe card at the end of this post for ingredient quantities.

Instructions

Here’s a basic summary of how to make these one-bowl muffins.

Wet muffin batter ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Labeled with a

Mash the banana and egg together. Add the other wet ingredients and mix.

Muffin batter in a mixing bowl. Labeled with a

Pour the dry ingredients on top and then stir the batter until just mixed.

Holding a muffin pan with unbaked batter. Labeled with a

Transfer the batter to a muffin pan and bake.

Muffins cooling on a wire rack. Labeled with a

Cool on a wire rack.

Hint: Make sure your baking powder is fresh! Once opened, baking powder should be used within three months. Using expired baking powder will lead to muffins that don’t rise.

Substitutions

A few suggestions for ingredient swaps:

Dairy free: Substitute unsweetened dairy-free milk alternative for whole milk.
Vegan: Use dairy-free milk alternative instead of whole milk and substitute a flax egg for the egg.
Gluten free: use 2 ½ cups 1:1 gluten-free flour instead of the all purpose flour and whole wheat flour.
100% whole grain: Use 2 ½ cups whole wheat flour and omit the all purpose flour. The texture will be denser and heartier.
Oil: Substitute another liquid vegetable oil, such as grapeseed oil or avocado oil, or use melted butter instead of olive oil.

Variations

Make it your own:

Nuts: fold ½ cup chopped walnuts or pecans into the batter.
Chocolate chips: fold in ½ cup chocolate chips.

Try my Double Chocolate Pumpkin Muffins for another option!

Banana oatmeal muffins in reusable baking cups

Equipment

Muffin pan: Use a standard, 12-cup muffin tin.
Muffin liners: Paper or reusable silicone liners work well. If you don’t have liners, be sure to grease the muffin tin with oil or melted butter before adding the batter.
Large mixing bowl: to mix the batter
Oven: for baking the muffins.
Wire cooling rack: Place the baked muffins on a wire rack to cool. If you don’t have a rack, take the muffins out of the pan after five minutes and cool directly on the counter instead.

Storage

Muffins are a great breakfast/snack option to prep ahead of time. When making ahead, be sure to allow the muffins to cool completely. Then store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to four days.

Muffins can also be stored in a freezer bag and frozen for up to three months. Thaw frozen muffins completely at room temperature or microwave from frozen for about 30 seconds per muffin.

Closeup of the inside crumb of a banana oat muffin.

Top tip

Don’t over-mix the muffin batter! Over-mixed batter will lead to muffins that are tough. Stir just until the dry flour is no longer visible.

FAQ

How brown should bananas be for muffins?

Bananas should be covered in brown (or even black) spots and have a strong aroma to be used in baking recipes, like muffins. Overripe bananas give muffins more flavor.

What milk is best for muffins?

Whole milk is a great option for muffins, because it has a higher fat content. This fat gives muffins rich flavor and tender crumb.