Blueberry Baked Oatmeal is an easy and healthy breakfast you can prep the night before and bake in the morning. Low in fat and added sugar free, it’s a clean eating meal the whole family will enjoy – you’ll only have to cook one dish even if you’re on the Trim Healthy Mama plan yourself.
Just add plenty of nuts or nut butter – or even some actual butter! – to the portions of your growing kids.
We love baked oatmeal around here. I have a few versions here on the blog that are super delicious but also pretty, uhm, sugary 🙈
I’ve always had problems balancing my blood sugar (it’s hereditary – I have very clear memories of sitting on various bus stop benches with my mom while she had to eat an emergency snack), but the last few months have been especially bad.
Even after seemingly balanced meals I’ve been feeling unwell. I dropped 40 pounds of baby weight eating a low glycemic diet back in 2015, and about the same amount of, ahem, beer and takeout weight 🙈🙈 (hey, I was young and silly once!) all the way back in.. 2010? I know this stuff by heart. I’m just not always awesome at actually putting two and two together… So I started watching what I put in my body again, and how I pair it and I’ve been feeling a lot better.
So, anyways, my maple syrup laden baked oatmeals – yes, even though it’s natural maple syrup! – have been leading to me crashing hard right after breakfast. I decided to tweak my recipe to fit the low-GI Trim Healthy Mama way of eating, so I can feel better by balancing my body. And now I’m sharing one of my favorite ways to make it, with blueberries, so you can feel awesome, too!
How To Make Blueberry Baked Oatmeal – Trim Healthy Mama style!
What ingredients do you need to make blueberry baked oatmeal?
- Old Fashioned Oats (make sure to not use quick cooking oats, as they turn mushy and spike your blood sugar more)
- Milk (unsweetened almond is a favorite, but we also like using raw milk from our neighbor’s farm. I skim the cream off the top and use it in low carb / S meals! You could even use kefir if you prefer to consume only cultured dairy)
- Unsweetened applesauce
- Walnuts (optional, but it’s just a small amount!)
- Egg whites (you can use whole eggs if you’re not concerned about keeping the oatmeal low fat / E)
- Stevia blend (you can use maple syrup instead if you’re not on the THM plan)
- Vanilla extract
- Cinnamon
- Baking powder
- Salt
- Blueberries (both fresh or frozen work well!)
If you are in need of some extra fuel, you can easily add 1/4 cup melted butter or coconut oil (it will make this a crossover meal on the THM plan). Or just top with whipped cream and turn the whole thing into dessert 🙈😉
How can you make blueberry baked oatmeal cheap and budget friendly?
- Buy in bulk: Oats and nuts are easy to buy in bulk. Store the nuts in the freezer and they won’t go rancid!
- Use frozen blueberries: Frozen berries are usually cheaper than fresh ones. Frozen works just fine for this oatmeal! Sometimes I buy up lots of fresh berries when they’re on sale, wash them, dry them and freeze them myself!
- Use real egg whites: I know it’s way easier to use carton egg whites… Sigh. But they are EXPENSIVE! At least the ones I can get locally. I prefer using fresh ones and I save the yolks to bulk up hearty omelettes. We want to get our own chicken coop soon, and I definitely won’t be finding carton egg whites there 😂 So I’m fine with being used to not having carton egg whites.
- Be mindful of measurements: Sure, we can all eyeball. Sometimes better, sometimes worse (looking at you, peanut butter!). But for expensive ingredients like stevia blends, extracts and spices, be sure to use the exact measurements given in the recipe. Otherwise you’ll be wasting money!
The foolproof way to make blueberry baked oatmeal:
It’s as easy as:
- mix everything except for the berries
- layer in a baking dish with the berries
- chill overnight
- bake
Check out the step by step photos below:
1. Mix all ingredients together (except for the blueberries).
I just use a large bowl, measure out all my ingredients, dump them in the bowl and stir with a. wooden spoon until they’re combined. Well, that’s pretty much the recipe 😉
2. Transfer to a baking dish.
I’m using a 7×11 rectangular baking dish. I bought this cute Le Creuset one at an amazing sale price years ago, and I’m still loving it so much! I would not ever have paid the full price though… They are so expensive!
Anyways, I prefer layering my baked oatmeal vs stirring the blueberries into the whole mix. This a) helps prevent blueberries sticking to the bottom of the baking dish like glue and b) doesn’t turn your baked oatmeal a ghastly grey color.
First, I spread half the oat mix in the bottom of the baking dish. It’s smart to just lightly grease the dish, but I often forget. Then I layer on most of the blueberries.
THEN I add the rest of the oat mixture…
… and scatter with a few remaining blueberries and some extra chopped walnuts for pretty looks. This is not necessary, but it does look nice.
3. Chill the oatmeal.
Finally, cover it up (a towel is fine if you don’t use plastic wrap!) and chill it in the fridge overnight.
If it looked a little lose when you put it together… After a night in the fridge the oats will have soaked up the liquid and everything will look a little bulkier.
4. Bake the oatmeal.
Then you just pop it in the oven and pat yourself on the back for being so organized 😉
How to serve blueberry baked oatmeal:
I personally don’t think there’s enough protein in the egg whites in this oatmeal to feel full and balanced. That’s why I have this topped with about 1/2 cup 0% Greek yogurt.
If your sweet tooth is raging (ask me how I figured out this one… Ha!), stir some vanilla and stevia into your yogurt… Yum! I also add more fresh blueberries as a side, because they are just so delicious AND round out the meal.
I know some people prefer baked oatmeal served with milk poured on top, but I like to pretend it’s cake for breakfast 😉 My kids and hubby get whole milk yogurt, almond butter and often some actual melted butter with their oatmeal. Since I’m in maintenance mode AND nursing a crazy 19 month old, I join them in that whenever I wake up feeling super hungry!
This blueberry baked oatmeal is a great trim healthy mama friendly breakfast the whole family will love!
What I adore most is that I can make it ahead and have a more relaxed morning! Also, no need to cook separate meals just because you’re watching your health, that’s not what I’ve ever been about.
I’m sure this baked oatmeal will make you feel amazing in the morning – give it a try this week and let me know what you think.
I love seeing your photos shared on Instagram, make sure to tag me @savorynothings and/or use the hashtag #savorynothings so I can find it! I’m going to start sharing your photos here on the blog, so don’t forget. You can also email me your photo at [email protected] if you don’t have Instagram.
Get the printable recipe for this Trim Healthy Mama approved Blueberry Baked Oatmeal:
Ingredients
- 2 cups old fashioned oats, use gluten free if necessary
- 3/4 cup milk, unsweetened almond is a great choice, see notes for substitute
- 1 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 1/4 cup chopped walnuts
- ½ cup egg whites, about 3 large; see notes for substitute
- 3 tablespoons Stevia blend, see notes for substitute
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground golden flax, optional
- ½ tsp. baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 2 cups blueberries, fresh and frozen both work
Instructions
- Mix the ingredients: Add the oats, milk, applesauce, walnuts, egg whites, sweetener, ground flax (if using), vanilla, cinnamon, baking powder and salt to a large bowl. Mix well.
- Layer in a casserole dish: Lightly grease a 7x11 inch rectangular baking dish. Spread half the oat mixture in the bottom of the dish. Sprinkle with about 3/4 of the blueberries. Top with the remaining oat mixture, carefully smoothing the top. Sprinkle on the remaining blueberries. You can also sprinkle on some extra walnuts if you like!
- Chill the dish: Cover the casserole dish (you can use either plastic wrap or even a towel). Chill in the fridge overnight.
- Bake the dish: The next morning, remove the dish from the fridge. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Bake until set and golden on top, about 30-35 minutes. Rest for 5 minutes on a rack on the counter, then slice and serve warm.