High-Protein PB&J Baked Oats

These High-Protein PB&J Baked Oats will bring you back to memories of your favorite childhood sandwich—but with grown-up appeal. Fiber-rich oats take on a chewy yet soft and tender quality and are infused with subtle undertones of warm cinnamon and vanilla with a slight fruitiness from the bananas. Strawberries are cooked down with chia seeds to create the jam that is then dolloped with peanut butter for the perfect PB&J bite. These baked oats are loaded with protein, thanks to the eggs, yogurt and milk, plus the plant-based protein from the peanut butter, chia seeds and oats. Altogether, these baked oats will fill you up and get your morning going on an energizing note. Keep reading for our expert tips, including what you can substitute for the fresh strawberries.

Tips from the EatingWell Test Kitchen

These are the key tips we learned while developing and testing this recipe in our Test Kitchen to make sure it works, tastes great and is good for you too! 

• If it’s not strawberry season in your area, no worries! You can use frozen strawberries, which are just as nutritious as fresh since they are flash-frozen at peak harvest.
• The cooked strawberry mixture will not have a jam-like consistency in Step 2, but it will thicken nicely while baking in the oven.
• For the best flavor, use a ripe banana that is heavily dotted with brown spots, just as you would when making banana bread.

Nutrition Notes

• Oats are rich in cholesterol-lowering fiber that will also provide food for your beneficial gut bacteria. The fiber also helps stabilize blood sugar, especially when combined with the protein in these baked oats. While oats are naturally gluten-free, they can sometimes be contaminated with gluten during processing. If you’re gluten intolerant or allergic, opt for certified gluten-free oats.
• Peanut butter is a great source of plant protein and heart-healthy fats. It’s also packed with antioxidants and vitamin E (which acts as an antioxidant), which will help keep your skin healthy and glowing, lower inflammation and fight off diseases, including heart disease and cancer. 
• Strawberries bring more inflammation-fighting antioxidants and fiber to these baked oats. They’re loaded with vitamin C to help support your immune system and antioxidants that have been shown to support brain and heart health. 
• Greek yogurt adds protein and probiotics to these baked oats. The probiotics are beneficial gut bacteria and will nosh on the fiber in the strawberries, peanut butter, banana, oats and chia seeds, helping them to thrive and multiply. A healthy gut helps reduce inflammation and disease risk.