Come one, come all, and bring your forks! Meet my upgraded healthy, easy Oatmeal Pancakes!
These tender pancakes are made with homemade oat flour processed in a blender (that’s right, oatmeal pancakes with no flour!).
- They are 100% whole grain and naturally gluten free.
- They also have the best oat-y flavor and a more pleasant texture, thanks to the clever addition of a few extra whole oats at the end.
This recipe is an upgraded version of my Banana Oatmeal Pancakes (an absolute favorite among readers).
It’s ideal for times when you crave a classic, homey pancake with oatmeal but don’t have bananas on hand.
They’re tender and fluffy, meaning even the staunchest of pancake purists will approve.
5 Star Review
“I rarely leave comments on recipes but these are THE BEST pancakes my family has ever had.”
— Ashley —
If you’ve been dissatisfied with other online oat pancakes, it’s likely due to a few reasons.
- The pancakes were dense. This is caused by leaving all of the oats whole and not letting the batter rest.
- The pancakes lacked texture. If the batter is perfectly blended, your oat pancakes will be fluffy, but you’ll lose the surprise bits of oatmeal. Personally, I love little flecks of oats in my pancakes (and in these Healthy Oatmeal Muffins).
- The pancakes relied on regular flour. This is a problem if your whole reason for using oats is that you need need gluten free oatmeal pancakes. Many oatmeal pancake recipes (and Oatmeal Banana Bread recipes) add oats to a flour base, so you lose the GF aspect.
Thankfully, your search for the BEST oatmeal pancakes (which also happen to be gluten-free) is now complete!
The Trick to Fluffy Oatmeal Pancakes
Ordinarily, the secret to Fluffy Pancakes is not to overmix the batter.
This is great for regular pancakes, but when you are using the blender to make the recipe as with these oat pancakes, lots of mixing is built into the process.
I discovered the critical trick: add 1 cup of oats after the initial blending and let them sit in the oatmeal pancake batter for 10 minutes.
This allows the oats to soften into a superior, fluffy texture. You can read more details about this in the directions below.
How to Make the BEST Oatmeal Pancakes
Forget about oatmeal pancakes with pancake mix.
This easy and healthy oat pancakes recipe is a breeze.
Made entirely in a blender, you can sit back and relax as you enjoy these tender oat flapjacks on Sunday mornings because clean-up will be a snap.
The Ingredients
- Oats. Packed with fiber and cozy flavor, oats make a scrumptious base for our fluffy pancakes. (Oats are also part of the base for these Healthy Blueberry Muffins.)
- Milk. The liquid component of our batter. I used nonfat milk, but you can use any milk you have on hand (including almond milk if you’re trying for dairy-free).
- Eggs. To help bind the pancakes and create a fluffy texture.
- Greek Yogurt. A simple addition that helps keep the pancakes moist, like oatmeal pancakes with buttermilk, but adds an extra boost of protein.
- Maple Syrup + Vanilla + Cinnamon. The trifecta of warmth, comfort, sweetness, and pure pancake bliss!
- Mix-ins. I love chopped toasted nuts, chocolate chips, or fruit in my pancakes (and in Stuffed French Toast). If you prefer, you can keep it classic and omit them.
Oatmeal Pancake Toppings
Of course, what you put atop these oatmeal pancakes (or even these Blender Whole Wheat Waffles with whole wheat flour) also plays a considerable role in their overall healthiness.
My favorite toppings for healthy oatmeal pancakes are:
- Nut butters like peanut butter.
- Low-sugar jams.
- Fresh fruit like sliced bananas, strawberries, or blueberries.
- A light drizzle of pure maple syrup.
The Directions
- Add most of the oats and all remaining ingredients (except for the mix-ins) to the blender.
- Blend until smooth.
TIP!
For fluffy oatmeal pancakes, don’t over-blend the batter. Blend just long enough for the batter to be smooth without any large oat bits. Overmixing the batter can lead to dense and tough oatmeal pancakes.
- Stir in the remaining oats and any mix-ins. Allow the batter to rest for 10 minutes so the oats have time to soften.
- Drop 1/4 cup of batter per pancake in a nonstick skillet over medium-low heat. Cook for about 3 to 4 minutes, until golden and dry at the edges and bubbles form on top.
- Flip the pancakes, and cook until golden on the other side. Repeat these steps with the remaining batter. Add toppings, and ENJOY!
Storage Tips
- To Store. Refrigerate leftover oatmeal pancakes in an airtight storage container for up to 4 days.
- To Reheat. Gently reheat oatmeal pancakes in the microwave until hot. You can also reheat them on a baking sheet in the oven at 350 degrees F until warm. A toaster oven is a quick and easy option too.
- To Freeze. Once your pancakes have fully cooled, lay them in a single layer on a parchment- or wax paper-lined baking sheet. Freeze the oatmeal pancakes until solid. Then, transfer the frozen oatmeal pancakes to an airtight storage container or ziptop bag for up to 2 months in the freezer. Remove and reheat pancakes directly from frozen as desired.
Meal Prep Tip
If you are looking for a make-ahead oatmeal pancake batter recipe, you can try prepping the batter and storing it overnight in the refrigerator.
Alternatively, you may grind up the oats in advance in a food processor (to make oat flour), then prepare the batter by hand (rather than in a blender) when you’re ready to cook.
Oatmeal Pancake Variations
- Vegan Oatmeal Pancakes, Option 1. If you want to make vegan oatmeal pancakes, these Vegan Pancakes are a tried-and-true recipe. To make an oat pancake version, swap out some of the wheat flour in that recipe for the blended oat flour described in this recipe.
- Vegan Oatmeal Pancakes, Option 2. Or, to make these oat pancakes vegan, you could experiment by using non-dairy yogurt and flax eggs (but please note that I have not tested this myself yet).
- Healthy Pumpkin Pancakes. Also made in a blender, these are a hearty source of fiber, protein, and calcium. Use this recipe as a base, swapping some of the buckwheat flour for oats to make pumpkin oatmeal pancakes.
And my favorite oatmeal pancakes of all: The Well Plated Cookbook features a recipe called Every Day Apple-Cinnamon Pancakes (to die for!). For your next brunch, grab a copy and indulge in cozy oatmeal pancakes with cinnamon apples.
What to Serve with Oatmeal Pancakes
Recommended Tools to Make this Recipe
The Best Blender
This 12-amp Ninja blender has 5 programmable settings to make consistent smoothies, frozen desserts, soups, and purée recipes.
It must be said: You will FLIP for these upgraded healthy oatmeal pancakes!
Frequently Asked Questions
Generally, oatmeal pancakes are healthier than regular pancakes (assuming “regular” pancakes refers to pancakes made with white flour, copious butter and oil, and artificial sugars). If you’ve thought restaurant pancakes taste better, it’s because they rely on fats, sodium, and sugars. Since these easy oat pancakes are made with whole grains, naturally sweetened, and use Greek yogurt, they keep breakfast on the yummy side of healthy.
This easy oatmeal pancake recipe is designed for stovetop, not baking, so I cannot, unfortunately, recommend baking these in the oven. You are, of course, welcome to experiment, however. If you’re looking for a baked pancake recipe, try this yummy Oven Pancake recipe.
If you want to make oatmeal pancakes without a blender, swap the rolled oats for an equal amount of oat flour and mix the batter by hand using a bowl and whisk. Just make sure to not pack the flour too tightly when you measure. Be aware that the texture of the pancakes might be a little gummier when made this way, but the flavor should still be delicious!
- 2 tablespoons canola oil or melted, cooled unsalted butter or melted, cooled coconut oil
- 3/4 cup nonfat plain Greek yogurt
- 1/2 cup nonfat milk
- 2 cups old-fashioned oats , divided (or quick oats; do not use steel cut or instant)
- 2 large eggs
- 3 tablespoons pure maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 cup mix-ins of choice: toasted chopped nuts , chocolate chips, blueberries, or diced fresh or dried fruit (optional)
- For serving: pure maple syrup , butter, or any of your favorite pancake toppings
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If you’d like to keep the pancakes warm between batches, place a rack in the center of your oven and preheat the oven to 200 degrees F.
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Place the oil, Greek yogurt, milk, 1 1/4 cups oats, eggs, maple syrup, vanilla, cinnamon, baking powder, and salt in a blender.
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Blend until the batter is smooth, stopping to scrape down the sides of the blender as needed. Continue blending until you don’t see any remaining bits of oats.
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Stop the blender, stirring the remaining 3/4 cup oats and any desired mix-ins. Do not blend again. Let the batter sit for 10 minutes while you heat the skillet/griddle and prep any toppings.
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Heat a large nonstick skillet or griddle over medium-low heat. Lightly butter or oil the pan if needed (some nonstick pans do not need this).
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Once the skillet is hot, drop the batter by 1/4 cupful into the pan. Let cook gently for 3 to 4 minutes on the first side, until the pancakes look dry at the edges and small bubbles form on top.
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Gently flip, then cook on the other side for 1 to 2 minutes. They should look golden on both sides. If desired, transfer the pancakes to a baking sheet and keep them warm in the oven between batches. Repeat with the remaining batter.
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Serve hot with desired toppings.
- TO STORE: Refrigerate leftover pancakes in an airtight storage container for up to 4 days.
- TO REHEAT: Gently rewarm pancakes in the microwave until hot. You can also reheat them on a baking sheet in the oven at 350 degrees F until warm.
- TO FREEZE: Once your pancakes have fully cooled, lay them in a single layer on a baking sheet. Freeze the pancakes until solid. Then, transfer the frozen pancakes to an airtight storage container or ziptop bag for up to 2 months. Remove and reheat pancakes from frozen as desired.
Serving: 1(of 12)Calories: 109kcalCarbohydrates: 14gProtein: 4gFat: 4gSaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 28mgPotassium: 205mgFiber: 1gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 60IUCalcium: 86mgIron: 1mg
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Related Recipes
If you’re craving oatmeal, be sure to check out all of my other oatmeal recipes. I know you’ll find something you’ll love!