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With just 3 simple ingredients and 5 minutes of prep, these no-bake Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars are the ultimate easy snack recipe! Soft, chewy, and filled with peanut butter goodness, they are the kind of treat that feels a little indulgent, yet are packed with whole grains and naturally sweetened.
While I have a lot of easy snack bars on my site (I am looking at you no-bake granola bars and copycat larabars), it truly does not get easier than this one! Simply mix, press, and devour!
Kristen's Keys for Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars
Paying attention to these details ensure better texture, easier mixing, and bars that actually hold together.
- Use rolled oats. Both old-fashioned and quick-cook work equally well. Just stay away from steel-cut oats.
- Warm the peanut butter and honey. This helps them blend smoothly and creates a stickier mixture that binds the bars so they hold together instead of crumbling.
- Salt matters. If your peanut butter isn't salted, add a pinch. It sharpens the flavor and keeps the bars from tasting flat.
- Line the pan well. Parchment paper will prevent the bars from sticking to the pan, making slicing and serving much easier.
How to Make Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars
While an incredibly easy recipe, this section walks you through the process with a few tips that ensure perfect results with minimal effort and dishes required.
Step One: Combine Peanut Butter and Honey
Add the peanut butter and honey to a heat-safe large mixing bowl or glass measuring cup and microwave in 30-second intervals, until bubbles begin to form, whisking between intervals.
👉🏻Cut back on dishes. I typically microwave the honey and peanut butter in a large heat-safe mixing bowl rather than using a glass measuring cup as pictured. That way I can add the oats right to the bowl and only have one dish to wash.
Step Two: Add Oats
Add the oats and use a sturdy spatula or wooden spoon to mix until everything is evenly coated.
👉🏻Use a handheld mixer if needed. If you have wrist or joint issues, or simply want to make quick work fo the process, use a handheld mixer on low speed to combine the oats with the peanut butter mixture.
Step Three: Form Bars
Transfer the mixture to a parchment-lined pan. The mixture is sticky, so use another piece of parchment to press the mixture evenly and firmly into the pan, while keeping your hands clean.
Step Four: Chill
While you can certainly dig into the peanut butter oatmeal bars right away, I find it is best to allow the bars to chill for 30 minutes. This makes them much easier to cut into snack size bars.
Recipe Modifications
- Add Chocolate Chips: Stir in up to 1 cup chocolate chips after mixing in the oats.
- Top with Melted Chocolate: Microwave 1 cup of chocolate chips in 30-second intervals, stirring between each interval, until melted and smooth. Add 1 teaspoon of coconut oil and stir to combine, then drizzle over the bars. Chill before slicing. Note: Store chocolate topped pb oat bars in the refrigerator, not at room temp.
- Peanut-Free: It may sound odd, but you can make these bars with almond butter or soy butter in place of peanut butter.
- Vegan-Friendly: Use pure maple syrup in place of honey.
More Easy Snack Recipes
Looking for more wholesome kid-friendly snacks? Or maybe you need something to fuel you post-workout or through the afternoon? You may enjoy the following snack recipes, along with the pb oat bars of course!😉
Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars
Ingredients
- 1 cup creamy peanut butter
- ½ cup honey, or maple syrup
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt, *only if peanut butter is unsalted*
- 3 cups rolled oats, old-fashioned or quick-cook
Instructions
- Line an 8x8 pan with parchment paper.
- Combine the 1 cup creamy peanut butter and ½ cup honey in a glass measuring cup or medium heat-safe mixing bowl. Microwave in 30-second intervals, until bubbles begin to form, whisking between intervals. If your peanut butter is unsalted, add ½ teaspoon kosher salt to this mixture.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine 3 cups rolled oats with the peanut butter and honey mixture. Using a wooden spoon, spatula or handheld mixer on low speed, mix until evenly incorporated.
- Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish and use an additional piece of parchment paper to press the oat mixture into an even layer in the prepared pan. Chill the bars for 10-30 minutes in the refrigerator to allow the bars to be easier to cut into squares.
- After chilling, remove the bars from the baking dish. Cut the bars into 12 squares and enjoy.
Equipment
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Originally published in 2022 and updated in 2025.
If you change the recipe to metric measurements the oats should be 300 g not 720g as mentioned . I have just had to throw the whole mixture away after trying to mix it together! I'll try again tomorrow using cups instead as I am sure it will be much better..
Hi Susie! I am so sorry that happened. The measurement should be 270 grams, not 720 grams and the numbers were mixed up.
These were so easy to make and beyond yummy. I added some dark cocoa powder because I LOVE chocolate. Thank you so much for sharing this recipe!
You are very welcome, Pamela! I haven't tried adding cocoa powder myself, just chocolate chips. May have to give that a try myself.
Made a half batch today. Turned out amazing 😍😍 Had all ingredients on hand and had to try. Perfect and simple can't wait to spice them up. Great for anyone trying to eat clean or healthy. Coming off a keto diet this was a great way to reincorporate good carbs and natural sweeteners
Thanks for sharing, Dayna! I love hearing you enjoyed these bars 🙂
I love how simple these are to make! They're awesome as an on the go snack, breakfast, or a fun treat in my kids lunchboxes!
We love these oat bars too! I am so happy to hear you enjoyed how easy they are to make 🙂
These bars are exactly the kind of healthy snacks I love to have on hand ! I like to add in a handful of dark chocolate chips in sometimes too. Thank you!
Chocolate chips are always a great addition! So happy to hear you enjoyed them!
this is the best bar recipe that I ever made, thank you for sharing!
You bet Jess! So happy to hear you enjoyed so much!
These are very good. Makes for a quick and easy breakfast. I think that next time I will add a small amount of almond milk or water so the the oats are a little softer in the final product.