Loaded with lots of banana, hearty oats, and gooey chocolate chips, these fluffy chocolate chip oatmeal pancakes are the ultimate breakfast stack and perfect for the weekend.

I like to affectionately call these the pancakes that make or break a weekend breakfast. As in, if you don’t have them on your breakfast agenda, your weekend is probably ruined.
Not only do we have a pile of gooey chocolate but we also have bananas AND oats giving us the perfect trifecta of pancake flavors.

The result is one king of a pancake stack that you’ll quickly find out will become a new breakfast tradition.
These Pancakes Feature…
- A soft and fluffy texture
- Hearty toasted oats
- Sweet mashed banana and gooey chocolate chips

Making the Pancakes
(scroll down to the bottom of the post for the full recipe)
Ingredients You Will Need
- Oats
- Bananas
- Unsalted butter
- Brown sugar
- Vanilla extract
- Egg
- Buttermilk
- All-purpose flour
- Baking powder
- Baking soda
- Salt
- Semisweet chocolate chips
Choosing Your Oats
I recommend using quick-cooking oats for these pancakes. The finer texture of these oats works well in a light and fluffy pancake base, giving you a bit of texture but not making the pancakes gummy or chewy.
If you don’t have quick oats on hand you can easily make them using old-fashioned rolled oats. Pulse oats in a food processor several times until oats are coarsely chopped.

Tips for Perfect Oatmeal Pancakes
- Toast oats – giving the oats a quick toast on the stovetop brings out their nutty flavor.
- Use ripe bananas – ideally, you want ripe bananas that are bright yellow and spotted all over.
- Spoon and level flour – I use the spoon-and-level technique for measuring flour as this will prevent over-measuring your flour. Use a spoon to scoop flour into the measuring cup, then level with the back of a knife.
- Allow melted butter to cool – wait for the butter to cool before mixing with the other ingredients to prevent curdling.
- Gently fold batter – use a light hand when mixing batter to prevent overmixing.
- Use real buttermilk – this gives the pancakes a rich and tangy flavor.
Recipe Variations
Try these ideas for a different twist on these pancakes.
- Skip the chocolate – omit the chocolate if you’re not a fan.
- Add fruit – try 3/4 cup blueberries, raspberries, or diced strawberries.
- Use another chocolate – replace the semisweet with white chocolate chips or dark chocolate.
- Add nuts – fold 1/2 cup toasted walnuts or pecans into batter.

Pile these bad boys up and don’t forget the extra banana slices + chocolate chips for serving! A good drizzle of maple syrup on a warm pile of this pancake goodness is pretty much what I imagine heaven tastes like.
Save this recipe using the ‘save to recipe box’ button below. If you make it, please let us know! Leave a comment + star rating below, or take a photo and tag it on Instagram with #wholeandheavenlyoven.

More pancake breakfasts you’ll love!
Banana Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Pancakes
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Ingredients
- 3/4 cup quick-cooking oats
- 2 medium ripe bananas, mashed (about 1 cup mashed)
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled
- 2 tablespoons light brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 large egg
- 2 cups buttermilk
- 1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled)
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips
- Melted butter for cooking pancakes
- Sliced bananas, chocolate chips, and maple syrup for serving
Instructions
- Pour oats in a medium skillet and set over medium heat. Toast oats 3-5 minutes, stirring frequently, until oats are a light golden brown and fragrant. Allow to cool slightly.
- In a large bowl, whisk mashed bananas, melted butter, sugar, vanilla, egg, and buttermilk until smooth. In a separate medium bowl, combine flour, toasted oats, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
- Fold flour mixture into liquid until batter is just combined. Fold in chocolate chips.
- Preheat a large skillet or griddle over medium heat and lightly brush with butter. Working in batches, drop pancake batter by heaping 1/3 cupfuls onto hot skillet and allow to cook 2-3 minutes on each side until pancakes are golden brown. Repeat cooking method with remaining batter, adding more butter to skillet as needed.
- Serve pancakes warm with banana slices, chocolate chips, and maple syrup on top. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
This post was updated with new recipe adjustments and photos on 2/19/26.


Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice says
I totally douse my pancakes with about a gallon of syrup! My husband thinks I’m crazy, but I love it! 🙂 These pancakes look amazing, Sarah! I love that you added oatmeal in here, such a creative way to sneak it in! I could go for a whole stack of these right about now!
Sarah says
Haha! The more syrup the better the pancakes! Thanks Gayle. 🙂
Alice @ Hip Foodie Mom says
Sarah, you are on quite the DELICIOUS food and treats roll here in January I must say!!! love these pancakes!!! and I am trying your chocolate chip cookies this weekend . . in fact, on my way to buy coconut oil now!! the cookies will balance out the healthy wrap I posted today 😛
Sarah says
Alice, you are seriously the BEST! Definitely let me know how the cookies turn out and I’m definitely gonna have to head over and check out your wraps! They sound amazing. 😉
Kelly // The Pretty Bee: Cooking & Creating says
We are on the same page! I have a recipe for banana pancakes that I’m going to post on Monday! 🙂 These look wonderful – what a way to start the day!
Sarah says
Can’t wait to see your pancakes, Kelly! Great minds think alike. 🙂
Manali @ CookWithManali says
All kinds of NOM! looks so good Sarah! Can I have this for breakfast please! 🙂 Pinned! Pretty pictures!
Sarah says
I’ll send a tall stack on over your way, girl! LOL. Thanks for the photo love and for pinning!
Natalie @ Tastes Lovely says
Glad you had a great birthday and felt all the love! You deserve it! And these pancakes look delicious. I want to stick my fork in them and take such a big bite it barely fits in my mouth, ha!
Sarah says
Thanks Nat! And yes, you definitely need a bigger fork where these pancakes are concerned! LOL.
Medha @ Whisk & Shout says
Yum! These are some seriously good looking pancakes! 🙂
Sarah says
Thanks Medha!!
Kelly - Life Made Sweeter says
This is such a gorgeous stack of pancakes! I totally want this breakfast and dinner tonight! Love that you added oats in here too, sounds totally amazing!
Sarah says
Thanks Kelly! BRINNER! Can’t beat it, right?! 😉
Danielle says
Your pancakes look absolutely perfect! I love bananas, oatmeal, and chocolate chips and need these in my life.. like yesterday! The fact that they’re healthy too is amazing. Hope you had a great birthday too, Sarah!
Sarah says
Yes, you definitely need these pancakes in your life asap, Danielle! Weekend breakfast? 😉
Kristi @ Inspiration Kitchen says
I’ve never been on the pancake bandwagon. But then, I see a stack like this, and I wonder – what am I waiting for? Looks amazing Sarah!
Sarah says
Haha! YES. Get on that pancake bandwagon, girl! You’re never gonna wanna to get off. 😉
Hope you’re having a good weekend, Kristi!
Amber @ Dessert Now, Dinner Later! says
I love bananas on my pancakes, but the bananas, oats, and chocolate in these are definitely upping the ante!
Sarah says
It’s definitely an awesome pancake makeover, right?! 😉 Thanks Amber!
Ashley | The Recipe Rebel says
This is one of my favorite combinations! And we are big pancake people, too — almost every weekend! And, you know, the occasional dinner 😉 Totally want a big stack of these for my afternoon snack!
Sarah says
Haha! Pancakes for “brinner” is the best! 😉 Thanks Ashley!
Ashley says
Happy belated birthday lady!! Hope it was a fantastic day!
And whoa baby these pancakes! I would love a huge stack right now for dinner!
Sarah says
Thanks Ashley! Brinner on a Sunday night sounds like complete heaven. 😀
Thalia @ butter and brioche says
I surprisingly never have used oats in pancake batter before.. definitely curious to know what the addition tastes like. They do look incredible though Sarah – so fluffy, thick and delicious!
Joanne says
So not only are these pancakes FLUFF CENTRAL, but they are stuffed with all the good for me stuff?! I love it.
Sarah says
Haha! “fluff-central.” I’m lovin’ it! 🙂
Nicola - Pink Recipe Box says
If there is an award in the blogging world for most beautiful healthy pancakes ever – you should definitely get it! Can’t wait to try these 🙂
Sarah says
You are seriously so sweet, Nicola! Thank you so much! 🙂