Stovetop Granola Recipe

The easiest granola recipe ever. Made in a skillet in under 10 minutes, this healthy Stovetop Granola is rich in flavors and texture. But beware, it’s addictively crunchy! With lots of oats, seeds, almonds and walnuts. 

Say hi to the recipe of your dreams: stovetop granola with oats. It tastes like the original, but comes together in a fraction of the time. With a fraction of the calories, because it’s healthy!

Easy granola in a pan

Granola has been an incurable addiction since childhood. I remember finishing my dinner with a huge bowl of yogurt, or better 1% yogurt and 99% granola. Back then, I only liked one specific brand because it had more chocolate than cereals. But over time I’ve opened up to new flavors and fell in love with the simplicity of cinnamon oat granola. Preferably, it should come with pumpkin seeds, almonds and walnuts. Maybe some raisins too. And no refined sugar, please!

Well, as you may have noticed I’m a picky eater and finding a product that satisfies all my wishes (aka strict requirements) is a challenge. That’s why I’ve starting making my own granola at home, healthy and with lots of oats.

BUT – yes, another but – I’m lazy. I only like recipes that are quick and easy to make, even better if they don’t require baking. That’s why, at the end, I almost never made my own granola. It takes too much time and messes up the entire kitchen. 

Until now…With this healthy stovetop granola recipe I can finally make my own cereals in the blink of an eye. Directly in a pan, so that I don’t have to clean bowls & co. afterwards. The best part is that it tastes like the original: delicious, crunchy yet so simple and nutritious. 

Why is this pan granola healthy?

If you wonder what makes this recipe so healthy, keep on reading. Here are five good reasons why this granola is good for you!

• High in fiber: Oats, nuts, and seeds are all great sources of dietary fiber.
• Vitamins and antioxidants: The combination of oats with nuts and seeds enriches this granola with vitamins and minerals, such as B vitamins and vitamin E, magnesium and zinc.
• Refined sugar free: As it is sweetened with maple syrup or honey, this pan granola recipe is free from refined sugars.
• Healthy fats: Nuts and seeds contain healthy fats, including monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, which may reduce the risk of heart diseases and improve overall health.
• Gluten-free: If prepared with certified gluten-free oats, these crunchy cereals are perfect for celiacs.

The ingredients

As you will see, all ingredients are very simple, I bet you already have everything in your pantry. If not, don’t worry. You’ll find all substitutes right after this list.

Here’s all you need to make easy granola on the stove.

• Rolled oats: Rolled oats give this pan granola a great texture while providing health benefits. If you have specific dietary requirements, opt for gluten-free oats.
• Nuts: Upgrade the granola with a mix of your favorite nuts, they will make your oats crunchy and delicious while providing health benefits. My recommendations are walnuts, almonds, pecans, cashews and hazelnuts.
• Seeds: As for nuts, seeds add extra crunchiness, taste and nutritional benefits (vitamins and minerals, fibers and protein). Great options are pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds and flaxseeds.
• Honey or maple syrup: You can use either honey or maple syrup as sweeteners. Both are great options, but maple syrup is vegan friendly. They provide a touch of sweetness without the need for refined sugars.
• Coconut oil: This recipe uses coconut oil because it has a higher smoke point, meaning that it better resists to higher temperatures. Plus I like the aroma it gives to the oats (read further for the substitutes!).
• Ground cinnamon: Besides flavor, the cinnamon will boost the nutritional profile of this granola.
• Salt: A pinch of salt enhances all the flavors and helps balance the sweetness. But don’t exaggerate or your oats will get too salty; a generous pinch of salt should be enough!

Substitutions

• You can replace maple syrup or honey with agave syrup, date syrup, coconut syrup and sugar-free syrups.
• Coconut oil can be substituted with a vegetable oil of your choice or butter; also vegan butter works.
• If you are allergic to nuts, just go with the seeds. Or experiment with chocolate chips, coconut and dried fruits like raisins (check out the recipe variations down here for more tasty ideas!).
• Feel free to skip the cinnamon if you’re not a fan. In this case I recommend trying out one of the flavors down below: I love the stovetop chocolate version!

Different ways to make stovetop granola

My recipe for stovetop granola is quite basic: cinnamon, pumpkin seeds and a mix of nuts. This, however, should not limit your creativity. From chocolate chunks to coconut flakes, the ways how you can customize your breakfast cereals are literally endless. And if you need some ideas, here are a couple of recipe variations to try.

• Chocolate chips granola: Once you are done cooking, let the oats cool completely before mixing in a handful of chocolate chips. I like extra dark chocolate; but feel free to pick and choose your favorite.
• Exotic fruit granola: Skip the cinnamon and add dried exotic fruits (I like mango), pumpkin seeds and coconut flakes.
• Oatmeal raisin oats: Follow the basic recipe down below, but with the addition of raisins. So good!
• Peanut butter granola: While cooking, spoon a couple tablespoons of peanut butter into the oats. As an alternative you can replace with almond butter, cashew butter or sunflower seed butter if allergic to nuts.
• Superfood mix: Enrich taste, texture and nutrition with a mix of goji berries, dried mulberries, seeds, nuts and sliced almonds.
• Coconut oat granola: Right after cooking, stir in a handful of shredded coconut. Chef tip, skip the cinnamon if you want, but not the nuts! 

How to make stovetop granola healthy

Heat two tablespoons of coconut oil in a a large non-stick skillet or frying pan. Once hot, add the oats to the pan and toast over medium heat. Stir occasionally to ensure even toasting, this should take about 4-5 minutes. Remove the toasted oats from the pan and set aside in a bowl.

In the same skillet, add chopped nuts, seeds and the remaining oil. Toast the mix for about 2 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent burning. Once lightly brown and crunchy, add the toasted oats back to the pan together with honey (or maple syrup), ground cinnamon and a pinch of salt.

Mix everything together, ensuring the oats are evenly coated with honey and cinnamon. Cook the mixture on medium heat for an additional 2-3 minutes, stirring constantly to prevent burning. The granola should become slightly crisp during this step. Remove the skillet from the heat and let the granola cool down.

Storage instructions

Here is how to store this healthy stovetop granola to best preserve texture and taste. 

1. Let cool: Before storing, make sure you let the granola cool completely at room temperature. This helps preserve a crunchy texture and delicious taste.
2. Place in an airtight food container: Once cool, place the oats into a sealable food container or glass jar with lid. Be sure to tightly close the container, this way your granola won’t absorb humidity and moisture.  
3. Store in a cool, dry place: Keep the container in a cool and dry place, such as you pantry and consume within a week. 

When to eat stovetop granola

Spoon after spoon right from the jar, over yogurt or with milk…I can’t resist granola. The ways how you can enjoy it are literally endless, I could write a full book on this. But I know your time is precious and don’t want to bore you. So, let me give you my 5 favorite ways to enjoy this easy stovetop granola.

• Breakfast bowl: Spoon your stovetop granola in a bowl and serve with milk or yogurt and fruit, such as sliced banana, fresh berries or apple chunks. For a more balanced breakfast I recommend Greek yogurt, it’s packed with protein!
• Smoothie bowl: Sprinkle on top of your favorite smoothie bowl to add texture, crunch, and extra flavor. Chef tip, try it with my chocolate protein smoothie!
• Parfait cup: Create layers of granola, yogurt (I recommend Greek yogurt), and a selection of your favorite fruits in a glass. Repeat the layers until your container is filled.
• Trail Mix: Enjoy your homemade granola with some fruit such as apple and make a satisfying snack.
• Ice cream topping: For a sweet treat, sprinkle your granola on top of ice cream. Looking for a healthier alternative? Try my chocolate cottage cheese ice cream recipe!

FAQ – Skillet granola recipe

More healthy recipes with oats

• 2 ingredient oatmeal banana cookies
• Oat flour pancakes
• Healthy sheet pan pancakes
• Protein flapjacks
• Cottage cheese pancakes
• Low calorie cookies