No Bake Chocolate Oat Bars

If you love the idea of a protein infused bar but don’t have time to bake, this is the perfect solution for you. These easy no bake chocolate oats bars come together in minutes and are packed with healthy ingredients.

Can I Make Healthy Bars at Home? 

If you like to eat protein bars, you know. . .they can be pricy. And they’re usually loaded with preservatives. 

This recipe offers an easy option—make your own at a fraction of the cost and control what you put in them. 

These bars are comprised of just a handful of ingredients, the primary ones being oats, peanut butter, and chocolate chips. 

If you like, you can substitute Lily’s sugar free chips (or any other chips of your choice). But don’t leave them out! You’ll need the chocolate to serve as a glue to hold the rest of the ingredients together. 

I was so enamored with these bars that I had to guard myself not to eat them like candy! They’re absolutely delicious. And best of all, they’re super versatile! 

I’m already thinking of ways I can add to these next time around, to give even more protein (and crunch)! 

For now, let’s get busy making some delicious bars, y’all! 

No Bake Chocolate Oats Bars Ingredients

You will find the full recipe in a printable card at the bottom of this post but here’s a quick peek at what you’ll need. These are simple ingredients you might already have on hand in your pantry or refrigerator.

• butter (salted or unsalted, your choice)
• brown sugar (can use sugar substitute if you like)
• vanilla extract
• oats (quick oats) 
• milk chocolate chips (or any flavor you like)
• additional chocolate chips (reserved, don’t melt)
• peanut butter

How to Make these Easy Bars

You’ll love this recipe because it doesn’t require turning on the oven. You will, however, need a stove burner for the first part. 

Place the butter in a medium saucepan and melt it over medium heat. 

Add the brown sugar and allow to dissolve. 

Add vanilla extract and stir well. 

Now it’s time to add the oats. The purpose of using quick oats is that they will cook into the butter mixture. 

Simmer oats for 2 – 3 minutes then remove from heat. 

In a separate microwave-safe bowl, melt the creamy peanut butter and one cup of chocolate chips together.

Mine took a couple of minutes. I paused to stir at the halfway point. (Any time you melt chocolate chips you need to make sure they’re smooth.)

Prepare a 9 x 9-inch square pan (or 8 x 10-inch rectangular one) by spreading lightly with butter. If you like, you can place a piece of parchment paper or wax paper down and butter it, as well.

Press half of the quick cooking oats into the bottom of the baking dish. (Because I used a rectangular pan I ended up using slightly more than half.) Press down with the back of a spoon.

Pour all of the peanut butter-chocolate mixture over the layer of oat. 

Sprinkle remaining half cup of chips onto the melted chocolate layer. If you like, you could mix things up a bit and use dark chocolate chips for this layer.

Spread the rest of the oats on top. 

That’s it! Cover your pan with plastic wrap and place the bars in the refrigerator for 2 – 3 hours to firm up. 

You’ll want to let them sit out a while so they’re easier to cut. 

I cut mine into 24 squares. 

Serve and enjoy these delicious chocolate peanut butter bars! They’re perfect for the whole family.

Store in refrigerator in airtight container. These will stay fresh for day, maybe even weeks! I don’t recommend freezing these because I’m not sure how the oats will hold up. 

What to Expect from This Delicious Treat

These are like homemade candy bars, y’all! I don’t know if I’m trying to make myself better by calling them protein bars or not, but I definitely found myself wanting to go back in for more! They satisfy the sweet tooth, for sure, but they’re loaded with wholesome ingredients!

I absolutely loved the crunch of the oats. (I’m a texture girl.) But the creamy chocolate was the perfect glue, especially with the flavor of the peanut butter shining through! 

I’m already thinking of ways to mix things up with these easy chocolate oatmeal bars next time so let’s go ahead and talk about options. I just love these no bake bars, y’all!

Variations on this Great Recipe

This is the perfect treat that I was making for the first time, and I loved them! But I’m always looking to change things up. Here are a few ideas that come to mind.

Rice Krispies: Next time I might add two cups of Rice Krispies and two cups of oats (for a total of four cups of crunch). 

Pecans: I love nuts of all types but especially pecans. Next time I’ll probably throw in a half cup (or more) of chopped pecans or walnuts. 

Figs, Dates, or Goji Berries: Finely chop figs or dates, or throw in a handful of goji berries for more health benefits. 

Coconut: I love the crunch and sweetness of coconut and think it would be the perfect addition! If I added coconut I’d probably throw in half a cup of slivered almonds to give them an Almond Joy type of flavor. Almond butter might be a nice addition in place of peanut butter. (Can you tell my imagination is working overtime?)

Butterscotch or Peanut Butter Chips: Not a fan of chocolate? Use Butterscotch or peanut butter chips in their place. 

Protein powder: If you happen to be the kind of person who uses protein powder, you can easily add some to this recipe for more of a protein punch. 

Chocolate drizzle: If you like, you can add a bit of drizzle on top.

Natural peanut butter: You can use natural peanut butter but you might need to warm it slightly and stir well before using.

Other No Bake Options from Out of the Box Baking

No Bake Cherry Cheesecake Pie: This luscious No Bake Cherry Cheesecake Pie is one of the tastiest–and easiest–things I’ve ever made! You’re going to love the combination of sweet and tart, creamy and crunch. Best of all, you won’t have to bake a thing!

Easy No Bake Key Lime Pie: If you love the tart creamy goodness of a key lime pie but the simplicity of an icebox pie, have I got a treat for you! This easy no-bake key lime pie is simple but delicious!

No Bake Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies: If you’re in the mood for a quick, easy cookie—one loaded with oats, chocolate, and peanut butter—have I got the perfect no-bake recipe for you! 

Healthy Banana Pancakes: These delicious flavor-packed banana pancakes are loaded with protein and antioxidants and they’re easy to make. Best of all, they’re gluten-free!

That’s it for this post, friends! I hope you enjoyed this delicious recipe. This is one of those delicious sweet treats you can make again and again!

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See this recipe at:

• Full Plate Thursday 
• Weekend Potluck
• The Lazy Gastronome
• Busy Monday

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