This is the easiest oil-free granola recipe you can find! Make a big batch of crunchy granola with just a handful of ingredients that you already have in the cupboard – no oil necessary. This granola recipe is perfect for meal prepping quick and healthy breakfasts for the whole week.

Granola is the versatile queen of breakfast. Eat it like cereal with non-dairy milk or use it as a topping on your favorite plant-based yogurt or acai bowl – it just makes everything better! 

Packed with protein, fiber, and micronutrients, granola is the easiest choice for a quick, nutritious breakfast. Leave out the oil, and it’s even healthier as a fat-free and oil-free option. 

Most people don’t know that it’s super easy to make granola at home – and even more people don’t know you can do it without using any oil. 

Yes – it’s totally possible to get crunchy granola with just water and little patience. Plus, you can make a big batch of it at once for the whole family to enjoy.

Homemade granola means you get to control the flavors and add-ins that go into it. This recipe keeps it super simple with just 6 ingredients total, but feel free to customize your granola according to your favorite flavor that you would buy at the store.

Here are the ingredients you’ll need: 

4 cups old fashioned oats

1 cup chopped nuts (sliced almonds and walnuts pictured)

3 tsp cinnamon 

1 cup water

½ cup maple syrup or liquid sweetener

1 tbsp vanilla extract

Optional add-ins: 

Raisins

Goji berries

Hemp seeds

Chia seeds

Flax seeds

Coconut flakes

Chocolate chips

First, preheat the oven to 350F and line a baking tray with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.

Next, heat the water, maple syrup, and vanilla extract in a saucepan and let simmer for a couple of minutes. 

Then add the oats, nuts, and cinnamon in a large bowl, then pour the heated wet ingredients evenly over the mixture. Mix well with a spoon. 

Spread the granola mixture evenly over the lined baking tray, but don’t overcrowd the oats. Use two trays if needed. 

Bake in the oven for 30 minutes, tossing every 10 minutes, being careful not to burn the granola. Tossing periodically will create crunchy clusters. 

Once the granola is done baking, remove it from the oven and let it cool down completely. (That’s the secret!) 

Once it’s fully cooled down, keep it in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks. 

Have more of a baked oatmeal than granola? First make sure it cools completely! The granola gets crunchier as it cools down. 

If it’s still a little soft, put it back in the oven for 10 more minutes, but watch it closely to prevent the nuts from burning.

You have the easiest, oil-free granola – now use it to top off these easy, vegan breakfast recipes:

• Chia Seed Pudding Parfait
• Superfood Acai Bowl

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