Easiest Microwave Chewy Peanut Butter Granola Bars

Published April 24, 2013. Updated December 30, 2018

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These granola bars are brimming with peanut butter flavor, they’re perfectly chewy and they couldn’t be easier to make! A great on the go snack made with real ingredients, no artificial flavors or preservatives here.

peanut butter granola bars2.

So I had surgery on my hip bright and early this morning, so early I’d probably consider it to be the middle of the night (waking up at 4:00am is like my worst nightmare. Actually I wish it would have been a nightmare, because that would mean I would have still been asleep and dreaming at 4 :)) but anyway things went so well I’m right back to work today.

Okay just kidding, I’m basically going to be a couch potato for the next week. Meaning I’m going to be spending unbelievably ridiculous amounts of time on Pinterest dreaming of all the delicious things I could be making.

And browsing the web for beautiful kitchen ideas that I’m most likely never going to use, shopping for clothes online and pretending to care about fashion and begging my husband to learn to cook (as he refuses) so he will make something other than a box of mac and cheese with a side of crackers and string cheese for dinner or picking up take out every night. Why do I care if he learns to cook?

peanut butter granola bars3.

Well I’m going to need some dinner this week and I just want him to see how fun cooking can be (which he would adamantly disagree with)… I know him too well though so I made freezer meals. I also made some of these amazing and incredibly easy granola bars yesterday.

So easy that I’m sure I could make more of these during this lounge week. The coating is made in the microwave and they require no baking so these could easily be prepared in 10 minutes. These tasty, mostly healthy yet seemingly dessert like bars remind me a lot of these treats and these (minus the topping).

I have a feeling you are going to love these not only for there simplicity but of also for their addictive, peanut buttery deliciousness. Enjoy!

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5 from 2 votes

Microwave Peanut Butter Granola Bars

These granola bars are brimming with peanut butter flavor, they're perfectly chewy and they couldn't be easier to make! A great on the go snack made with real ingredients, no artificial flavors or preservatives here.
Servings: 12
Prep10 minutes
Cook2 minutes
Chill30 minutes
Ready in: 42 minutes

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Line an 8 by 8-inch baking dish with aluminum foil leaving a 2-inch overhang. In a large mixing bowl, toss together oats and Rice Krispies, set aside.
  • In a separate microwave safe mixing bowl, combine peanut butter, honey, brown sugar and salt. Heat mixture on HIGH power for 1 minute, remove and stir. 
  • Return to microwave and heat on HIGH power 1 minute longer. Remove from microwave, pour in vanilla and whisk mixture for 30 seconds.
  • Pour peanut butter mixture over oat mixture and toss well to evenly coat. 
  • Pour mixture into prepared baking dish, firmly press mixture into an even layer. Cover with plastic wrap and freeze 10 - 15 minutes or chill in refrigerator 30 minutes.
  • Lift bars from dish using foil overhang and cut into squares. Store in an airtight container.

Notes

  • *I used 2 cups Rice Krispies but I thought it was slightly too much so I'd recommend start with 1 1/2 and if you think it could use more add in another 1/2 cup.
  • **If you use extra crunchy you will probably have to add a few more Tbsp as it will increase the peanut to peanut butter ratio.
  • Recipe source: adapted slightly from Kraft
 
Nutrition Facts
Microwave Peanut Butter Granola Bars
Amount Per Serving
Calories 250 Calories from Fat 108
% Daily Value*
Fat 12g18%
Saturated Fat 2g13%
Sodium 144mg6%
Potassium 205mg6%
Carbohydrates 32g11%
Fiber 3g13%
Sugar 19g21%
Protein 8g16%
Vitamin A 233IU5%
Vitamin C 2mg2%
Calcium 20mg2%
Iron 2mg11%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Nutrition values are estimates only. See full disclaimer here.

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96 Comments

  • Jazzy

    May I ask if I could use the regular rolled oats instead of the quick oats? Thank you!

    • Jaclyn

      Jaclyn Bell

      I wouldn’t recommend it simply because of the texture it would give, although if you buzz them through a food processor for a bit it might work.

  • leah

    … just a quick question (batter is already all mixed in a bowl), the quick oats don’t need to be cooked, correct?
    i like the idea of chocolate chips. i think i am going to add a little. BTW, i didn’t have chunky PB so i used creamy and added some chopped peanuts (omitted the salt cuz they are salty)

  • Kellie Thompson

    These taste delicious and my kids love them (finally a bar they like) BUT, they did not hold together…they are granola! Any suggestions?

    • Jaclyn

      Jaclyn Bell

      If yours came out like a dry fall apart granola I would recommend that you reduce the amount of dry ingredients slightly and maybe even reduce the amount that you microwave the coating, if it was more like a wet fall apart granola I would microwave the coating mixture a bit longer and press the bars more firmly into the dish. Hopefully that will help!

  • Kristy Zink

    I made these today. Super easy! My kids loved them. My son said they were “Epic”. I should have made a double batch. These are going to go fast.

    • Jaclyn

      Jaclyn Bell

      Happy to here he considered them “epic” :)! Thanks for leaving a comment Kristy!

  • Kylee

    I just made these granola bars and my family LOVED them! My dad can’t eat nuts right now (but can have peanut butter), so instead of the chunky peanut butter I used creamy and added mini chocolate chips as a filler! They turned out awesome! I am going to try adding flax seed to my next batch!

    • Jaclyn

      Jaclyn Bell

      The chocolate chip addition sounds delicious! I’m so glad you family liked them Kylee! The flax seed sounds like a great idea too!

  • Ashley

    Omg these are awesome … My husband can’t have sugar so I used all natural peanut butter and then left out some of the oats and Rice Krispies and added in dried fruit and nuts and they were awesome I’m always looking for snacks for him and these are perfect thanks!! And I am totally in love with all your recipes the salted Carmel apple cupcakes were the best part of my daughters 1st birthday party the other week!!! Thanks again!!

    • Jaclyn

      Jaclyn Bell

      I’m so happy to hear your family enjoyed these and that you’ve liked some of the other recipes too :)! Thanks for leaving a comment Ashley!

    • Christine

      Hi Ashley, My husband now can’t have sugar either. Can you please tell me how much you reduced the oats and Rice Krispies? Thank you so much!