Easy Overnight Oats Recipe

Breakfast Gluten Free

By Kristen Chidsey

4.89 from 18 votes

Updated Aug 14, 2026

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Overnight Oats are an easy, make-ahead breakfast recipe made with uncooked rolled oats soaked in milk in the refrigerator until they absorb the liquid and soften into a creamy, slightly chewy oatmeal. This recipe walks you through that simple base, how to adjust the consistency, and 10+ flavor combinations so you don't have to eat the exact same breakfast all week.

Overnight oats soaked in 2 small jars one topped with yogurt and strawberries and one topped with bananas and peanut butter.

Overnight Oats at a Glance

Yield: 1 serving per jar; scale as needed
Prep: 5 minutes
Soak: At least 8 hours for the best texture.
Meal-Prep Friendly: Store for up to 5 days in the refrigerator.
Tested Overnight Oat Formula + Flavor Variations. Start with a 1:1 oats-to-liquid ratio, then add your favorite flavorings as desired.

Kristen's Key Tips for Overnight Oats

I have made overnight oats more than any other breakfast recipe. I love it because it is a filling, fiber-packed breakfast that my family never tires of. And because I can prep several jars in about five minutes, it is an easy go-to for busy mornings!

Through the years, here is what I found is key for the best texture in overnight oats:

Use old-fashioned rolled oats for the best texture. Quick oats work, but after sitting overnight, they become noticeably softer. If you prefer your overnight oats creamy with a bit of chew, stick with old-fashioned rolled oats.
Stir or shake really well before refrigerating. Chia seeds tend to settle or clump if they aren't evenly distributed. Adding the chia to the liquid first helps, but I have found that shaking the jar well before refrigerating is the best way to distribute them evenly. It's even better if you can shake again an hour or so later.
Add crunchy toppings and fruit that can brown in the morning. That way your nuts stay crunchy and sliced bananas don't turn to brown mush.
Adjust consistency after soaking, not before. If the oats seem thick in the morning, add 1-2 tablespoons of milk of choice and stir before serving. If your oats are too thin, you likely need to soak longer.
For the best texture, soak for at least 8 hours. Old-fashioned oats begin to soften within a couple of hours, but an overnight soak gives them time to fully absorb the liquid and become creamy.

Happy Cooking! xo Kristen

Ingredients for Overnight Oats

Oats, milk, salt, chia, vanilla extract and flaxseed measured out in small bowls for one serving of overnight oats.

Rolled Oats: Use old-fashioned rolled oats for a soft base with a bit of texture left, or quick oats for a really soft base. If needed, ensure your oats are certified gluten-free.
Liquid: Use milk or non-dairy milk for a creamy base. Any fat percentage or variety works.
Chia Seeds: Absorb some of the milk as the oats sit, creating a thicker, creamier consistency while adding fiber.
Ground Flaxseed: Use ground rather than whole flaxseed so it blends into the oats and is easier to digest.
Salt: A pinch of kosher salt helps flavor without making the oats salty.
Vanilla Extract: Pure vanilla extract goes a long way to add flavor.

The Best Overnight Oats Ratio

For overnight oats with chia seeds, this is the ratio I have found gives me the best texture:

½ cup old-fashioned oats + ½ cup milk + ½ teaspoon vanilla extract + ½ tablespoon chia seeds + 1 teaspoon ground flaxseed + 1 pinch salt

A 1:1 oats-to-milk ratio creates creamy oats without excess liquid.
Chia and flax absorb additional moisture as the oats sit. If you want to increase either, add more milk to accommodate.
If you omit the chia and/or flax, the texture will be slightly looser.
If you want to sweeten the base, add ½ to 1 tablespoon of maple syrup, honey, sugar, or brown sugar to the milk mixture before adding oats.

How to Make Overnight Oats

Combine. Add milk, chia, flax, vanilla, and salt to a jar and shake or mix well. Add oats and mix or shake again.

Four jars with milk, chia, flax, salt, vanilla, and oats after shaking together before soaking.

Refrigerate. Cover and chill for at least 8 hours, giving the oats and chia time to absorb the liquid. If convenient, stir or shake once during chilling to redistribute the chia.

Four jars of overnight oats made with chia seeds and flax after refrigeration and oats have thickened up.

Adjust and serve. When ready to enjoy, open and give the mixture a good stir. If the oats are thicker than you like, add milk 1 tablespoon at a time. Add fruit, nut butter, yogurt, nuts, or granola just before serving.

Like Your Oats Warm?

If your jar is heat-safe, remove the lid, microwave for 60-90 seconds, stir, add toppings, and serve. Alternatively, transfer the oats to a heat-safe bowl and microwave as directed above.

Four jars of prepared overnight oats topped in four different ways; one with banana, one with strawberries, one with nuts, and one with chocolate.

Overnight Oats Flavor Variations

Start with my Overnight Oats Base recipe and experiment with the following additions, or get creative and add your own!

Fruit-Forward

Apple Cinnamon: Add ½ teaspoon of cinnamon to the base formula. Before serving, stir in diced apples and chopped walnuts.
Fruit and Cream: Add 2-3 tablespoons of plain Greek yogurt along with 2-3 tablespoons of diced peaches, blueberries, or strawberries before or after soaking the oats.
Peanut Butter Banana: Add sliced banana and a drizzle of peanut butter to the oats right before serving.

Dessert-Inspired

Chocolate Cherry: After preparing the base, stir in ¼ cup fresh, canned, or frozen chopped cherries and ½ tablespoon chocolate chips, then refrigerate as directed.
Banana Cream Pie: Mash ½ of a very ripe banana and combine with the oats and liquid before refrigerating. Before serving, top with crushed graham crackers and a dollop of yogurt or homemade whipped cream.
Almond Joy: Prepare the base using coconut milk and sprinkle each serving with about ½ tablespoon of chocolate chips, 1 tablespoon of toasted coconut, and ½ tablespoon of sliced almonds right before serving.
Peanut Butter Cup: Stir in ½ tablespoon each of peanut butter and chocolate chips right before serving.

Warm and Cozy

Cinnamon Roll: Add ¼ teaspoon of cinnamon, ⅛ teaspoon of ground nutmeg, and the tiniest pinch of ground cloves to the base recipe. Dollop with vanilla yogurt right before serving to mimic cinnamon roll frosting.
Cinnamon Raisin: Add ¼ teaspoon of cinnamon and 2 tablespoons of raisins to the base recipe before shaking and refrigerating.
Pumpkin Pie: Add 2 tablespoons pumpkin puree and ½ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice to the base. Top with 1-2 tablespoons of chopped walnuts before serving.
Maple Brown Sugar: Add ½ tablespoon maple syrup and 1 teaspoon brown sugar to the base, then refrigerate as directed.

Jars of overnight oatmeal topped with fresh fruit and almond butter.

Troubleshooting Texture

If you are having trouble achieving creamy, not mushy, overnight oats, or want to add or omit ingredients, these tips should help.

If your overnight oats are too thick after refrigeration, add milk, 1 tablespoon at a time, to thin before serving.
If your oats are too thin, you likely need to soak longer. If you already soaked for the suggested 8 hours, add a bit more oats and let soak for another 2-3 hours.
If your overnight oats are mushy, use old-fashioned oats rather than quick oats.
If your overnight oats are too chewy, soak longer or heat for a minute or so in the microwave to soften.
When increasing the chia or flax, add additional milk as needed because both absorb liquid as the oats sit. I typically find I need 2-3 tablespoons of milk for each additional ½ tablespoon of chia seeds and 1 tablespoon of milk for every teaspoon of flax.
No chia or flax? Simply omit them. The oats will be slightly looser but will still soften overnight.
If you want to add protein powder, add more milk. In my experience, I need about ¼ cup of additional milk per 2 tablespoons of protein powder, but that can vary by brand.

More Make-Ahead Breakfast Recipes

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4.89 from 18 votes

Overnight Oats

By: Kristen Chidsey

Servings:

Prep: 5

Refrigeration: 8

Total: 8 5

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Jar of overnight oats with strawberries.

Start with this Overnight Oats Base recipe for thick, creamy oats, then add toppings as desired.

Video

Ingredients

▢ ½ cup milk, or non-dairy milk (any variety)
▢ 1 pinch kosher salt, optional
▢ 1 teaspoon ground flaxseed
▢ ½ tablespoon chia seeds
▢ ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
▢ ½ cup rolled old-fashioned oats

Instructions

Place ½ cup milk, 1 pinch kosher salt, 1 teaspoon ground flaxseed, ½ tablespoon chia seeds, and ½ teaspoon vanilla extract into a small jar. Close and shake well or mix. Add ½ cup rolled old-fashioned oats and shake or mix again until combined.
Cover and refrigerate the oats for at least 8 hours, or up to 5 days.
After soaking, if the oats are thicker than you like, add milk 1 tablespoon at a time. Then, add fruit, nut butter, yogurt, nuts, or granola just before serving.

Equipment

8 ounce glass jars

Notes

Oats: Old-fashioned rolled oats are best, but quick-cook oats will work; they will just be softer. Do not use steel-cut oats. Be sure oats are certified gluten-free if needed.

To Sweeten: Add ½ to 1 tablespoon of honey, maple syrup, sugar, or brown sugar per serving as desired.

Increase chia or flax: Add extra milk as needed. I typically use 2-3 tablespoons per ½ tablespoon of chia and 1 tablespoon per teaspoon of flax.

No chia or flax: Simply omit. The oats will be slightly looser.

Protein powder: Add extra milk as needed. I typically use about ¼ cup per 2 tablespoons of protein powder, depending on the brand.

Serving Warm: If your jar is heat-safe, remove the lid, microwave for 60-90 seconds, stir, add toppings, and serve. Alternatively, transfer the oats to a heat-safe bowl and microwave as directed above.

Flavor Variations:

Apple Cinnamon: Add ½ teaspoon cinnamon; top with diced apples and walnuts.
Peanut Butter Banana: Top with sliced banana and peanut butter before serving.
Chocolate Cherry: Add ¼ cup chopped cherries and ½ tablespoon chocolate chips.
Pumpkin Pie: Add 2 tablespoons pumpkin puree and ½ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice.

See the post above for 10+ overnight oat flavor combinations.

Nutrition

Calories: 246kcalCarbohydrates: 38gProtein: 11gFat: 6gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0.01gCholesterol: 4mgSodium: 94mgPotassium: 402mgFiber: 7gSugar: 7gVitamin A: 257IUVitamin C: 0.1mgCalcium: 229mgIron: 2mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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4.89 from 18 votes (7 ratings without comment)