Overnight Oats are one of the easiest and healthiest breakfast recipes. Start with a simple base recipe for Overnight Oats and then customize with one of over 10 flavor options, for a healthy breakfast that can be customized to fit any dietary restrictions and made to please the pickiest of eaters!
Love Oatmeal? Check out Instant Pot Oatmeal, Slow Cooker Oatmeal, and Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Bars.
Overnight Oats
I LOVE oatmeal. In fact we eat it nearly EVERY SINGLE DAY at our house.
More often than not, we are enjoying overnight oats. This simple recipe is perfect for hectic mornings when we are racing off for work or school.
Overnight Oatmeal is my perfect go-to breakfast recipe because:
- Easy to prep
- Full or nutrients and protein to fuel the day
- Made in individual servings
- Perfectly portable
- Ready and waiting for to grab and devour on busy mornings
What are Overnight Oats?
Overnight Oats is simply regular or old fashioned oats that have been soaked in liquid of some sort overnight. After 8-10 hours, the oatmeal is perfectly softened and ready to eat.
Are Overnight Oats Healthy?
Not only is mason jar oatmeal incredibly easy to make, there is also some proof that soaking oats actually makes them better for you.
By soaking the oats, you break down the phytic acid, found in all grains. Phytic acid binds to nutrients making them harder to absorb. Soaking the oats overnight breaks that acid down and helps to increase the absorption of nutrients, like zinc and iron, absorbed better by your body.
Plus, when you add goodies like flax seed and chia seed, your overnight oatmeal becomes a powerhouse of nutrients.
Note and Substitutions for Ingredients
- Oats–regular or quick cooking both work. Just be sure to use gluten free oats for gluten free oatmeal.
- Liquid–dairy, non-dairy milk, juice, or simply water
- Flax Seed–for added healthy fats, fiber, and Omega Fatty Acids.
- Chia Seeds–for texture, healthy fats, and fiber.
- While optional, you can also add in protein powder, for an added dose of protein and/or melted coconut oil, for added healthy fats.
Base Recipe for Overnight Oats
The base for this oatmeal recipe is super simple. For each jar, or serving, of oatmeal you will need the following:
- 1/2 cup liquid
- 1 teaspoon flax seed
- 1 teaspoon chia seeds
- 1/2 cup oats
- 1 scoop protein powder (optional)
- 1 tablespoon melted coconut oil (optional)
Start by adding the base ingredients to a pint size mason jar. Give it a good shake to incorporate all the ingredients and place in the fridge for at least 8 hours.
You can serve the overnight oats plain, or use the ideas for additions to create a an overnight oats recipe that is customized to your tastes or cravings.
Flavor Ideas
To the base recipe, use these ideas to flavor your Overnight Oats. You can make several of one flavor, or make a flavor customized for every person in your family.
- Chocolate Cherry: Use dairy or nondairy milk of your choice, 1/4 cup fresh, canned, or frozen cherries, and 1/2 tablespoon chocolate chips.
- Almond Joy: Use coconut milk, 1/2 tablespoon chocolate chips, 1 tablespoon toasted coconut, and 1/2 tablespoon sliced almonds. I find it is best to add the almonds and coconut right before serving.
- Banana Pie : Use dairy or nondairy milk of your choice, 1/2 very ripe banana, 1/2 tsp vanilla extract. Mash banana up into milk well, before adding oats.
- Peanut Butter Banana Pie (My personal favorite) Use dairy or nondairy milk of your choice, 1/2 very ripe banana, 1 tablespoon peanut butter, 1/2 tsp vanilla extract. Mash banana up into milk well, before adding oats.
- Apple Cinnamon: , 1/2 cup milk or (1/4 cup apple juice and 1/4 cup milk), 1/2 tsp cinnamon, 1/2 tsp vanilla extract, 1/2 apple diced or 1/4 cup apple sauce. Top with chopped walnuts if desired.
- Peanut Butter Cup: Use dairy or nondairy milk of your choice, 1 tablespoon chocolate chips, 1 Tbs peanut butter, and 1/2 tsp vanilla extract.
- Peaches and Cream: Use dairy or nondairy milk of your choice, 2-3 tablespoons plain Greek yogurt, 1/2 tsp vanilla extract, and 1/2 fresh peach diced up or 1/2 cup canned peaches, diced.
- Blueberries and Cream: Use dairy or nondairy milk of your choice, 2-3 tablespoons plain Greek yogurt, 1/2 tsp vanilla extract, and 1/2 cup frozen or fresh blueberries.
- Strawberries and Cream: Use dairy or nondairy milk of your choice, 2-3 tablespoons plain Greek yogurt, 1/2 tsp vanilla extract, and 1/2 cup frozen or fresh strawberries.
- Cinnamon Roll: Use dairy or nondairy milk of your choice, 1/2 tsp vanilla extract, 1/2 tsp cinnamon, 1/4 tsp fresh nutmeg, 1 tablespoon honey, maple syrup, or agave.
- Cinnamon Raisin: Use dairy or nondairy milk of your choice, 1/2 tsp vanilla, 1/2 tsp cinnamon, 2 Tbs raisins. Chopped nuts go well with this variety. So simple, but my kids love this!!
- Pumpkin Pie: Use coconut milk, 2 tablespoons pumpkin puree, 1 tablespoon maple syrup, 1/2 tsp vanilla, 1/2 tsp cinnamon, 1/4 tsp fresh nutmeg, 1/4 tsp ground ginger, 1-2 Tbs chopped walnuts.
- Maple Brown Sugar: Use dairy or nondairy milk of your choice, 1/2 tablespoon maple syrup, and 1-2 teaspoons brown sugar.
Notes and Tips on Mason Jar Oatmeal
- Use any variety of milk you like in this oatmeal. I use unsweetened vanilla almond milk, but regular milk, coconut milk, soy milk all work great.
- 8 ounce or pint sized jars work for these overnight oats. You can double or triple the recipe and use quart sized jars. Just dish out oatmeal in morning into individual bowls.
- Be sure to use certified gluten-free oats if you need your oatmeal to be gluten free.
- Both quick cook and old fashioned oats work in this recipe.
- If you prefer your oatmeal warm, just take the lid off and microwave for 1-2 minutes and then serve.
- I love serving oatmeal in mason jars with handles so that my kids can hold them easily in the car if we are really running late in the morning and they have to eat their Overnight Mason Jar Oatmeal on the Go–not that that ever happens!!
More Oatmeal Recipes
- Slow Cooker Peanut Butter and Jelly Oatmeal
- Baked Carrot Cake Oatmeal
- Overnight Strawberries and Cream Steel Cut Oatmeal
- Instant Pot Steel Cut Oats
- Hot Chocolate Oatmeal
Overnight Oats
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup liquid
- 1 teaspoon flax seed
- 1 teaspoon chia seeds
- 1/2 cup oats quick cooking or old fashioned
- 1 scoop protein powder optional
- 1 tablespoon melted coconut oil optional
Instructions
- Place liquid, flax seed, chia seeds in mason jar. Add in protein powder and or coconut oil if using. Secure lid and shake each jar until ingredients well combined.
- Open each jar and add in desired toppings/flavor options.
- Add oats and secure lid once again and shake until ingredients are well combined.
- Refrigerate overnight or up to 5 days.
- Serve in morning cold or can warm up slightly.
Notes
- Nutritional values are based on base oatmeal without protein powder and coconut oil.
- Add in any desired toppings (see post for suggestions)
- Meal prep with overnight oats by making several mason jars worth of overnight oatmeal for the week. Overnight Oats will keep in fridge for up to 5 days.
- Use any variety of milk you like in this oatmeal. I use unsweetened vanilla almond milk, but regular milk, coconut milk, soy milk all work great.
- 8 ounce or pint sized jars work for these overnight oats. You can double or triple the recipe and use quart sized jars. Just dish out oatmeal in morning into individual bowls.
- Be sure to use certified gluten-free oats if you need your oatmeal to be gluten free.
- Both quick cook and old fashioned oats work in this recipe.
- If you prefer your oatmeal warm, just take the lid off and microwave for 1-2 minutes and then serve.
Kristen Chidsey
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My kids love overnight oats! I let them customize them with their choice of fruit every morning. They love that they can “make” their own breakfast every morning.
And I am sure you love that they can help out too Jacque 😉 So glad you enjoyed this recipe!
Why are the toppings added before the oats and than shaken? Wouldn’t the flavors be mixed in rather than on top?
Hi Molly! It really makes no difference! Just a personal preference. I prefer the ingredients all combined so each bite is flavorful. HOWEVER, I find that adding things like cinnamon, nutmeg, maple syrup, etc just mix better if added before the oats. If added on top of the oats, they just don’t mix in quite as well.
“soaked in liquid of some sort overnight.”
😄
When I saw the jars, I thought of my Instant Pot yogurt.
I put 10 oz of plain yogurt in 16 oz jars, leaving room for family members to add some honey, granola, Cheerios, jam, maple syrup…
I tried overnight oatmeal once, but that requires foresight and planning.
I’m having some “overnight” this morning, because my son didn’t have time to eat his yesterday morning.
I love that you used this idea to inspire overnight yogurt!! So fun!
Overnight oats are my favorite way to start the day! I can’t wait to try this recipe!
Hope you enjoy!
Oh my! There are so many ideas here and these would be great for busy mornings.
That was my goal–make mornings easy but not boring!!
As a busy mum of several young children, it is hard to not only find ‘meal-prep time’, but actual time for yourself. More often than not, mums are so strung out with tasks for the little ones (especially during morning hours), that a quick cup of cold coffee serves as breakfast 😛
Thank you for these posts!
I love love love the simplicity and endless modifications of overnight oats. I love that you’ve included a large amount of ideas to suit different tastes – some i have never considered! and that I have learned such a healthy, delicious, quick to prep-and-serve breakfast is limitless! It’s so easy to manipulate, suiting most dietary needs, so no one gets left out (or stuck making a million bowls of this and that!), everyone is happy with their flavour choices, and both pittle and big busy people can appreciate being belly-full!
Oh Amanda, thank you for your kind words. My hope was to provide a recipe that any busy person could use for a healthy breakfast and not get sick of eating. I am so glad you found this helpful!
I love following your website 🙂 i had to say something to let you know it’s appreciated eventually!
It’s easy to navigate, wonderful to read, and full of helpful information that may not be normally considered, but can go a long way and used in many types of ways.
As a busy mum who loves to keep family on track with happiness and health, thank you! 🙂