This recipe for overnight oats makes an easy, healthy breakfast option that you can make ahead for busy mornings and customize with one of over 10 flavor options!
Overnight Oats is a staple breakfast recipe for busy mornings. It takes minutes to prep and can be customized to fit any dietary restrictions and made to please the pickiest of eaters!
What are Overnight Oats?
Overnight Oats is simply regular or old fashioned oats that have been soaked in a liquid of some sort overnight. After 8-10 hours, the oatmeal is perfectly softened and ready to eat--plain or with additional add-ins.
Not only is this one of the easiest ways to make oatmeal, but 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.
Add goodies like flaxseed and chia seed, and your overnight oatmeal becomes a powerhouse of nutrients that will keep you going strong all morning long!
What Makes this the Perfect Make-Ahead Breakfast?
- Easy to prep. It takes me less than five minutes to make a batch for several days.
- Full of nutrients and protein to fuel the day. This recipe is full of fiber, protein, healthy fats, and calcium.
- Made in individual servings. Hello, portion control!
- Perfectly portable. Perfect when for when you need to grab and devour on busy on-the-go mornings.
- Customizable. You can easily adapt the base recipe for Overnight Oatmeal to be gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegan friendly. Plus the flavor options are endless.
What you Need to Make Overnight Oats
- Oats: Old Fashioned oats are best for this recipe. Quick-Cooking Oats don't get as creamy or absorb as much of the liquid and steel-cut oats don't fully soften.
- Milk: -I recommend using dairy or non-dairy milk, like almond milk or soy milk for best results, but technically juice or water works for the liquid in this recipe as well.
- Sweetener: It is completely optional to sweeten the base of your overnight oats. I find that the flavor additions typically do more than enough to sweeten the oatmeal for me, but a bit of maple syrup and vanilla extract goes a long way to adding flavor and sweetness to overnight oats.
- Optional: I love adding in ground flaxseed and chia seeds for texture, fiber, and healthy fats. You can also add in 1 tablespoon of your favorite protein powder if desired.
How to Make Overnight Oats
- Place the milk, salt, vanilla, maple syrup, chia seeds, and flaxseed in a pint-size jar and mix well to incorporate.
- Add in the oats and then place the lid on the jar and shake well.
- Place the lids on the jars and place in the refrigerator for at least 8 hours and up to 5 days.
- Before serving, remove the lid and stir in your favorite add-ins like fruit, yogurt, or nuts.
Flavor Ideas
For best results, add in the flavors/mix-ins right before serving. That way you can easily customize your oatmeal based on what you are craving and this also ensures that if you are using fruit, it does not break down too much in your oats.
- Chocolate Cherry: Add in ¼ cup fresh, canned, or frozen cherries, and ½ tablespoon chocolate chips to the prepared oats.
- Almond Joy: Instead of regular milk, use coconut milk to make the base of the overnight oats. Before serving, add ½ tablespoon chocolate chips, 1 tablespoon toasted coconut, and ½ tablespoon sliced almonds.
- Banana Pie: Mash ½ very ripe banana into the milk mixture before adding oats. Top with additional banana and crushed graham crackers if desired.
- Peanut Butter Banana Pie: Top overnight oat with sliced banana and a drizzle of peanut butter before serving.
- Apple Cinnamon: Before serving, stir in ½ tsp cinnamon and a couple of tablespoons of freshly diced apples or ¼ cup apple sauce. Top with chopped walnuts if desired.
- Peanut Butter Cup: Top the overnight oat with 1 tablespoon each of chocolate chips and peanut butter.
- Peaches and Cream: Before enjoying the oatmeal, stir in 2-3 tablespoons plain Greek yogurt and peach 2-3 tablespoons of diced peaches.
- Blueberries and Cream: To serve, stir in 2-3 tablespoons plain Greek yogurt and peach 2-3 tablespoons of fresh blueberries
- Strawberries and Cream: Before serving, stir in 2-3 tablespoons plain Greek yogurt and peach 2-3 tablespoons of diced peaches.
- Cinnamon Roll: Stir in ¼ teaspoon of cinnamon, ⅛ teaspoon ground nutmeg, and the tiniest pinch of ground cloves. Top with a dollop of vanilla yogurt if desired to mimic a cinnamon roll's frosting.
- Cinnamon Raisin: Stir in ¼ teaspoon cinnamon, 2 tablespoons of raisins, and 1 tablespoon of chopped nuts if desired.
- Pumpkin Pie: Stir in 2 tablespoons pumpkin puree, ¼ teaspoon cinnamon, ⅛ teaspoon fresh nutmeg, ⅛ teaspoon ground ginger, and 1-2 Tbs chopped walnuts.
- Maple Brown Sugar: Stir in 1 teaspoon brown sugar right before serving.
Tips to Remember
- Mason jars are a great vessel to use to prepare overnight oatmeal. I recommend using 8-ounce jars for individual servings.
- Be sure to use certified gluten-free oats if you need your oatmeal to be gluten-free.
- If you prefer your oatmeal warm, be sure to use a microwave-safe jar, remove the lid, and microwave for 1-2 minutes before serving.
- For Vegan-Friendly or Dairy-Free Overnight Oats, use non-dairy milk.
- The base recipe for overnight oats can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
More Oatmeal Recipes
If you tried this recipe for overnight oats, I would love for you to leave a comment and review below. I would also love to hear what your favorite flavor is! Mine happens to be Peanut Butter Banana--yum!
Overnight Oats
Overnight oats make an easy, healthy, make-ahead breakfast perfect for busy mornings and can be customized with one of over 10 flavor options!
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Servings: 1
Calories: 188kcal
Ingredients
- ½ cup milk any variety
- 1 teaspoon ground flaxseed
- ½ tablespoon chia seeds
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ tablespoon maple syrup
- pinch of salt optional
- ½ cup Old Fashioned oats
Instructions
- Place milk, vanilla extract, salt, flaxseed, and chia seeds into a jar that is fitted with a lid. Secure lid and shake each jar until ingredients well combined.
- Open the jar and add in oats and secure lid once again and shake until ingredients are well combined.
- Refrigerate overnight or up to 5 days.
- Before serving, stir in fruit, nuts, yogurt, peanut butter, or chocolate chips as desired.
Equipment Needed
Notes
- Nutritional values are based on base oatmeal.
- This recipe is for 1 serving, but increase to create as many jars of overnight oats as desired.
- Overnight Oats will keep in the fridge for up to 5 days. Toppings are best added right before serving.
- 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.
- Be sure to use certified gluten-free oats if you need your oatmeal to be gluten-free.
- If you prefer your oatmeal warm, be sure your jar is heat safe, remove the lid, microwave for 1-2 minutes, and then serve.
- If desired, add 1 scoop of protein powder to the base recipe when adding the chia seeds and flaxseed.
- Flavor Ideas
- Almond Joy: Instead of regular milk, use coconut milk to make the base of the overnight oats. Before serving, add ½ tablespoon chocolate chips, 1 tablespoon toasted coconut, and ½ tablespoon sliced almonds.
- Banana Pie: Mash ½ very ripe banana into the milk mixture before adding oats. Top with additional banana and crushed graham crackers if desired.
- Peanut Butter Banana Pie: Top overnight oat with sliced banana and a drizzle of peanut butter before serving.
- Apple Cinnamon: Before serving, stir in ½ tsp cinnamon and a couple of tablespoons of freshly diced apples or ¼ cup apple sauce. Top with chopped walnuts if desired.
- Peanut Butter Cup: Top the overnight oat with 1 tablespoon each of chocolate chips and peanut butter.
- Peaches and Cream: Before enjoying the oatmeal, stir in 2-3 tablespoons plain Greek yogurt and peach 2-3 tablespoons of diced peaches.
- Blueberries and Cream: To serve, stir in 2-3 tablespoons plain Greek yogurt and peach 2-3 tablespoons of fresh blueberries
- Strawberries and Cream: Before serving, stir in 2-3 tablespoons plain Greek yogurt and peach 2-3 tablespoons of diced peaches.
- Cinnamon Roll: Stir in ¼ teaspoon of cinnamon, ⅛ teaspoon ground nutmeg, and the tiniest pinch of ground cloves. Top with a dollop of vanilla yogurt if desired to mimic a cinnamon roll's frosting.
- Cinnamon Raisin: Stir in ¼ teaspoon cinnamon, 2 tablespoons of raisins, and 1 tablespoon of chopped nuts if desired.
- Pumpkin Pie: Stir in 2 tablespoons pumpkin puree, ¼ teaspoon cinnamon, ⅛ teaspoon fresh nutmeg, ⅛ teaspoon ground ginger, and 1-2 Tbs chopped walnuts.
- Maple Brown Sugar: Stir in 1 teaspoon brown sugar right before serving.
Nutrition
Calories: 188kcal | Carbohydrates: 29g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 5g | Sodium: 266mg | Potassium: 146mg | Fiber: 6g | Calcium: 46mg | Iron: 2mg
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This recipe was originally posted in 2018 but was updated in 2021 with new photos and a video.
Naomi
I'm trying your recipe for the first time and it says "Place milk, vanilla extract, salt, flaxseed, and chia seeds into a jar that is fitted with a lid. Secure lid and shake each jar until ingredients well combined." but doesn't list salt in the ingredients. How much should I use?
Kristen Chidsey
Just a pinch of salt Naomi 🙂 I updated the directions to state that in the list of ingredients. The salt is optional but does help to bring out all the flavors.
Suzy
One of our favorite ways to make breakfast! Super easy, even for the kids to help!
Kristen Chidsey
My kids love to help with this recipe too! Great lesson!
Beth
This is so delicious and tasty!
Betsy
So good! I'm a huge fan of the Strawberries & Cream variation. Easy and delicious breakfast. Wonderfully hearty, too!
Jacque Hastert
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.
Kristen Chidsey
And I am sure you love that they can help out too Jacque 😉 So glad you enjoyed this recipe!
Lisa
Can this be done in tupperware or does glass work better for some reason? I'm going to try this but will be warming it up in the microwave.
Kristen Chidsey
Hi Lisa. I personally don't like to heat things in plastic, so I personally would opt for glass. If you don't have an issue with that, you can use Tupperware 🙂
Molly Mann
Why are the toppings added before the oats and than shaken? Wouldn't the flavors be mixed in rather than on top?
Kristen Chidsey
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.
Clarence Dold
"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.
Kristen Chidsey
I love that you used this idea to inspire overnight yogurt!! So fun!
Tayler Ross
Overnight oats are my favorite way to start the day! I can't wait to try this recipe!
Kristen Chidsey
Hope you enjoy!
Abeer Rizvi
Oh my! There are so many ideas here and these would be great for busy mornings.
Kristen Chidsey
That was my goal--make mornings easy but not boring!!
Amanda
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!
Kristen Chidsey
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!
Amanda
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! 🙂