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This healthy overnight oats recipe is the perfect make-ahead breakfast! Customize the overnight oats with milk and toppings of your choice for an easy no-cook breakfast that is packed with whole grains, fiber, and nutrients.
Looking for more oatmeal recipes? Don't miss my recipes for Crockpot Pot Maple Brown Sugar Oatmeal, Instant Pot Oatmeal, and Banana Baked Oatmeal.
My Favorite Breakfast Recipe
Overnight Oats are the MVP of healthy breakfast recipes. This make-ahead breakfast recipe takes just minutes to prepare and are a powerhouse of nutrients, protein, and fiber.
This no-cook grab-and-go breakfast is as delicious as it is nutritious, and I absolutely love how versatile this recipe Overnight Oats is! Not only can you customize this recipe to fit nearly any dietary restriction, but you can change out the toppings to enjoy a different flavor of overnight oats every day of the week.
Happy Cooking! xo Kristen
Base Ingredients
Technically you only need rolled oats and liquid to make overnight oats. But for the best flavor and added nutrition, I recommend not stopping there! Let's break these wholesome ingredients down.
- Oats: Use rolled old-fashioned or quick oats, not steel-cut oats. For the best texture, I recommend old-fashioned rolled oats over quick-cooking oats. They soften enough to be creamy, but don't become mushy. And be sure to use certified gluten-free oats if you are gluten-free.
- Liquid: Milk, whether dairy or non-dairy milk is the best option. Almond milk, soy milk, coconut milk, and oat milk all work well.
- To Boost Nutrition: Ground flaxseed and chia seeds add fiber, protein, healthy fat, and protein to the oats.
- For Flavor: Vanilla extract for a sweet, caramel note and a pinch of kosher salt to enhance the flavor of the oats.
- Sweetener: Based on the toppings you add to the overnight oats, you may want to add a sweetener to the base recipe. Maple syrup, honey, or brown sugar, are all good options.
- Toppings: Fresh fruit, dried fruit, nuts, seeds, Greek yogurt, granola, cocoa powder, chocolate chips, shredded coconut, etc. The options are endless!
How to Make Overnight Oats
This Overnight Oats Recipe is about as easy as as a recipe can get. While you will find the full details in the recipe card, I have a few tips to ensure the best results with the least amount of effort.
- Prepare Base. I recommend combining the base ingredients for overnight oats in small glass jars, such as mason jars, so that each jar contains one serving. That way each serving can be topped and served as desired. Not to mention small glass jars make this breakfast perfectly portable.
- Refrigerate Overnight. As the oats sit overnight, the oats absorb the milk and soften to the perfect creamy, slightly chewy consistency. Just as good oatmeal should be. Overnight Oats should be prepared at least 8 hours in advance, but can be made up to 5 days in advance. Hello meal-prep!
- Serve. While overnight oats need no toppings, I find them to be rather bland without a few additions. Top as desired and serve immediately.
Flavor Variations
Below are a few of my favorite flavor combinations and variations for overnight oats. If you have a favorite, please share it in the comment section!
- Chocolate Cherry: Add ¼ cup of fresh, canned, or frozen chopped cherries along with ½ tablespoon of chocolate chips to each serving.
- Almond Joy: Use coconut milk and sprinkle each serving with about ½ tablespoon of chocolate chips, 1 tablespoon of toasted coconut, and ½ tablespoon of sliced almonds.
- Banana Pie: Mash half of a very ripe banana and stir into the oatmeal. Top with crushed graham crackers and a dollop of yogurt or whipped cream and enjoy immediately.
- Peanut Butter Banana: Top with sliced banana and a drizzle of peanut butter before serving.
- Apple Cinnamon: Stir in ½ teaspoon of cinnamon and a couple of tablespoons of freshly diced apples into the oats. Top with chopped walnuts if desired.
- Peanut Butter Cup: Drizzle the prepared oatmeal with peanut butter or nut butter of your choice and then sprinkle with chocolate chips.
- Fruit and Cream: Add 2-3 tablespoons of plain Greek yogurt along with 2-3 tablespoons of diced peaches, blueberries, or strawberries.
- Cinnamon Roll: Stir in ¼ teaspoon of cinnamon, ⅛ teaspoon of ground nutmeg, and the tiniest pinch of ground cloves. Top with a dollop of vanilla yogurt if desired to mimic cinnamon roll frosting.
- Cinnamon Raisin: Stir in ¼ teaspoon of cinnamon and 2 tablespoons of raisins prior to serving.
- Pumpkin Pie: Stir in 2 tablespoons pumpkin puree, ¼ teaspoon cinnamon, ⅛ teaspoon fresh nutmeg, ⅛ teaspoon ground ginger, and 1-2 tablespoons of chopped walnuts to each serving of overnight oats before serving.
- Maple Brown Sugar: Along with the optional maple syrup addition, add 1 teaspoon of brown sugar. You can opt to stir this into your oats before or after refrigerating.
More Make-Ahead Breakfast Recipes
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Overnight Oats
This healthy overnight oats recipe is the perfect make-ahead breakfast! Customize it with your favorite toppings and milk of choice.
Video
Ingredients
- ½ cup milk, any variety
- pinch kosher salt, optional
- 1 teaspoon ground flaxseed
- ½ tablespoon chia seeds
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ tablespoon maple syrup or honey, optional
- ½ cup rolled old-fashioned oats
Instructions
- Place ½ cup of milk of choice, a very small pinch of salt, 1 teaspoon ground flaxseed, ½ tablespoon chia seeds, ½ teaspoon vanilla extract a into a small jar. Add in ½ tablespoon of maple syrup if desired. Finally add in ½ cup of oats into the jar. Place the lid on the jar and shake well or use a spoon to mix the ingredients together until well combined.
- Cover and refrigerate the oats for at least 8 hours, or up to 5 days.
- Before serving, stir in fruit, nuts, yogurt, peanut butter, or chocolate chips as desired.
Equipment
Notes
Nutritional values are based on base oatmeal without adding fruit, nuts, etc.
Serving Size: This recipe is for 1 serving, but increase to create as many jars of overnight oats as desired.
Oats: Old-fashioned rolled oats are best, but quick-cook oats will work. Do not use steel-cut oats. Be sure oats are certified gluten-free if needed.
Milk: Use any variety of dairy or non-dairy milk.
Storage: Overnight Oats will keep in the fridge for up to 5 days. Toppings are best added right before serving.
Serving Warm: If you prefer your oatmeal served warm, be sure your jar is heat safe, remove the lid, microwave for 1-2 minutes, and then serve. Alternatively, transfer the oats to a heat-safe bowl and microwave for 1-2 minutes.
Optional Protein Boost: If desired, add 1 scoop of protein powder or collagen powder to the base recipe when adding the chia seeds and flaxseed.
Flavor Ideas (Add these ingredients after refrigeration before serving and each combination is for one serving of oatmeal.)
- Chocolate Cherry: For one serving, add ¼ cup of fresh, canned, or frozen chopped cherries along with ½ tablespoon of chocolate chips to the oatmeal.
- Almond Joy: Instead of regular milk, use coconut milk to make the base of the overnight oats. Before serving, sprinkle each serving with about ½ tablespoon of chocolate chips, 1 tablespoon of toasted coconut, and ½ tablespoon of sliced almonds.
- Banana Pie: Mash half of a very ripe banana and stir into the oatmeal. Top with crushed graham crackers and a dollop of yogurt or whipped cream and enjoy immediately.
- Peanut Butter Banana: Top each serving of overnight oats with sliced banana and a drizzle of peanut butter before serving.
- Apple Cinnamon: Before serving the overnight oatmeal, stir in ½ teaspoon of cinnamon and a couple of tablespoons of freshly diced apples into the oats. Top with chopped walnuts if desired.
- Peanut Butter Cup: Drizzle the prepared oatmeal with peanut butter or nut butter of your choice and then sprinkle with chocolate chips.
- Peaches and Cream: Before enjoying the oatmeal, stir in 2-3 tablespoons of plain Greek yogurt and 2-3 tablespoons of diced peaches.
- Blueberries and Cream: To serve, stir in 2-3 tablespoons of plain Greek yogurt and 2-3 tablespoons of fresh or frozen blueberries.
- Strawberries and Cream: Before serving, stir in 2-3 tablespoons of plain Greek yogurt and 2-3 tablespoons of diced strawberries.
- Cinnamon Roll: Stir in ¼ teaspoon of cinnamon, ⅛ teaspoon of 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 of cinnamon and 2 tablespoons of raisins to each serving of oatmeal prior to serving.
- Pumpkin Pie: Stir in 2 tablespoons pumpkin puree, ¼ teaspoon cinnamon, ⅛ teaspoon fresh nutmeg, ⅛ teaspoon ground ginger, and 1-2 tablespoons of chopped walnuts to each serving of overnight oats before serving.
- Maple Brown Sugar: Along with the optional maple syrup addition, add 1 teaspoon of brown sugar. You can opt to stir this into your oats before or after refrigerating.
Nutrition
Calories: 188kcalCarbohydrates: 29gProtein: 6gFat: 5gSodium: 266mgPotassium: 146mgFiber: 6gCalcium: 46mgIron: 2mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Tried this recipe?Mention @amindfullmom or tag #amindfullmom!
So good! I'm a huge fan of the Strawberries & Cream variation. Easy and delicious breakfast. Wonderfully hearty, too!
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!
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.
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 🙂
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! 🙂