Easy and creamy Overnight Oats are the best make-ahead breakfast. There is no cooking required, just stir the ingredients together and refrigerate overnight to get a creamy and enjoyable bowl of oatmeal.
It’s easy to make several servings at once for weekly meal prep. You can add your preferred toppings ahead or when you’re ready to enjoy them.
This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.
Overnight oats have become crazy popular over the past couple of years. I first discovered this from Chungah’s Meal Prep Cookbook and from Lisa of Downshiftology, who were both inspirations for this version that we make on our regular breakfast rotation.
We love make-ahead breakfasts from Overnight Cinnamon Rolls to French Toast Casserole and of course Freezer Breakfast Sandwiches. If you are a fan of breakfast meal prep, this Overnight Oats Recipe is a must-try!
If you enjoyed this video for Overnight Oats, please subscribe to our Youtube Channel (P.S. Click the BELL icon so you can be the first to know when we post a new video). Thank you for subscribing!
What are Overnight Oats?
Oats overnight is a method of preparing oatmeal with no cooking required. Rolled oats are combined with your milk of choice which softens the oats as they rest in the refrigerator overnight. Overnight oats are typically served cold but can be heated if desired. Here’s why we love it:
- Easy Meal Prep – they can be assembled several days ahead to enjoy throughout the week or to take with you wherever you go.
- Scalable – this recipe takes under 5 minutes to make and you can make 1 or 10 jars at once. It’s so easy when you set it up like an assembly line.
- Easy to digest – soaking oats rather than cooking them helps break down starches so your body can get the most nutritional benefit from the oats.
- Versatile – you can add just about any milk, any yogurt, and any sweetener. There are also dozens of toppings and add-ins you can try. See our favorites below.
- Save money – a single serving will probably cost about 50 cents to make, plus any toppings you want to add.
Ingredients for Overnight Oats
- Rolled Oats – also called old fashioned oats
- Almond milk – or you can use your milk of choice
- Greek yogurt – we use non-fat but whole yogurt would work
- Maple syrup – our go-to sweetener because it incorporates easilly (see substitutiosn below)
- Chia seeds – helps to thicken up the creamy base of the overnight oats
If using sweetened yogurt – you can skip the additional maple syrup since a flavored yogurt usually adds enough sweetness Flavored yogurt is also a great way to change up the taste of your overnight oats. Try blueberry, strawberry, or vanilla yogurt.
How to Make Overnight Oats
- Add ingredients to a mason jar. Stir to combine, cover and refrigerate overnight.
- Add toppings – when ready to serve, add your favorite fruit, nut or seed toppings and enjoy.
Common Questions
Rolled oats are sometimes called Old Fashioned Oats. Rolled oats are essentially steel-cut oats that have been processed and rolled or flattened into oval disks for faster cooking.
Yes, you can absolutely use your favorite milk such as coconut milk, oat milk, hemp milk, or even dairy milk.
Oats are generally gluten-free, but be sure to buy rolled oats that are labeled “gluten-free” to ensure that your oats are not cross-contaminated.
Try liquid honey, agave, stevia, or your favorite sweetener.
Toppings for Overnight Oats
We love to use a variety of fruit toppings for overnight oats, depending on what is in season. Here are some of our favorite flavor combinations:
- Blueberry lemon: 1/4 cup blueberries + lemon zest
- Strawberry chocolate: 1/3 cup strawberries + mini chocolate chips
- Raspberry peach: 1/3 cup peaches or nectarine + raspberries
- Banana nut: 1/2 banana + chopped pecans
Have you discovered this amazing breakfast idea yet? I would love to hear about your favorite toppings for overnight oats in the comments below.
More EASY Breakfast Ideas
Easy Overnight Oats Recipe
Easy and creamy overnight oats is our favorite make-ahead breakfast. There is no cooking required, just stir and refrigerate overnight for a creamy and enjoyable bowl of oatmeal. It’s perfect for weekly meal prep, just add your preferred toppings ahead or when you’re ready to enjoy them.
Servings: 1 person
For Each Serving of Overnight Oats:
Prevent your screen from going dark
-
In a mason jar, add all of your ingredients: rolled oats, almond milk, yogurt, maple syrup, and chia seeds. Stir until well combined then cover and refrigerate overnight.
-
To serve, add your favorite toppings and enjoy it out of the jar, or transfer to a bowl and sprinkle on your favorite fruit or nut toppings.
Note on the nutrition label: since toppings vary, the nutrition label is for the overnight oats only before any toppings are added.
315kcal Calories48g Carbs13g Protein8g Fat
Nutrition Facts
Easy Overnight Oats Recipe
Amount per Serving
% Daily Value*
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
