Overnight Oats are a fiber-rich, healthy breakfast that you can make ahead for busy mornings. The best part is that there’s no cooking required!
Easy Overnight Oats Recipe
These overnight oats are the breakfast I make when I want something ready as soon as I wake up. Quick oats and chia seeds soften in milk overnight, while banana and blueberries add natural sweetness. Sometimes I make these and eat them after just 20 minutes on the counter. The oats are firmer than they are the next morning, but I like them that way, too. Each creamy jar has 8.5 grams of fiber and takes about five minutes to prep. A healthy breakfast, and no cooking required!
Why I Keep Making These Overnight Oats
I go through phases with breakfast, but I never seem to get tired of this one. The fruit makes it sweet enough for me without maple syrup or honey, and the chia seeds add more fiber and give the oats a thick, spoonable texture. I like quick oats because they soften completely in the fridge. If you prefer more chew, old-fashioned rolled oats work, too.
- Easy: A no-cook breakfast. Instead of baking, cooking or microwaving the oats, they get soft overnight in the fridge.
- No added sugar: Some overnight oats recipes are heavily sweetened with honey, maple syrup, brown sugar, and sweet add-ins. I don’t like to start my morning with all that sugar, so I rely on fresh fruit and monk fruit sweetener or stevia for sweetness.
- Satisfying: Oats are known for being a filling breakfast thanks to their soluble fiber.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Below is everything you’ll need to make this overnight oats recipe. See the recipe card above for the exact measurements.
- Quick oats: My favorite for a soft, creamy texture. Old-fashioned rolled oats will be chewier. Steel-cut oats won’t soften enough using this method. To make them gluten-free make sure the oats are certified gluten-free.
- Almond Milk, or your milk of choice. I always make sure it’s unsweetened.
- Banana adds sweetness. I add some in the oats and some to the top.
- Chia Seeds are a great source of fiber and some protein too. They expand while they soak which helps give the oats a pudding-like texture
- Blueberries are my favorite for making overnight oats, but you can use another berry or fruit.
- Cinnamon: Adds a little warmth. If you want more sweetness, add monk fruit sweetener or stevia to taste.
- Pecans or your favorite nuts or seeds, for topping.
How To Make Overnight Oats
Here’s a quick overview of the steps involved in making this recipe. See the recipe card above for printable directions.
- Combine: Add all the ingredients to a jar. Seal, shake well, and refrigerate overnight.
- Serve: Stir, then add your favorite toppings. Enjoy!
Topping and Variation Ideas
Here are some more ideas to help you put your own spin on this overnight oats recipe.
- Try other toppings: Add fresh or dried fruit and crunchy nuts or seeds (sunflower seeds, walnuts, pecans, hemp seeds, pumpkin seeds), granola or spices like cinnamon or nutmeg. There are so many topping ideas and combinations, the possibilities are endless.
- Flavor the oats: Add some vanilla or almond extract with the milk or non-dairy milk.
- Add protein: Drizzle in some nut butter like almond butter, peanut butter, etc. Or add Greek yogurt or a scoop of protein powder.
- Give it a fiber boost: Stir in some ground flax.
- Make chocolate overnight oats: Stir in cocoa powder, then top the oats with chocolate chips or chocolate shavings.
Overnight Oats Variations
Once you have the oats, milk, and chia seeds in the jar, it’s easy to change the flavor. The banana and blueberries are my favorite combination, but try one of these next time:
- Mixed berry: Swap the blueberries for raspberries, strawberries, or a mix.
- Peanut butter banana: Skip the blueberries and stir in a spoonful of peanut butter. Add the banana on top in the morning.
- Apple cinnamon: Use finely diced apple instead of blueberries and add a little extra cinnamon.
- Chocolate banana: Stir in a little unsweetened cocoa powder and top with banana and a few chocolate chips.
- More protein: Add Greek yogurt when serving. If the oats become too thick, stir in a splash of milk.
For more flavor ideas, try my Cinnamon-Raisin Overnight Oats, Apple Pie Overnight Oats, Pumpkin Overnight Oats, or Tres Leches Overnight Oats.
Overnight Oats
Equipment
- mason jar
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup quick oats, I prefer organic, you can use gluten-free, or protein oats
- 1/2 cup milk, use milk of choice
- 1/2 medium banana, sliced (use the other half as a topping)
- 1/2 tbsp chia seeds
- 1/2 cup blueberries, divided
- monk fruit sweetener, stevia, or your favorite sweetener, to taste
- pinch cinnamon
for the topping:
- 1 tbsp chopped pecans, or any nuts or seeds
Instructions
- Place all the ingredient in a jar, shake, cover and refrigerate overnight, or at least 4 hours.
- The next morning, add your favorite crunchy toppings such as nuts, granola, etc and enjoy!
Last Step:
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Notes
Nutrition
Quick Oats vs. Rolled Oats
Both work in this recipe, but the texture will be different. Quick oats make a softer, creamier jar, while old-fashioned rolled oats keep more of their shape. Steel-cut oats stay too firm for this no-cook method.
This recipe uses ¼ cup quick oats and ½ cup milk because the chia seeds absorb some of the liquid, too. If you change the oats or add more chia seeds, you may need to adjust the milk to get the consistency you like.
Make-Ahead and Storage Tips
Make a few jars at once and refrigerate them, covered, for up to four days. Save the pecans and any fruit you want to look fresh for the morning you eat them. Stir before serving, adding a splash of milk if needed.
I usually eat overnight oats cold, but you can warm them if you prefer. Transfer them to a microwave-safe bowl and heat gently, stirring until warmed through.
More Oatmeal Recipes
For more ways to use oats, browse my 21 Favorite oatmeal recipes, including warm bowls, baked oatmeal, muffins, and easy snacks.