These Overnight Oats recipes are perfect for busy mornings when you don't have time to cook breakfast – try these 9 recipes and tips to help you get started!
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How to make overnight oats
All that is necessary for overnight oats is your favorite kind of milk (dairy or non-dairy) and rolled oats. Greek yogurt and seeds are optional but give the oats more flavor and texture. I prefer almond or coconut milk and Greek yogurt, although you can use other kinds of milk and even the Greek yogurt is optional.
Here is the basic formula in bullet form:
- 1/2 cup dry oats
- 3/4 cup milk of choice
Optional overnight oats add-ins:
- 1/4 cup Greek yogurt (for protein)
- 1 tbsp hemp hearts, chia seeds or flax seeds (for extra protein, healthy fats and fibre)
Flavorings are listed below – everything from banana bread to carrot cake, there are so many different flavor combos and this is your chance to add healthy fruits and veggies that will boost the nutrition and make this a full meal!
Are overnight oats healthier than cooked oats?
In a word- yes. Overnight oats are easier to digest and have more nutrients, particularly resistant starch, than cooked oats. The heating process required for regular oatmeal destroys the healthy fiber, so ultimately, you won't have a boost for healthier digestion. In comparison, overnight oats are never heated. Instead, they soak up the moisture from the liquid they steep in.
Which oats are best for an overnight oats recipe?
Old-fashioned regular or thick rolled oats are best for this overnight oats recipe. While steel cut oats are popular for cooked oatmeal, their texture makes them too firm for this recipe.
One-minute oats are a quick and convenient option to use when making this recipe. However, keep in mind that the consistency and soaking time will change. Quick oats will only need to soak for about 30 minutes. They will also be thinner when completed, regardless of soaking time – although maybe you prefer your oats that way!
Overnight oats add-ins
The beauty of this recipe is that the basic ingredients can be improved upon in hundreds of ways. Start with any one of my nine suggestions and then get creative with your favorite flavor combinations!
Choose the flavor you want for your oats – pictured below are the nine recipes you can start out with.
- Peanut butter
- Banana bread
- Chocolate
- Blueberry
- Strawberry
- Apple cinnamon
- Pumpkin pie
- Coconut
- Carrot cake
How long do overnight oats need to sit?
Put the mason jar of prepared oats into the refrigerator for at least two hours. Overnight soaking is perfect for a breakfast with no morning prep time. Overnight oats will keep in the refrigerator for up to five days, so they're perfect for meal prep! Batch enough for the whole week on Sunday evening and as a result, you won’t have to think about breakfast at all!
Meal prepping overnight oats
I like to make overnight oats ahead of time on Sundays for the busy work week ahead. The great part is that these jars will last up to 5 days in the fridge so all you need to do is make the base (milk, oats and Greek yogurt if desired), then add your flavorings of choice. You could in theory make all five of the jars different flavours so long as you have the right ingredients on hand!
Do you eat overnight oats warm or cold?
By definition, overnight oats are intended to be eaten cold. They do not need to be heated to absorb the liquid into the oats because they soak for at least two hours. If you prefer hot oatmeal, pop the whole jar into the microwave before eating. Keep in mind though that heating does decrease the amount of healthy starch in the oats, and I would not recommend heating if you have added Greek yogurt.
Can you freeze cooked oats?
Any kind of cooked oatmeal, including these overnight oats, can be frozen for up to six months in an airtight container. Add a little bit of water before freezing.
Freezing the oats in a muffin tin and then transferring the individual servings to a freezer bag will provide your family with portions appropriate for breakfast that will just need to be reheated. Reheat the oats in the microwave for 2-3 minutes depending on serving size for a healthy and quick breakfast.
Are overnight oats good for weight loss?
I'm technically not a weight loss resource and instead focus on healthy eating and clean eating in general. However, if you are trying to focus on your diet and nutrition, I will say that overnight oats are a great breakfast in SO many ways. They are high in fibre, and with the added protein sources such as Greek yogurt and hemp hearts (or other seeds), you will stay fuller for longer.
These oats are also great as a grab and go breakfast, ensuring that you will actually eat breakfast each day and kickstart your diet on the right track. Just be aware that everything you eat will affect weight loss or weight gain and that oats alone will not help you lose weight. But when you add them to a healthy diet and lifestyle, they may assist in the weight loss process.
Read more about meal prep and weight loss here.
Can you make overnight oats without milk?
You definitely can – just sub in water if you don't want that creamy texture. If you need your oats to be dairy-free I recommend using almond, coconut, soy or cashew milk just because the creaminess is part of the appeal. But it really is the fillings that bring the flavor so if you don't have any milk of any kind on hand, water will do.
Making overnight oats vegan
This is super easy to do! Use non-dairy milk, then skip the Greek yogurt and double up on the hemp hearts/chia seeds/flax seeds so that you still get your protein in. Then just add your fruit, spices, veggies or whatever other flavourings you'd like!
Sweetening overnight oats
You really don't need to do this, but you can make your oats sweeter if you have a sweet tooth in the morning and are trying to move away from sugary cereals, granolas, etc.
Here are some great natural sweeteners:
- Honey
- Maple syrup
- Stevia
- Dates
- Applesauce
- Coconut
- Mashed banana
Substitutions for Greek yogurt
There are some vegan coconut yogurts that you can use if you are still craving that yogurt taste, but otherwise you're looking at just adding another protein source for the Greek yogurt if you feel you need something extra to keep you satiated.
Here are some great options for replacing the Greek yogurt – otherwise you can feel free to leave the yogurt out altogether, you won't necessarily miss it!
- Nut butters
- Extra hemp hearts, chia seeds or flax seeds
- Protein powder
- Mashed banana
Meal prep tools for this recipe
- These are the mason jars I used in this recipe
- You can get larger 32oz mason jars too
- Freeze this recipe in glass microwave-safe bowls up to 3 months
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9 Overnight Oats Recipes
Ingredients
Overnight oats base (makes 1 jar)
- 1/2 cup rolled oats
- 3/4 cup almond or coconut milk
- 1/4 cup Greek yogurt (optional)
- 1 tbsp chia, flax or hemp seeds (optional)
Peanut butter
- 1 tbsp peanut butter
Chocolate
- 1 tbsp cocoa powder
- 2 tsp chocolate shavings
Strawberry
- 1/2 cup finely chopped strawberries
Blueberry
- 1/2 cup mashed blueberries
Pumpkin
- 1/4 cup pumpkin puree
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp nutmeg
Apple cinnamon
- 1/2 cup finely chopped green apple
- 1 tsp cinnamon
Carrot cake
- 1/4 cup shredded carrot
- 1 tbsp unsweetened shredded coconut
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
Coconut
- 1/4 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
- NOTE: use coconut milk instead of almond milk for your base
Banana bread
- 1/2 banana, mashed
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1/4 tsp cinnamon
Instructions
- Mix together base ingredients of choice in a 16oz mason jar. Note that Greek yogurt and seeds are optional - you really only need to mix together milk of choice and oats, then add your flavored add-ins.
- Once you have mixed up your base, add your add-ins. Most flavors only require 1-3 ingredients. For instance, if wanting to make the carrot cake overnight oats, mix the carrots, coconut and cinnamon into your overnight oats base.
- Let sit in the fridge for at least 2 hours, or overnight. Jars will last in the fridge up to 5 days so they are perfect for meal prep!
Video
Nutrition
Note: nutrition info is for 1 jar using rolled oats, almond milk, Greek yogurt, hemp seeds and 1 tbsp unsweetened coconut. Nutritional info will vary depending on toppings.
Lorraine Horton says
Can you heat these in the microwave? What would be the power and time?
Taylor Stinson says
I would not recommend heating them because of the yogurt – if you leave it out you could try reheating for 1-2 minutes on high 🙂
Dee says
Does the fruit (apples, strawberries or bananas) turn soft or brown like chopped fruit tends to do, especially if made and left in the fridge for several days?
Also, do you cover the jars?
Taylor Stinson says
Hey Dee – because the fruit is in the oats itself, I don’t find that it turns brown. That said, the jars should only be kept up to 5 days. You can use the mason jar lids to keep them covered.
John says
Hi Taylor
Do you the toppings when you prep the oats or do you do it the next morning before you eat them. Or do you do add a little the night before and add more right before. Example of what. Trying to say… strawberry, do you add some when you prep and then some more right before eating?
Thanks.
John
Taylor Stinson says
Hey John! I prep the toppings and add them to the jars right away – the texture and taste doesn’t change too much when they’re in the oats themselves.
Ashiqa says
Can we use low fat milk and oats and almond that crushed??can we skip fruits??
Taylor Stinson says
Hi Ashiqa – you can definitely use low fat milk and add in some crushed almonds. Feel free to make it your own!
Kelly says
I’ve been making this lately using “pea milk” because it has so much more protein than other dairy substitutes. It’s really good and creamy! The regular vanilla flavor adds just the right amount of sweetness.