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This easy overnight oats recipe is a simple, healthy, flavorful breakfast that you can make ahead for busy mornings and on-the-go breakfasts. Of course, you can customize it with many add-ins and toppings!
I love warm oatmeal, but I prefer to start my days with something cool in the spring and summer months. Hence, the overnight oats have been one of my go-to breakfasts for the warm months.
They’re easy to prepare, and the combinations of flavors are endless. For example, I have used blueberries, bananas, and a bit of cinnamon here.
Overnight oats are a great make-ahead dish. I can prepare everything the night before – or even a couple of days in advance – and wake up to a delicious breakfast.
What is the Overnight Oats
It is an oatmeal dish that has not been cooked. Instead, the oats soak the raw oats with milk. This process allows the oats to absorb the liquid, plump, and soften enough to eat them uncooked. It would be best to let the oats soak and rest in the fridge for at least five hours or overnight. That’s how they got the name overnight oats!
The following day a ready-to-eat, delicious bowl or jar of oatmeal is waiting for you in the refrigerator. The consistency is more dense and creamy than the traditionally cooked oatmeal.
Ingredients
Oats – Use old-fashioned rolled oats. They are a must for overnight oats. The instant, quick-cooking, and steel-cut versions will work. They don’t absorb liquids the same way as the rolled oats do, and the results will be far from the desired ones.
Milk – You can use any dairy or non-dairy milk you prefer to make overnight oats.
Yogurt – Yogurt gives overnight oats a tangy flavor, creamy texture and adds some protein. I like using plain Greek yogurt. It is the highest in protein and lowest in sugar. However, you can use vegan or dairy-free yogurt or skip the yogurt altogether and use some more milk.
Vanilla extract – a bit of vanilla extract can elevate the flavor of the oats as they are pretty bland by their nature.
Chia seeds (optional) – They are optional, but I highly recommend them. They are packed with tons of nutrition. In addition, they help absorb some of the liquid resulting in a thicker consistency of the overnight oats.
Sweetener (optional) – I like to use a bit of honey to sweeten the mixture. You can use any sweetener you prefer.
Suppose you’re trying to keep your sugar consumption low. In that case, you can always use a sugar alternative (stevia or monk fruit) to sweeten your oats. You’ll have to experiment with quantities based on your preference. You can even omit the sweetener altogether and instead use a bit of vanilla extract and some ground cinnamon.
Add-ins + toppings – Get creative! Have fun trying different nuts, seeds, fresh fruit, nut butters, and spices (cinnamon, nutmeg, or cardamom).
Overnight Oats Ratio
The overnight oats recipe is straightforward, but the most important part is getting the correct ratio of oats to liquid.
I use the following 1 part of oats, one part of milk, and one part of yogurt.
If you are skipping the yogurt, replace it with extra milk in the same quantity.
You may need to add additional milk to achieve the desired consistency in the morning.
How to make the Overnight Oats
Mix the oats, milk, yogurt, vanilla extract, and chia seeds (if using) sweetener (if using). Cover and refrigerate the oats overnight to soak the liquids. You can also use mason jars to store the overnight oats in individual portions. Still, any container with an airtight lid will work.
Next morning, all you have to do is grab your overnight oats from the refrigerator, give them a good stir, top them with your favorite toppings, and dig in!
Make-Ahead
Overnight oats are a great meal-prep recipe. You can make a whole batch on a Sunday, and they will last for most of the week. Make them inside mason jars so you can grab them to-go on busy mornings and eat the overnight oats in one convenient container.
Storage tips
You can store the overnight oats in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. As they soak longer, they will soften even more and become a bit mushy, but they’re still safe to eat.
Overnight Oats
Ingredients
- ½ cup old-fashioned rolled oats
- ½ cup reduced-fat (2%) milk
- ½ cup plain Greek yogurt (2% fat)
- 1 tbsp honey
- ¼ tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tbsp chia seeds optional
- ground cinnamon optional, for serving
- sliced or slivered toasted almonds or other chopped nuts optional, for serving
- resh berries or other diced fruit optional, for serving
Instructions
- Place the oats, milk, yogurt, honey, vanilla, and chia seeds (if using) into a jar or other food storage container and give them a good stir.
- Cover and refrigerate overnight, or at least for five hours.
- In the morning, add additional milk to achieve the desired consistency.
- Sprinkle with ground cinnamon and top sliced or slivered toasted almonds or other chopped nuts, and fresh berries or other diced fruit of your preference.
Notes
Add-ins + toppings
Get creative! Have fun trying different nuts, seeds, fresh fruit, nut butters, and spices (cinnamon, nutmeg, or cardamom).Make-Ahead
Overnight oats are a great meal-prep recipe. You can make a whole batch on a Sunday, and they will last for most of the week. Make them inside mason jars so you can grab them to-go on busy mornings and eat the overnight oats in one convenient container.Storage tips
You can store the overnight oats in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. As they soak longer, they will soften even more and become a bit mushy, but they’re still safe to eat.ÂNutrition
This information is provided as a courtesy and for entertainment purposes only. This information comes from online calculators. Although eatmediterraneanfood.com attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures are only estimates.
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