Best Overnight Oats Recipe - Yummy Whole Food Recipes (2024)

Home » Breakfast » The Best Overnight Oats for a Healthy Breakfast

Breakfast · Flexitarian · Gina Livy Diet · Vegan · Vegetarian

Overnight oats are so easy to make, and the resulting breakfast is nutritious, tasty, quick and completely customizable!Let me show you how to make overnight oats using my favourite recipe and a couple of variations.

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

Best Overnight Oats Recipe - Yummy Whole Food Recipes (1)

When the weather warms up, overnight oats is a favourite healthy make-ahead breakfast for busy mornings. You can eat overnight oats cold or heat them up in the microwave. I like to eat this delicious breakfast cold with my favourite fruit, yogurt and nuts on top. There are so many delicious toppings you can try!

This is one of my favourite quick breakfasts to make, and you can find all of my other easy breakfast ideas right here. Whole grain breakfasts like this are a great way to get more fiber into your diet.

Best Overnight Oats Recipe - Yummy Whole Food Recipes (2)

Ingredients

  • large flake old fashioned oats
  • almond milk
  • chia seeds
  • favorite toppings like: Greek yogurt, fresh fruit, berries, chia seeds, unsweetened coconut flakes, almond butter, sliced banana,hemp hearts

See recipe card below for quantities.

Basic Overnight Oats Recipe

This is the base recipe for yummy overnight oats. You can try the substitutions and variations below to create a unique and delicious spin on it!

  • In a mason jar or plastic container, mix together the oats, chia seeds and milk of choice.
  • Place in the refrigerator overnight or for at least 6 hours or until the next morning.
  • Remove from the refrigerator, heat in microwave if desired and top with your favourite toppings.

Substitutions

  • Almond milk– instead of almond milk, you can use dairy milk, coconut milk, soy milk, cashew milk or oat milk
  • Old Fashioned Oats – you can substitute old-fashioned oats for quick oats or steel-cut oats. You may have to use more or less milk. Quick oats will create more of a creamy texture, while steel-cut will be a little heartier.

Variations

  • Nuts & Berries – My favourite way to enjoy this overnight oats recipe is with the addition ofberries, Greek yogurt, agave syrup and nuts
  • Tropical – Enjoya tropical versionwith mango, kiwi, unsweetened coconut, Greek yogurt and I mix a bit of mashed banana in for sweetener
  • Chocolate Peanut Butter – For a rich & sweet version, add 1 tsp of cocoa powder to the oat mixture before placing it in the container. Sprinkle the oats with some chocolate chips and add a dollup of natural peanut butter
  • Strawberry Vanilla – Mix 1/2 tsp of vanilla extract into the oat mixture before placing it in the container. Top it with chopped strawberries and Greek yogurt.
  • Apple Pie – Mix 1/4 cup chopped apple with 1 tsp of ground cinnamon and use this as a topping for your oats.
  • Overnight oats not sweet enough? Use a drizzle of honey or maple syrup on top for a little bit of sweetness.

Equipment

I use either airtight plastic containers or mason jars to make my overnight oats. Simply ensure you’re using an airtight container when storing your overnight oats.

Storage

You can store overnight oats in the fridge for up to 5 days. Store individual servings in lidded mason jars (I like the little 4 oz. mason jars for this), and store the toppings separately for best results. Overnight oats are a fabulous addition to your meal prep roster because they store well for most of the week in the fridge and you can change up the toppings day-to-day.

Best Overnight Oats Recipe - Yummy Whole Food Recipes (3)

Best Overnight Oats Recipe - Yummy Whole Food Recipes (4)

The Best Overnight Oats

Best Overnight Oats Recipe - Yummy Whole Food Recipes (5)Christina

Make delicious & easy overnight oats using my favourite recipe and a couple of variations.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Refrigeration Time 6 hours hrs

Total Time 6 hours hrs 15 minutes mins

Course Breakfast

Servings 1 serving

Calories 293 kcal

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup large flake old fashioned oats
  • 2/3 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk
  • 2 tbsp chia seeds

Optional Toppings

  • Greek yogurt
  • berries
  • chia seeds
  • unsweetened shredded coconut
  • banana
  • agave syrup
  • kiwi

Instructions

  • In a mason jar or plastic container, mix together the oats, chia seeds and almond milk.

  • Place in the refrigerator overnight or for at least 6 hours for the oats to soften.

  • Remove from the refrigerator, heat in microwave if desired and top with your favourite toppings.

Nutrition

Calories: 293kcalCarbohydrates: 38gProtein: 10gFat: 12gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 8gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0.03gSodium: 223mgPotassium: 244mgFiber: 13gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 13IUVitamin C: 0.4mgCalcium: 373mgIron: 4mg

These nutrition values are estimates only. Read my full nutrition disclaimer here.

Tried this recipe?Mention @yummywholefoodrecipes or tag #yummywholefoodrecipes on Instagram!

More healthy breakfast ideas:

Best Overnight Oats Recipe - Yummy Whole Food Recipes (2024)

FAQs

How do you make overnight oats taste better? ›

Add a pinch of salt, then sweeten or spice your overnight oats. For a little kick of spice, try adding cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom, cocoa powder or matcha powder. Or if sweet is your thing, stir in C&H Sugar, C&H® Light Brown, C&H® Dark Brown Sugar. Mix everything together, taste and adjust flavoring until perfect.

What not to add in overnight oats? ›

As Best points out, "some of the worst ingredients that are mistakenly added to healthy overnight oat recipes include chocolate sauce, sugar, syrup, and dried fruit."

What is the secret to overnight oats? ›

Make sure you have at least double the liquid per each serving of oats (so, 1 cup of milk to ½-cup of oats), increasing the amount if you want a soupier texture. We love the chewy, hearty texture of steel-cut oats, but they're too firm to use for overnight oats.

Why add chia seeds overnight oats? ›

Why Do You Put Chia Seeds in Overnight Oats? Chia seeds up the nutrition content in overnight oats. They're loaded with good-for-your-gut fiber and omega-3 fatty acids, which help calm inflammation in your body and may protect you from chronic disease. They also add a nice protein boost to this recipe.

What is the best milk to use for overnight oats? ›

But, anything from whole to skim milk works, or a non-dairy option like soy milk, almond milk, or another option that you prefer. Here you can see (on the right) the more soupy-liquid version is the overnight oats before they have soaked overnight.

Can I eat overnight oats everyday? ›

Overnight oats are perfectly safe to be eaten every day. You may even eat them every morning if you like. However, some say that they feel oats give them digestive issues; overnight oats are not unsafe for those without medical conditions that affect digestion.

Why shouldn't you put overnight oats in the fridge? ›

If you soak your oats overnight at room temperature (do not put them in the fridge!) between 7-15hrs it allows the natural enzymes and other helpful organisms to begin fermenting the grain and this will neutralise a large portion of the phytic acid.

Is overnight oats better with milk or yogurt? ›

Milk: You can make overnight oats with any kind of milk — dairy or non-dairy. If using non-dairy milk, it's best to stick with unsweetened. Greek yogurt: Not only does Greek yogurt make overnight oats more filling, but it also gives the oats a super-creamy texture.

Why are overnight oats so thick? ›

Although the consistency of oatmeal mostly depends on personal choice, not adding enough liquid to overnight oats might lead to a thick, pasty mixture.

Are overnight oats a healthy option? ›

When combined with milk or yoghurt, overnight oats can be a source of protein, which is essential for muscle repair and overall body function. The fibre and nutrients in oats are associated with a reduced risk of heart disease. They can help lower bad LDL cholesterol levels and promote cardiovascular health.

How do you make overnight oats not soggy? ›

Yogurt: Give your oats an extra boost of protein with a scoop of your favorite Greek yogurt. Tip: While you can add the mix-ins the night before, I like to portion them out separately as pictured, but wait to add them until right before serving. That way my oatmeal is extra fresh and not soggy!

Why did my overnight oats not work? ›

If you don't add enough liquid, your oats will be dry and clumpy in the morning, making them less enjoyable to eat. Make sure to add enough milk or yogurt to fully cover your oats and give them a creamy consistency.

Why do my overnight oats taste bitter? ›

Prior research with oats has shown that bitterness and associated off-flavours are linked to the accumulation of free fatty acids, their volatile oxidation products, and possibly amino acids and certain phenols.

Are overnight oats better for you than oatmeal? ›

The intensity of heat while cooking is the contributing factor, lower the heat better the nutrient availability. When you soak the oats overnight, it's almost like you're cooking them, but the process is much longer and slower, and it's done without heat. Hence, it is more nutrient rich than cooked version.

How do you level up overnight oats? ›

Ways to Take Overnight Oatmeal to the Next Level
  1. Add Enough Liquid. ...
  2. Use Almond Milk. ...
  3. Don't Add Toppings Overnights. ...
  4. Add More Flavour. ...
  5. More Protein. ...
  6. Make Use of a Natural Sweetener. ...
  7. Add More Cream.
Aug 16, 2022

Are overnight oats better with milk or water? ›

Water will also make the oats more gummy instead of creamy. So it's better to use oatmeal with milk. Make the oatmeal with milk instead of water. If you're using almond milk, it will add nice flavor, but won't increase the protein content much.

Are overnight oats supposed to taste good? ›

What Do Overnight Oats Taste Like? Overnight oats taste a little different than regular oatmeal—for starters, they're cold. Cold oats might not seem like a comforting breakfast, but they're actually very refreshing in the warmer months. The soaked oats have a hearty flavor that pairs well with fresh fruit.

Do overnight oats taste good warmed up? ›

While overnight oats are usually enjoyed as a cold breakfast, thankfully, there is no reason you can't enjoy your overnight oats warm. Simply microwave them or warm them on a stovetop. If you're using a stovetop to warm them, make sure to add more liquid to your oats to avoid makin' a mess.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Clemencia Bogisich Ret

Last Updated:

Views: 6071

Rating: 5 / 5 (60 voted)

Reviews: 83% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Clemencia Bogisich Ret

Birthday: 2001-07-17

Address: Suite 794 53887 Geri Spring, West Cristentown, KY 54855

Phone: +5934435460663

Job: Central Hospitality Director

Hobby: Yoga, Electronics, Rafting, Lockpicking, Inline skating, Puzzles, scrapbook

Introduction: My name is Clemencia Bogisich Ret, I am a super, outstanding, graceful, friendly, vast, comfortable, agreeable person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.