Easy Overnight Oats

5 from 25299 votes

This easy overnight oats recipe is a healthy simple breakfast that you can make ahead for busy mornings and customize with many add-ins and toppings!

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This recipe will teach you how to make a basic overnight oats recipe for beginners. You’ll also find some tips for meal prepping them in batches, and some topping inspiration with four popular overnight oatmeal flavors

Easy overnight oats - 4 ways

This overnight oats recipe is a great healthy breakfast that you can prepare in advance and it can last all week. So it makes it a great meal prep idea for Sunday night to prepare for the work week.

What are overnight oats?

If you’ve never had overnight oatmeal, they’re basically a no-cook method of making oatmeal. So, instead of cooking oatmeal on the stovetop or in the microwave, you soak the raw oats with milk. That soaking process allows the oats to absorb the liquid and soften them enough to eat uncooked. You only need to let the oats soak and rest in the fridge for 2 hours. But, it’s ideal if you soak it overnight…hence the name overnight oats!

The next morning you have a ready-to-eat, delicious, creamy bowl or jar of “oatmeal.” The consistency is like a porridge or pudding. It makes for an easy convenient breakfast that has a more dense and creamy texture than warm oatmeal.

Best of all, you reap all the healthy benefits of oats in a fun grab-and-go breakfast:

  1. They contain more protein than most grains (5g per serving).
  2. They’re a rich source of fiber, which helps you feel fuller longer (4g per serving).
  3. They are a nutrient dense food, which makes your feel more satiated.
Peanut Butter & Jelly Overnight Oats with other glasses of overnight oats in the background

What ingredients do you need for overnight oats recipe?

  1. Oats: This is really the only ingredient that’s non-negotiable. Make sure to use plain old-fashioned oats and not quick oats because the consistency is best with rolled oats. You can also use gluten-free oats. Do not use steel cut oats.
  2. Milk: For the liquid part, you can actually make this with water! But it’s more common to use milk. You can use full fat, 2% or low-fat milk. You can also use plant-based milk like almond milk, coconut milk, cashew milk or oat milk.
  3. Chia seeds (optional): These seeds are packed with tons of nutrition, and they help give the oats a pudding-like texture. So I always like to include them in my base recipe.
  4. Greek or vegan yogurt (optional): This gives the oats a tangy flavor, creamy texture and boost of protein.
  5. Vanilla extract (optional): This enhances all the flavors that go into the overnight oatmeal as well as giving it sweetness without any sweetener.
  6. Sweetener (optional): Use honey or maple syrup to sweeten the mixture, especially because oats can be somewhat bland on their own.
  7. Toppings: This is where you can have some fun with fresh fruit, dried fruit, nut butters, nuts, seeds and spices (like cinnamon, nutmeg or cardamom). There are so many topping ideas and combinations, and I think that’s what makes this such a great versatile recipe!
Ingredients needed to make easy overnight oats

How to make basic overnight oats?

It’s all about the ratios to get the consistency you like. So try this suggested ratio below and then add more milk or use less milk until you find what works perfectly for you! Once you nail down the ratio of the basic overnight oats recipe, the sky’s the limit with the flavor combinations and toppings.

Here’s our simple ratio:

1 part oats + 1 part milk + ⅛ part seeds

To start, combine old fashioned oats and chia seeds. You can use a bowl, a mason jar or just some glass cups.

Collage showing step by step making of overnight oats: oats + chia seeds

Next add the Greek or vegan yogurt and vanilla extract.

Collage showing step by step making of overnight oats: oats + chia seeds + greek yogurt + vanilla extract

And then add the sweetener of choice and the milk. Then mix the overnight oats together until you see no clumps. Next, seal or cover with a lid, and chill in the fridge for at least 2 hours or overnight.

Collage showing step by step making of overnight oats: oats + chia seeds + greek yogurt + vanilla extract + maple syrup + milk

The next morning, grab a spoon, add your favorite toppings and dig in!

Almond joy overnight oats in a glass cup with other overnight oats in background

overnight oats Video tutorial

Overnight Oatmeal Recipe Ideas

Peanut Butter Jelly: It’s like having a peanut butter jelly sandwich in overnight oats form. Layer peanut butter, strawberry jelly, fresh cut strawberries and crushed peanuts. It has a sweet and salty taste that’s irresistible.

Peanut Butter & Jelly Overnight Oats

Apple Pie: With the combination of chopped apples, pecans, maple syrup and ground cinnamon, this variation is a great fall recipe that has a warm sweet taste and satisfying crunch from the fruit and nuts.

Apple Pie Overnight Oats

Banana Nutella: The name of this recipe says it all – bananas and Nutella – match made in heaven, and a great flavor for kids to try! The banana and Nutella together have a rich decadent taste that makes it feel like you’re enjoying dessert, instead of a nutritious breakfast. Try also adding crushed hazelnuts and chocolate chips to enhance the flavor.

Banana Nutella Overnight Oats

Almond Joy: This recipe is a play on the popular chocolate bar. Use shredded coconut, crushed almonds, mini chocolate chips and maple syrup.

Almond Joy Overnight Oats

Tips for making the best overnight oats

  1. Make it inside of a jar or a mason jar (with measurement lines on the side). This way you can measure, mix, chill, carry and eat the overnight oats all in one convenient container.
  2. Use plain old fashioned rolled oats, not quick oats. Quick oats will get too soggy when soaked with milk. And do not use steel cut oats because they won’t soften enough to eat just with milk unfortunately. Try this steel cut overnight oatmeal instead.
  3. Warm it up if you prefer warm oats in the morning. Although overnight oatmeal is typically served cold, you can definitely eat them warm. Just place them in the microwave for one minute and be sure to use a microwave-safe jar.
  4. Make a bunch for the week. Because overnight oats typically stay good in the fridge for up to 5 days, try making a batch on Sunday and having it on hand in the fridge for the whole week. Be careful if you’re adding fruit beforehand because they will typically not remain fresh for more than a couple days.
4 ways to make overnight oats

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Easy Overnight Oats

This easy overnight oats recipe is a healthy simple breakfast that you can make ahead for busy mornings and customize with many add-ins and toppings!
5 from 25299 votes
Servings 1 serving
Course Breakfast
Calories 378
Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes

Video

Ingredients
  

Base

  • ½ cup rolled oats
  • ½ cup milk of choice
  • ¼ cup non-fat Greek yogurt
  • 1 tablespoon chia seeds
  • 1 tablespoon sweetener honey or maple syrup
  • ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract

Peanut Butter & Jelly

Apple Pie

Banana Nutella

  • ½ banana sliced
  • 1 tablespoon Nutella
  • 1 tablespoon hazelnuts crushed
  • 1 tablespoon chocolate chips

Almond Joy

Instructions

  • Place all ingredients into a large glass container and mix until combined.
  • Cover the glass container with a lid or plastic wrap. Place in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours or overnight. Toppings can be added the night before or immediately before serving.
  • Uncover and enjoy from the glass container the next day. Thin with a little more milk or water, if desired.

Equipment

Notes

Storage: Overnight oats can be stored in the fridge for up to 5 days. This makes it an ideal breakfast meal prep to make on Sunday night for the week.
Substitutes: For best results, follow the recipe as is. However here are some common substitutes that would work well in this recipe.
  • Make it vegan: Use plant-based milk, plant-based yogurt, and maple syrup for sweetener
  • Make it gluten-free: Use certified gluten-free oats
  • Make it sugar-free: Omit the sweetener all together or used mashed or pureed fruit in the base recipe
* Please note the nutrition label does not include any toppings.

Nutrition

Calories: 378kcal, Carbohydrates: 54g, Protein: 17g, Fat: 11g, Saturated Fat: 3g, Cholesterol: 15mg, Sodium: 80mg, Potassium: 485mg, Fiber: 8g, Sugar: 21g, Vitamin A: 198IU, Calcium: 322mg, Iron: 3mg

Nutrition information provided is an estimate. It will vary based on cooking method and specific ingredients used.

Cuisine American
Course: Breakfast

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Recipe Rating




Comments

  1. It was sooooooooo good! I tried the peanut butter and jelly with my mom, and now it’s the only thing we have for breakfast now! By the way we Brewing America lids so anyone who tries definetly use those!

  2. I loveeeeee this recipe sooooo much! I bought a set of mason jars especially. I quickly grab a jar and off I go in the morning to work! My favourite topping is banana and Nutella. I’m allergic to peanuts so I sprinkle some sunflower seeds on top instead- super yum! ✨

    1. Thank you so much! I am so glad you like the overnight oats – love the idea of using the sunflower seeds perfect sub for peanuts!

    1. Great question, Moyna! Nope you can just throw them in as is. If you want to dry roast them you can to add a more robust flavor.

  3. Really good base for overnight oats. In the morning just combine the add ins. We have tried banana and peanut butter and apple and peanut butter using half a banana or half an apple per person, but staying with 1 TBSP peanut butter. Thankyou.

  4. This is absolutely delicious! I am currently eating it right now and wow it’s so perfect. I used your base which is delicious by itself, and for my add ins I used strawberries and blueberries and it’s fantastic. Thank you so much!

  5. I’m wondering if there’s any reason I shouldn’t make this in one large batch instead of individual containers? I’ve only ever seen this recipe portioned out, but not sure why. Thank you!

    1. You can try it in a large container. I like to portion it out to stay within the serving size.

  6. I missed the original boat on overnight oats & find myself finally giving it a whirl! I really enjoyed the Almond Joy spin. I’m trying again for tomorrow but omitting the greek yogurt. I wasn’t a fan of tart oatmeal.

    1. So glad you liked the almond joy spin! Yeah, the tangy yogurt is an acquired taste, you can try some sweetened yogurt or just replace it with a liquid ratio.

  7. Made these a few nights ago! Turned out great. It was my first time trying them. I love oatmeal but realized I am not a big fan of super cold oatmeal (texture). I heated it just to get the chill off and topped it with fresh blueberries, it was perfect! I am making it again this evening for tomorrow, adding a dash of cinnamon! Will continue to try and eat them cold though, it will be a great hot summer brekkie! Thank you for your recipes! ❤️

    1. You’re so welcome! It does take a little getting used to. You can let it sit out 30 or so minutes before you are ready to eat if you want as well to take some of the chill off.

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