Simple overnight oats you can top with anything you’d like. Try blueberry, peanut butter, chocolate or banana! Chia seeds are great with almond milk too.
This simple overnight oats recipe is super versatile! Add berries or protein powder to this base for a ton of varieties. A nutritious breakfast with fiber you’ll love. (affiliate links present)
What are overnight oats?
This term may be new to you. It is really a complete start to the day with rolled oats combined with milk and yogurt. Instead of boiling, your oatmeal soaks up the liquid over night in the fridge, allowing ingredients to hydrate that way.
- Basic ingredients are oats, milk, yogurt and chia seeds.
- The rest is up to you and you can swap out to create dairy free too.
Dairy Free Overnight Oats
My husband is lactose intolerant so I get it. You can definitely use coconut, almond, plant based alternatives or cashew milk instead. Silk has a really great vanilla yogurt you can use for this as well. I have tried it and it is excellent.
Are overnight oats healthy?
Oats have a lot of nutritional qualities. They’re high in fiber, which is linked to lowering cholesterol and improving overall heart health.
Generally, eating cold is the preferred method. Of course if you’d rather have it warmed up you could certainly do so in the microwave.
I would transfer to a room temp. dish and heat in 30 second intervals stirring in between times.
Not really. I mean if I have clean 16 oz. mason jars with lids I prefer to use that. BUT often times I will use a large mug instead, no problem.
It’s kinda’ all about the mix ins right?? I love fresh berries on top but other ideas are: almond butter, cashew butter, chocolate chips, pumpkin butter, sunflower seed butter or peanut butter mixed in!
Overnight Oats with Milk
There is a lot of flexibility when it comes to the yogurt and milk you mix in too. Want a vegan oats dish? Use almond milk and/or yogurt made with coconut milk if you want. This is my favorite mix in!
Overnight Oats with Yogurt
Greek yogurt is where it’s at. It’s thick with a ton more flavor than low fat varieties. Coconut yoghurt seriously goes well with any other flavors I have added in or on.
I found that these 4.5 oz. containers are perfect to add into 1 serving. Mix, take 1 bite and there you have the 1/2 cup you need. Of course if you are making these for your family you’d need to triple or quadruple the recipe.
- Each one below will feed 1-2 people depending on how hungry they are.
- The great thing about these when you have different taste buds in your house is you can really personalize each one.
I mean a handful of fresh diced berries is an easy choice. Summertime is best because there are SO many choices then. You could defrost frozen berries too but as always, fresh is always best.
Healthy Overnight oats recipe
There is a printable recipe card at the bottom but this is a quick step by step for you.
- Pour in your oats, then milk, yogurt, and chia seeds. Stir these together.
- Top with berries, nuts, raisins or chocolate chips. You could instead incorporate items like peanut butter into the mix and/or on top.
- Put containers into fridge to refrigerate overnight ideally. You could make them in the morning and enjoy in the evening if you wanted.
Which oats are best for overnight oats?
- Old Fashioned rolled oats are the easiest and best to use
- Alternatively I found this one that is specifically for this dish
- I don’t think it is necessary to buy this one but if you can find it, they worked quite well
- DO NOT use quick oats or else you’ll create a sort of mush overnight oats (some do prefer that texture though I suppose, so have at it if you do)
- Steel cut oats aren’t a good choice either.
Overnight oats toppings
I mean use your imagination. Any and all diced up dried fruits are great if you are making this on the go on vacations, or;
- Blueberries with a touch of vanilla extract
- Banana slices
- Sliced peaches or pears
- Pumpkin seeds
- 1/2 c. Raisins and 3 tbsp. brown sugar is another one of our favorites
- Blackberries or raspberries
- Chocolate chips
- Peanut butter is highly recommended, any nut butter out there really
Meal prep is super quick. Less than 5 minutes for each cup is needed. If you want to make 4-6 at a time just set cups up and go down the line. Add each ingredient and you’ll be done in no time at all.
Printable version of this easy overnight oatmeal recipe is below. Let us know what you love to add into your cups so we can try it too!
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Simple Overnight Oats
Ingredients
- 1/2 c old fashioned oats or can labeled overnight oats is what I used, both are great
- 1/2 c milk
- 1/2 c yogurt Greek yogurt
- 1 tsp chia seeds
- 1 c fruit
Instructions
- Pour overnight oats in bottom of your jar or mug. Top that with your milk, then yogurt, then chia seeds and stir.
- Top with fresh berries if you'd like and refrigerate overnight.
- Enjoy in the morning!