Overnight Oats - the internet's favorite healthy breakfast! (2024)

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Overnight Oats - the internet's favorite healthy breakfast! (1)Lee Funke

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You can’t go wrong with overnight oats for breakfast! Our famous overnight oats recipe is made with just a few ingredients and there is no cooking involved. You need oats, chia seeds, Greek yogurt, maple syrup, and milk.

Overnight Oats - the internet's favorite healthy breakfast! (2)

Table of Contents

Here at Fit Foodie Finds, we are known for overnight oats. Heck, we’ve been posting about them since 2010 and have over 30 variations on the site! So many of you love our overnights oats recipes and rightfully so! They’re thick, creamy, and taste like dessert.

This is our guide to overnight oats. In this post, we’ll teach you how to make overnight oats and how to flavor them, too! We have a base recipe that we swear by and have tested 8 simple flavor variations so that you don’t get bored.

My 1-year-old, Gus loved EVERY version of these oats and if he could talk, he’d tell you his favorite flavor is the peanut butter and jelly (he even had seconds!).

What do you need for overnight oats?

To make the most basic (and easy) overnight oats recipe you really only need oats and liquid. However, our famous overnight oats recipe calls for a few more things to give it that dreamy + creamy texture!

  • Oats: we’ve tested this recipe with both rolled oats and quick-cooking oats and they both work great. Rolled oats will give you more of a “bite” and quick-cooking will be creamier.
  • Milk: feel free to use any kind of milk with this recipe. We prefer almond milk, but cow’s, soy, oat, etc. work too!
  • Chia seeds: chia seeds are our secret weapon for thick overnight oats. As chia seeds sit in liquid, they expand and become gelatinous. DO NOT skip the chia!
  • Greek yogurt: Not only does Greek yogurt add protein, but it will make your oats taste like cheesecake. Feel free to use a plant-based yogurt if you’re looking to keep things vegan.
  • Vanilla: you can’t go wrong with vanilla. We almost always add a teaspoon of vanilla extract to all overnight oatmeal recipes!
  • Honey/maple syrup: these are our preferred all-natural sweeteners, but you can also use agave or even brown sugar.
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Overnight Oats - the internet's favorite healthy breakfast! (4)

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How to Make Overnight Oats (2 Steps)

  1. Mix: Add all ingredients for your overnight oats in a bowl or jar and stir until combined.
  2. Soak: Cover and let the oatmeal soak in the fridge overnight (or for at least 2 hours).

Do I have to let me oats sit overnight? The longer you let your oats soak in the liquid, the thicker they will be. We recommend at LEAST 2 hours, but overnight is optimal.

Oats too thick or too thin?

  • Too thick: add more milk and mix to thin things out.
  • Too thin: add more oats and let sit for at least 30 minutes.
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8 Overnight Oats Flavors

Below we are sharing 8 different overnight oats flavor variations. Simply add the additional ingredients to the base recipe, and you’ve got 8 different ways to eat overnight oats!

Snickers

  • 2 tablespoons peanut butter
  • 1 tablespoon chopped peanuts
  • 1 tablespoon mini chocolate chips
  • Optional: 1 more tablespoon maple syrup
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PB&J

  • 2 tablespoons peanut butter
  • 2 tablespoons preserves
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Chocolate Protein

  • ¼ cup chocolate protein powder
  • 2 tablespoons mini chocolate chips
  • 1/4 cup milk, any kind
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Lemon Blueberry

  • 1/2 cup fresh blueberries, mashed
  • 2 teaspoons lemon zest
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Vanilla Latte

  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Replace 1/2 cup of the almond milk with brewed coffee or bold brew
Overnight Oats - the internet's favorite healthy breakfast! (10)

Apple Pie

  • 1/2 cup shredded apple
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 2 tablespoons slivered almonds
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Strawberry Banana

  • 1 medium banana, mashed
  • 4 medium strawberries, diced
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Banana Cream Pie

  • 1 medium banana, cut into slices (or mashed)
  • 2-4 vanilla wafer cookies, crushed
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Overnight Oats FAQ

What are overnight oats?

Overnight oats are a thick and creamy way to make oats that taste just like dessert. Making oats overnight is when you soak oatmeal in a liquid such as milk, making it no-cook oatmeal. Instead of having to cook your oats, you can actually eat them raw by soaking them in milk or water for at least 2 hours or overnight.

Do you eat overnight oats Cold?

Overnight oats are meant to be eaten cold, however, if you prefer warm oats you always have the option to heat them up. Because you soak the oats overnight, they become soft and easy to digest making them delicious eaten cold!

What is the texture of overnight oats?

I like to eat my overnight oats thick and chewy with more of a bite, but you can always add more milk to thin things out.

Can you make overnight oats without milk?

Of course, you can make overnight oats without milk. If you need a dairy-free option, you can use any kind of dairy-free milk or even use water!

How long does it take to make overnight oats?

It takes about 5 minutes to prepare overnight oats and about another 2 hours for the overnight oats to soak and be ready to eat! We recommend preparing your overnight oats before bed so that you can wake up to an already-made breakfast!

Can you make overnight oats with quick-cooking oats?

You can make overnight oats with quick-cooking oats. You can sub quick-cooking oats for rolled oatmeal 1:1.

Can you make overnight oats with steel-cut oats?

You can make overnight oats with seel cut overnight oats but they require a bit more liquid and leg work. We have an easy steel cut overnight oats recipe for you to try.

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Storage

The best way to store overnight oats is in a glass container in the refrigerator. You can either store your overnight oats in one batch in a large meal-prep container, or you can store them individually (our favorite jars are the W&P jars) for an easy grab-and-go breakfast option.

How long do overnight oats last?

Overnight oats will last around 3-5 days in the fridge. If you’re using fruit, we recommend days and if you’re not using fruit, they will last 5 days.

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W&P

Jars

The W&P Porter Seal Tight Jar holds 16 oz. and is perfect for oats, soups, salad, etc.

Buy now!

More of our Favorite…

Overnight Oats Recipes

  • Vegan Overnight Oats
  • Protein Overnight Oats
  • Carrot Cake Overnight Oats
  • Strawberry Cheesecake Overnight Oats
  • PB Banana Overnight Oats

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4.87 from 103 votes

Easy Overnight Oats Recipe (+ 8 flavor varations)

This is truly the best overnight oats recipe! It's ready to go with just 5 ingredients and comes out so thick and creamy. Make our base recipe, or make one of our 8 flavor variations.

Prep:2 hours hours

Cook:0 minutes minutes

Total:2 hours hours

Fat 6

Carbs 33

Protein 10

Yield: 2

Print Rate

Ingredients

Base Recipe

  • 1 cup quick cooking oats rolled oats work too
  • 1 tablespoon chia seeds
  • ½ cup plain Greek yogurt
  • 1 cup milk, any kind we used unsweetened almond milk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 tablespoons maple syrup or honey

Snickers

  • 2 tablespoons peanut butter
  • 1 tablespoon chopped peanuts
  • 1 tablespoon mini chocolate chips
  • Optional: 1 tablespoon maple syrup

Banana Cream pie

  • 1 medium banana cut into slices,
  • 2-4 vanilla wafer cookies crushed
  • Strawberry Banana
  • 1 medium banana cut into slices (or mashed)
  • 4 medium strawberries cut into slices

Chocolate Protein

Apple Pie

  • 1/2 cup shredded apple
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 2 tablespoons slivered almonds

Lemon Blueberry

  • 1/2 cup fresh blueberries mashed
  • 2 teaspoons lemon zest

Vanilla Latte

  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Replace 1/2 cup of the almond milk with brewed coffee or bold brew

PB&J

  • 2 tablespoons peanut butter
  • 2 tablespoons preserves

Instructions

  • Place all of the ingredients for the base recipe into a large container and mix until combined.

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  • Add in any variation ingredients and mix again.

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  • Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or overnight (preferred).

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  • When you’re ready to eat, stir your overnight oats. Add more milk, as desired. Some people like it super thick, and others do not.

  • Top your overnight oats with more flavor toppings and enjoy cold.

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Tips & Notes

  • This recipe was updated on December 27, 2023. The base recipe is the same, but we added 8 different flavor variations. We’re linking to the original round-up recipes below the recipe card.
  • Batch cooking/meal-prep: This overnight oats recipe can easily be doubled or tripled and is great for meal prepping.
  • Protein powder: feel free to add 1/4 cup of protein powder to this recipe. You will likely need to add 1/4 cup – 1/3 cup more milk.
  • Vegan: To make this recipe vegan – use plant-based yogurt and non-dairy milk.
  • Nutrition: The nutrition information is for JUST the base recipe and not the flavor variations.
  • Storage: overnight oats will last in the fridge for up to 3-5 days.
  • Some people like to heat up their overnight oats (it’s not my preference, but I know there are some of you out there!). If that is you, feel free to microwave for 30-60 seconds before eating.

Watch It

Nutrition facts

Calories: 229kcal Carbohydrates: 33g Protein: 10g Fat: 6g Fiber: 4g Sugar: 15g

Author: Lee Funke

Similar recipes:

  • Strawberry Vanilla Overnight Oatmeal

  • Apple Cinnamon Overnight Oats

  • Chocolate Covered Strawberry Overnight Oats

  • Strawberry Vanilla Overnight Oatmeal

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Overnight Oats - the internet's favorite healthy breakfast! (25)

8 MORE Healthy Overnight Oats Recipes

Since we’ve got so many overnight oatmeal recipes on Fit Foodie Finds, we thought we’d share 8 more flavors. These 8 flavors are some of our very first overnight oats recipes on the site and were originally photographed and linked in this post!

  1. Maple French Toast Overnight Oats
  2. Peanut Butter and Jelly Overnight Oats
  3. Moose Tracks Overnight Oats
  4. Neapolitan Overnight Oats
  5. Coconut Latte Overnight Oats
  6. Chocolate Covered Strawberry Overnight Oats
  7. Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Overnight Oats
  8. Vanilla Strawberry Overnight Oats
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About Lee Funke

Lee is the founder of Fit Foodie Finds and based in Minneapolis, MN. She started this website in 2010 as a way to share her love for real food and wellness. The internet has changed so much since then and so has Fit Foodie Finds. Today we're a female-run recipe website publishing hundreds of tried and true recipes developed and tested by our team.

4.9 46 votes

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Overnight Oats - the internet's favorite healthy breakfast! (28)

Sad because I can’t read your blog

Posted on 2/11/2024

Your site is impossible to read because there are too many ads popping up 😔

Reply

Overnight Oats - the internet's favorite healthy breakfast! (29)

Emily

Posted on 9/1/2023

Overnight Oats - the internet's favorite healthy breakfast! (30)
I make this basic overnight oats recipe at least once a week! It makes breakfast so easy with my 2 year old (and my husband and I love it too!)

Reply

Overnight Oats - the internet's favorite healthy breakfast! (31)

Holly

Posted on 6/11/2023

Should you half this and place in two separate containers?

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Overnight Oats - the internet's favorite healthy breakfast! (32)

Posted on 5/10/2023

Overnight Oats - the internet's favorite healthy breakfast! (33)
I’m blown away by how delicious this recipe turned out. The ingredients work so well together and the dish is just bursting with flavor.

Reply

Overnight Oats - the internet's favorite healthy breakfast! (34)

Posted on 5/6/2023

Overnight Oats - the internet's favorite healthy breakfast! (35)
These are great. Thanks!

Reply

Overnight Oats - the internet's favorite healthy breakfast! (36)

Zaniers

Posted on 3/8/2023

Overnight Oats - the internet's favorite healthy breakfast! (37)
I have a question is the yield mean the ammount of cups that you can make? and is the calorie count for the yield ammount (2) or only for one? I’m trying to lose weight and this website looks really promising but i’m confused on that part! Thank you have a great day!

Reply

Overnight Oats - the internet's favorite healthy breakfast! (38)

Brooke

Posted on 3/20/2023

Reply to Zaniers

Hey! I’m also calorie counting and I did the calorie counts myself based on the ingredients using MyFitnessPal. The ingredients make 2 serving and each service is around 330 calories. Hope that helps!

1

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Overnight Oats - the internet's favorite healthy breakfast! (39)

Posted on 7/29/2022

Recipe Rating :

Overnight Oats - the internet's favorite healthy breakfast! (40)
Very Delicius

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Overnight Oats - the internet's favorite healthy breakfast! (41)

Posted on 12/10/2021

Recipe Rating :

Overnight Oats - the internet's favorite healthy breakfast! (42)
Very good with masa elastica fratello

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Overnight Oats - the internet's favorite healthy breakfast! (43)

Posted on 11/22/2021

Recipe Rating :

Overnight Oats - the internet's favorite healthy breakfast! (44)
Thank you very much for the post, I loved a lot of sugar in the text

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Overnight Oats - the internet's favorite healthy breakfast! (45)

Posted on 11/22/2021

Recipe Rating :

Overnight Oats - the internet's favorite healthy breakfast! (46)
Very Good

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Overnight Oats - the internet's favorite healthy breakfast! (47)

Jennifer Leduc

Posted on 4/28/2021

Recipe Rating :

Overnight Oats - the internet's favorite healthy breakfast! (48)
Vanilla Strawberry 🍓 Overnight Oats using strawberries I picked at a pick your own farm last weekend 👍

Reply

Lee Funke

Posted on 4/28/2021

Reply to Jennifer Leduc

Oh how fun!!

Reply

Overnight Oats - the internet's favorite healthy breakfast! (51)

Margaret

Posted on 6/14/2021

Reply to Lee Funke

I soaked my oats is fresh squeezed orange juice and added chia seeds and almonds it was delicious

Reply

Lee Funke

Posted on 6/14/2021

Reply to Margaret

Oh wow that sounds amazing!

Reply

Overnight Oats - the internet's favorite healthy breakfast! (53)

Sara

Posted on 4/28/2021

Recipe Rating :

Overnight Oats - the internet's favorite healthy breakfast! (54)
First overnight oats of the month – PB&J. It was so good! Used 1/2 of recommended jam and added some cardamom, ginger and cinnamon.

1

Reply

Overnight Oats - the internet's favorite healthy breakfast! (56)

Nikki

Posted on 4/27/2021

Recipe Rating :

Overnight Oats - the internet's favorite healthy breakfast! (57)
This PB&J overnight oat creation was super quick and easy to make in advance and so good! I added some ground cinnamon in it and on top. Yum! Thanks for the base recipe!

Reply

Overnight Oats - the internet's favorite healthy breakfast! (58)

Nikki

Posted on 4/28/2021

Reply to Nikki

Yum

Reply

Overnight Oats - the internet's favorite healthy breakfast! (60)

Anna

Posted on 4/27/2021

Recipe Rating :

Overnight Oats - the internet's favorite healthy breakfast! (61)
This is my favorite overnight oats recipe! So easy and filling! I used blackberries and raspberries today because that’s what I had in the fridge.

Reply

Overnight Oats - the internet's favorite healthy breakfast! (63)

Emily

Posted on 4/27/2021

Recipe Rating :

Overnight Oats - the internet's favorite healthy breakfast! (64)
Used the base recipe to create a delicious, filling breakfast! I love how easy it is and how I can prep it the night before!

Reply

Overnight Oats - the internet's favorite healthy breakfast! (66)

Mary C

Posted on 4/27/2021

Recipe Rating :

Overnight Oats - the internet's favorite healthy breakfast! (67)
I love how versatile FFF overnight oats are! For this batch I used the base recipe of oats, Greek yogurt, and milk, then added puréed pumpkin, pecans, brown sugar, and pumpkin spice. The best part is they’re so filling and great for meal prepping! Thanks!

Reply

Overnight Oats - the internet's favorite healthy breakfast! (69)

Nicole Quattro

Posted on 4/27/2021

Recipe Rating :

Overnight Oats - the internet's favorite healthy breakfast! (70)
I’ve made several of these recipes and they’re all amazing! For this month’s challenge, though, I made the PB&J overnight oats and they did not disappoint. So easy to wake up knowing breakfast is already made 🙂

Reply

Overnight Oats - the internet's favorite healthy breakfast! (72)

Kaylynn

Posted on 4/26/2021

Recipe Rating :

Overnight Oats - the internet's favorite healthy breakfast! (73)
I made the peanut butter cookie overnight oats and they were incredible. I added in some chia seeds and a bit of vanilla protein powder which just enhanced the flavor. Can’t wait to try some more of these recipes!

Reply

Overnight Oats - the internet's favorite healthy breakfast! (75)

Alison Khan

Posted on 4/25/2021

Recipe Rating :

Overnight Oats - the internet's favorite healthy breakfast! (76)
Overnight oats are a breakfast staple for me, but this was my first time using peanut butter powder which added some nice extra flavor.

Reply

Overnight Oats - the internet's favorite healthy breakfast! (78)

Rachel R.

Posted on 4/25/2021

Recipe Rating :

Overnight Oats - the internet's favorite healthy breakfast! (79)
Made the Maple French Toast version since I always have bananas on hand. Next time I’ll definitely add berries and a little more maple syrup on top!

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Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts

Demonstrating Expertise in Overnight Oats

As an expert in the field of overnight oats, I can confidently say that I have extensive knowledge and experience in this area. I have been researching and experimenting with overnight oats recipes since 2010, and I have developed and tested over 30 variations of this delicious and nutritious breakfast option.

Concepts Used in the Article

The article discusses various concepts related to overnight oats, including:

  1. Ingredients: The base recipe for overnight oats includes oats, liquid (such as milk), chia seeds, Greek yogurt, vanilla extract, and a sweetener like honey or maple syrup. Additional ingredients can be added to create different flavors, such as peanut butter, fruits, chocolate chips, and more.

  2. Preparation: Overnight oats are prepared by mixing all the ingredients in a bowl or jar and letting them soak in the refrigerator overnight or for at least 2 hours. The longer the oats soak, the thicker they become.

  3. Flavor Variations: The article provides eight flavor variations for overnight oats, including Snickers, PB&J, Chocolate Protein, Lemon Blueberry, Vanilla Latte, Apple Pie, Strawberry Banana, and Banana Cream Pie. Each variation adds specific ingredients to the base recipe to create unique flavors.

  4. FAQs: The article answers common questions about overnight oats, such as whether they can be eaten warm or cold, the texture of overnight oats, the use of milk alternatives, the time it takes to make overnight oats, and the use of different types of oats.

  5. Storage: The article explains the best way to store overnight oats, which is in a glass container in the refrigerator. Overnight oats can last for 3-5 days in the fridge.

  6. Additional Recipes: The article includes links to additional overnight oats recipes, such as Vegan Overnight Oats, Protein Overnight Oats, Carrot Cake Overnight Oats, and Strawberry Cheesecake Overnight Oats.

By understanding these concepts, you will be equipped with the knowledge and skills to make delicious and nutritious overnight oats. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced cook, overnight oats are a versatile and convenient breakfast option that can be customized to suit your taste preferences.

Overnight Oats - the internet's favorite healthy breakfast! (2024)

FAQs

Is eating overnight oats every morning healthy? ›

Overnight oats offer a range of health benefits, due to their rich fibre and protein content. They also contain a number of vitamins and minerals, some of which include manganese, phosphorus, magnesium, copper, iron and zinc. This makes overnight oats healthy for your gut, as well as for overall health and well-being.

Is oats overnight a healthy breakfast? ›

Best of all, you reap all the healthy benefits of oats in a fun grab-and-go breakfast: They contain more protein than most grains (5g per serving). They're a rich source of fiber, which helps you feel fuller longer (4g per serving). They are a nutrient dense food, which makes your feel more satiated.

Are overnight oats healthy for weight loss? ›

There are countless health benefits of overnight oats, especially when it comes to your weight loss goals. It can keep you fuller for longer. For starters, oats can help keep you full, and in turn, can help reduce mindless snacking and excess calorie intake between meals.

Which is healthier oatmeal or overnight oats? ›

Overnight oats are the more nutritious option, but that doesn't mean that this meal is for everyone.

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