7 Awesome Ways with Overnight Oats – Overnight oats are a delicious make-ahead breakfast the whole family will love. And with this many flavors (and inspiration for more!), you’ll never run out of ideas! (Gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan-friendly)
Overnight oats are nothing new–they’ve been on the scene for years–but it seems like they’re going through a big revival lately, as I see recipes popping up all over the place. Everyone makes their oats a bit differently–some people love adding yogurt for a more muesli effect, some people always add chia seeds, some only add mix-ins right before serving.
But almost any way you make them, overnight oats make a delicious meal-prep breakfast you can make with pantry staples any time!
I thought I’d walk you through the basics of overnight oats, as well as 7 different ways to make them (one for every day of the week!). Let’s get to it!
OVERNIGHT OATS: THE BASICS
WHAT ARE OVERNIGHT OATS? Overnight oats are a yummy, no-cook way to prepare oats. They’re oats that have been soaked in milk, which makes the oats more easily digestible and makes them a great meal-prep breakfast. They’re usually mixed with other ingredients for taste, such as sweetener (maple syrup, honey, or sugar), a *little* salt, and extras like vanilla, nuts, seeds, fruit, etc.
DO YOU REALLY HAVE TO SOAK THEM OVERNIGHT? Nope! I’ve found oats will start to soften in about 20-30 minutes, so if you’re in a pinch, you don’t need to refrigerate them overnight.
DO YOU EAT OVERNIGHT OATS HOT OR COLD? Most people eat overnight oats cold. The soaking process makes the oats easier to digest, and they’ll still taste great cold. If you don’t want to eat them cold, you can absolutely heat yours through. Since the oats are soaked, they’ll likely cook faster, so keep that in mind as you heat them on the stove or in the microwave.
WHAT KIND OF OATS DO YOU USE FOR OVERNIGHT OATS? I typically make my overnight oats with rolled oats (sometimes labeled “old-fashioned oats”). You can use quick oats in a pinch, though they get a bit softer, and some people prefer using steel-cut. I personally find steel-cut oats remain too chewy for my taste but do what works best for you!
WHAT ARE THE BEST JARS FOR OVERNIGHT OATS? I love my Weck jars and use them for All The Things, but I also use these glass containers with lids regularly. Anything you can cover will work!
MY BASIC RECIPE FOR OVERNIGHT OATS
WHAT’S IN YOUR BASIC OVERNIGHT OATS RECIPE? My basic overnight oats recipe has pretty straightforward, pantry-staple ingredients I always have on hand. We’re talking:
- 1/3 CUP ROLLED OATS. Rolled oats are my fave for overnight oats because they soften without getting mushy. If you’re gluten-free, be sure you’re using certified gluten-free oats!
- 2 TSP. CHIA SEEDS. Chia seeds make these oats nice and creamy, and–bonus!–add some healthy fats and proteins which help this breakfast stick with you. Not a chia person? You can skip them–your oats just won’t be quite as creamy)
- 1/2-3/4 CUP MILK. You can use whatever milk you typically drink for your overnight oats. We’re dairy-free, so I usually opt for almond, cashew, or oat. (Soy, dairy, rice, hemp, etc. all work, too!)
- 1-2 TSP. SWEETENER (I LIKE MAPLE SYRUP OR HONEY). You can go as light or heavy as your tastebuds dictate, but I typically go with 1-2 tsp. of pure maple syrup or honey in my oats. You can use whatever sweetener you like, to taste.
- A TINY PINCH OF SALT. To round out the flavors and keep my oats from tasting flat, I add a tiny (less than 1/8 tsp.) pinch of salt.
- A LITTLE VANILLA OR GOODIES! To give my overnight oats a little flavor, I like adding a few drops of vanilla or cinnamon, but you can flavor these ALL kinds of ways! (Keep scrolling for ideas!)
You’ll mix everything together in a bowl, then chill at least 30-60 minutes, up to overnight. Give it all a good stir in the morning (add a splash of milk, if needed), and dive in!
From there, you get to choose your flavor by adding some mix-ins…
MIX-IN IDEAS FOR OVERNIGHT OATS
You can mix and match basically any goodies you like once you’ve mastered the basic overnight oats recipe, such as…
- NUTS & SEEDS (almonds, cashews, pecans, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, walnuts, etc.)
- FRESH FRUIT (bananas, strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, peaches, etc.(
- DRIED FRUIT (coconut, raisins, dried cranberries, dried cherries, dried blueberries, etc.)
- FREEZE-DRIED FRUITS (freeze-dried strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, mango, pineapple, etc.)
- NUT OR SEED BUTTER (peanut butter, almond butter, cashew butter, chocolate hazelnut butter, sunflower seed butter, etc.)
- FUN EXTRAS (vanilla, cinnamon, almond extract, chocolate chips, cacao nibs, cocoa powder, powdered peanut butter, protein powder, etc.)
THINGS GET REALLY FUN WITH A FEW CLASSIC COMBINATIONS. HERE ARE 7 FLAVORS OF OVERNIGHT OATS TO TRY…
STRAWBERRY BANANA OVERNIGHT OATS
Strawberry-banana is such a yummy classic combination! I love how the natural sweetness of the fruit really comes into play here. This fresh, fruity breakfast is fantastic on a busy morning! (Don’t miss the extra toppings I love adding in the morning!)
GET THE STRAWBERRY BANANA OVERNIGHT OATS RECIPE HERE
CHERRY ALMOND OVERNIGHT OATS
Creamy overnight oats loaded with tangy cherries and crunchy almonds. This yummy overnight oats recipe is one of our favorites! Plus, you can totally swap out the dried cherries for fresh when they’re in season.
GET THE CHERRY ALMOND OVERNIGHT OATS RECIPE HERE
BLUEBERRY MUFFIN OVERNIGHT OATS
Creamy, delicious overnight oats with a blueberry muffin twist! You’ll love this combination. I switch between using cinnamon and my chai spice mixture. Plus, there are some YUMMY topping options in the most I think you’ll LOVE.
GET THE BLUEBERRY MUFFIN OVERNIGHT OATS RECIPE HERE
CHUNKY MONKEY OVERNIGHT OATS
This overnight oats recipe was totally based on ice cream. However, this version is 100% breakfast approved–creamy peanut butter banana overnight oats with a little coconut and *maybe* a little chocolate…
GET THE CHUNKY MONKEY OVERNIGHT OATS RECIPE HERE
CHOCOLATE HAZELNUT OVERNIGHT OATS
You can totally have chocolate for breakfast when it’s served like this! These chocolate hazelnut overnight oats get their chocolate kick from unsweetened cocoa powder, and when you pair them with the crunch of some hazelnuts…you get major Nutella vibes. #winning
GET THE CHOCOLATE HAZELNUT OVERNIGHT OATS RECIPE HERE
HONEY ALMOND OVERNIGHT OATS
Creamy overnight oats studded with crunchy almonds and a kiss of honey. This honey almond overnight oats recipe is dynamite on its own, but it’s also the perfect “home base” for adding all sorts of yummy toppings–berries, peaches, etc. I love that you can change it up based on what’s in season!
GET THE HONEY ALMOND OVERNIGHT OATS RECIPE HERE:
CINNAMON RAISIN OVERNIGHT OATS
All the flavors you love in an oatmeal raisin cookie turned into overnight oats! This meal-prep breakfast almost feels like cheating…
I’ve always wanted to try overnight oats because they look so delicious! One question, do you eat them cold, or do you heat them up in the morning… was that dumb? They look like you would eat them cold, but I just wanted to make sure!
Not a dumb question! I eat them cold (it’s like a parfait or rice pudding), but (as long as you haven’t put any yogurt in them) you can pop them right in the microwave like normal oatmeal. Just add an extra splash of milk. They’ll cook faster since the oats have been soaking all night.
Just curious…why can’t you put them in the microwave if you use yogurt?
Vickie – Mostly, I know that when I’ve tried it with our yogurt (dairy free) it can sometimes sort of “curdle” in the microwave or take on a sour taste. But that’s largely personal preference! I know lots of folks who like to add yogurt to their hot oatmeal. It’s up to you!
I was wondering the same thing lol
I know it’s really weird, but I do flax and spinach, then throw a little cheese in and an egg on top while I microwave them the next morning (or microwave with egg whites). I just prefer savory to sweet and I love getting some greens in my breakfast!
That sounds great! I’m almost always a savory breakfast over a sweet breakfast kind of girl myself!
Love your photos! Very pretty! And tasty looking too. Thanks!
Thank you so much Heather!
Thank you, thank you, thank you so much for posting these delicious, easy and nutritious overnight oat recipes! Love them! =)
My pleasure! Thank YOU for such a lovely comment. You made my day!
You’ve inspired me to finally try some overnight oats. The only problem is deciding which one to try first 🙂 Thanks for these easy & healthy recipes!
Do you ever add Chia seeds to your overnight oats? If so do you increase the amount of milk?
I do! – only 1 tsp or so to each serving. Then I do make sure to add a little extra milk as needed.
These look beautiful and delicious! Where did you purchase your darling jars?
Thank you so much! They’re Weck jars. I got them here for a good price (waited for a sale and stacked a coupon). They last forever and they’re so cute!
Thank you!
These look great and I am always looking for new ideas with my oats! I have some in the fridge right now that have chia seeds, pineapple, and coconut! I can’t wait to dig into them tomorrow!
That combination sounds amazing!!!
For the recipes with peanut butter, have you tried the powdered pb2 in them? I’m wondering with the milk if I would need to add the water normally used to mix the peanut butter. These recipes look great and thanks for the great explanation of what they are for us newbies!
Amy – I haven’t tried them with pb2, but I would think you’d probably at least want to add a little extra liquid (since the powder would be absorbing some of the liquid).
If you give it a try, I’d love to know how it turns out for you!
I have a question, I’m wanting to try these but was thinking about prepping more than one so I can just grab them and go. Is it bad if they stay in the fridge for more than one night? Would they get soggy? Thanks so much for the recipe this is one I’m definetly going to try 🙂
Sarah – Great question! They do get a bit soggy, but I don’t mind. I can do two at a time without feeling like I’m losing much in the way of texture of flavor.
I like prepping ahead of time, too, so I mix up all the dry ingredients in jars (usually for about a week’s worth of jars at a time) and then usually just add the milk and pop them in the fridge right after dinner the night before. Does that help at all? I hope so!
Oh okay awesome! Thank you so much I will give that a try 🙂
How long do they stay good for? Do you make a couple at a time or do you make a single serving each night?
I find that the texture starts to get too mushy for my taste after the 3 day mark. What I like to do is pre-measure all the dry ingredients for a week’s worth at a time (they’re shelf stable when dry), then I add milk and any fresh ingredients (like banana or berries) about twice a week making about 3 days at a time.
Do you layer everything in the jar, or do u stir it all together before putting in the frig overnight?
Alison – I stir everything together before putting it in the refrigerator. Hope that helps!
Do you have any information on calories on any of these?
Mollie – I’m so sorry I don’t have nutrition facts readily available. You can plug the ingredients into any online calculator. My favorite is MyFitnessPal (either the free app or the website). You can even import recipes straight from the web!
How do I import them?
Erica – In the MyFitnessPal app, you click the three dots on the right hand side over “more.” Then, select “Meals, Recipes & Foods.”
From there, you can click “Create a Recipe” and it’ll give you the option to “Add from the Web” or “Enter Ingredients Manually.” I highly recommend entering the ingredients manually for the most accurate results.
(Lately, the “Add from the web” option hasn’t been working for me on any site that I’ve tried (I don’t think it’s compatible with the modern/current recipe plug-ins most bloggers are running these days)
I hope that helps!
When you toasted the oats do you put them on parchment paper or anything? Or just straight onto the baking sheet?
I’ve never had mine stick since there’s nothing wet on them (no honey or coconut oil, etc.). I just put them right on the baking sheet! If you’re nervous, you can always put parchment or a silicone baking mat under them. Best of luck!
These look amazing! Thank you so much Emily.
My pleasure, Poppy! I hope you enjoy them!
Hi, they look lovely! Can you put them into the freezer or only the fridge?
Mia – For overnight oats, they will not work well frozen. Only the refrigerator works for these. You CAN freeze cooked steel-cut oats, so if you’re looking for a make-ahead freezer breakfast, I’d go the steel cut oats route. Hope that helps!
Thanks 🙂
What size is the jars?
Mine were 7oz jars, which can hold just under 1 cup. You can put them into any size jars you like!
Thank You?
My pleasure!
I have my strawberry/banana oats in my fridge for breakfast tomorrow. So excited for breakfast tomorrow.
I hope you love them as much as I do!
Thank you for the information provided on the variety of oats, I have Quick Cooking Oats at home and I never knew that these can be used for overnight oat recipes.
My pleasure, Betty! I hope you enjoy them!
I’ve been wanting to try overnight oats for a while! This gives me a great start!
Does it have to be a glass container, or can it be plastic?
You can absolutely make it in a plastic container! Hope you love them!
IS it possible to make overnight oats from raw oats? Or do you have to toast them? I tried making overnight oats before but it was too soggy and mushy for me. I prefer chunk, super dry oats. How would you recommend I alter a recipe for say, chocolate banana overnight oats, if i don’t like water, liquidy, soggy oatmeal, however still need the convenience of making oats overnight as opposed to in the morning? Please help! Haven’t been able to figure this out.
Deneza – It sounds from this that overnight oats aren’t for you. The texture on these will always be soft because of the nature of the recipe. You might instead prefer doing something like slow-cooker oats or a baked oatmeal recipe (like this berry or pumpkin version). Or, you might prefer making a batch of granola, which will last for several days. I hope this helps!
Hi Emily ,I eat Hot Oatmeal everyday, I smash a banana & cut up an Apple in a bowl as my oatmeal cooks on the stove for 20 min adding milk as needed, I pour the Hot oatmeal over the banana & Apple, chia seeds ,flax seeds ,cinnamon,some brown sugar Yummy! Your recipes are inspiring me to go cold Lol You did a GREAT PRESENTATION & Great Job Thanks 😊
That sounds DELICIOUS! I’m totally trying your oatmeal!!!
This is a great recipe.
Thank you very much
Emily this is awesome. Thank you so much for sharing
Thank you so much!!
Wow this is so great I have been in to the Quaker Oats ones this is a way better way of controlling what is in them as well as sugar and calories and Oatmeal Cookie omg yummmm going to the market tomorrow !!!!! Thanks for this!!!
Oh, I hope you love it!
I have overnight oat about 4 times a week and I have never thought to toast the oats first. I am definitely going to try this!!
It’s a subtle difference, but I really like it that way!
I just made the blueberry version and added peaches!!! YUM!! I want to make the chocolate hazelnut version – looks amazing!! Where do you buy your hazelnuts, Emily?
Jessica – I’m so glad you enjoyed the blueberry version. Adding peaches sounds amazing! As for the hazelnuts…you can find them in the bulk bins at Sprouts or Whole Foods often (Which is great, since you can buy just what you need). Otherwise, Trader Joe’s and Costco have great prices!
Thank you so much I will check those places!! Love your stuff – my kids are especially crazy for your popsicle recipes 😀
I’m so happy to hear that! Thank you for sharing!
So excited to try these!! Do you think adding steel cut oats will help with the mushiness that some others have said they don’t like? Or do you think preparing them at lunch time instead of dinnerime would help soak up some more of the liquid do they wouldn’t be too chewy?
Kelly – You could certainly try it. I haven’t personally liked the chewiness of the steel cut oats for overnight oats. But that could very well be personal preference!
I love this recipe, its perfect
Do you happen to have a calorie count on the overnight oats?
Each one is different, based on what you add to it. You can choose the one you like and plug the ingredients into a free calculator–My Fitness Pal is my favorite (the app or the website). 🙂
Hello! I was curious if you ever use frozen berries?
Elizabeth – I haven’t, but if you don’t mind soft fruit, it’d work great! (Fruit softens quite a bit upon thawing).
Tried this with 8oz wide mouth Ball mason jars, and they were not large enough. The oats and milk fit, but the jar was full to the top. Ended up transferring to a 16oz container, which was bigger than needed, but plenty of room to add spices and nuts/fruit, and to stir it all up. Recommend using at least a 12oz container to accomondate all the ingredients.
I am confused with the milk measurement. It is 3/4 of a cup or 3/4 and a cup of milk?
Thank you for the recipes
Teresa – Sorry for the confusion! It’s 3/4 of a cup. (3/4 cup = Three fourths of 1 cup. Not 1 3/4 cups.) I hope that helps!
Thank you, Emily
My pleasure 🙂
Hi Emily!
This is my first time to make overnight oats and I am really looking forward to it! I am starting with the Chunky Monkey recipe. However, I have one quick question. When you are adding the ingredients at night, do you include the chocolate chips or do you save them to top it right before eating? You do add all of the other ingredients at night, right (including fruit)? Thank you so much for posting these recipes! I can’t wait to look at the rest of your recipes! Also, what kind of dairy free yogurt do you use and where do you get it? Thanks again!
Lori – yay! I usually add everything the night before (including chocolate chips, fruit, etc.). And as for dairy free yogurt, when I use it, we often use So Delicious Dairy Free Coconut Milk Yogurt. I can find it at Sprouts, Target, Walmart, WholeFoods, Natural Grocers, Kroger, and Safeway 🙂
Is there any alternative for milk if almond and coconut milk are not available?
Jel – You can use whatever kind of milk you drink 🙂
Hi, Emily,
Can I put the jar that’s been in the fridge overnight right into the microwave? Will that make the jar crack? And how long do you recommend heating?
Thank you, everything looks delicious
Lori – I’m not totally sure since it would depend on your microwave, the jars you use, and how cold your fridge is. If you have a couple of minutes to sit the jar on the counter before warming, that would probably help with any temperature change. Otherwise, if you’re nervous, you could pour it out into a bowl and microwave it that way. I’d start with 1 minute in the microwave and go from there. It’ll cook faster since it’s been soaked, so keep that in mind 🙂