These Pumpkin Overnight Oats taste like pumpkin pie! It’s the perfect meal prep breakfast to make your fall mornings magical. (Gluten-Free, Vegan)
I’m allll about the overnight oats recipes around here.
We’ve got some well-stocked archives of overnight oats recipes (like, 10 more flavors to try!), and this pumpkin overnight oats recipe is our newest addition, just in time for fall.
I LOVE this cozy meal prep breakfast on busy weekdays this time of year. The combination of creamy, hearty oats and warm spices channels everything I love about pumpkin season and pumpkin pie flavors into one easy breakfast I feel great about enjoying all season long.
Best of all, You only need a few simple ingredients to get started on this easy recipe! Let’s take a look…
Start With Simple Ingredients
We’re basing this healthy pumpkin pie overnight oats recipe on my basic overnight oats recipe, with a few pumpkin pie flavor twists. You’ll need…
- ROLLED OATS (GLUTEN-FREE, AS NEEDED). All my overnight oatmeal recipes start with rolled oats. They soften overnight, but don’t turn into mush. Steel-cut oats and quick oats won’t work here.(Gluten-free? See the FAQ!)
- CHIA SEEDS. These little seeds add healthy fats, fiber, and plant-based protein. They’ll also thicken the creamy oats into a more pudding-like consistency that I really prefer. If you don’t have them, or don’t tolerate them, you *can* skip them, just know your oats won’t be as creamy or thick.
- CANNED PUMPKIN PUREE. A little unsweetened pumpkin purée (real pumpkin, not canned pumpkin pie filling!) gives our oats the base of their pumpkin flavor. I love the pretty color! This is a great way to use up leftover pumpkin or homemade pumpkin puree from other recipes, since you only need a little.
- MAPLE SYRUP + VANILLA. For sweetness, I add a little pure maple syrup and a splash of vanilla extract. I love that the vanilla adds the taste of sweetness while helping keep the sugar down!
- CINNAMON + NUTMEG + A PINCH OF SALT. To make my pumpkin overnight oats taste like pie, I add ground cinnamon and nutmeg. You can also swap out these two for a little pumpkin pie spice if you prefer those classic pumpkin spice flavors! A little pinch of salt wakes up and balances all the other flavors (don’t worry–they won’t be salty!)
- YOUR FAVORITE MILK. To finish up, I add unsweetened almond milk. Feel free to use whatever milk you typically drink or enjoy, whether it’s dairy milk or dairy-free milk, like cashew milk, regular milk, soy milk, oat milk, etc. If it’s what your family drinks, it’ll work for these delicious pumpkin overnight oats!
- PECANS OR PUMPKIN SEEDS. And, because I can’t resist a little crunch, I like adding pumpkin seeds, toasted pecans, or a mix of both! I like adding some to the actual overnight oats, then adding a few more right before serving. So good!
How To Make Pumpkin Pie Overnight Oats, Step By Step
As always, you can find the full recipe, with ingredient amounts, detailed instructions, and tips in the recipe card below!
- Combine Dry Ingredients. In a medium bowl or a jar, combine oats, chia seeds, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Stir to combine.
- Add Wet Ingredients & Mix-Ins. Next, mix in pumpkin puree, maple syrup, and vanilla. Add 1 Tbsp. pecans or pumpkin seeds. Pour in milk and stir to combine until no clumps remain.
- Taste & Adjust. Taste and add additional syrup, spices, or vanilla, as desired.
- Cover and refrigerate at least 20-30 minutes, up to overnight to let the liquid soak into the oat mixture.
- Serve & Store. The next morning (or right before serving), stir oats and top with additional pecans/pumpkin seeds, or a drizzle of pure maple syrup, as desired. Enjoy! (Oats will keep 2-3 days in the refrigerator.)
Mix It Up! 6 Yummy Variations To Try
Another great thing about this healthy breakfast? It’s easy to make it your own by adding your favorite toppings! Here are a few twists to try for next time…
- TRY DIFFERENT NUTS! You can totally swap out different nuts. I usually use pecans or pumpkin seeds for pumpkin overnight oats, but walnuts and hazelnuts are also delicious. Or, drizzle with nut butter or peanut butter before serving–use what sounds good to you!
- MIX IN SOME DRIED CRANBERRIES. You can add another layer of fall flavor by adding 1-2 Tbsp. of dried cranberries to the mix. I love the subtle flavor they give! (PS – These are naturally sweetened! I get them at Sprouts.)
- TRY ADDING YOGURT. You can increase the protein by swapping out half the milk for plain Greek yogurt or vanilla yogurt. It’ll be thicker, add a bit of tang, and increase the protein in your pumpkin pie overnight oats!
- SPRINKLE WITH CHOCOLATE CHIPS OR CACAO NIBS. If you love pumpkin and chocolate together (I totally do!), add just a few mini chocolate chips or cacao nibs to the top of your oats!
- ADD GRANOLA ON TOP. I really love adding something crunchy on top of creamy overnight oats. That’s usually nuts or seeds, but sometimes adding granola–like this pumpkin granola!–can be a great way to go.
- TRY DATES. Caramel-y and sweet, chopped dates can be another delicious addition to pumpkin overnight oats. (Don’t forget to remove the pits first!)
- COLLAGEN OR PROTEIN POWDER. A few folks have liked mixing in a scoop of collagen or your favorite vanilla protein powder for an extra boost of protein!
- ADD A LITTLE WHIPPED CREAM. I won’t judge!
FAQ + Tips For The Best Pumpkin Overnight Oats
DO YOU EAT PUMPKIN OVERNIGHT OATS WARM OR COLD? Typically, overnight oats are eaten cold, straight from the fridge like you would with chia pudding or muesli. If you’d prefer to warm them up, you can add them to a saucepan on the stove to heat through for 4-5 minutes, or you can microwave them for 1-2 minutes. You may want to add an extra drizzle of milk if you cook them. It’s up to you!
GLUTEN-FREE? READ THIS! Oats themselves don’t have wheat gluten, but they’re often farmed and processed in ways that can cause cross-contamination. If you’re gluten intolerant, be SURE you buy certified gluten-free oats. We like Trader Joe’s, One Degree, Bob’s Red Mill, and Thrive Market brands!
CAN I USE STEEL-CUT OATS INSTEAD? WHAT ABOUT QUICK-COOKING OATS? Honestly, the type of oats you use is mostly a texture preference thing. I do not like using steel-cut oats for overnight oats because they end up FAR too chewy for my taste. Quick oats can get soggy/mushy since they’re thinner. I recommend rolled oats for the best texture, but feel free to go another direction if you like.
HOW LONG WILL PUMPKIN OVERNIGHT OATS STAY FRESH? As a general rule, overnight oats last well 2-3 days in the refrigerator. If you plan to make them several days in advance, I recommend not adding the nuts until right before serving, so you can still enjoy a good crunch! Also know they’ll thicken up and soften over time, so you may want to add a little splash of milk before serving if it’s been a few days.
Did You Make This Recipe?
Tell me all about it! Leave a star rating below when you try our Pumpkin Pie Overnight Oats recipe. I can’t wait to hear how it goes!
Pumpkin Overnight Oats (Gluten-Free + Vegan)
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup rolled oats certified gluten-free, as needed
- 2 tsp. chia seeds
- 1/8 tsp. cinnamon
- pinch nutmeg about 1/16th tsp.
- pinch salt about 1/16th tsp.
- 2 Tbsp. unsweetened pumpkin puree (not pie filling)
- 1-2 tsp. pure maple syrup to taste
- 1/4 tsp. vanilla extract
- 1-2 Tbsp. toasted pecans or pumpkin seeds
- 1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk or your favorite milk
Instructions
- Combine Dry Ingredients. In a medium bowl or a jar, combine oats, chia seeds, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Stir to combine.
- Add Wet Ingredients & Mix-Ins. Next, mix in pumpkin puree, maple syrup, and vanilla. Add 1 Tbsp. pecans or pumpkin seeds. Pour in milk and stir to combine until no clumps remain.
- Taste & Adjust. Taste and add additional syrup, spices, or vanilla, as desired.
- Cover and refrigerate at least 20-30 minutes, up to overnight to let the liquid soak into the oats.
- Serve & Store. Stir oats and top with additional pecans/pumpkin seeds, as desired. Enjoy! (Oats will keep 2-3 days in the refrigerator.)
Notes
- Feel free to swap out the cinnamon and nutmeg for a generous 1/8 tsp. pumpkin pie spice.
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition facts are an estimate only and will vary based on brands and amounts used.
Find it Online:
https://www.onelovelylife.com/pumpkin-overnight-oats/
Sorry if this is a daft question, but is it okay to add the pumpkin seeds (or any kind of hard seed) to the overnight oats when you’re actually batch-prepping the oats?
It makes more sense to me to do it that way, but apart from this recipe, I haven’t found another that suggests doing it. I was starting to wonder if there was a reason everyone adds nuts and seeds on the morning apart from a preference for added crunch!
Many thanks. 🙂
Not a daft question at all! It’s totally only a preference thing for added crunch. It won’t do any harm at all to add them when batch prepping. They just won’t be as crunchy later!
I like this overnight oats recipe than others I have tried. Have actually made this more than once. I think it’s the chia.
I’m so glad you enjoyed them Elaine! They’re one of my faves! THANK YOU for taking the time to leave a review. They’re SO HELPFUL!