Strawberry Banana Overnight Oats (Gluten Free + Vegan)

Strawberry Banana Overnight Oats – Creamy overnight oats with bananas and fresh strawberries. This fruity overnight oats recipe is delicious on a busy morning! (Gluten-free, vegan)

Am I the only one who sometimes goes to bed with great intentions or big plans, but wakes up without *quite* the same level of motivation? Just me?

I sometimes feel that way about making breakfast. I know I *want* to eat a yummy, delicious breakfast, but sometimes the morning rush or a tough night of sleep affects my time or energy when breakfast time rolls around. And all my best nighttime motivation doesn’t hold *quite* the same spark in the morning. (Again, just me?)

Enter: make-ahead breakfasts! My best friend.

These strawberry banana overnight oats are a perfect meal-prep breakfast for busy mornings. I love that they only take a few minutes to toss together the night before and that I get to wake up to a creamy, satisfying breakfast no matter how much time or energy I wake up with.

Here’s all you need to make these tasty overnight oats…

HERE’S WHAT GOES INTO MY STRAWBERRY BANANA OVERNIGHT OATS RECIPE:

• (GLUTEN FREE) ROLLED OATS. Rolled oats are my favorite for overnight oats since they strike the perfect balance of soft after soaking without being mushy. (Want to know if you can use another kind? See the FAQ below!)
• CHIA SEEDS (OPTIONAL). Chia seeds add some plant-based protein and healthy fats, plus they give these strawberry banana overnight oats a nice, creamy texture. If you’re not into chia seeds, you can skip them. Just know your oats won’t be *quite* as thick and creamy. (You can mitigate this by using 1/2 yogurt and 1/2 milk instead of all milk if you like.)
• A PINCH OF SALT. A tiny pinch of salt (less than 1/8tsp.) really makes a difference for me. I love that it keeps my overnight oats from tasting flat.
• PURE MAPLE SYRUP. Let your tastebuds be your guide here. You can make these sweeter or less sweet, depending on your taste. I usually use about 1 tsp. of syrup in my overnight oats, but if your banana is extra ripe and your berries are sweet, you could probably get away with less.
• WHATEVER MILK YOU LIKE. You can use whatever milk you drink for these strawberry-banana overnight oats. We’re dairy-free, so we use almond milk, oat milk, cashew milk, or coconut milk. Soy milk, rice milk, and dairy milk also work. Use what you like!
• STRAWBERRIES + BANANAS. Naturally, we finish off our strawberry-banana overnight oats with strawberries and bananas! I love that they add natural sweetness and the flavors are so complementary. Yum!
• OPTIONAL: A FEW DROPS OF VANILLA. Not essential, but nice when I remember!

A FEW WAYS TO PLAY WITH THIS STRAWBERRY BANANA OVERNIGHT OATS RECIPE

You know I LOVE playing with recipes a bit to keep things interesting! The basic recipe is dynamite, but if you want to change things up, you can try…

• ADDING A SWIRL OF PEANUT BUTTER OR NUT BUTTER. Berries and bananas both taste great with peanut butter, so these take on an almost PB & J vibe when you add a little nut butter!
• FINISHING THEM OFF WITH A SPRINKLE OF GRANOLA FOR SOME CRUNCH. Sometimes, a little crunchy something on top is amazing with the creamy overnight oats. Granola (or some chopped nuts) are my usual go-to’s!
• GO HALVSIES WITH STRAWBERRIES + BLUEBERRIES. You can give these a pretty red, white & blue finish by using half blueberries and half strawberries along with the banana. They taste great and look extra pretty this way!

FAQ + TIPS & TRICKS FOR THE BEST STRAWBERRY BANANA OVERNIGHT OATS

MY FAVORITE CONTAINERS FOR OVERNIGHT OATS. I love using these Weck jars or these small glass containers. You just ideally want something with a lid so they stay covered in the fridge.

DO YOU EAT THESE WARM OR COLD? Overnight oats are typically eaten cold, though if that weirds you out, you *can* warm them up on the microwave for about a minute, or on the stovetop. You may want to leave the fruit out until after heating if you go this route and may need an extra splash of milk to maintain their creamy texture.

HOW LONG DO OVERNIGHT OATS LAST IN THE FRIDGE? Generally speaking, overnight oats last well 2-3 days in the refrigerator. If you plan to make them several days in advance, I recommend…

TIPS FOR MAKING THEM SEVERAL DAYS AHEAD OF TIME. If you plan to make your strawberry banana overnight oats several days in advance, I recommend only mixing in about half the berries and bananas at the beginning (or waiting to add all the fruit till you serve them). They’ll soften over time and flavor the oats more fully, but for the best texture, I love adding the other half of the bananas and berries right before serving.

GLUTEN-FREE? MAKE SURE YOU… use certified gluten-free oats. Oats don’t contain gluten, but they’re often grown and processed in ways that cause cross-contamination, so you’ll want to buy certified gluten-free oats. Trader Joe’s, Bob’s Red Mill, Nature’s Path, and GF Harvest, and these sprouted oats are my favorites.

CAN I USE STEEL-CUT OATS OR QUICK-COOKING OATS INSTEAD? It’s up to you! Rolled oats are my favorite for texture in this strawberry banana overnight oats recipe (they soften but don’t go mushy). Quick-cooking oats can get a little mushy after a couple of days, and steel-cut oats often remain pretty chewy for my taste. But you do you!

HELPFUL FOR THIS STRAWBERRY BANANA OVERNIGHT OATS RECIPE:

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