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The Best Overnight Oats Recipe

4.8 from 102 reviews

This recipe for the Best Overnight Oats offers a simple, customizable make-ahead breakfast that’s creamy, nutritious, and ready to enjoy in the morning. Using rolled oats soaked overnight with milk, Greek yogurt, and optional chia seeds, the oats soften to a delightful texture without cooking. Sweetened lightly with maple syrup or honey and enhanced with a pinch of vanilla and sea salt, these oats serve as a versatile base that can be topped or mixed with your favorite add-ins like chocolate chips, peanut butter, or fresh berries for varied flavors and textures.

Ingredients

Scale

Base Ingredients

  • ½ cup old fashioned rolled oats
  • ½ cup milk (unsweetened almond milk recommended)
  • ¼ cup plain Greek yogurt (or an additional ¼ cup milk as alternative)
  • 12 teaspoons maple syrup or honey (or preferred sweetener)
  • 1 teaspoon chia seeds (optional)
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)
  • Pinch of sea salt

Chocolate Chip Variation

  • 2 Tablespoons chocolate chips (1 Tablespoon stirred in, 1 Tablespoon for topping)

Peanut Butter Variation

  • 1 Tablespoon peanut butter (½ Tablespoon stirred in, ½ Tablespoon for drizzling)

Berry Variation

  • ¼ cup fresh berries (sliced strawberries and blueberries recommended)
  • 1 Tablespoon strawberry jam or chia jam

Instructions

  1. Combine Ingredients: In a jar or storage container with a lid, add the rolled oats, milk, Greek yogurt, sweetener (maple syrup or honey), chia seeds if using, vanilla extract, and a pinch of sea salt. Stir all ingredients thoroughly to combine evenly.
  2. Refrigerate Overnight: Seal the jar or container with a lid and place it in the refrigerator overnight to allow the oats to soak and soften. If you’re short on time, a minimum soak of 2-4 hours will suffice, but longer soaking yields creamier oats.
  3. Morning Preparation: The next morning, remove the lid and give the oats a good stir. If the mixture feels too thick, add a splash of milk to loosen the consistency. Choose to eat the oats directly from the jar or transfer to a bowl for serving.
  4. Chocolate Chip Variation: When preparing the oats, stir in 1 tablespoon of chocolate chips into the mixture. When serving, sprinkle the remaining tablespoon of chocolate chips on top for a delightful chocolate burst.
  5. Peanut Butter Variation: During the initial mixing, add ½ tablespoon of peanut butter to the oats. At serving time, drizzle the remaining ½ tablespoon of peanut butter on top for extra richness.
  6. Berry Variation: Stir 2 tablespoons of fresh berries into the oat mixture before refrigerating. When ready to eat, top the oats with a layer of your preferred strawberry or chia jam and the remaining fresh berries for a vibrant, fruity finish.

Notes

  • You can customize the milk type to suit dietary preferences, such as cow’s milk, almond milk, soy milk, or oat milk.
  • The sweetness level can be adjusted or omitted based on taste and dietary needs.
  • Chia seeds add extra fiber and nutrients but are optional.
  • Overnight oats can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days; prepare multiple servings ahead of time for convenience.
  • Feel free to experiment with different toppings like nuts, seeds, or nut butters for texture and flavor variety.
  • For a thinner consistency, add more milk before serving.

Keywords: Overnight oats, easy breakfast, make-ahead oats, healthy breakfast, vegan-friendly oats, Greek yogurt oatmeal, no cook oats