These Overnight Oats Recipes are easy, delicious, and perfect for busy mornings! I’m sharing my absolute favorite tried-and-tested flavors, plus all my best tips and tricks.
Author’s Notes
The Breakfast I Ate for 4 Years Straight and Have Been Perfecting for 15 Years!
In college, I ate overnight oats pretty much every morning for four years. Yes, really! They were so easy, convenient, and kept me full for hours. I also loved starting the day with a breakfast that felt like it was fueling me well.
Of course, I loved the flavor and texture too. I’ve always been an oatmeal girl, but I might love it even more cold and soft, similar to muesli, which I also love. And since I usually had early-morning classes, making breakfast the night before was ideal.
After four years of making overnight oats in college, plus over a decade of still enjoying them often, I’ve definitely got my favorite flavors and ratios down. These are the best overnight oats recipes from all my years of experimenting, and I hope you love them as much as I do!
Oh…and…if you made me pick just one favorite, it would be the banana version!
How To Make Overnight Oats
These overnight oats recipes are as easy as mixing ingredients and refrigerating overnight. In the morning, just stir, add toppings, and enjoy! Here are a few tips:
- Use old-fashioned rolled oats for the best creamy-yet-chewy texture. Avoid quick or steel-cut oats.
- Stir before eating to ensure even texture.
- Add toppings last so they stay nice and crunchy and add texture to the creamy oats.
Chelsea’s Notes
A Few Overnight Oats Notes
- IMO all of these overnight oats recipes are best eaten cold! As the oats soak, they get soft, thick, and creamy. Prefer them warm? Just heat them in the microwave or on the stove.
- You don’t have to make them the night before. I often mix them up in the morning, work out, and eat them 30–45 minutes later!
- Want them thicker? Stir in some chia seeds or a few extra oats. Want them thinner? Add a splash of milk.
A Few Key Ingredients
- Sweetener: Use as much or as little as you like, or skip it completely. Honey and maple syrup both work great, or use a few drops of liquid stevia or monkfruit. You’ll only need about 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon.
- Greek Yogurt: Pick a mild, sweet yogurt you love on its own since the flavor really comes through in these overnight oats recipes. My favorite brand is Greek Gods®.
- Milk: Use whatever you like best. I usually use unsweetened vanilla almond milk, but regular milk, oat milk, cashew milk, and coconut milk all work. Different milks may make the oats slightly thicker or thinner.
- Dutch-Process Cocoa: For chocolate oats, Dutch-process cocoa gives the richest chocolate flavor. Any brand works, but Hershey’s® Special Dark is easy to find and my go-to.
Chelsea’s Notes
My Favorite Overnight Oats Toppings
- Creamy and rich: Peanut butter, almond butter, extra yogurt
- Crunchy: Granola, pecans, walnuts, almonds, chia seeds
- Fruity: Banana, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries
- Sweet: Mini chocolate chips, maple syrup, honey
- Extra: Cinnamon, cocoa powder, coconut flakes
Quick Tip
How To Make Your Overnight Oats Recipes Taste Better
A few little things make a big difference:
- Add a pinch of salt. It makes all the other flavors pop.
- Don’t forget vanilla. It makes the oats taste sweeter and more dessert-like.
- Add fresh fruit at the right time. Berries can go in before chilling, but I prefer banana stirred in right before eating.
Storage
One of my favorite things about these overnight oats recipes is how easy they are to prep ahead. Make a few jars at once, store them in the fridge, and breakfast is basically done for the next couple of mornings. I like keeping crunchy toppings separate and adding them right before eating!
More On-The-Go Breakfast Ideas:
Overnight Oats Recipes
Equipment
- Small bowl or mason jar or airtight container
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup old-fashioned oats
- 1/3 cup honey vanilla Greek yogurt I love Greek Gods; see note 1
- 2/3 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk or milk of choice
- 1-1/2 tablespoons maple syrup see note 2
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- tiny pinch salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon optional
- Optional toppings see note 3
- 1/2 cup assorted fresh berries coarsely chopped
- Optional toppings see note 3
- 1/2 cup old-fashioned oats
- 1/3 cup honey vanilla Greek yogurt I love Greek Gods; see note 1
- 2/3 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk or milk of choice
- 1-1/2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- tiny pinch salt
- 2 tablespoons mini chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup finely diced ripe banana
- Optional toppings see note 4
Instructions
- Base Overnight Oats: Combine: Add the oats, Greek yogurt, milk, maple syrup, vanilla, cinnamon, and salt to a small bowl, mason jar, or airtight container. Stir well until everything is evenly combined. Chill: Cover and refrigerate overnight, or until the oats have thickened to your liking. They are best overnight, but can be enjoyed after as little as 30 to 45 minutes. Serve: Stir well, transfer to a bowl if desired, and add your favorite toppings.
- Berry Overnight Oats: Combine: Prepare the Base Overnight Oats as directed, stirring the chopped berries into the mixture. Chill: Cover and refrigerate overnight, or until sufficiently thickened. Serve: Stir well and add any additional toppings you like.
- Banana Overnight Oats: Combine: Add the oats, Greek yogurt, milk, maple syrup, vanilla, cinnamon, salt, and chocolate chips to a small bowl, mason jar, or airtight container. Stir until evenly combined. Chill: Cover and refrigerate overnight, or until sufficiently thickened. Add banana: Just before serving, stir in the finely diced banana. Serve: Transfer to a bowl if desired and add your favorite toppings.
Recipe Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
