Ultimate Overnight Oats Recipe (Easy Base Recipe + Flavor Options!) (2024)

Overnight oats are the easy breakfast meal prep that dreams are made of. Our base formula makes it easy to customize the oats any way you want (and we’ve included a bunch of community-favorite flavor ideas to get you started). With just 5 minutes of prep work, these overnight oat recipes are simple to make and so delicious!

Ultimate Overnight Oats Recipe (Easy Base Recipe + Flavor Options!) (1)

We’re big fans of oatmeal around here. Maybe its because they’re so customizable (savory oatmeal anyone?). Or maybe it’s because they’re packed with fiber, keeping us full all morning (the nutritionist in me loves that!). Or maybe it’s because they take so little time to prepare (just 5 minutes!)

Whatever the reason, I just know you’re going to love this guide to overnight oats. They’ve been a reader-favorite for years!

Reader rating

★★★★★

“These are so good! We’ve made several and they were all delicious! They’ve become our new favorite breakfast food.” —Jenny

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Table of Contents

  • What Are Overnight Oats?
  • Base Ingredients For Overnight Oats
  • How To Make Overnight Oats
  • How Far In Advance Can You Prep Overnight Oats?
  • Community-Favorite Overnight Oat Flavors
  • More Oat Recipes
Ultimate Overnight Oats Recipe (Easy Base Recipe + Flavor Options!) (2)

What Are Overnight Oats?

Overnight oats are a not-morning-person’s best friend. Mix together some oats, chia seeds, fruits, and milk at night. Stick it in the fridge. When you wake up…breakfast is ready!

I’m all about efficiency. Oat-y, tasty efficiency. So, I crafted a formula for making overnight oats so you can make virtually any flavor, all made with the same 5 ingredient base! Just prep the base and then add your flavorings!

Base Ingredients For Overnight Oats

First, let’s talk about the foundation of the oats. No matter which flavor you end up making, there are 5 main ingredients in overnight oats.

  • Oats: First, you need ½ cup of old fashioned rolled oats (difference between rolled oats, steel cut, and instant)
  • Milk: Follow the oats with ½ cup of milk. You can use whatever you like, whether it be soy, almond, cow, sweetened, unsweetened… whatever is to your liking (or whatever is in your fridge)!
  • Chia Seeds: Next, add 1 tablespoon of chia seeds. Doing so adds a bit of thickness to the recipe, along with a whole lot of vitamins and minerals.
  • Sweetener: Add some sweetness with 1 tablespoon of your preferred sweetener. I recommend honey, maple, or brown sugar.
  • Salt: Finally, finish things off with a pinch of salt! This may seem like an odd ingredient, but the salt actually enhance all the flavors in the oatmeal.
Ultimate Overnight Oats Recipe (Easy Base Recipe + Flavor Options!) (3)
Ultimate Overnight Oats Recipe (Easy Base Recipe + Flavor Options!) (4)

Best Overnight Oats Jars

After trying out a bunch of different jars for overnight oats, these are my favorites!

How To Make Overnight Oats

Once you’ve chosen your flavor combo, you’re ready for assembly. It’s as simple as layering everything and then letting it sit!

  1. Assemble: In a mason jar or bowl, combine the base ingredients with your flavor add-ins. Stir to combine.
  2. Rest: Seal shut and place in the fridge for at least 2 hours (or overnight), until the oats are soft.
  3. Serve: When ready to eat, give it a good stir and then dig in. You do not need to cook overnight oats! If the oats appear dry, add a splash of milk.
Ultimate Overnight Oats Recipe (Easy Base Recipe + Flavor Options!) (5)

How Far In Advance Can You Prep Overnight Oats?

Kim asked: “Can I make the Overnight Oats on Sunday and have them for the week or do you need to make them each night for the next morning?” Overnight oats stay good for 2 to 3 days in the fridge, so perhaps make a big batch on Sunday and another batch on Wednesday to get you through the week

Community-Favorite Overnight Oat Flavors

The options are virtually endless when it comes to flavoring your overnight oats, but here are a few of our favorites!

Banana Bread Overnight Oats

First up, we have banana bread overnight oats! This one’s a classic, and it’s perfect if you’re a banana bread lover. 👉 Banana Bread Overnight Oats

Ultimate Overnight Oats Recipe (Easy Base Recipe + Flavor Options!) (6)
Ultimate Overnight Oats Recipe (Easy Base Recipe + Flavor Options!) (7)

Cookie Dough Overnight Oats

Next we have cookie dough oats, which basically gives you the excuse to enjoy dessert for breakfast! 👉 Cookie Dough Overnight Oats

Ultimate Overnight Oats Recipe (Easy Base Recipe + Flavor Options!) (8)
Ultimate Overnight Oats Recipe (Easy Base Recipe + Flavor Options!) (9)

Peaches & Cream Overnight Oats

Peaches and cream overnight oats taste like a creamsicle or your grandma’s classic peach cobbler. It’s quite the treat! 👉 Peaches and Cream Overnight Oats

Ultimate Overnight Oats Recipe (Easy Base Recipe + Flavor Options!) (10)
Ultimate Overnight Oats Recipe (Easy Base Recipe + Flavor Options!) (11)

Reader rating

★★★★★

“We made peaches and cream and PB&J. Used almond milk and even chocolate almond milk instead of regular milk. Delicious!! I have this recipe memorized and have been making overnight oats for a few weeks now. Thank you.” —Julie

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Nut Butter & Jelly Overnight Oats

Craving an old school pb&j? Enjoy an breakfast version by combining it with overnight oats! 👉

Ultimate Overnight Oats Recipe (Easy Base Recipe + Flavor Options!) (12)
Ultimate Overnight Oats Recipe (Easy Base Recipe + Flavor Options!) (13)

Pina Colada Overnight Oats

Give yourself the tropical vibes with piña colada overnight oats. This one is so fun and one of my favorites! 👉 Pina Colada Overnight Oats

Ultimate Overnight Oats Recipe (Easy Base Recipe + Flavor Options!) (14)
Ultimate Overnight Oats Recipe (Easy Base Recipe + Flavor Options!) (15)

Strawberries & Cream Overnight Oats

Last but not least, strawberries and cream! Load up on the strawberries and yogurt, it’s like strawberry shortcake for breakfast! 👉 Strawberries and Cream Overnight Oats

Ultimate Overnight Oats Recipe (Easy Base Recipe + Flavor Options!) (16)
Ultimate Overnight Oats Recipe (Easy Base Recipe + Flavor Options!) (17)

More Oat Recipes

The oat-filled breakfasts don’t stop there! If you’re looking for some more ways to incorporate the flavor and benefits of oatmeal into your morning meals, try some of these oat recipes.

  • Savory Oatmeal with Avocado and Poached Egg
  • Cherry Oat Smoothie
  • Egg White Oatmeal
  • Coffee and Oat Smoothie

Or make a to-go version of the overnight oats concept with these homemade instant oatmeal packets!

Ultimate Overnight Oats Recipe (Easy Base Recipe + Flavor Options!) (18)

Ultimate Overnight Oats Recipe (Easy Base Recipe + Flavor Options!) (19)

Ultimate Overnight Oats Recipe (Easy Base Recipe + Flavor Options!)

Prep: 5 minutes minutes

Total: 5 minutes minutes

Author: Sarah Bond

Calories: 381kcal

Servings: 1 serving

Print Rate

Overnight oats are the easy breakfast meal prep that dreams are made of. Our base formula makes it easy to customize the oats any way you want (and we've included a bunch of community-favorite flavor ideas to get you started). With just 5 minutes of prep work, these overnight oat recipes are simple to make and so delicious!

Ingredients

Overnight Oats Base

  • ½ cup rolled oats 40 g
  • ½ cup milk 120 mL
  • 1 Tbsp sweetener 15 g
  • 1 Tbsp chia seeds 7 g
  • Pinch salt

Optional Flavors (see recipe notes for all flavor ideas)

  • ¼ cup chopped or mashed fruit
  • ¼ tsp vanilla extract
  • ¼ to ½ tsp spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, or cloves

Instructions

  • Assemble: In a 16-oz mason jar or bowl combine base ingredients with your desired flavors. Stir to combine.

  • Rest: Seal shut and place in the fridge for at least 2 hours (or overnight), until oats are soft.

  • Serve: When ready to eat, give it a good stir then dig in! If oats appear dry, add a splash of milk. You don't need to cook overnight oats, but can warm them in the microwave if desired.

Tips & Tricks

Double Chocolate Overnight Oats

Banana Bread Overnight Oats

Peaches and Cream Overnight Oats

Creamy Strawberry Overnight Oats

Sea Salt and Date Overnight Oats

Cookie Dough Overnight Oats

High Protein Overnight Oats

Blueberry Overnight Oats

Pina Colada Overnight Oats

Nutrition Information

Serving: 1serving (just the base recipe, doesn’t include flavor add-ons) Calories: 381kcal (19%) Carbohydrates: 53.7g (18%) Protein: 13.4g (27%) Fat: 13.2g (20%) Saturated Fat: 3g (19%) Cholesterol: 10mg (3%) Sodium: 60mg (3%) Potassium: 398mg (11%) Fiber: 12.1g (50%) Sugar: 17.9g (20%) Calcium: 316mg (32%) Iron: 4mg (22%)

Did You Make This?

Leave a comment below and tag @liveeatlearn on social media! I love seeing what you’ve made!

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Ultimate Overnight Oats Recipe (Easy Base Recipe + Flavor Options!) (2024)

FAQs

How do you make overnight oats taste better? ›

Add a pinch of salt, then sweeten or spice your overnight oats. For a little kick of spice, try adding cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom, cocoa powder or matcha powder. Or if sweet is your thing, stir in C&H Sugar, C&H® Light Brown, C&H® Dark Brown Sugar. Mix everything together, taste and adjust flavoring until perfect.

What not to add in overnight oats? ›

As Best points out, "some of the worst ingredients that are mistakenly added to healthy overnight oat recipes include chocolate sauce, sugar, syrup, and dried fruit."

What is the secret to overnight oats? ›

Make sure you have at least double the liquid per each serving of oats (so, 1 cup of milk to ½-cup of oats), increasing the amount if you want a soupier texture. We love the chewy, hearty texture of steel-cut oats, but they're too firm to use for overnight oats.

Why do my overnight oats have no flavor? ›

While overnight oats are a healthy breakfast option, they can taste bland if you don't add any sweetener. Some people skip the sweetener altogether, thinking that the fruit they add will be enough. However, a little bit of honey, maple syrup, or brown sugar can go a long way in making your oats more enjoyable.

What can I use instead of yogurt in overnight oats? ›

No, yogurt adds a creamy texture but it isn't mandatory. You can use nut butter, banana, applesauce, or coconut milk instead. Can I make overnight oats without chia seeds? Chia seeds add a nice thick and creamy texture.

What fruit is good for overnight oats? ›

But, I think that berries work the best as they create a light syrup while melting. This helps flavor the creamy overnight oats with natural sugar from the fruits and it gives an appetizing color to the mixture too. Blueberries, cherries, raspberries and strawberries are my number 1 choice.

Is overnight oats better with milk or yogurt? ›

Milk: You can make overnight oats with any kind of milk — dairy or non-dairy. If using non-dairy milk, it's best to stick with unsweetened. Greek yogurt: Not only does Greek yogurt make overnight oats more filling, but it also gives the oats a super-creamy texture.

Can I eat overnight oats every night? ›

Overnight oats are perfectly safe to be eaten every day. You may even eat them every morning if you like. However, some say that they feel oats give them digestive issues; overnight oats are not unsafe for those without medical conditions that affect digestion.

Do overnight oats spike blood sugar? ›

Oats are rich in carbohydrates and a fibre called beta-glucan, which helps in the slow release of glucose into the bloodstream. However, consuming oats in isolation and in the morning may lead to a spike in blood sugar levels due to the Dawn effect.

What not to mix with oatmeal? ›

Whatever you do, steer clear of the worst offenders: dried fruit with added sugars, like Craisins or dried pineapple. "These are almost always made with added sugar, if not also an artificial sweetener, says Pennsylvania-based RD Gina Consalvo. "Always choose a fresh fruit instead." Need hard proof?

What happens to your body when you eat overnight oats everyday? ›

They provide sustained energy and can help keep you full throughout the morning. Oats are particularly rich in soluble fibre, specifically beta-glucans, which can help lower cholesterol levels and regulate blood sugar levels. Fibre also supports digestive health.

Do you stir overnight oats before putting in fridge? ›

In a large glass jar, combine the oats, milk, yogurt, maple syrup or honey, chia seeds, vanilla cinnamon, and sea salt. Stir well to make sure all the ingredients are combined. Cover with a lid and place in the refrigerator overnight. In the morning, remove from the refrigerator and stir.

Can I eat overnight oats for weight loss? ›

For those looking for a fiber-rich, protein-filled breakfast that requires little to no effort at all to help with their weight loss goals, overnight oats are the ideal solution. Unlike regular oatmeal, which is cooked in boiling water on the stove or zapped in the microwave, overnight oats are not cooked at all.

What should overnight oats taste like? ›

What Do Overnight Oats Taste Like? Overnight oats taste a little different than regular oatmeal—for starters, they're cold. Cold oats might not seem like a comforting breakfast, but they're actually very refreshing in the warmer months. The soaked oats have a hearty flavor that pairs well with fresh fruit.

Do you put fruit in overnight oats before or after? ›

Once you mix up all the overnight oats, cover and refrigerate until you're ready to eat! I recommend waiting to add any toppings until the morning you plan to eat your oats. That way, nuts, seeds, and granola will stay crunchy, and fruit will stay bright and fresh.

Are overnight oats better with milk or water? ›

So it's better to use oatmeal with milk. Make the oatmeal with milk instead of water. If you're using almond milk, it will add nice flavor, but won't increase the protein content much. Soy milk is a better protein source, or you can add some protein powder if you want.

Are overnight oats supposed to taste good? ›

What do overnight oats taste like? They can taste as basic as cold oatmeal, but those oats will absorb whatever you put with them. So they can taste creamy and fruity if you add those ingredients.

Do overnight oats taste good warmed up? ›

Heating overnight oats is a great way to enjoy a warm and comforting breakfast option. Whether you choose the microwave or stovetop method, be cautious not to overheat and compromise the texture or nutrient content.

References

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