Learn how to make overnight oats in about three minutes with this simple healthy recipe for a quick and easy breakfast without and with yogurt!
No time to make pancakes? Feeling too old (or gluten intolerant) to put peanut butter and jelly on a slice of bread? Then grab some oats and chia seeds and get ready to whip up the easiest healthy breakfast ever! It will take you around 3 minutes, but you need to prep it the night before. That’s right, making overnight oats is a bit like Cinderella’s story – there are simple components, a few rules and a little bit of magic involved.
So if you never have time to eat in the morning – this is for you. Want to eat healthier and fuel your body properly – the recipe’s for you. If you’re a fan of creamy parfaits or puddings and want to enjoy them for breakfast – you need to try this healthy treat. Even if you know NOTHING about cooking – you can make overnight oats, because it’s easy and only involves putting foods into a jar, mixing them with a fork and refrigerating them while you’re sleeping.
What Are Overnight Oats
If you’ve never heard of or had overnight oats before, you’re probably wondering what the deal is. Well, it is basically a breakfast made with oats that have been soaked in a liquid of your choice and refrigerated overnight. They’re mixed in the evening and made in the fridge, what a dream!
Are Overnight Oats Healthy
Yes, they are healthy. Of course, it’s oats and fruit. The ingredients you’ll use to prepare your easy overnight oats include wholesome foods like oats, chia seeds and fruit. This combination is delicious, filling and rich in vitamins, minerals and fiber.
When it comes to grains, oats are special. In a good, very healthy way. Oats contain some really special antioxidants called avenanthramides and a special type of soluble fiber called beta glucan. Both of these nutrients have been shown to benefit your cardiovascular, gut and overall health by lowering your bad cholesterol (LDL), improving blood pressure and blood sugar, promoting the growth of good bacteria in your gut and reducing inflammation. You can learn more about the health benefits of oats here.
Overnight Oats Ingredients
These are the base ingredients you want to have when making overnight oats:
- Oats. You can use rolled oats or quick oats. I, personally prefer the texture of quick oats, because they become super creamy when they soak overnight, but if you want more texture – use the rolled oats.
- Chia seeds. Adding chia seeds to overnight oats will make for a more pudding-like consistency in my opinion and definitely makes them more filling.
- Liquid sweetener of choice. I know there are many options out there right now – you can use maple, agave or coconut blossom syrup or honey (not for vegans!).
- Liquid of choice. My choice is always water, but you can also use non-dairy milk or even dairy-milk if you can tolerate it.
- Yogurt. This is definitely optional, but it will add more probiotics to your diet, which in combination with the prebiotic in oats is great for gut health. Again, there are many dairy-free alternatives available on the market right now if you can’t have Greek yogurt. Coconut yogurt or cashew yogurt are some options you might want to consider.
- Vanilla or cinnamon: this is optional too for some more flavor!
Below you’ll find four different flavors and two different base recipes – one for vegan overnight oats and another one for healthy overnight oats with yogurt.
How To Make Overnight Oats
Very, very, easy. The “work” part takes about 2-3 minutes. Here are two simple ways to make the base:
Vegan Overnight Oats
If you are vegan or can’t tolerate dairy, follow these steps:
- Add your oats, chia seeds, nut milk or water and sweetener of choice (optional) to an airtight container.
- Mix well, let the oats set for a minute and then mix again.
- Close the lid and refrigerate the oats overnight
- Add toppings like fruit, nuts and nut butter in the morning
Overnight Oats With Yogurt
For a creamier, more probiotic-rich version, add in some probiotic yogurt to your oats. It doesn’t need to be dairy yogurt, you can find many non-dairy yogurt options like coconut yogurt if you are vegan or follow a dairy-free diet. Here’s how to make these healthy overnight oats:
- Add oats, chia seeds, yogurt, some water and sweetener of choice (optional) to an airtight container.
- Mix, then let the oats set for a minute and then mix again.
- Close the lid and refrigerate overnight
- add toppings of choice in the morning
Healthy Overnight Oats Recipe
Yield: 1
Prep Time: 3 minutes
Total Time: 3 minutes
Learn how to make overnight oats with this simple healthy overnight oats recipe for a quick and easy breakfast! Below you'll find a recipe for vegan overnight oats and another one for overnight oats with yogurt!
Ingredients
For Overnight Oats With Yogurt:
- ⅓ cup oats
- 2 tbsp yogurt
- 1 tsp chia seeds
- ¼ cup milk or water
- 1 tsp honey or maple syrup
For Vegan Overnight Oats:
- ⅓ cup oats
- 1 tbsp chia seeds
- 1 tsp honey or maple syrup
- ½ cup cashew milk
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a jar or another type of airtight container.
- Mix, let sit for a minute and then stir again.
- Close the jar and refrigerate overnight or for at least 3 hours.
- Add your favorite toppings and enjoy!*
Notes
*If you feel like the oats are too dense, you can always add in some milk or water to achieve the desired consistency.
Nutrition Information
Yield 1 Serving Size 1
Amount Per Serving Calories 262Total Fat 7gSaturated Fat 1gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 5gCholesterol 0mgSodium 7mgCarbohydrates 46gFiber 7gSugar 22gProtein 6g
Toppings
I typically would go with healthy sweet toppings for overnight oats. Here are some great options:
- apples, bananas, peaches, berries and more
- chocolate chips
- coconut shavings
- nuts and seeds
- nut butters
Overnight Oats Flavor Ideas
So here I wanna share 4, well, actually 5 delicious overnight oats variations. Choose your base and try some of these toppings.
Apple Pie
For this one you’ll need additionally to the base of choice:
- 1 apple
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp coconut oil
- 2 tbsp water
- 1 tbsp chopped pecans
Chop the apple in small pieces. Then saute with coconut oil and cinnamon at medium-high for 2 minutes, add the water and cook for a few more minutes until the water has evaporated. Top your oats with the mixture and some toasted pecans.
This is a great option if you would like to meal prep overnight oats. Simply make a bigger batch and keep in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Caramelized Banana
This is another healthy variation of the apple pie overnight oats recipe, but instead of an apple, we use a banana:
- 1 banana
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp coconut oil
- 2 tbsp water
- 1 tbsp chopped pecans
Saute the banana with the coconut oil and cinnamon, add a bit of water if needed and a pinch of salt. Top the oats with the caramelized banana and the pecans.
Peanut Butter Cup
If you wake up craving peanut butter and chocolate like myself sometimes, this one’s for you. You will mix the entire thing in the evening and just top with some chocolate chunks in the morning.
- 1/3 cup oats
- 1/2 cup cashew milk
- 2 tbsp almond butter or peanut butter
- 1 tsp honey or maple syrup
- 1 tbsp chia seeds
- 1 tbsp chocolate chunks
- 1 tbsp chopped nuts
Mix the oats with honey, almond or peanut butter. Add in the chia seeds and the cashew milk, add a pinch of salt if you want and stir until you get a good consistency. Close the jar and let the mixture refrigerate overnight. In the morning top with the chocolate chunks and some chopped nuts.
Blueberry Overnight Oats
For a super simple and quick healthy overnight oats version, in the morning, just top the base you prepared with:
- a handful of blueberries
- 1 tbsp chopped walnuts
- 1 tbsp almond butter or peanut butter
Enjoy or eat on the go!
Banana Coconut
For this version, I recommend using coconut milk and adding some coconut and some mashed or chopped banana to the base as well.
- 1/3 cup oats
- 1 tbsp chia seeds
- 1/2 cup coconut milk
- 1 banana
- 1 1/2 tbsp coconut flakes
Mix the oats, chia seeds, coconut milk, 1 tbsp coconut flakes and 1/2 banana. Refrigerate overnight and add the other half of the banana and the rest of the coconut flakes in the morning. Optionally you could also add some slivered almonds or another type of nut you like.
More healthy Breakfast Ideas:
I hope you enjoyed these healthy and easy recipes for overnight oats! Whenever you’re in the mood for something different, give these other healthy breakfast ideas a try as well:
- Flourless Oatmeal Pancakes Without Banana
- Blueberry Oatmeal Muffins
- Healthy No Bake Breakfast Cookies
