05/03/2020
What ingredients do you need for overnight oats recipe?
Oats: This is really the only ingredient that’s non-negotiable. Make sure to use plain old-fashioned oats and not quick oats because the consistency is best with rolled oats. You can also use gluten-free oats.
Milk: For the liquid part, you can actually make this with water! But it’s more common to use milk. You can use full fat, 2% or low-fat milk. You can also use plant-based milk like almond milk, coconut milk, cashew milk or oat milk.
Chia Seeds (optional): These seeds are packed with tons of nutrition, and they help give the oats a pudding-like texture. So I always like to include them in my base recipe.
Greek or vegan yogurt (optional): This gives the oats a tangy flavor, creamy texture and boost of protein.
Vanilla extract (optional): This enhances all the flavors that go into the overnight oatmeal as well as giving it sweetness without any sweetener.
Sweetener (optional): Use honey or maple syrup to sweeten the mixture, especially because oats can be somewhat bland on their own.
Toppings: This is where you can have some fun with fresh fruit, dried fruit, nut butters, nuts, seeds and spices (like cinnamon, nutmeg or cardamom). There are so many topping ideas and combinations, and I think that’s what makes this such a great versatile recipe!
Ingredients needed to make easy overnight oats
How to make basic overnight oats?
It’s all about the ratios in my opinion to get the consistency you like. So I recommend you start with my suggested ratio below and then add more milk or use less milk until you find what works perfectly for you! Once you nail down the ratio of the basic overnight oats recipe, the sky’s the limit with the flavor combinations and toppings.
Here’s my simple ratio:
1 part oats + 1 part milk + 1/8 part seeds
To start, combine old fashioned oats and chia seeds. You can use a bowl, a mason jar or just some glass cups like I did here.
Collage showing step by step making of overnight oats: oats + chia seeds
Next add the Greek or vegan yogurt and vanilla extract.
Collage showing step by step making of overnight oats: oats + chia seeds + greek yogurt + vanilla extract
And then add the sweetener of choice and the milk. Then mix the overnight oats together until you see no clumps. Next, seal or cover with a lid, and chill in the fridge for at least 2 hours or overnight.
Collage showing step by step making of overnight oats: oats + chia seeds + greek yogurt + vanilla extract + maple syrup + milk
The next morning, grab a spoon, add your favorite toppings and dig in!
Almond joy overnight oats in a glass cup with other overnight oats in background
Overnight Oatmeal Recipe Ideas
Peanut Butter Jelly: It’s like having a peanut butter jelly sandwich in overnight oats form. I layer peanut butter, strawberry jelly, fresh cut strawberries and crushed peanuts. It has a sweet and salty taste that reminds me of my childhood.
Peanut Butter & Jelly Overnight Oats
Apple Pie: With the combination of chopped apples, pecans, maple syrup and ground cinnamon, this variation is a great fall recipe that has a warm sweet taste and satisfying crunch from the fruit and nuts.
Apple Pie Overnight Oats
Banana Nutella: The name of this recipe says it all. You’ve got bananas and you’ve got Nutella…can it possibly go wrong? I would highly recommend this one for anyone who’s skeptical about trying overnight oats, especially kids. The banana and Nutella together have a rich decadent taste that makes it feel like you’re enjoying dessert, instead of a nutritious breakfast. I know Nutella is not the healthiest, but a dollop of it here is no biggie. I also add crushed hazelnuts and chocolate chips to enhance the flavor.
Banana Nutella Overnight Oats
Almond Joy: We’re all familiar with the popular chocolate bar, and I was frankly obsessed with it growing up. So this recipe reminds of of those flavors and it’s probably one of my most favorite ways to make overnight oats. I use shredded coconut, crushed almonds, mini chocolate chips and maple syrup.
Almond Joy Overnight Oats
Tips for making the best overnight oats
Make it inside of a jar or a mason jar (with measurement lines on the side). This way you can measure, mix, chill, carry and eat the overnight oats all in one convenient container.
Use plain old fashioned rolled oats, not quick oats. Quick oats will get too soggy when soaked with milk. And do not use steel cut oats because they won’t soften enough to eat just with milk unfortunately.
Warm it up if you prefer warm oats in the morning. Although overnight oatmeal is typically served cold, you can definitely eat them warmer. Just place them in the microwave for one minute and be sure to use a microwave-safe jar. I do this for my daughter who hates cold food in the morning.
Make a bunch for the week. Because overnight oats typically stay good in the fridge for up to 5 days, I recommend making a batch on Sunday and having it on hand in the fridge for the whole week. Be careful if you’re adding fruit beforehand because they will typically not remain fresh for more than a couple days.
4 ways to make overnight oats
If you’ve tried this healthy-ish feel good Easy Overnight Oats recipe or any other recipe on FeelGoodFoodie, then don’t forget to rate the recipe and leave me a comment below! I would love to hear about your experience making it. And if you snapped some shots of it, share it with me on Instagram so I can repost on my stories!
For more oatmeal recipes:
How to Make Oatmeal
Baked Steel Cut Oatmeal
Baked Blueberry Oatmeal
Protein Oatmeal
4 ways to make overnight oats
Easy Overnight Oats
This easy overnight oats recipe is a healthy simple breakfast that you can make ahead for busy mornings and customize with many add-ins and toppings!
5 from 72 votes
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Course: Breakfast
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 5 mins
Total Time: 5 mins
Servings: 1 serving
Calories: 378kcal
Author: Yumna Jawad
Ingredients
Base
½ cup rolled old fashioned oats
½ cup milk of choice
¼ cup non-fat Greek yogurt
1 tablespoon chia seeds
1 tablespoon sweetener of choice honey or maple syrup
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
Peanut Butter & Jelly
1 tablespoon strawberry jam
1 tablespoon peanut butter
¼ cup diced strawberries
2 tablespoons peanuts crushed
Apple Pie
1/4 cup diced apples
1 tablespoon pecans chopped
2 teaspoons maple syrup
¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
Banana Nutella
½ banana sliced
1 tablespoon Nutella
1 tablespoon hazelnuts crushed
1 tablespoon chocolate chips
Almond Joy
¼ cup shredded coconut
1 tablespoon almonds chopped
1 tablespoon chocolate chips
2 teaspoons maple syrup
Instructions
Place all ingredients into a large glass container and mix until combined.
Cover the glass container with a lid or plastic wrap. Place in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours or overnight. Toppings can be added the night before or immediately before serving.
Uncover and enjoy from the glass container the next day. Thin with a little more milk or water, if desired.
Video
Notes
Storage: Overnight oats can be stored in the fridge for up to 5 days. This makes it an ideal breakfast meal prep to make on Sunday night for the week.
Substitutes: For best results, follow the recipe as is. However here are some common substitutes that would work well in this recipe.
Make it vegan: Use plant-based milk, plant-based yogurt, and maple syrup for sweetener
Make it gluten-free: Use certified gluten-free oats
Make it sugar-free: Omit the sweetener all together or used mashed or pureed fruit in the base recipe
Nutrition: Please note that the nutrition label provided is an estimate based on an online nutrition calculator. It will vary based on the specific ingredients you use. This information should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice. The nutrition value is for one serving without any toppings.
Nutrition
Calories: 378kcal | Carbohydrates: 54g | Protein: 17g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 15mg | Sodium: 80mg | Potassium: 485mg | Fiber: 8g | Sugar: 21g | Vitamin A: 198IU | Calcium: 322mg | Iron: 3mg
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Comments
Ella says
April 24, 2020 at 10:31 am
5 stars I love this recipe!! I had been needing a healthier breakfast food! I tried this recipe with soy milk and it was amazing! Thanks so much!! 🙂
Reply
Yumna Jawad says
April 26, 2020 at 11:18 am
So glad to hear you’re liking it. Thank you so much!!
Reply
Michael says
April 22, 2020 at 4:18 am
5 stars So easy and so delicious. I love your recipe. Thanks you!
Reply
Yumna Jawad says
April 22, 2020 at 9:51 am
So glad to hear it. Thank you!
Reply
Dania says
April 17, 2020 at 8:24 pm
5 stars Love this recipe so much! I did it in some leftover almond butter jars and topped it with fresh fruit. One of my favorites!!
Reply
Yumna Jawad says
April 17, 2020 at 11:39 pm
Yum! Love making it it emptied jars. Thanks so much for sharing!
Reply
Shireen says
April 17, 2020 at 12:43 am
5 stars I had apple crumble leftover which i made with gluten free oats so i added almond coconut milk, flax seeds, chia seeds and dried cranberries this is what left my son ate all of if the taste is amazing thanks for your idea!
Reply
Yumna Jawad says
April 17, 2020 at 9:19 am
What a great idea! Love that you made it work with leftovers!
Reply
Liberty says
April 14, 2020 at 8:50 pm
i thought it was a great recipe even though i despise chia seed texture, it was great i had it with honey, vanilla protein powder, almond milk, chia seeds and rolled oats. It was great!
Reply
Yumna Jawad says
April 15, 2020 at 12:07 am
So glad you liked it even with the chia seeds. They really get absorbed in there so it’s hard to taste them really. Thanks so much for the feedback!
Reply
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FeelGoodFoodie
From the Foodie
I'm Yumna. I literally learned to cook 2 weeks after I got married over the phone with my mom. When I was brave enough to fly solo, I started treading on trendy foodie territory and built an Instagram page with over 2 MILLION followers. Now I have hundreds of real good food recipes that will make you and your family feel oh-so good!
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