Learn the basics of overnight oats with seven delicious flavor options, from piña colada and peaches & cream to salted caramel and cookie dough!
I know I’m super behind on this whole “Overnight Oats” thing, but hey, maybe there’s someone out there just as oblivious to this ready-to-go breakfast movement as I am. But for a newbie overnight oat-er, the sheer quantity of recipes out there can be a bit overwhelming (anyone else get stressed out by oats? no? just me?…).
But first, what exactly are overnight oats? They’re 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!
Anywho, I’m all about efficiency. Oat-y, tasty efficiency. So, I crafted a formula for 7 different flavors, all made with the same 5 ingredient base. Just prep the base and then add your flavorings!
What you need for the Overnight Oats Foundation
First, let’s talk about the foundation of the oats. For all of ’em, you need to start with 5 main ingredients. These are the same for each flavor!
- Oats: First, you need ½ cup of old fashioned rolled oats. (What’s the difference between rolled oats, steel cut, and instant? Read it here!)
- 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!
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!
- Assemble: In a 16-oz mason jar or bowl, combine the Foundation ingredients with your chosen Flavor Option ingredients. Stir to combine.
- Rest: Seal shut and place in the fridge for at least 2 hours (or overnight), until the oats are soft.
- Serve: When ready to eat, give it a good stir and then dig in! If the oats appear dry, add a splash of milk.
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.
- 1 mashed banana
- ½ tsp cinnamon
- ¼ tsp vanilla extract
- Milk, honey, or brown sugar to taste
Cookie Dough Overnight Oats
Next we have cookie dough oats, which basically gives you the excuse to enjoy dessert for breakfast!
- 2 Tbsp chocolate chips
- 1 Tbsp almond butter (or any nut butter)
- ¼ tsp vanilla extract
- Milk or maple syrup to taste
Peaches & Cream Overnight Oats
Peaches and cream ovrenight oats taste like a creamsicle or your grandma’s classic peach cobbler. It’s quite the treat.
- ¼ cup chopped peaches
- ¼ tsp vanilla extract
- Coconut milk or honey to taste
Nut Butter & Jelly Overnight Oats
Craving an old school pb&j? Enjoy an ~adult~ version by combining it with overnight oats!
- 2 Tbsp nut butter, any type
- 2 tsp of your favorite jelly
- A splash of milk
Pina Colada Overnight Oats
Give yourself the tropical vibes with piña colada overnight oats. This one is really fun and one of my favorites!
- ¼ cup chopped pineapple
- ¼ tsp vanilla extract
- Milk or honey to taste
Salted Caramel Overnight Oats
Next up, we have salted caramel. It tastes like your favorite caramel macchiato, without the espresso!
- 4 chopped dates
- ¼ tsp vanilla extract
- A pinch of salt
- Any milk or maple syrup to taste
Strawberries & Cream Overnight Oats
Last but not least, strawberries and cream! Load up on the strawberries — it’ll be worth it!
- ¼ cup chopped strawberries
- ¼ tsp vanilla extract
- Coconut milk or honey to taste
Try these oatmeal recipes next
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 recipes.
- Savory Oatmeal with Avocado and Poached Egg
- Overnight Quinoa Breakfast Porridge
- Cherry Oat Smoothie
- Egg White Oatmeal
Ingredients
Foundation
- ½ cup rolled oats
- ½ cup milk see ingredients below for specification
- 1 Tbsp sweetener see ingredients below for specification
- 1 Tbsp chia seeds
- Pinch salt
Flavor Options (Choose One)
- Banana Bread: 1 mashed banana, ½ tsp cinnamon, ¼ tsp vanilla extract use any milk, honey or brown sugar as sweetener
- Cookie Dough: 2 Tbsp chocolate chips, 1 Tbsp almond butter, ¼ tsp vanilla extract use any milk, maple syrup as sweetener
- Peaches & Cream: ¼ cup chopped peaches, ¼ tsp vanilla extract use coconut milk, honey as sweetener
- PB&J: 2 Tbsp nut butter, 2 Tbsp jelly use any milk, no sweetener
- Pina Colada: ¼ cup chopped pineapple, ¼ tsp vanilla extract use coconut milk, honey as sweetener
- Salted Caramel: 4 chopped dates, ¼ tsp vanilla extract, pinch salt use any milk, maple syrup as sweetener
- Strawberries & Cream: ¼ cup chopped strawberries, ¼ tsp vanilla extract use coconut milk, honey as sweetener
Instructions
- Assemble: In a 16-oz mason jar or bowl combine Foundation ingredients with your chosen Flavor Option ingredients. 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.
Mary Briggs says
I’m going to try the apple pie and peach cobbler overnight oats. This sounds delicious Sarah!
Sarah says
Enjoy!! The apple pie was my favorite 🙂
Kim says
I have a question. 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?
Sarah says
Hi Kim, great question! 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 🙂
donna says
So what do you D o in the am to cook it?
Sarah says
No need to cook it! That’s the beauty of overnight oats. The soak overnight has the same softening effect on the oats as cooking them. If you prefer warm oats, you can of course pop it in the microwave for a minute or two.
Kate P says
Hi, I was wondering if I could use homemade apple sauce in place of the apple mixture? Or would that make it too wet?
Can I use instant oats or gluten free oats in place of old fashioned rolled oats?
Thank you!
Sarah says
Hi Kate, I think this could work, especially if it’s a chunkier applesauce. Perhaps just reduce the amount of liquid you add to the oats to compensate for the wet applesauce. And yes, you should be able to sub instant and gluten free oats! 🙂