Easy and creamy Overnight Oats are the best make-ahead breakfast. There is no cooking required, just stir the ingredients together and refrigerate overnight to get a creamy and enjoyable bowl of oatmeal.
It’s easy to make several servings at once for weekly meal prep. You can add your preferred toppings ahead or when you’re ready to enjoy them.
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Overnight oats have become crazy popular over the past couple of years. I first discovered this from Chungah’s Meal Prep Cookbook and from Lisa of Downshiftology, who were both inspirations for this version that we make on our regular breakfast rotation.
We love make-ahead breakfasts from Overnight Cinnamon Rolls to French Toast Casserole and of course Freezer Breakfast Sandwiches. If you are a fan of breakfast meal prep, this Overnight Oats Recipe is a must-try!
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What are Overnight Oats?
Oats overnight is a method of preparing oatmeal with no cooking required. Rolled oats are combined with your milk of choice which softens the oats as they rest in the refrigerator overnight. Overnight oats are typically served cold but can be heated if desired. Here’s why we love it:
- Easy Meal Prep – they can be assembled several days ahead to enjoy throughout the week or to take with you wherever you go.
- Scalable – this recipe takes under 5 minutes to make and you can make 1 or 10 jars at once. It’s so easy when you set it up like an assembly line.
- Easy to digest – soaking oats rather than cooking them helps break down starches so your body can get the most nutritional benefit from the oats.
- Versatile – you can add just about any milk, any yogurt, and any sweetener. There are also dozens of toppings and add-ins you can try. See our favorites below.
- Save money – a single serving will probably cost about 50 cents to make, plus any toppings you want to add.
Ingredients for Overnight Oats
- Rolled Oats – also called old fashioned oats
- Almond milk – or you can use your milk of choice
- Greek yogurt – we use non-fat but whole yogurt would work
- Maple syrup – our go-to sweetener because it incorporates easilly (see substitutiosn below)
- Chia seeds – helps to thicken up the creamy base of the overnight oats
If using sweetened yogurt – you can skip the additional maple syrup since a flavored yogurt usually adds enough sweetness Flavored yogurt is also a great way to change up the taste of your overnight oats. Try blueberry, strawberry, or vanilla yogurt.
How to Make Overnight Oats
- Add ingredients to a mason jar. Stir to combine, cover and refrigerate overnight.
- Add toppings – when ready to serve, add your favorite fruit, nut or seed toppings and enjoy.
Common Questions
Rolled oats are sometimes called Old Fashioned Oats. Rolled oats are essentially steel-cut oats that have been processed and rolled or flattened into oval disks for faster cooking.
Yes, you can absolutely use your favorite milk such as coconut milk, oat milk, hemp milk, or even dairy milk.
Oats are generally gluten-free, but be sure to buy rolled oats that are labeled “gluten-free” to ensure that your oats are not cross-contaminated.
Try liquid honey, agave, stevia, or your favorite sweetener.
Toppings for Overnight Oats
We love to use a variety of fruit toppings for overnight oats, depending on what is in season. Here are some of our favorite flavor combinations:
- Blueberry lemon: 1/4 cup blueberries + lemon zest
- Strawberry chocolate: 1/3 cup strawberries + mini chocolate chips
- Raspberry peach: 1/3 cup peaches or nectarine + raspberries
- Banana nut: 1/2 banana + chopped pecans
Have you discovered this amazing breakfast idea yet? I would love to hear about your favorite toppings for overnight oats in the comments below.
More EASY Breakfast Ideas
- Breakfast Quesadillas
- Green Smoothie Bowl
- One-Pan Breakfast Sandwich
- Breakfast Egg Muffins
- Fluffy Ricotta Pancakes
- Easy Breakfast Shakshuka
Easy Overnight Oats Recipe
Ingredients
For Each Serving of Overnight Oats:
- 1/2 cup rolled oats, old fashioned oats
- 5 oz almond milk, (just under 2/3 cup) or your milk of choice
- 1/4 cup Greek yogurt, fat free or whole yogurt*
- 1 Tbsp maple syrup
- 1 Tbsp chia seeds
Topping Combinations:
- Blueberry Lemon: 1/4 cup blueberries + lemon zest
- Strawberry Chocolate: 1/3 cup strawberries + mini chocolate chips
- Raspberry peach: 1/3 cup peaches or nectarine + raspberries
- Banana nut: 1/2 banana + chopped pecans
Instructions
- In a mason jar, add all of your ingredients: rolled oats, almond milk, yogurt, maple syrup, and chia seeds. Stir until well combined then cover and refrigerate overnight.
- To serve, add your favorite toppings and enjoy it out of the jar, or transfer to a bowl and sprinkle on your favorite fruit or nut toppings.
Notes
Nutrition Per Serving
Natasha Kravchuk
Hi! I'm Natasha Kravchuk. Here you'll find delicious, trusted recipes with easy step-by-step photos and videos. 
I don’t like yogurt at all, do you have any suggestions for something that could be substituted in its place? Thank you.
Hi Sherry, Yogurt adds protein and also adds a nice creaminess to the overnight oats, but you could add something like a smashed banana or just add a little more almond milk instead of the yogurt, although the overall product wouldn’t be quite as creamy.
Hi Natasha 🤗
I was wondering if you could substitute the Chia seeds in The breakfast oatmeal mason jar recipe with tapioca? Chia seeds are just not one of my favorites 😬 thank you so much for being you! ♥️
Hi Pamela, I have not tried that yet but feel free to do an experiment. We’d love to know how it goes.
Can you use steel cut oats? I know that rolled is basically steel cut but with hubby being prediabetic he has been advised to only use steel cut
Hi there, I think that will work but it will be chewier than regular oats.
Love all your recipes! Read the comments quickly – didn’t see anyone saying that they microwave the jars before eating…. I prefer my oats on the warm side. Thank you 🙂
Just tried this recipe and absolutely loved it!
Overall, is this a healthy a meal? Do you have any recommendations to decrease the carbs in this? Thank you!
Hi Alissa, I would say so. Oats are good for you and are loaded with fiber, protein, potassium, magnesium, and other nutrients. It is hard to reduce carbs in this recipe because oats are vital. You could possibly use fewer oats? It may change the consistency a bit but I’m sure it would still taste great. The only other suggestion that I would have is not to use maple syrup or use an alternative sweetener. I would also be mindful of the toppings you select as those can add additional carbs.
You have the best recipes! Can I use honey instead of maple syrup in the overnight oats? For some reason I don’t like maple syrup lol
Yes, you can! You can substitute with liquid honey, agave, stevia, or your favorite sweetener.
This recipe is great! I generally do not care for cooked oatmeal because not matter what I do it tastes like cardboard. But this method of prep really preserves the natural taste of the oats. I will make this often!
Hello Sally, great to know that you enjoyed this recipe. Thank you for sharing that with us!
I’m allergic to yogurt. I can I substitute with something else?
Hi Lana, Yogurt adds protein and also adds a nice creaminess to the overnight oats, but you could add something like a smashed banana or just add a little more almond milk instead of the yogurt, although the overall product wouldn’t be quite as creamy.
Made this last night – it’s super easy and tastes great. I highly recommend!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it! Thank you for the wonderful review, Debbie!
Just made these overnight Oats, served them up the next day. Hubby says it’s a winner and a keeper. He really enjoyed them. Thank you for the recipe.
I’m happy to hear that!
Made these Natasha and they are so delicious. Grandson who is a fussy eater loved them too.
Great to hear that he loved this recipe too!
This recipe is outstanding! I made a big bowl of it and it’s already gone. Making more tonight, wonderful breakfast and evening snack.
That’s so great! It sounds like you have a new favorite, Mary!
Hi Natasha,
Thanks for all your great recipes! Can I make this without the chia seeds? Every recipe I’ve seen includes this, but I don’t have any. Thanks!
Hi Lin, we love it with chia seeds, but it should work without them! I hope you love this recipe!
How many days to the oats keep? Trying to estimate how many to prepare.
Hi Jeania, it’s best to enjoy these within five days of making them.
Just prepped 6 jars for my family for the morning. I softened some Granny Smith apples with a bit of agave and cinnamon, then promptly plopped them in the jars on top of the stirred oats. Hopefully adding the fruit now doesn’t disappoint. Thanks!❤️
❤️
Please update us on how it goes so we can try that next time.
Hi. The jar link doesn’t work for me. Can you tell me how many ounces your jars are? Thank you.
Hi Nancy, that link should take you to an Amazon Shop. Try this link HERE instead. It’s the same link. The jars I used were Ball Wide Mouth Mason Jars 16 oz [6 Pack] With mason jar lids and Bands. I hope this helps!
It works! Thank you so much! I love overnight oats and cannot wait to make these.
I hope you love it!
They did not disappoint. This is my new favorite breakfast. Yum!
I’m so glad you found a favorite, Nancy! It is seriously so good!
My boys loved this!!! Such and easy breakfast to prep night before! Natasha never disappoints with her recipe!
You’re so nice! Thank you so much for sharing that with me.
This is one of my favorites! Love it! I use all organic ingredients and load mine up with pecans. Thank you Natasha! You’re the best! Love! Love! Love!
I’m so happy you enjoyed that. Thank you for sharing that with us, Steven!
Any vessel you can suggest to use other than Mason jars? thanks.
Hi Phoebe, a Tupperware container or clear plastic to-go cups would work great.
Love It! Can a few of these be made ahead and frozen? If so, do I freeze them with or without stirring? I assume I add the fruit once thawed and ready to eat?
Hi Marla, they can be assembled several days ahead to enjoyed throughout the week or to take with you wherever you go, be sure to keep them refrigerated. I have not tried freezing these to advise. If you experiment, let me know how you liked the recipe
Hi there. I love your receipes, and have tried several! For this one, would adding cinnamon work?
Hi Lynda, I haven’t tried adding cinnamon to this recipe yet to advise. I have another Maple Cinnamon Recipe if you’d like to try that one instead.