Overnight Oats – Creamy, Convenient, and Absolutely Delicious
Are you constantly trying to eat healthy breakfasts but can never find the motivation to cook when you wake up? Then overnight oats are just about the most convenient and delicious meals you need to get in your life. This is what happened to me when I was having super chaotic mornings and couldn’t prepare a filling meal without running late. Just one week was enough for me to be completely smitten with overnight oats.
The most wonderful part of overnight oats is the insane level of convenience involved with cooking. All you have to do is combine several ingredients, put everything in the fridge for a night, and voila! You have a creamy, filling breakfast, ready in less than a minute. Not to mention that there are plenty of ways to tweak it to suit your mood or dietary needs. And yes, I have been making overnight oats for a few months now.
When I made my first batch of overnight oats, I decided to try quick oats, which I already had. When I woke up the next morning, those oats turned out to be as creamy as baby food. From that point on, I started using old-fashioned oats and haven’t looked back since then. The thing is, old-fashioned oats retain their shape much better while remaining soft and creamy.
Overall, this recipe produces thick and creamy oats, easy to tweak according to your personal preferences.
Ingredients for 1 Serving
- 1/2 cup rolled oats (45g)
- 1/2 cup milk (120ml/120g)
- 1/4 cup yogurt (60g)
- 1 tablespoon chia seeds (12g)
- Chia seeds help make your oats creamy and thick
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup/honey (15ml/20g)
Ingredients for 4 Servings
- 2 cups rolled oats (180g)
- 2 cups milk (480ml/480g)
- 1 cup yogurt (240g)
- 1/4 cup chia seeds (48g)
- 1/4 cup maple syrup (60ml/80g)
Optional Toppings
- Fresh strawberries
- Kiwi
- Blackberries
- Mango
- Banana slices
- Blueberries
- Hemp seeds
- Pistachios
- Pecans
Recipe Variations
Pina Colada Oats
- 1 basic recipe of overnight oats
- 1/4 cup diced pineapple (40g)
- 1 tablespoon shredded coconut (5g)
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract (2ml)
PB&J Oats
- 1 basic recipe of overnight oats
- 2 tablespoons raspberry puree/jam (30g)
- 2 tablespoons almond butter (32g)
- Raspberries
- Pistachios for topping
Raspberry Puree Recipe
- 1 cup raspberries (120g)
- 1 teaspoon maple syrup (5ml)
- A splash of vanilla extract
Strawberry Protein Oats
- 1 basic recipe of overnight oats
- 1/4 cup diced strawberries (40g)
- 1 scoop of protein powder
- 1 tablespoon sliced almonds (8g)
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract (2ml)
This variation provides additional nutrients due to the protein powder.
Spiced Pear Oats
- 1 basic recipe of overnight oats
- 1/4 cup diced pear (40g)
- 1 tablespoon chopped pecans (7g)
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- A dash of nutmeg
Carrot Cake Oats
- 1 basic recipe of overnight oats
- 1/4 cup grated carrot (30g)
- 1 tablespoon shredded coconut (5g)
- 1 tablespoon raisins (10g)
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract (2ml)
Banana Bread Oats
- 1/2 banana (60g), mashed
- 1 tablespoon chopped walnuts/pecans (7g)
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract (2ml)
- A dash of ground flaxseed
The oats have additional nutrients and nutty flavor provided by ground flaxseed.
Preparation of the Base Oats
Combine the oats, milk, yogurt, chia seeds, and maple syrup in a 16-ounce mason jar.
It may seem like you’ve poured too much milk at first because the mixture is liquid. However, after a couple of hours in the fridge, the oats soak up the liquids and become extremely thick.
For this reason, I highly recommend using mason jars for storage, as they have screw-on lids, which means you don’t have to worry about leaking.
Pro Tip: I always let my oats sit overnight rather than only for a couple of hours. The consistency becomes significantly creamier in this way, and the flavors meld much better.
Storage of the Oats
Close the mason jar and put it in the fridge for at least 2 hours. Ideally, let your oats sit overnight.
As soon as you open the mason jar, you will see how soft and creamy your oats have become. The consistency is similar to pudding.
In case you think your oats are too thick, pour a bit more milk and whisk. For example, if you are using a lot of chia seeds, they make your oats even thicker during the process.
The first time I tried to make large batches for my meal prep, I accidentally added too many chia seeds, and my overnight oats were thick enough to slice. In case you want to add chia seeds, measure them.
Choose Your Favorite Toppings
There are several ways to make your overnight oats different every single day. Toppings are the key!
I personally like to sprinkle my oats with fruits such as strawberries, kiwi, and hemp seeds. The juicy fruits contrast wonderfully with creamy oats.
My other favorite combination is made with blackberries, chunks of mango, and pistachios. Again, the oats become crunchy due to the addition of nuts, and the taste of tropical fruit is simply amazing.
Bananas, blueberries, and pecans make a perfect combination. In addition to the creamy taste, the oats contain a nutty flavor as the pecans soften slightly overnight.
Pro Tip: Do not forget to add crunchy toppings to your oats shortly before serving them. Otherwise, they will not keep their crunchy texture.
How to Make Pina Colada Oats
Mix diced pineapples, shredded coconut, and vanilla extract with the basic recipe of oats.
Once mixed, your oats will start smelling like the tropical paradise. Yes, you can almost feel the warmth of the beach due to vanilla and coconut.
I would recommend dicing the pineapples very finely so you could get small bursts of flavor from them with every spoonful of oats.
The longer you store your oats, the more creamy consistency you get.
Pro Tip: Try using unsweetened shredded coconut to avoid making your oats too sweet due to the addition of pineapples and maple syrup.
How to Make PB&J Oats
First, prepare the raspberry puree: combine the raspberries, maple syrup, and vanilla extract, and let it boil for several minutes on medium heat.
Soon, you will see how they get cooked and turn into a gorgeous sauce. Mash the berries until smooth and let them cool.
Then, pour the puree into the basic recipe of oats and add the remaining ingredients. Spread the oats on the bottom of the jar and add the rest of the components on top.
The scent of cooked berries and almond butter is heavenly.
Add some fresh raspberries and pistachios on top to serve.
How to Make Strawberry Protein Oats
Incorporate diced strawberries, protein powder, sliced almonds, and vanilla extract into the basic recipe of overnight oats and whisk well.
During the process, the berries will release their juices, which results in the soft, pale pink consistency.
The first time I tried this variation, I realized that different kinds of protein powder absorb liquids at different rates. In case you add too much powder, increase the amount of milk and pour it in before refrigerating the oats.
In addition to protein powder, you can also incorporate cream cheese into your oats to obtain a strawberry cheesecake.
How to Make Spiced Pear Oats
Combine the diced pear, pecans, cinnamon, and nutmeg with the basic recipe of oats.
As soon as you add the cinnamon, you will smell a wonderful autumn flavor. In any case, you should try this version in cooler seasons.
The pecans and pears maintain their consistency after overnight soaking.
Instead of pears, you can add apples or peaches as long as they are in season.
Pro Tip: Before mixing the pecans with oats, try toasting them in a dry skillet. Their nutty scent becomes much stronger in this case.
How to Make Carrot Cake Oats
Combine the grated carrot, shredded coconut, raisins, cinnamon, and vanilla extract with the basic recipe of oats.
Grate the carrots finely to ensure that they mix well with oats during the night. They turn into carrot cake due to the addition of cinnamon.
In this case, do not grate the carrots too thickly because otherwise, they will remain crunchy even after overnight soaking.
Finally, top your oats with additional raisins, carrots, and pecans.
How to Make Banana Bread Oats
Mash the bananas and combine them with the basic recipe of oats along with walnuts, cinnamon, vanilla extract, and ground flaxseed.
The bananas not only add additional flavor but also provide natural sugars and make your oats soft and creamy.
I personally enjoy heating banana bread oats in a microwave for about 30 seconds before eating because its aroma is absolutely incredible.
If you wish, you can add additional banana slices on top of your breakfast.
Mistakes That You Should Avoid
Choosing Quick Oats Instead of Rolled Oats
Quick oats soak up too much liquid and become too soft overnight. Therefore, it is better to stick to the traditional kind of oats.
Not Mixing the Chia Seeds Properly
Due to their specific composition, chia seeds easily clump when mixed. Therefore, you should whisk the ingredients well at the very beginning and again in five minutes.
Adding Too Much Dry Stuff
Dry ingredients such as protein powder, flaxseed, or chia seeds tend to absorb additional liquids. Therefore, try not to overdo it, or increase the amount of liquid.
Using Whole Fruits Instead of Diced Ones
It is not always comfortable to take large pieces of fruit out of the oats with every spoonful.
Not Tasting the Ingredients Before Refrigeration
Every brand of yogurt and protein powder is different in terms of its sugar content. Therefore, it is recommended to taste the mixture beforehand.
Other Ways to Customize the Recipe
Adding Chocolate
Pour 1 tablespoon of cocoa powder and some chocolate chips into your oats. For example, bananas pair perfectly with this variation.
Changing the Recipe to Apple Pie Oats
Instead of pears, choose apples and cinnamon as well as a pinch of cloves. Try using chopped walnuts in this version.
Trying Different Milk Types
For example, almond milk, oat milk, cashew milk, and ordinary dairy milk all work well with the recipe. Cashew milk makes oats extra creamy, and oat milk adds extra sugars.
Ways to Serve and Store
Overnight oats remain fresh in the fridge for up to five days and are easy to prepare for your meal prep.
I wouldn’t recommend leaving them at room temperature for more than two hours due to the presence of yogurt and milk.
Freezing them is a great way to extend their shelf life for two months. In my opinion, you should freeze oats in individual jars and leave them overnight for them to thaw.
In most cases, I eat my oats cold. There are some exceptions – for example, banana bread oats are great warmed slightly. Also, in case you have brunch, you can offer a variety of toppings to your guests.
