This overnight oats recipe is healthy and delicious and only takes a few minutes to make. It’s a perfect and nutritious breakfast for busy mornings, which means easy and stress-free mornings. I love this overnight oats recipe because my mornings are 100x better, and that’s a fact!

This recipe for overnight oats is made with oats, chia seeds, milk, yogurt, and a touch of vanilla. It has a delicious topping of fresh fruit, seeds, and crunchy nuts. Plus, it can be easily customizable!

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WHAT ARE OVERNIGHT OATS

It’s an alternative way to prepare oatmeal porridge. Instead of cooking oats in water or milk and serving them hot, you combine rolled oats with cold milk, yogurt, and chia seeds, a much more practical cooking technique. The oats and chia seeds absorb the liquid from the milk and yogurt, and 4 to 6 hours later, you have cold, creamy, soft, and delicious oatmeal to eat.

INGREDIENTS FOR THE OVERNIGHT OATS RECIPE:

Oats – Use rolled oats or old-fashioned oats. I do not recommend using quick oats or oat flour, as these kinds of oats will get too soggy when soaked with milk. On the other hand, steel-cut oats won’t soften enough.
Yogurt – I recommend adding Greek yogurt (no sugar!). Greek yogurt has higher protein content than plain yogurt. You can also use coconut yogurt.
Milk – Use any milk you like or even water. For super rich and creamy overnight oats, try making it with coconut milk.
Chia Seeds – Chia seeds help give the oatmeal a pudding-like texture. Have you tried chia pudding? Chia seeds are packed with Omega-3 and fiber and have no flavor at all.
Vanilla Extract – A completely optional ingredient, but add a nice flavor.
Sweetener – Use the sweetener of your choice. The popular options are honey, maple syrup, or agave syrup. Sometimes I like to add a good quality protein powder, which then the overnight porridge doesn’t need extra sweeteners.

HOW TO MAKE OVERNIGHT OATS

This healthy and delicious recipe is incredibly simple and easy to prepare.

Transfer oats to a large container, such as a bowl.
In another bowl, mix the yogurt with the chia seeds well. (Adding chia seeds to yogurt instead of milk prevents them from clumping together.)
Add the milk, vanilla extract, and yogurt with chia seeds to the oatmeal. Mix well.
Cover with an airtight lid or plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours or overnight.
When ready to serve, give it a stir and divide it into small bowls, small glasses, or mason jars and add the toppings.

TOPPINGS FOR OVERNIGHT OATS

Fruit – Fresh or frozen. I like berries, pomegranates, mango, and bananas. But just about any fruit tastes delicious, so feel free to use peaches, passion fruit, pears, cherries, pineapples, etc.
Nuts – Sliced almonds are my favorite, but you can use other types of nuts.
Other Ingredients – Nuts butter, coconut flakes, dry fruits, flaxseed, cacao nibs, protein powder, spices, etc.

RECIPE TIPS

Add enough liquid. While the consistency of oats is mostly a personal preference, not adding enough liquid to Overnight Oats can result in a thick, mushy substance. Remember that oats absorb a lot of liquid, so be sure to double the liquid for each serving of oats at a 2:1 ratio. In other words, for every 1 cup of oatmeal, you must add 2 cups of liquid unless you’re also adding yogurt. With adding yogurt, the ratio will be 1:1:1 or 1 cup of oatmeal, 1 cup of milk, and 1 cup of yogurt. However, add another half cup of milk if you prefer your oatmeal to be a little less thick.
Add toppings to overnight oats just before serving, except chia seeds. As you know, for raw oat to soften, it needs to absorb the liquid you added. Toppings can not only impede this process but also throw off the ratio of liquid to oats. Besides, some fruit can become soggy, and your results can be disappointing.
You can serve the overnight oats hot or cold. To reheat, transfer the uncovered bowl to the microwave and heat for 60 seconds. Stir it after 30 seconds.

SUBSTITUTIONS FOR THE OVERNIGHT PORRIDGE RECIPE

To make overnight oats recipe:

Dairy-Free: Use plant-based milk and coconut yogurt.
Gluten-free: Use certified gluten-free oats.
Sugar-Free: Omit all sweeteners or use pureed or mashed fruit.
Vegan: Use maple or agave syrup instead of honey. And use plant-based milk and yogurt.

ARE OVERNIGHT OATS HEALTHY

Yes, homemade overnight oats are a healthy breakfast idea, perfect for any time of the year! The fact that breakfast is already prepared when you wake up is undoubtedly a benefit. They offer a range of health benefits due to their rich fiber and protein content. They also contain vitamins and minerals, like manganese, phosphorus, magnesium, copper, iron, and zinc. This makes overnight oats healthy for your gut, as well as for overall health and well-being.

Although, be aware of store-bought overnight oats. For those interested in trying overnight oats, I recommend always making them at home to save money and avoid ingredients like natural flavors, artificial sweeteners, and additives.

HOW LONG LAST OVERNIGHT OATS

Overnight oats can be stored in an airtight container for up to five days in the refrigerator. They’ll continue to soften the longer they sit — which might be a bonus if you like your oatmeal on the super-creamy side.