May 2, 2019

Easy Overnight Oats Recipes – Six Ways

Gluten Free Breakfast + Brunch Mix + Match Recipes Oatmeal
39 comments

Have you tried overnight oats yet? If not, here’s some inspiration to do so – and if yes, here are some easy overnight oats recipes to mix up your current routine.

Overnight oatmeal is such an easy and yummy breakfast, especially as the weather gets warmer – just pop it in the fridge the night before and wake up to cool, refreshing breakfast ready and waiting!

(Also, our microwave just broke yesterday, so I’m glad I have a no-microwave needed variation of my favorite microwave banana oatmeal at the ready!)

Overnight oats are fun because you can get really creative with the toppings – the combinations are endless, but here are six of my favorite easy overnight oatmeal recipes.

easy overnight oats recipes

I think the best thing about overnight oats are that they’re so fast and easy to make.

A couple minutes of prep in the evening will mean breakfast is ready and waiting in the morning – being too busy to make breakfast is no longer an excuse! The less thinking and cooking first thing in the morning, the better, right?!

easy overnight oatmeal recipes

Ready for an easy overnight oatmeal recipes overload?

I’ll get you guys started with all the ingredient options, then break it down into some of my favorite flavor combos.

Easy Overnight Oats Recipes

Step One: Make the basic overnight oats recipe. 

All you have to do is combine rolled oats (gluten free certified if necessary), ground flax and milk (dairy or nondairy) in a jar and shake. (Or, stir together in a bowl.)

Boom, that’s it.

basic overnight oats ingredients

Step Two: Flavor your overnight oats base.

I love cocoa powder (chocolate for breakfast = fun), honey, maple syrup, vanilla, and cinnamon in my overnight oatmeal, but feel free to get creative with spices or extracts!

how to flavor oatmeal and oatmeal sweeteners

Step Three: Add healthy fats (and crunch!) to your overnight oats.

A handful of nuts or seeds and/or a spoonful of any nut butter adds flavor, crunch, and satisfying healthy fats to overnight oatmeal.

Use your favorites!

healthy fat ingredients for oatmeal

Step Four: Top your overnight oatmeal with fruit.

Fruit adds sweetness and volume, not to mention fiber, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants to overnight oatmeal.

Any fresh or frozen fruit works great – I love how frozen fruit defrosts overnight and creates a juicy sauce for your oatmeal in the morning!

overnight oats with fruit

How to Store Overnight Oats

How you store your overnight oats depends on how you plan to eat them.

If you’re making oatmeal for your entire family and you plan to eat it at home, you can make your overnight oats in a large mixing bowl, then cover with saran wrap or a re-usable bowl cover and place it in the fridge. Just multiply the recipe for the correct amount of servings!

If you’re planning to eat your overnight oats on the go, it’s best to store the oats in individual containers like a mason jar or re-purposed jam jar. Glass or plastic snapware containers work just fine, too.

simple overnight oats recipe

Basic Overnight Oatmeal Recipe

Basic Overnight Oatmeal Recipe
February 11, 2019 by fANNEtastic food

A basic overnight oatmeal base recipe. See the variations in the blog post for topping and mix in ideas to add to this base!

Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes
Yield
1 serving
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Ingredients:

  • 1/2 cup old fashioned oats (certified GF if needed)
  • 1 tablespoon ground flax
  • 3/4 cup milk (dairy or nondairy)

Instructions:

  1. Combine oats, flax, and milk in a one-pint jar (or bowl). Add desired base flavorings, screw on the lid, and shake.
  2. Top with desired healthy fat additions and fruit toppings, put the lid back on or cover, and refrigerate overnight (or at least 3-4 hours).

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Instagram

Next, there are lots of ways to spruce up basic overnight oats.

Here are some of my favorite easy overnight oats recipe variations.

Let me know which of these easy overnight oatmeal recipes you enjoy most – or which different winning combinations you come up with yourself! I’d love to try them. 🙂

Almond Milk Overnight Oats with Berries

Replace dairy milk with almond milk (if desired). Add 1 tablespoon chia seeds, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla, and 1 teaspoon honey to the base. Top with fresh or frozen mixed berries and sliced almonds.

berry almond overnight oats

Peanut Butter Banana Chocolate Overnight Oats:

Add 1 tablespoon cocoa powder, 1 tablespoon peanut butter, and 1 teaspoon honey to base.

Top with peanuts, banana, and chocolate chips. 🙂

peanut butter banana overnight oats

Tropical Mango Overnight Oats:

Add 1/2 teaspoon vanilla and 1 teaspoon maple syrup to base.

Top with banana, mango, kiwi, and toasted coconut.

tropical overnight oats recipe

Cherry Chocolate Almond Overnight Oats:

Add 1 tablespoon cocoa powder, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla, and 1 teaspoon maple syrup to base.

Top with frozen dark cherries, sliced almonds, and chocolate chips.

cherry almond chocolate overnight oats

Chocolate Strawberry Overnight Oats: 

Add 1 tablespoon cocoa powder, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla, and 1 teaspoon maple syrup to base.

Top with fresh or frozen strawberries and chocolate chips.

chocolate strawberry overnight oats

Banana Bread Overnight Oats: 

Add 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla, and 1 teaspoon maple syrup to base.

Top with bananas and pecans.

banana bread overnight oats

I hope you enjoyed these easy overnight oatmeal recipes!

Have you ever tried overnight oatmeal?

What are your favorite overnight oatmeal flavorings and toppings?

If you liked this, check out more of my easy make-ahead breakfast recipes:

- anne

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39 comments
  • I love overnight oats in the summer when I want something cold and creamy. Eyeing the tropical one!
    Reply
  • Do you add the topping to the mix before you let it sit overnight? Or just the base ingredients? Is the texture of overnight oatmeal different from regular hot oatmeal? (I love oatmeal, but can't stand the texture of things like chia pudding)
    Reply
    • Yes, you can mix everything before letting it sit overnight! :) The texture is definitely more smooth (and obviously it's cold), but give it a shot and let me know what you think!
      Reply
      • Anne! I tried the peanut butter + banana recipe last night/this morning and omg, it was amazing! So tasty, and no texture issues. I LOVED that this recipe made it so quick to have oatmeal in the morning. I will definitely be making again tonight. Thank you!!
        Reply
        • Yay!! So glad you enjoyed it! :)
          Reply
  • I am glad you did this post because I have wanted to try overnight oats! But I have been wondering - can you make a larger batch that lasts for several days or is it something that really should be eaten the next day? Thanks!
    Reply
    • I bet you could make enough for 2 or 3 days worth -- any longer than that and it might get way too mushy (or start to go bad).
      Reply
      • I talked to my friend about this. She loves her overnight oats. She said she can make 5 jars on Sunday, one for each day of the week. She said by Thursday she has to add a little more milk as it starts to dry out, and it is softer, but still delicious.
        Reply
        • Awesome that's good to know - thank you!
          Reply
  • I've made a "carrot cake" overnight oats that was really good. I used a similar base to yours but then I added nutmeg, cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice. 1 TBSP golden raisins, 1 tsp vanilla extract, 1 scoop vanilla protein powder (for more staying power) and ~1/4 cup chopped shredded carrots. It was so delicious.
    Reply
    • Mmm that sounds awesome - I'll try that next! :)
      Reply
  • Yum! I love overnight oats. Definitely going to try one (or all) of these out :)
    Reply
  • These photos are so nice :)
    Reply
  • I've tried overnight oats but have found I don't care for eating cold oatmeal. Do you know if it would work to microwave them in the morning?
    Reply
    • I bet it would work just fine! Let us know how it goes if you try it :)
      Reply
  • Longtime, (usually) silent reader here, but I couldn't help but share my excitement for overnight oats with you today :) These all look delicious! I first tried overnight oats a few years ago and couldn't get behind them being cold...but I gave them another try this past summer and now I can't get enough! I guess maybe my tastes have changed? A good reminder to keep trying new things! Like you said, I love that they are so simple and easy to make and allow for an effortless breakfast - I am a grad student and am always packing my breakfast to eat on campus after a morning workout and overnight oats work perfect for that. My go-to add ins are wheat bran, a chopped date, almond butter, lots of cinnamon, sunflower seed kernels and banana slices. Plus a dollop of Greek yogurt - makes them so thick and creamy! Your chocolate versions look delicious and although I am not a chocolate-for-breakfast gal, I think I'll have to try them for a bedtime snack or even dessert! Thanks for sharing.
    Reply
    • Yay, thank you for reading and I'm so glad you enjoyed this post! Your add ins sound delicious. :) Loves dates!
      Reply
  • I want to try this! Do you have to add the flax or is it optional? Just thinking that I want to do this tonight but don't have flax on hand. Thanks for the ideas!
    Reply
    • You can skip it! Maybe use a little bit less milk, though, because the flax absorbs some of the liquid!
      Reply
  • Do you think this would work with chia seeds subbed for flax? Love the idea for chocolate strawberry! Yum!
    Reply
    • Yes, definitely! Enjoy!
      Reply
  • Yum!! I plan to have a lot of overnight oats this summer while I'm recovering post-baby! So simple to throw together and enjoy the next day!
    Reply
  • Yes, I've been wanting to make overnight oats to bring to work. Love these flavor options - especially the chocolate strawberry and chocolate cherry. I have some morello cherries sitting in my freezer waiting to be used just for this occasion.
    Reply
  • These all look and sound like fabulous combinations!
    Reply
  • such a good idea! Love all these combos, it's a great way not to get bored with your meal prep!
    Reply
  • There is nothing like overnight oatmeal!
    Reply
  • How long will these last? Can I get away with making a weeks worth at a time and storing in the refrigerator?
    Reply
    • I've never tried making it that far in advance before... it might get overly mushy for that long, but I'd give it a shot and see how it goes! Just don't eat it if it smells weird. :)
      Reply
  • Have you ever made it with water instead of milk. I don't love oatmeal made with milk.
    Reply
    • It will be pretty bland with water, and not as filling. How about a dairy alternative, like coconut milk, almond milk, cashew milk... etc?
      Reply
  • Could I warm this up in the morning if I wanted to? In not sure how it'd turn out with some of the fruits added, but I could make that the control group. I just prefer hot breakfasts. I love apple cinnamon oatmeal, but am trying to steer away from processed foods and such. I'd like to try it this way. Thanks for the recipes! ❤
    Reply
    • Yes, absolutely! I think they'd be good heated. :)
      Reply
  • Love these recipes! Wanted to know if any changes would need to be made if steel cut oats were used instead...Thank you!
    Reply
    • I'm not sure - I haven't tried it with steel cut oats! I would google "steel cut overnight oats" and see if there's a different process for softening them since they are tougher. Either way, you can try all these same toppings/mix ins, though!
      Reply
  • Hey Anne , thank you we so far have tried the chocolate strawberry and banana ,peanut butter and when hubby was eating strawberry he kept saying more. I used unsweetened cocoa and Simi sweet chocolate chips as he is diabetic and it cuts out more sugars . I eat bananas he don't so he has tropical in fridge now and almond, berries and I got banana bread and peanut butter one. its hard for me get him eat healthy ..
    Reply
  • Do you use the quick-cooking oats or regular?
    Reply
    • I usually use regular rolled oats, but either will work!
      Reply
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