Quick and Easy Overnight Oats Recipes

Overnight oats are a no-cook method of preparing oatmeal that involves soaking oats in liquid for several hours, resulting in a creamy and ready-to-eat breakfast. Most people prepare the oat mixture the night before so it’s ready in the morning, which is how it got its name. However, you can make these oats any time of day, as long as you have enough time to wait for the oats to soften in the fridge.

To make overnight oats, simply place oats in a jar, bowl, cup, or storage container and combine them with any desired flavorings, sweeteners, and toppings. Mix in your choice of liquid and refrigerate. Overnight oats typically take about 5 to 6 hours to soften, although you can eat them sooner if you like a bit of chew to your oats.

Rolled oats are the best choice for overnight oats because they absorb liquid well and result in a creamy texture. Steel-cut oats can be used but they are not ideal when making overnight oats. They will require more liquid, a longer soaking time, and may remain chewy or tough. Instant oats are not a great option because they will become too mushy when soaked overnight.

If you prefer a hot breakfast, you can use a microwave to quickly warm up overnight oats. No cook oats won’t take as long to heat as it would take to cook oats the regular way, however.

Overnight oats last about 4 to 5 days in the refrigerator, making them a great option for meal prep. Simply make a batch of oats on Sunday and you’ll have a healthy grab-and-go breakfast waiting for you all week long.

Overnight oats can be a very healthy breakfast option. Oats are an excellent source of manganese, B vitamins, fiber, and other vitamins and minerals and have been shown to reduce cholesterol levels and improve insulin sensitivity. Adding milk and/or yogurt adds calcium, vitamin D, and protein (especially if you use Greek yogurt). Mixing in fruit, nuts, and spices also offers additional health benefits. For the healthiest oats, keep added sugar to a minimum.

If you don’t like the taste of milk or prefer not to use it, there are other liquids you can use to make overnight oats. Water, juice, yogurt, and plant-based milks, like almond or coconut, will also create a delicious breakfast.

Many people prefer eating protein-rich breakfasts and one way to add protein to overnight oats is to mix in a scoop or two of protein powder. Adding Greek yogurt or chia seeds is another way to make high-protein overnight oats.

Oats are a naturally gluten-free food, but they can be contaminated during processing, transportation, or storage. If you need to ensure there is no gluten in your breakfast, use certified gluten-free oats.

The beauty of overnight oats is that you don’t need to cook the oats. They soften as they soak in the liquid overnight.

Popular toppings for overnight oats include fresh fruit, nuts, seeds, nut butter, yogurt, chocolate chips, shredded coconut, and sweeteners like honey, agave or maple syrup.

You can make overnight oats with steel-cut oats but they’ll require more liquid and a longer soaking time to get them soft enough to eat.

If you like the consistency of your overnight oats to be thicker, use less liquid or add more oats. Adding Greek yogurt or chia seeds also makes them thicker and creamier.

When it comes to making overnight oats, meal prep is a breeze! Simply line up jars, cups, bowls or small storage containers. Add the dry ingredients to each, including oats, spices, and protein powder, flaxseed, or chia seeds (if using). Then mix in sweeteners, extracts, and chopped fruit or nuts. Finally, add your liquid of choice, including milk, water, juice, or yogurt. Give the contents of each jar a stir, cover, and place in the fridge. If you are making multiple meals, they can all be the same or you can vary the ingredients to create different flavor combinations in each serving. If you’re looking for other healthy breakfast meal prep ideas, we have those, too!

Overnight oats are often prepared in a single-serving container, which makes them easy to take on the go. Many people like to make the oats in a small glass mason jar with a lid, but you can make and store overnight oats in any small container you prefer, such as a cup, bowl, mug, or storage container.