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Want a delicious, healthy breakfast without all the fuss? Overnight oats are the answer to your problems! And with 15 easy overnight oats recipes, you’ll never be bored with breakfast again.
This post has been updated from January 18, 2016 on July 15th to improve reader experience.
I don’t know about you, but I’m not a morning person. With kids, though, you absolutely have to get up early in the mornings to start your day. And when it comes to breakfast, I’ll be honest and say that a lot of mornings are cereal, toast or muffins. I just can’t pull it together to cook for breakfast except on weekends. The good news is that I don’t have to.
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What is Overnight Oatmeal?
With overnight oats, you put everything together the night before, set it, and forget it. It’s really that easy.
Most overnight oats recipes start with rolled oats mixed with soy, almond or cow’s milk.
After that, you can add fruit, nuts, yogurt, seeds or other ingredients. It all goes into a mason jar and sits in the refrigerator overnight.
Some of the overnight oats recipes require no cooking at all, while some just sit in the slow cooker overnight. Either way, that’s way easier than trying to play chef before I’ve had my first cup of coffee.
A delicious breakfast that essentially makes itself overnight? Yes, please. Sign me up!!
Basic Overnight Oats Recipe
The basic recipe for overnight oats is so very simple. Here’s all you need to do:
- Put 1/2 cup rolled oats into the bottom of a mason jar.
- Pour 1 cup milk (soy, almond, etc) over the oats.
- Stir in 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract.
- Mix in 1-2 teaspoons honey, agave or another sweetener.
- Tightly seal the jar and place it into the refrigerator overnight.
- In the morning you can add other toppings such as fresh fruit, nuts, seeds, coconut or yogurt.
Can You Make Overnight Oats Without Milk?
You can definitely make overnight oats recipes without milk, but you have to soak the oats. Simply use an equal amount of any liquid, just make sure the other flavors you’re adding are complimentary. Here are some suggestions:
- Water
- Coconut Milk
- Orange Juice
- Soy Milk
- Almond Milk
- Orange Juice
Sweeteners for Overnight Oats
- Honey
- Brown Sugar
- Agave Nectar
- Maple Syrup
Overnight Oats FAQ
While some might feeling eating uncooked oats can cause digestive issues, overnight oats are absolutely safe to eat!
Overnight oats can be a very healthy breakfast, however, that all depends on how you make your oats. Eating oats for breakfast can make you feel full longer, so you may be less inclined to snack.
It’s up to you! There are loads of overnight oats recipes out there and you can enjoy them hot or cold.
Personally, I prefer quick-cooking oats, but you can also use rolled oats, muesli, or steel cut oats.
Yes! If you prefer your oatmeal to be warm, just remove it from the fridge and pop it into the microwave for 1-2 minutes before adding your toppings.
Easy Overnight Oats Recipes
Here are some of our favorite overnight oats recipes that I think you’ll love too!
- Almond Joy Overnight Oats | Pancake Warrior
- Apple Peanut Butter Overnight Oats | The Lemon Bowl
- Overnight Oats with Apples, Cranberries and Cinnamon | Two Healthy Kitchens
- Peach Streusel Overnight Oats | Chelsea’s Messy Apron
- Caramel Apple Overnight Oats | Live Laugh Rowe
- Chocolate Overnight Oats with Berries | Healthy Nibbles & Bits
- Bananas Foster Overnight Oats | The Crumby Cupcake
- PB&J Overnight Oatmeal | Pink When
- Raspberry Almond Overnight Oats | Tastes of Lizzy T’s
- Overnight Oats Recipe with Yogurt | Confessions of an Over-worked Mom
- Peanut Butter Cheesecake Overnight Oats | We’re Parents
- Blueberry Pistachio Overnight Oats | The Foodie and the Fix
- Blueberry & Almond Overnight Oats | Living Sweet Moments
Tips for the Best Overnight Oats
- Old fashioned rolled oats work best in overnight oats recipes.
- Let the oats soak for at least 4 hours to become creamy and delicious.
- Lastly, add the toppings in the morning just before eating.
Toppings for Overnight Oats
- Fresh Fruit: kiwi, bananas, strawberries, apples, raspberries, peaches, blueberries, plums, figs, mango
- Nuts: walnuts, pecans, almonds, pistachios
- Seeds: chia, pumpkin, hemp, flax
- Butters: peanut, cashew, almond, chocolate hazelnut, pumpkin
- Other Stuff: mini chocolate chips, cocoa powder, yogurt, peanut butter, coconut
Hey, thank you so much for including my superfood overnight oats in your roundup! Going to share it around, already pinned it 🙂
It looks so amazing, Kat! Thanks for sharing 🙂