Overnight Oats are so easy to make. We have a great four ingredient recipe, plus four ways to change it up with different flavors!
Breakfast can get boring and tietius so fast. It’s easy to get stuck in a rut with that first meal of the day. These overnight oats recipes are a great make-ahead breakfast and are here to solve that!
In the recipe card at the bottom of the post, you will find the base recipe for this great breakfast. In the body of the post, I have four great variations that will easily help you mix things up.
This overnight oats recipe comes together in less than five minutes. Then in the morning you can grab the jar out of the refrigerator and head out the door for the perfect breakfast on the go. Make the original and all four variations at once, because this great recipe will last five days in the refrigerator!
How to Make Overnight Oats
This is a brief overview of how to make this simple recipe. To get the full measurements, please see the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
- Mix everything but the oats into the milk. By combining the cinnamon, honey, and salt with the milk, you will make it easier to mix up the whole mixture.
- Pour the milk over the dry oats. Give it all a little stir.
- Refrigerate the oats overnight. In the morning, open up the jar and give it another stir and then enjoy. You can even top it with some fresh fruit for another little kick of nutrition.
Old Fashioned or Quick Cooking Oats
The difference between old fashioned and quick cooking oats, is simply size. Quick cooking oats are just old fashioned oats that have been broken down or cut up a little.
While either will work in this recipe, I prefer the texture and consistency of old fashioned oats here.
Overnight Oats Recipes
There are so many different ways you can do this recipe to change up the flavor. I’m giving you four great ideas here, but the possibilities are endless.
Apple Cinnamon Oats
Vibrant and spicy, this overnight oats recipe has sweet apples with a hint of warm cinnamon, sweetened with honey. The apples soften overnight, but don’t become mushy so they’re the perfect texture by the time you’re ready to eat.
- 1/2 cup dry oats
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1 teaspoon honey
- 1/2 an apple cut up
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- dash of salt
Chocolate Peanut Butter Oats
Loaded with creamy peanut butter and the perfect chocolate flavor, you could easily serve this as an after school snack too. It’s hearty and nutritious but sweet enough to taste like a dessert.
- 1/2 cup dry oats
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/4 cup creamy peanut butter
- 1/2 tablespoon cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon honey
- dash of salt
Note: If you like your oatmeal thinner, add a little more milk to this one.
Strawberry Banana Oats
This overnight oats recipe is sweetened with fresh strawberries and jam, thickened with ripe banana and milk. Make sure to use ripe bananas which are easier to mash than bananas that haven’t had a chance to get soft enough yet.
- 1/2 cup dry oats
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1 tablespoon strawberry jam
- 1/4 cup diced strawberries
- 1/2 a banana mashed up
- dash of salt
Pumpkin Pie Oats
You’ll love this recipe in the autumn months! Warm cinnamon and pumpkin spice oatmeal is such a delicious fall breakfast!
- 1/2 cup dry oats
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/4 cup pumpkin puree
- 1 teaspoon honey
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- dash of salt
Dairy-Free Overnight Oats
You can absolutely make this delicious breakfast dairy free, and thereby make it vegan too. This will work great with a variety of milks. While you can use almond milk, oat milk, or coconut milk, my preference is soy milk because it has close to the same protein content as cow milk.
Storing Overnight Oats
Overnight Oats can be stored in your refrigerator four up to five days. That makes these perfect for meal planning on a Sunday. Make sure that they are stored in an airtight container, and always use your best discretion when it comes to leftovers.
FAQ
Five days. When stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator, these will last for five days.
For best results, refrigerate your oats for at least eight hours before eating.
You can eat these warm or cold. I think they are so convenient right out of the refrigerator, but you could also pop them in the microwave for a few minutes to warm them up.
Oats are naturally gluten free. That being said, it is always best to double check ingredient when serving someone with an allergy.
More Great Breakfast Ideas
Start your day off right with some more easy and fast breakfast recipes:
If you make these overnight oats or any of my other recipes, please leave me a comment and let me know what you think.
Overnight Oats
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup milk read here about making this dairy-free (118.3 ml)
- 1 teaspoon honey or maple syrup
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- dash salt
- 1/2 cup dry oats (44.5 grams)
Instructions
- Whisk the milk, honey, cinnamon, and salt until smooth.1/2 cup milk, 1 teaspoon honey, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, dash salt
- Pour the milk mixture over the oats, then stir to combine. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator overnight.1/2 cup dry oats
- Eat right out of the refrigerator in the morning or heat in the microwave and enjoy. For the different flavors of overnight oats (apple cinnamon, chocolate peanut butter, strawberry banana, and pumpkin pie oats) see those recipes within the body of the post.
Notes
averie @ averie cooks says
Love the make ahead part! And happy to hear Piper is on the mend!
Thank you Averie!
Michelle Akins says
These sound delicious but could you give me more instructions please. Like mix in jar? Refrigerate overnight? Microwave to heat?
Thanks
You are absolutely right. Mix in a jar and refrigerate overnight. But I will tell you a secret, they really only need like an hour. I didn’t heat mine, but if you like your oatmeal hot, heating would be great!
Heather Kinnaird says
i cannot imagine having to get three kids up and out, the two I’ve got are PLENTY!! thanks god for easy and delicious recipes like these.
They are making me a more patient person, one INSANE morning at a time, lol!
Liz says
Do you use old fashioned oats or quick oats? These sound delicious.
Sorry! Quick cooking!
LeeAnn says
I couldn’t find the recipes for the other 3 overnight oats!!!
They are within the body of the post. Each one has a photo to go with it.
Ruby Bryant says
I’ve been wanting to try overnight oats forever, but I always forget. I just happened to have all the ingredients for the apple cinnamon and the strawberry banana recipes, and oh my gosh! Making them all over again tonight! Thanks for all your yummy recipes – I use them all the time! xoxo
I’m so glad to hear you’ve been enjoying my recipes!
Suzanne says
Ok. All these recipes look delicious!! I want to try. But … Where did you get those jars??? I need for my oatmeal.
They are Ball mason jars, and you can find them at Target or your local grocery store!
Sara says
I couldn’t find the actual directions for all of them. Only the last had directions. I see the ingredients but that’s it!
The directions are pretty much the same for all of them. Mix the ingredients into the milk, combine with the oats, and let it sit overnight.
Amy says
I don’t understand.. so if overnight you don’t heat up the milk or heat in the morning??
You don’t need to heat up anything. The oats soak up the milk and make them soft and delicious and ready to heat in the morning. It can be eaten cold or you can heat them up.