Easy Overnight Oatmeal is a no-cook, no fuss, tasty breakfast that’s perfect for meal prep! They’re healthy, hearty, creamy, and delicious!
Learn how to make the perfect batch of creamy overnight oats!
Do you have crazy mornings & no time to make breakfast?
I’ve got the perfect solution. This recipe makes a tasty and healthy start to your day with no-cook and no-fuss. These oats are full of flavor and nutrients and require very little prep time. Furthermore, the prepping is done the night before making for a no-hassle morning!!
Easy Overnight Oatmeal is simply old-fashioned rolled oats that are soaked overnight in a healthy mixture of milk and yogurt. Add in any flavor combination you like and you have an instant, easy, healthy breakfast that you don’t have to spend any morning minutes on.
My favorite container for overnight oatmeal is a pint canning jar.
EASY OVERNIGHT OATMEAL
After a run for optimum muscle recovery, studies show that the intake of protein within an hour of stopping helps muscle recovery. In the past, I have enjoyed my favorite protein shake.
Recently, I tried Easy Overnight Oatmeal with unflavored protein powder added. These oats are so convenient! Being able to grab breakfast and go is crucial to us getting out the door on time on busy mornings.
What I found is overnight oats are so good and so easy that I enjoy them at other times during the day. They make a delicious afternoon snack!
TYPES OF OATS
The difference between each type of oat is how they are processed.
- You want Old-fashioned rolled oats for overnight oats. Whole oat groats are steamed and, instead of being cut with a metal blade, they are rolled and flattened into flakes, which allows them to cook faster than steel-cut oats.
- Steel-cut oats: Steel-cut oats, also called Scottish or Irish oats, are the least processed form of oat grains. These oats are created when a full oat groat (the large grain) is sliced into pieces with steel. This leaves much of the bran intact. Steel-cut oats time the longest time to cook. They’re great for cooking in a slow-cooker.
- Quick or instant oats: Similar to old-fashioned rolled oats, instant oats are the most processed of the three oat varieties. They are pre-cooked, dried, and then rolled and pressed thinner than rolled oats. For these reasons, instant oats cook more quickly than steel-cut or rolled oats. They retain less of their texture and often cook up mushy.
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE FOR OVERNIGHT OATS?
Literally, it takes less than 5 minutes to make the oats.
The oats will be soft and ready to eat after about 3 hours in the refrigerator. You can prepare several servings, keep them refrigerated, and you’ll have breakfast ready all week.
If you forgot to make the oats the night before you can pop them in the microwave for 1 and 1/2 to 2 minutes and they’ll be ready to eat.
Additionally, you can eat the oats cold. You can heat them just enough to take the chill off or you can microwave them until hot then enjoy. Honestly, I like them cold or hot!
ADD-INS AND TOPPERS
You can add jam, jelly, peanut butter, fruit, and cinnamon when preparing the oats at night. For nuts, granola, dried fruit, etc add these ingredients just before you eat.
- Jam or jelly. The first time I made them I made the oats in a jelly jar that had just a tiny bit of jelly left in it. The jelly gave the oats a great flavor!
- peanut butter or other nut butter like almond butter or cashew butter
- dried fruit
- You can also add any combination of fruit
- Granola
- Chia seeds
- Almonds or other nuts
- Cinnamon
While you’re here, check out these recipes
- Healthy Oatmeal Date Breakfast Cookies
- Brownie Batter Overnight Protein Oats
- Greek Yogurt Berry Parfait
- Blueberry Mango Overnight Oats
Finally, the calorie and nutrient amounts will vary depending on the products you use. This is specifically what I used. Click the title link to order.
- Arbonne Chocolate Vegan Protein that has 20 grams of protein per serving.
- Silk Unsweetened Almond Milk
- Fage Fat-Free Greek Yogurt
- Bob’s Red Mill Gluten-Free Rolled Oats
I updated this post from an earlier version published on Feb 15, 2013. I made new photos and simplified the recipe instructions.
Easy Overnight Oatmeal
Ingredients
- ½ cup rolled oats old-fashioned rolled oats
- ½ cup almond milk unsweetened
- ⅓ cup Greek yogurt plain
- ½ tablespoon honey or agave nectar or coconut sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon flax seeds optional
- 1/8 teaspoon cinnamon optional
- 2 Tablespoons vanilla protein powder optional
Instructions
- In a mason jar or other container with a lid, add the oats, milk, yogurt, and honey, if desired. Add cinnamon if desired. Stir. Seal.
- Store overnight in the refrigerator.
- In the morning, stir (eat cold or heat in the microwave) and add fresh fruit, granola, nuts etc, if desired.
- I topped with ¼ cup sliced strawberries, ¼ cup blueberries, 1 tablespoon sliced almonds, and a drizzle of honey.
Notes
Nutrition
You can also find great recipes at Recipe Index or at Meal Plan Monday or Weekend Potluck
Christina says
This recipe has such amazing flavor! My family loves it.
Jaclyn says
Love this overnight oats recipe! Perfect for busy mornings 🙂
Ann says
This is a yummy, easy to make overnight oats recipe. Thanks!
Franzi says
What does the T for the protein powder stand for?
Paula says
It stands for Tablespoon. I have updated the recipe for printing. When I first started, I thought those were standard abbreviations then realized they weren’t and I don’t write them like that any more. Unfortunately, I haven’t gotten all the recipes updated. Hope you enjoy.
theresa krier says
hi, do you think chia seeds would work in this also ?thanks
Paula says
oh, yes, I put them in mine all the time!
theresa krier says
thanks so much i appreciate it
Diane Roark says
My daughter said she saw this on Pinterest and wanted to try it. I know I so desperately need to eat better. I am hoping recipes like this one will help.
Blessings,
Diane Roark
Paula says
I almost always have this in the fridge so it’s ready when I want a snack. I love it. I eat it cold or heat it in microwave until warm sometimes.
JEANNESIUS says
You drink this cold ? Can it be heated like regular oatmeal?
Paula says
It’s pretty thick, I get it with a spoon. I eat it cold straight from the fridge, but I also like it warmed slightly in the microwave. I have heated it in the microwave for about 45 seconds. Honestly, I like it hot or cold.
Pamela says
Love this idea! Thanks for sharing!
Lori Ann says
I just might have to give this oatmeal a try 🙂 Love that it has flax seed & greek yogurt in it!