What is the big deal about overnight oats anyway? I promise the answer to that question is in your first bite of overnight oats! At first, could sound like a weird concept to eat a cold oats mixture for breakfast. And while you can heat these up, you’ll find the cold version to be incredibly delicious and a lot like eating dessert for breakfast. I also just have to tell you that I HATE oatmeal, and the all-caps aren’t enough to tell you how much I dislike oatmeal. So when this whole overnight oats thing started, I thought I’d just ignore it because oatmeal is the worst thing to happen to breakfast. (Also just want to acknowledge that I know I’m the weird one, and everyone I know loves oatmeal. Even my husband thinks I’m crazy!) But I kept getting so many requests from you all to make overnight oats. So I decided to give them a whirl, and I was completely surprised by how much I loved them! As it turns out what I don’t like is the texture of cooked oatmeal. So I always eat mine cold, but Tyler has tested out the warmed-up versions for me. If you’re a bit skeptical of overnight oats, I sure hope you’ll give them a try because I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised.
Ingredients & Substitutions
Rolled oats – You can use any kind of rolled oats in this recipe, but my favorite is the thick rolled oats (the gluten-free ones) from Bob’s Red Mill. They have a bit more chewy texture which is really nice in overnight oats. I have tested this recipe using regular rolled oats and they work as well. It’s just our preference to use the thicker rolled oats for more texture. Use gluten-free oats if needed, just be sure to buy the bag that says ‘gluten-free’ on the front. I don’t recommend quick oats or instant oats. here because they’re too soft for best results, and steel-cut oats won’t properly soften. Chia seeds – provide more fiber and they also thicken up these overnight oats nicely. Sweetener – I like to use Grade A amber maple syrup because it’s readily available where we live for a good price. It also has a very subtle maple flavor that isn’t too strong. You can also use honey, but it’s harder to mix in unless you heat it up. Agave nectar also works here. Milk – You can use any kind of milk you’d like here. I’ve been using the vanilla almond or cashew milk from the brand Malk and it’s so delicious in these oats. The touch of vanilla goes really well with each of the 10 flavors, but you can use any regular milk or dairy-free milk you love the flavor of. One of the main reasons I use that brand is because they don’t add any thickeners or additives which can be difficult to avoid with dairy-free milk. Regular dairy milk works perfectly here too as well as coconut milk or oat milk. Yogurt – My favorite yogurt to use here is Greek yogurt, the kind that doesn’t have added thickeners, but is just super creamy and thick on its own. Siggi’s Dairy or Wallaby are my favorites from what we have available. I have also tried all sorts of dairy-free yogurts, and Kitehill has been the best so far! I’m not the biggest fan of dairy-free yogurts overall, but they do work well in overnight oats. You can also substitute the 1/3 cup of yogurt for 1/4 additional cup of milk as well to make these dairy-free/vegan.
How to customize your own flavors
Let’s make the basic overnight oats recipe step by step
First, we’ll go through how to make the base recipe in individual servings in a jar. Then further down you’ll find how to make overnight oats in bigger batches. Step 1: First measure out your rolled oats, chia seeds, maple syrup, milk, and yogurt. I also like to add a touch of vanilla extract if I’m not using the vanilla almond milk I mentioned above. Add the ingredients jar. The 1 pint/2 cup Mason jars work really well for this because you’ll have plenty of room for toppings. Step 3: Add your choice of milk to the jar. Step 4: Then stir to thoroughly combine. Or tightly seal the jar with a lid and shake the jar well to combine. Step 5: From there you can pick any of the 10 flavors listed in the recipe to add to your basic overnight oats mixture. Let the oats soak overnight in the fridge, or top with your favorite toppings and refrigerate overnight. You can also taste test to see if you might like to adjust the sweetness.
10 easy recipe flavors for Overnight Oats
I really hope you enjoy these Overnight Oats, they are just the best make-ahead breakfast! And if you do get a chance to make them, I hope you’ll leave me a comment/rating below. I always love hearing from you here! Also for more delicious healthy breakfast ideas head on over to the breakfast category for all our breakfast recipes. Simply add all the ingredients to a mixing bowl, and whisk together until combined. From there you can portion out the mixture evenly into the containers of your choice. It’s easiest to let the oat mixture thicken in the refrigerator before portioning it, then scoop out 1 cup portions. As mentioned above, I like to use 1 pint/2 cup sized containers so there’s plenty of room for toppings. This recipe was originally published in 2021 but has been updated in 2023 with new photos, more information, tips, and nutrition facts.
