My Basic Overnight Oats Recipe (2024)

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These Overnight Oats are great for meal-prep. This healthy breakfast takes just a few minutes to prep, is so customizable, and is so easy to enjoy on-the-go.

Easy Overnight Oats Recipe

I know as well as anyone, that sometimes it can be really hard to make time for a nutritious breakfast in the morning. Well, with these Overnight Oats, you don’t have to!

Overnight oatmeal is one of the easiest meal prep breakfasts of all time. Simply mix oats with milk, chia seeds, and optional sweetener, then stick them in the fridge to chill. When you get up in the morning, breakfast is ready to go!

This recipe for overnight oats really is so simple and so good for you, plus it’s so customizable.

P.S. Storage containers: round // rectangular

What Are Overnight Oats?

Overnight oats are a method of making oatmeal without cooking it. They involve mixing up rolled oats and milk, along with other ingredients, and letting them sit in the fridge overnight so they’re ready to go in the morning!

Overnight oatmeal is perfect for meal prepping and can be customized in so many different ways! I’m going to lay out the basic ingredients needed, then give ideas for add-ins and variations so you can make it just how you like!

Ingredients Needed

This really is the best overnight oats recipe. Just a few ingredients needed for the easiest breakfast of all time! Scroll down for proportions and full details.

• Oats: I use organic, glyphosate-free, gluten-free rolled oats (see below as to why) but feel free to grab whatever rolled oats you want.
• Milk: I personally use almond milk, but you can use whatever milk you prefer. And if you’re feeling adventurous, check out my Vegan and Dairy Free Milk Guide to make your own nut milks!
• Chia Seeds: Chia seeds add a little extra texture/thickness, and a boost of fiber and nutrition.
• Maple Syrup (optional): Sweetener is optional but yummy!

Looking for a little extra flavor? Top the oats off with a sprinkle of cinnamon!

How to Make Them!

Overnight oatmeal is the perfect meal prep option. Just mix the ingredients up, stick it in the fridge, and you’ve got a nutritious breakfast ready to go in the morning!

1. Combine: In an airtight container, mix together oats, milk, chia seeds, and maple syrup.
2. Chill: Cover and chill in the fridge for a minimum of 2 hours, but ideally overnight.

What is the Ratio of Oats to Liquid for Overnight Oats?

The only ratio you need to know when making your overnight oats is 1:1! That means equal parts liquid and oats!

You’ll soak rolled oats in an equal amount of liquid (with some seeds if desired) and your oatmeal will come out perfectly.

Topping Ideas

There are so many different ways you can customize this recipe. Get creative, mix and match, you really can’t go wrong. Here are just a few of my favorite add-ins:

• Fresh Fruit: Add in blueberries, strawberries, blackberries, sliced bananas, raspberries, you name it.
• Dried Fruit: Try raisins, craisins, or dried cherries for some extra sweetness and texture.
• Granola: Stir in your favorite store-bought granola or try it with PB + J Granola, Cherry, Coconut, and Chocolate Granola, Birthday Cake Granola, or The Best Gluten-Free Granola.
• Chocolate: Toss in a handful of your favorite chocolate chips.
• Nut Butter: Stir in a scoop of peanut butter, almond butter, cashew butter, or any other nut butter you prefer.
• Nuts: Sprinkle in some chopped almonds, walnuts, or pecans.
• Seed Blend: I love hemp hearts, chia seeds, and ground flaxseeds!
• Yogurt: Give your oats an extra boost of protein with a scoop of your favorite Greek yogurt.

Tip: While you can add the mix-ins the night before, I like to portion them out separately as pictured, but wait to add them until right before serving. That way my oatmeal is extra fresh and not soggy!

What Kind of Oats to Use for Overnight Oats

While you can really use any type of old fashioned rolled oats, I prefer to look for:

• Organic
• Certified gluten-free (if needed)
• Non-GMO
• Glyphosate-free (probably the most important label to me as oats are a heavily sprayed crop here in the US)

My favorite brand is One Degree Organic Foods!

At the very least, I recommend looking for oats that are glyphosate free. Glyphosate is a toxic pesticide that can be harmful when ingested. Whether your oats are gluten-free or not is totally up to you.

TIP: Definitely do not use quick cooking oats or steel cut oats. They will get way too mushy as they sit in the fridge!

What is the Best Liquid to Use?

Milk of choice! Soaking the oats in milk overnight creates the best flavor and a delicious creamy texture that just isn’t quite achieved with water.

You can use regular milk or any non-dairy variety!

Can You Make Overnight Oats with Steel Cut Oats?

Unfortunately, no. They need to be made using rolled oats. Steel cut oats are processed differently, so they won’t soften into oatmeal without being heated.

Can You Make This Without Chia Seeds?

Of course. I love the texture and the extra boost of nutrition that chia seeds add to the oatmeal, but they’re totally optional.

How Long Do Overnight Oats Take?

As the name indicates, it’s definitely best to let your oats sit overnight, yet really they’re done in a few hours. The longer chill time allows the oats to really soak in the milk and get super delicious and creamy.

If you’re shorter on time, you might be able to cut the chill time down a bit, but the longer the better! I usually plan for a minimum of 6 hours.

Do You Eat Overnight Oats Hot or Cold?

What is your preference? Overnight oats are designed to be eaten cold for an easy grab-and-go breakfast.

However, if you have a little bit of extra time or prefer them hot, you can totally warm them up in the microwave or on the stove-top, too.

How Long Can You Keep Overnight Oats in the Refrigerator?

One of the best parts of this recipe is that you can make it directly inside of the container you plan to store it, and eat it from! You can store basic overnight oats in the fridge for up to 3 days.

If you add any fresh fruit directly into the oatmeal, it should be served the next day.

Storage containers pictured:

• Round
• Rectangular

Other Overnight Oat Favorites

• Eggnog Overnight Oats
• Strawberry and Cream Overnight Oats
• Pumpkin Overnight Oats
• Golden Milk Latte Overnight Oats
• Orange Cranberry Overnight Oats
• Lemon Poppy Seed Overnight Oats

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