One of the easiest and most comforting breakfast items is a nice bowl of oatmeal with delectable mix-ins. But if cooking in the morning sounds like a bleary-eyed endeavor, pour yourself a nice cup of coffee and curl up to these easy overnight oats. This healthy, make-ahead breakfast takes just 5 minutes and a handful of ingredients. It is perfect for busy mornings all year round and is easily customizable with flavors that will suit the whole family, from PB&J to pumpkin pie to mango!
What are overnight oats?
Overnight oats are oats softened in milk in the refrigerator over a long period of time (4 to 12 hours), rather than cooking them on the stove or in the microwave. This recipe is a simple combination of your milk of choice, yogurt, maple syrup, chia seeds, and oats. The yogurt and chia seeds give the oats a lovely, pudding-like texture. Bonus? They also provide plenty of protein and fiber for a satisfying breakfast. Maple syrup lends natural sweetness to the oats. Agave syrup, honey, stevia, simple syrup, or even sugar (that’s been thoroughly mixed in) can also be used to sweeten the oats to your liking.
What kind of oats are in overnight oats?
This recipe calls for old-fashioned rolled oats. They soak up the liquid overnight and yield a tender, almost creamy texture. Quick-cooking and instant oats tend to be mushy after a night in the refrigerator and steel-cut oats are too tough. Old-fashioned oats are just right!
What can you add to overnight oats?
Anything that can be added to regular oatmeal recipes works magnificently with overnight oats. Fresh fruit, chopped nuts, raisins, coconut flakes, or even granola for a satisfying crunch. This recipe offers 4 different delicious topping suggestions to get your imagination going.
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- Yields:
- 1 serving(s)
- Prep Time:
- 5 mins
- Total Time:
- 4 hrs 5 mins
Ingredients
For the Overnight Oats:
- 1/2 c.
milk (whole, oat, almond, or refrigerated coconut)
- 2 tbsp.
plain greek yogurt
- 2 tbsp.
maple syrup or honey
- 2 tsp.
chia seeds
- 1/2 c.
old-fashioned rolled oats
- 1/4 c.
fresh berries, to serve
For the PB&J Oats:
- 2 tbsp.
chunky or smooth peanut butter
- 1
recipe Overnight Oats
- 1 tbsp.
strawberry preserves
Chopped roasted peanuts, to serve
For the Piña Colada Oats:
- 1/4 c.
chopped fresh, frozen, or canned pineapple
- 1
recipe Overnight Oats, made with refrigerated coconut milk
Toasted coconut chips, to serve
For the Pumpkin Pie Oats:
- 1
recipe Overnight Oats, made without the yogurt
- 1/4 c.
pumpkin puree
- 1/4 tsp.
pumpkin pie spice, plus more for sprinkling
For the Mango Sticky Oats:
- 1/4 c.
chopped fresh or frozen mango
- 1
recipe Overnight Oats, made with refrigerated coconut milk
- 1 tbsp.
sweetened condensed milk
Toasted sesame seeds, to serve
Directions
For the Overnight Oats:
- Step 1In an 8- to 12-ounce jar, combine the milk, yogurt, maple syrup, and chia seeds. Stir in the oats, making sure they are all submerged in the milk. Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or up to 3 days.
- Step 2Serve chilled, topped with fresh berries.
For the PB&J Oats:
- Step 1Stir the peanut butter into the Overnight Oat mixture until well distributed but not completely combined. Spoon the preserves on top of the mixture. Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or up to 3 days.
- Step 2Serve chilled, topped with chopped roasted peanuts.
For the Piña Colada Oats:
- Step 1Stir the pineapple into the Overnight Oat mixture made with coconut milk. Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or up to 3 days.
- Step 2Serve chilled, topped with toasted coconut chips.
For the Pumpkin Pie Oats:
- Step 1Stir the pumpkin puree and pumpkin pie spice into the Overnight Oat mixture made without the yogurt. Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or up to 3 days.
- Step 2Serve chilled, topped with yogurt and more pie spice.
For the Mango Sticky Oats:
- Step 1Spoon the mango on top of the Overnight Oat mixture made with coconut milk. Drizzle the top of the mixture with sweetened condensed milk. Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or up to 3 days.
- Step 2Serve chilled, topped with toasted sesame seeds.
Tip: Overnight oats can sit in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, making it perfect for weekly meal prep!
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