Overnight Oats
Updated June 04, 2026
Quick Summary
This easy Overnight Oats recipe is the perfect healthy breakfast for busy mornings. Made with old-fashioned oats, milk, Greek yogurt, chia seeds, and a touch of maple syrup, these creamy oats come together in minutes and chill overnight in the refrigerator. They’re easy to customize with your favorite fruits, nuts, nut butters, and toppings, making them a delicious meal prep breakfast you’ll want to make every week.
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Pin ItEasy Overnight Oats (The Best Make-Ahead Breakfast)
If there is one breakfast I never get tired of, it’s overnight oats. I’ve been making them for years because they’re easy, nutritious, endlessly customizable, and perfect for busy mornings. Taking a few minutes to prep breakfast the night before makes mornings feel so much easier, especially during hectic school weeks and busy seasons of life.
This overnight oats recipe is my go-to base recipe because it’s creamy, satisfying, and works with just about any toppings or mix-ins you have on hand. The combination of oats, Greek yogurt, chia seeds, and milk creates the perfect texture while adding protein and fiber to keep you full throughout the morning.
I love making a batch at the beginning of the week so breakfast is ready to grab and enjoy. Whether you’re heading to work, packing school lunches, fueling up after a workout, or simply trying to make mornings less stressful, overnight oats are a simple solution.
Serve them straight from the fridge, bring them on the go, or dress them up with seasonal fruit, crunchy granola, nut butter, or a drizzle of honey. Once you learn how easy they are to make, you’ll find yourself coming back to this recipe again and again.
Table of Contents
What are Overnight Oats?
Overnight oats are a no-cook breakfast made by soaking rolled oats in milk overnight. As the oats chill in the refrigerator, they absorb the liquid and soften, creating a creamy texture that’s ready to eat by morning, no cooking required.
Most overnight oats recipes also include ingredients like Greek yogurt, chia seeds, fruit, nuts, or sweeteners for extra flavor and nutrition. They’re popular because they’re easy to make, great for meal prep, and endlessly customizable.
I love overnight oats because they take just a few minutes to prepare, and breakfast is already waiting for me when I wake up.
Ingredients (with Helpful Notes)
You only need a handful of simple ingredients to make creamy, satisfying overnight oats. Here’s what you’ll need and a few helpful tips for each ingredient.
- Old-Fashioned Rolled Oats: The foundation of the recipe. Rolled oats soften perfectly overnight, creating a creamy texture with a little chew. Avoid steel-cut oats, which stay too firm, and instant oats, which can become mushy. Use gluten-free oats if you need the recipe to be gluten-free.
- Milk: I usually use unsweetened vanilla almond milk, but any milk will work. Dairy milk, oat milk, soy milk, or coconut milk are all great options. Add a little extra milk if you prefer thinner oats.
- Greek Yogurt: Makes the oats extra creamy and adds a boost of protein. Plain or vanilla Greek yogurt both work well. You can also use dairy-free yogurt or replace it with additional milk if needed.
- Chia Seeds: Help thicken the oats and create a rich, pudding-like texture. They also add fiber, protein, and omega-3 fatty acids.
- Maple Syrup or Honey: Adds just the right amount of sweetness. Feel free to adjust the amount based on your preferences and toppings.
- Vanilla Extract: Enhances the flavor and gives the oats a cozy, homemade taste.
- Ground Cinnamon: Optional, but highly recommended. Cinnamon adds warmth and pairs well with almost any topping combination.
- Sea Salt: A small pinch balances the flavors and helps bring out the natural sweetness of the other ingredients.
Tips for Making the Best Overnight Oats
- Use Rolled Oats for the Best Texture: Old-fashioned rolled oats absorb liquid perfectly and create creamy oats with a little chew. They hold up much better than instant oats and soften more quickly than steel-cut oats.
- Stir Thoroughly Before Refrigerating: Take an extra minute to mix everything well. This ensures the chia seeds are evenly distributed and prevents dry pockets of oats.
- Refrigerate Overnight: While the oats will soften after about 4 hours, an overnight rest gives them the creamiest texture and best flavor.
- Adjust the Consistency Before Serving: Overnight oats naturally thicken as they chill. If they seem too thick in the morning, stir in a splash of milk until they reach your preferred consistency.
- Sweeten to Taste: Everyone likes their oats a little differently. Start with less maple syrup or honey and add more when serving if needed.
- Wait to Add Crunchy Toppings: Granola, nuts, and toasted coconut can lose their crunch if stored overnight. For the best texture, add them right before eating.
- Make Multiple Servings at Once: One of the biggest benefits of overnight oats is meal prep. Prepare several jars at the beginning of the week and have breakfast ready to go every morning.
- Customize the Flavors: This recipe is a base recipe that can be adapted in countless ways. Stir in peanut butter (or almond butter), protein powder, cocoa powder, pumpkin puree, mashed banana, fruit preserves, or berries to change up the flavor.
- Use Glass Jars for Easy Storage: Individual jars make portioning simple and are perfect for grab-and-go breakfasts. They also make it easy to prep several servings at once. I like these glass jars or Weck jars.
- Don’t Be Afraid to Experiment: Once you master the basic ratio of oats and liquid, you can create endless variations based on the season, your favorite fruits, or whatever you have in the pantry.
How to Make Overnight Oats
- Making overnight oats couldn’t be easier. I usually just grab a jar or bowl and add everything in at once…oats, milk, Greek yogurt, chia seeds, maple syrup, vanilla, and a pinch of salt. A quick stir is all it takes to bring everything together.
- Then I cover it and pop it in the fridge overnight so the oats can soften and thicken. By morning, it’s creamy, chilled, and ready to go.
- Give it a good stir before eating, add your favorite toppings, and breakfast is done.
- This recipe is for one serving, that fits in one jar, but you can make a big batch on the weekend and portion it into individual containers for breakfast throughout the week. If you are going to double, triple, or quadruple the recipe, make the oats in a large bowl and then transfer to the glass jars.
How to Serve & Store Overnight Oats
- Serve cold: Serve straight from the refrigerator. Stir well, add toppings, and enjoy. Overnight oats are typically eaten cold and become soft and creamy after chilling overnight.
- Heat if desired: Microwave for 30 to 60 seconds until warmed through. If using a jar, ensure it is microwave-safe and remove the lid before heating. Otherwise, transfer to a bowl before warming.
- Storage: Store in an airtight container or mason jar in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- Toppings timing: Add fruit, granola, nuts, and other toppings just before serving for best texture and freshness.
Overnight Oats
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup old fashioned oats
- 1/2 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk, or milk of your choice
- 1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt, can use vegan yogurt or extra milk
- 1 to 2 teaspoons pure maple syrup or honey
- 1 to 2 teaspoons chia seeds
- 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- Dash of cinnamon, optional
- Pinch of sea salt
- Toppings: fresh fruit, dried fruit, nut butter, chopped nuts, coconut, granola, etc.
Instructions
- In a jar or bowl, combine the oats, milk, yogurt, maple syrup, chia seeds, vanilla cinnamon, and sea salt.
- Stir well to make sure all the ingredients are combined. Cover with a lid and place in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours or overnight.
- In the morning, remove from the refrigerator and stir. If they are too thick, you can add a splash of milk. Top with desired toppings and mix-ins (see the post for ideas). Eat and enjoy!
Notes
- Use old-fashioned rolled oats for the best texture.
- Adjust the milk to make the oats thicker or thinner.
- Stir well before refrigerating to evenly distribute the chia seeds.
- If the oats are too thick after chilling, stir in a splash of milk before serving.
- Add granola, nuts, and coconut just before serving to maintain their crunch.
- For extra protein, stir in protein powder, nut butter, or additional Greek yogurt.
- Overnight oats keep in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. If adding fresh fruit, enjoy within 2 to 3 days for best quality.
- This recipe can easily be doubled or tripled for weekly meal prep.
Nutrition
Have you tried this recipe?
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Variations to Try
This is a great base recipe that can easily be customized. The options are endless when it comes to overnight oatmeal.
- Without yogurt: Replace the yogurt with an equal amount of additional milk for a lighter texture, or use a dairy-free yogurt for a thicker consistency.
- High-protein: Stir in protein powder or increase the Greek yogurt. Add a splash of milk if needed to loosen the texture.
- Peanut butter or nut butter: Add 1 to 2 tablespoons of peanut butter, almond butter, or cashew butter for a creamy, rich flavor.
- Chocolate: Mix in cocoa powder or chocolate protein powder. Sweeten with a little maple syrup or honey to balance the flavor.
- Banana: Stir in mashed banana for natural sweetness and extra creaminess, or slice fresh banana on top before serving.
- Apple cinnamon: Add diced apples and extra cinnamon before chilling for a cozy, classic flavor.
- Berry: Use strawberries, blueberries, or raspberries mixed in or added on top for a fresh, fruity variation.
- Tropical: Add pineapple, mango, or shredded coconut for a bright, tropical flavor.
Overnight Oats Toppings
- Fresh fruit: Strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, bananas, peaches, or diced apples add natural sweetness and freshness.
- Dried fruit: Raisins, cranberries, chopped dates, or dried apricots add chewy texture and concentrated sweetness.
- Nut butters: Peanut butter, almond butter, cashew butter, or sunflower seed butter add richness and protein.
- Crunchy toppings: Granola, chopped almonds, walnuts, pecans, coconut flakes, or pumpkin seeds add texture and crunch.
- Sweeteners: A drizzle of maple syrup, honey, or date syrup can enhance sweetness if needed.
- Flavor boosters: Cinnamon, cocoa powder, chia seeds, hemp hearts, or a sprinkle of sea salt can enhance flavor and nutrition.
I can’t eat yogurt. Would you just leave it out?
Yes, see the notes in the post. You can add extra milk.
i despise cold oatmeal. overnight breakfast this way is highly overrated and disgusting. so years ago i changed it up. fix the oatmeal, a tablespoon pea protein powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, lil splash of vanilla and unsweetened almond milk and honey and store in 4 jars in fridge. meanwhile i use frozen fruit of choice and nuts of choice and fix little containers of various combos and keep frozen or put on top of each jar. i don’t use any salt.
in the morning i nuke the oatmeal jars for 5 mins on power 3 or 4 while tea water is boiling and tea made and dump the fruit nut mixture into the center of the now hot oats. be sure to put into center so as not to shock and break the glass container. then enjoy with my tea or pack in tote with thermal starbucks cup for tea and spoon and napkin to eat later if i have to leave early.
this gives you your recipe pretty much except in a hot breakfast that requires no more morning time. hint: if using peanut butter just put it in as you add the fruit. i keep my peanut butter in the fridge right by the oatmeal jars.
by the way, i love your recipes. this week i am adding 2 breakfasts of breakfast burritos. they sound great. thanks. star
I wanted to try overnight oats for the longest time, and this recipe is wonderful and so easy. I added raisins and chopped pecans as my topping. Perfect!
Perfect toppings!
These are the best overnight oats I have tried! I love the addition of yogurt.
So creamy and I love the boost of protein.
Can you use steel cut oats? How much protein powder should you add?
Steel cut oats have a different texture, I don’t recommend them. You can add a scoop of protein powder, you might need an extra splash of milk.
Hi there! I’m eager to try this recipe but was curious on how big the jars are that you use. You don’t mention how many ounces one serving is? Just curious how big of a jar to use/buy. Thank you.
I actually link to some jars in the post, see the tips section. An 8 oz jar is big enough, but I like to use bigger jars to fit fruit and other toppings!