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This overnight oats recipe is the ultimate solution for busy mornings. The proportions are on point, the texture remains soft rather than sticky, the flavor is balanced, and it pairs well with almost any topping you put on top. It’s simple, reliable, and made to taste great right out of the fridge.
Ingredient notes + variations
This recipe keeps things classic and flexible, which is exactly why it works so well. Each ingredient plays a role in texture and flavor, so your oats are evenly soaked and won’t be bland by morning.
Rolled Oats – Old-fashioned rolled oats are the trend here. Overnight it will soften but retain its shape, giving it a creamy taste with a bit of structure. Milk – Milk gives richness, almond milk keeps it light, soy milk adds protein, and coconut milk brings extra creaminess. Use whatever you like. Be sure to use unsweetened ones. Real Maple Syrup – Adds a gentle sweetness without overpowering the oat flavor. Honey works well, but maple syrup keeps the flavor clean. Ground Cinnamon – A little warmth goes a long way. This prevents the oats from tasting flat. Salt – Just a pinch, but it sharpens everything and brings out the sweetness.
How to make overnight oats
You’ll be surprised at how easy this recipe is to make. It only takes 5 minutes (or less!) to mix using a bowl. For recipe details, including ingredients and quantities, please see the printable recipe card below.
1. Measure rolled oats
Measure the rolled oats into a large bowl.
2. Add the remaining ingredients and mix
Stir in the milk, maple syrup, cinnamon, and a pinch of salt (optional). Make sure the oats are fully submerged in the milk.
3. Refrigerate
Cover and refrigerate for at least 6 hours or overnight.
4. Add toppings and serve
Remove from the refrigerator, set aside, and add your favorite toppings.
Pro tip: The benefit of overnight oats is that they are effective both warm and cold. To serve cold, spoon into bowls or jars, top with fruit, nuts, and seeds, and enjoy. To serve hot, spoon a generous amount into a bowl and heat in the microwave for 30 seconds to 1 minute, or until warm. Top with your favorite toppings and enjoy.
tips for success
Stir well before cooling to prevent cinnamon from clumping. If you find your oats too thick in the morning, add a little milk and stir. For extra creaminess, let it sit for nearly 8 hours instead of making it quickly.
overnight oat flavor combinations
Not feeling very creative? Don’t worry. Here are some delicious flavor combinations to try.
Carrot cake: Add 1/2 cup finely grated carrots, 1/4 cup drained and crushed pineapple, and 2 tablespoons walnuts or pecans to the mixture and let stand overnight. Peanut Butter Banana: Add 1/4 cup all-natural peanut butter to the overnight oatmeal mixture and let it sit overnight. Topped with plenty of fresh bananas. Lemon Blueberries: Add 1 1/2 teaspoons lemon zest and 1 cup fresh blueberries to the overnight oat mixture before chilling in the refrigerator. Coconut Cream: Make overnight oats with coconut milk and stir in 1/2 cup desiccated coconut before refrigerating. Top generously with Greek yogurt and extra toasted coconut. Blueberries and Vanilla: Combine rolled oats, milk, vanilla extract, and a handful of fresh or frozen blueberries. Chocolate and peanut butter: Combine rolled oats, milk, cocoa powder, peanut butter, and sweetener, such as honey or maple syrup. Strawberries and cream: Combine rolled oats, milk, vanilla extract, and diced strawberries. Banana and cinnamon: Stir together rolled oats, milk, mashed banana, and a sprinkle of cinnamon. Apples and caramel: Mix rolled oats, milk, diced apples, and a little caramel sauce. Coconut and Mango: Stir in rolled oats, coconut milk, diced mango, and a sprinkle of shredded coconut. Lemon and poppy seeds: Stir in rolled oats, milk, lemon zest, and poppy seeds.
These overnight oats are reliable, creamy, and easy to make over and over again. Once you understand the base, the topping options are endless. Printable recipe cards are below. Enjoy, friends!
Overnight oats recipe (without yogurt)
This overnight oats recipe is the easiest breakfast recipe known to man. Just 4 ingredients, no yogurt or cooking required! Enjoy hot or cold depending on your preference.
Instructions
Measure all ingredients into a large bowl and mix well. Make sure all the oats are fully soaked.
Cover and refrigerate for 6 hours or overnight. Divide into portions, add your favorite toppings and enjoy.
Precautions
Precautions for storage
Overnight oats can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. This recipe is perfect for making ahead or for a week’s worth of servings. Freezing is not recommended as the texture will change when thawed.
nutrition
calorie: 292kcalcarbohydrates: 48gprotein: 10gfat: 7gSaturated fat: 3gcholesterol: 14mgsodium: 63mgpotassium: 373mgfiber: 4gsugar: 19gVitamin A: 222IUcalcium: 198mgiron: 2mg
variations
Heck, there are thousands of variations of overnight oats! I’ll list a few different options here, but just about anything you can think of will work here.
Milk: If you don’t want to use milk, unsweetened almond milk, cashew milk, soy milk, coconut milk, or any other plant-based milk of your choice will work just as well. Some people like to add yogurt to their yogurt. Fruit: Add fresh or frozen fruit to your classic oat mixture for extra flavor. Berries, apples, bananas, and tropical fruits are all good options. Nuts and seeds: For a different texture, try adding walnuts, almonds, pecans, pepitas, flaxseeds, and chia seeds. Sweeteners: We used real maple syrup in our basic overnight oats recipe, but feel free to reduce the amount or replace it with honey, agave syrup, sugar, brown sugar, or artificial sweeteners, depending on your preference. Be sure to add more to suit your taste. Spices: I use cinnamon, a classic addition to oatmeal, but try mixing it with nutmeg, cloves, or cardamom. Try zesting lemon or orange for a bright pop of flavor. Nut butters: Mix in a little peanut, cashew, or almond butter for a protein-rich twist and creamy flavor. My favorite is peanut butter banana! Chocolate: Mix in cocoa powder or chocolate chips for a decadent chocolatey treat. Protein: Increase the protein content of your oats by mixing in protein powder or adding a spoonful of Greek yogurt. Savory: Oats don’t have to be sweet. Try making flavorful oats by mixing in flavorful ingredients like cooked vegetables, cheese, and herbs. Carrot Cake: Add classic carrot cake ingredients like shredded carrots, crushed pineapple, and pecans. Oats without oats: For a grain-free version, try using rolled oats made from other grains, like quinoa, or oats made from seeds like chia, flax, or hemp seeds.
Frequently asked questions about overnight oats
The best oats to use are plain old fashioned oats. Old-fashioned oats absorb liquid without getting too mushy. Quick oats will become too sticky if soaked in milk. Steel-cut oats often don’t soften enough.
This recipe makes enough for 4 people and I mix it up in one large bowl and refrigerate it overnight. Many overnight oat recipes call for using small 8-ounce mason jars. I don’t think this is completely necessary, but it certainly makes the presentation cuter. I found this 8 oz. A glass jar will give you the perfect amount. Plastic containers with tight-fitting lids also work well.
Yes, it’s okay to add frozen fruit to your overnight oats. Frozen fruit is great because it thaws overnight and its natural sweetness and juices blend into the oats, adding flavor.
More recipes I want to try
If you make this recipe, I would really appreciate it if you could give me a star rating or leave a review in the comments! If you have a photo of your finished dish, post it on Instagram using the hashtag #laurenslatest and tagging me @laurens_latest.
