Overnight oats are so easy to make with simple ingredients, and the resulting breakfast is nutritious, tasty, quick and completely customizable! Plus, you can make this in advance to enjoy all work week long as these last in the fridge for a make-ahead breakfast option. Let me show you how to make overnight oats using my favourite recipe and a couple of variations.

When the weather warms up, overnight oats is a favourite healthy make-ahead breakfast for busy mornings. You can eat overnight oats cold or heat them up in the microwave. I like to eat this delicious breakfast cold with my favourite fruit, yogurt and nuts on top. There are so many delicious toppings you can try!

This is one of my favourite quick breakfasts to make, and you can find all of my other easy breakfast ideas right here. Whole grain breakfasts like this are a great way to get more fiber into your diet.

Ingredients

large flake old fashioned oats
almond milk
chia seeds
favorite toppings like: Greek yogurt, fresh fruit, berries, chia seeds, unsweetened coconut flakes, almond butter, sliced banana, hemp hearts

See recipe card below for quantities.

Basic Overnight Oats Recipe

This is the base recipe for yummy overnight oats. You can try the substitutions and variations below to create a unique and delicious spin on it!

In a mason jar or plastic container, mix together the oats, chia seeds and milk of choice.

Place in the refrigerator overnight or for at least 6 hours or until the next morning.

Remove from the refrigerator, place in a bowl, and heat the overnight oats in the microwave if desired.

Top with your favourite toppings like Greek yogurt, berries, seeds, nuts, and enjoy!

Substitutions

Almond milk – instead of almond milk, you can use dairy milk, coconut milk, soy milk, cashew milk or oat milk
Old Fashioned Oats – you can substitute old-fashioned oats for quick oats or steel cut oats. You may have to use more milk for steel-cut oats or less milk for quick oats. Quick oats will create more of a creamy pudding-like texture, while steel-cut will be a little heartier.

Variations

Nuts & Berries – My favourite way to enjoy this overnight oats recipe is with the addition of berries, Greek yogurt, pure maple syrup and nuts.
Tropical – Enjoy a tropical version with mango, kiwi, unsweetened coconut, Greek yogurt and I mix a bit of mashed banana in for sweetener.
Chocolate Peanut Butter – For a rich & sweet version, add 1 tsp of cocoa powder to the oat mixture before placing it in the container. Sprinkle the oats with some chocolate chips and add a dollup of natural peanut butter.
Strawberry Vanilla – Mix 1/2 tsp of vanilla extract into the oat mixture before placing it in the container. Top it with chopped strawberries and Greek yogurt.
Apple Pie – Mix 1/4 cup chopped apple with 1 tsp of ground cinnamon and use this as a topping for your oats.
Vegan – Make sure to use plant-based milk and vegan toppings like coconut yogurt for a vegan version of this recipe.
Overnight oats not sweet enough? Use a drizzle of honey or maple syrup on top for a little bit of sweetness.

Equipment

I use either airtight plastic containers or mason jars to make my overnight oats. Simply ensure you’re using an airtight container when storing your overnight oats.

How Long Do Overnight Oats Last in the Fridge?

The wonderful thing about this recipe is that it has a relatively long fridge shelf life. You can store overnight oats in the fridge for up to 5 days. However, some folks prefer to store them for a maximum of 3 days in the fridge because they find the texture changes (source: Reddit). Store individual servings in lidded mason jars (I like the little 4 oz. mason jars for this), and store the toppings separately for best results. Overnight oats are a fabulous addition to your Sunday night meal prep roster because they store well for most of the week in the fridge and you can change up the toppings day-to-day for a quick breakfast.

Recipe Card