Overnight Oats 5 Ways – Foodology Geek

Overnight oatmeal is an easy make-ahead breakfast that you prepare the night before. I love this recipe because you can add a million different toppings, and they all taste delicious. This recipe also has my special instructions on how to make High Protein Overnight Oats!

I was a little bit late getting on the overnight oats train. 

I think everyone started making overnight oats during the years that I was still completely carb-phobic. 

It wasn’t until recently that I gave them a try! Let me tell you, I haven’t looked back since. 

Now that I’ve figured out how to make this recipe, I make it so many different ways, each with exceptionally delicious results. 

Why You’ll Love this Overnight Oats Recipe

• This recipe is so easy; even your kids can make it! 
• Once you have the formula down, you can adapt this recipe to add whatever toppings you like. 
• A batch of overnight oatmeal keeps in the fridge all week long, so you can grab it on the go and always get a healthy breakfast in. 

Recipe Notes

Ingredients

The ingredients in overnight oatmeal are pretty flexible. The variations are virtually endless once you get the basic overnight oatmeal recipe down.

Dry Ingredients

• Oats: I use gluten-free old-fashioned oats. Don’t use quick oats; they will end up too soggy after soaking up all the milk.
• Chia Seeds (optional): Chia seeds add an extra boost of omega-3 fatty acids to these simple overnight oats. The chia seeds mix with the milk and give the oatmeal base a chia pudding-like consistency. I like the texture of the oatmeal with chia seeds.
• Nuts: Chopped nuts add crunch and healthy fats to your overnight oats. Try almonds, walnuts, or pecans.
• Protein Powder: I usually use vanilla or unflavored whey protein. Find your favorite flavor of protein powder. Even chocolate can be great with the right toppings. 

Wet Ingredients

• Milk: You can use whatever kind of milk you choose. I usually make my overnight oats with almond milk. You can use water in this recipe, but milk will give you a thicker and creamier consistency. You can use full-fat, 2%, or even skim milk if you use dairy milk. Non-dairy options include almond milk, coconut milk, or cashew milk.
• Greek Yogurt (optional): Greek yogurt is also optional, but it adds a little extra protein to this easy overnight oats recipe.

Flavor and Toppings

• Sweetener: I typically use maple syrup or honey to sweeten my overnight oats. If you are using jam or fruit, you can leave out the sweetener.
• Vanilla Extract (optional): Adds a warm vanilla flavor to your oatmeal. Vanilla enhances the taste of your oats and goes well with all the toppings you might add.
• Kosher Salt (optional): A pinch of salt also enhances the oats’ flavor. You can leave it out if you want to.
• Toppings and Mix-Ins: This category is endless. For the most part, I top my overnight oats with fresh fruit and nuts. But the combinations are endless.

Instructions

1. Get your overnight oats container ready: You have a few different options. My favorite containers are Mason jars or Weck jars. Any sealable container will work. You’ll want it to hold about 2 cups. You want room for all those toppings. 
2. Add the Dry Ingredients: Start by adding them to your container. Mix them up with a spoon. 
3. Add the Wet Ingredients: Greek yogurt (if you are making your overnight oats with yogurt), then the milk. You’ll also add the sweetness, vanilla, and salt at this step. 
4. Mix: Mix with a spoon or a small spatula until combined. 
5. Store: Cover each container. If you are using glasses or mugs, you can cover the containers with plastic wrap. 

To make the best overnight oats, you must find the right oats-to-milk ratio. Start with the suggested ratios and then adjust them if you want to add more or less milk.

The overnight oats ratio to start with is 1 part oats 1 part milk ⅛ part seeds.

Sometimes, I even add a little more milk in the morning before eating my overnight oats.

Varieties of Overnight Oats

• Peanut Butter or Peanut Butter and Banana Overnight Oats: To make simple peanut butter overnight oats, add a few tablespoons of peanut butter. For other peanut butter varieties, you can add peanut butter + bananas. Or peanut butter + jelly.
• Cherry Vanilla Almond Overnight Oats: Add fresh cherries and slivered almonds.
• Tropical Coconut Mango Overnight Oats: Add freshly chopped mangoes and a few tablespoons of coconut cream.  You can add some dried, flaked coconut for an added tropical twist.
• Vanilla Fig Overnight Oats: Make sure to use the vanilla in the recipe, and then add a tablespoon of fig jam and then a few chopped dried or fresh figs. 
• Berry Overnight Oats: Add fresh strawberries, blueberries, and chopped or slivered almonds.
• Banana Nutella Overnight Oats: Add a tablespoon of Nutella and some sliced banana. You can also add some chopped hazelnuts or almonds for crunch.
• Apple Overnight Oats: Add a diced apple and a few walnuts in the morning. I also like to add a little sprinkle of cinnamon. 

FAQs

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Overnight Oats

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Overnight Oats Four Ways: These are delicious right out of the fridge or they can be warmed up. 

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Total Time 10 minutes mins

Course Breakfast

Cuisine Clean Eating, Vegan

Servings 1

Calories 287 kcal

High Protein Overnight Oatmeal

Cherry Almond Vanilla Oats

Pro Tip: Use wide mouth jars. The ones I used were too skinny and it made stirring the next morning a messy endeavor.
Nutrition calculations are for the basic oats without toppings.

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Calories: 287kcalCarbohydrates: 46gProtein: 12gFat: 6gSaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 3mgSodium: 186mgFiber: 7gSugar: 14gCalcium: 286mgIron: 2mg

Keyword overnight oatmeal, overnight oats