Overnight oats are a healthy and extremely easy breakfast that is made ahead for easy mornings. Easy to customize and incredibly delicious!
This easy overnight oats recipe will show you how to make basic overnight oats, along with several delicious overnight oats variations.
Jump to:
What Are Overnight Oats?
Overnight oats are a simple no-cook way to enjoy oatmeal. They're made by soaking the oats in liquid, usually milk or yogurt overnight which results in creamy oats in the morning.
Why This Recipe Works
- A delicious breakfast or snack: The idea is to soak rolled oats in a liquid overnight so they soften. When the oats are combined with spices and/or chopped fruit, the outcome is simply heavenly.
- Easy to customize: Overnight oats are easy to customize. You can make this recipe in any bowl, container, or jar. I love using a mason jar because I can close the lid and take it with me if I’m rushing out the door. I’ll often make up a few jars and keep them in the refrigerator to use throughout the week.
- Healthy: Oats contain plenty of protein and are a rich source of fiber.
Ingredients
- Oats: Use old-fashioned oats (rolled oats). I do not recommend using quick oats because the texture and consistency are best with old-fashioned oats.
- Milk: Use full-fat, 2%, or low-fat milk. You can also use soy, almond, coconut, oat, or cashew milk. Technically, you can use water but I prefer using milk.
- Yogurt: This gives the oats a creamy texture, adds a tangy flavor, and provides extra protein.
- Spices: Feel free to get creative and use spices you love. For our apple cinnamon overnight oats we use ground cinnamon and ground nutmeg.
- Toppings: For our apple cinnamon overnight oats we use diced apples. For other versions, consider using other kinds of fresh fruit, dried fruit, nut butters, nuts, and seeds.
- Sweetener: Use honey or maple syrup to sweeten the oats.
How To Make Overnight Oats
Basic overnight oatmeal recipe instructions: Use the same ratio of oats to liquid. Generally, I'll use ½ cup of oats and ½ cup of milk. Then, add ¼ cup of yogurt, some spices, and fruit (if using).
I've made many different variations of this recipe over the years but my favorite kind of overnight oats is an apple-spiced version filled with bits of apples and pecans.
To Make Apple Cinnamon Overnight Oats:
I mix up my standard recipe of oats and milk, then I add in the yogurt, diced apples, cinnamon, nutmeg, and a touch of maple syrup or honey.
RELATED: Single Serving Comfort Food Recipes
Overnight Oats Variations
Peanut Butter and Banana Overnight Oats Recipe
Peanut Butter + Banana (Add 2 tablespoons peanut butter, 1 sliced banana, 1 teaspoon of honey to ½ cup rolled oats, and ½ cup milk)
Berry Filled Overnight Oats Recipe
Chia Seeds + Berries (Add ¼ cup chia seeds, 1 teaspoon honey, a handful of berries to ½ cup oats, and 1 cup milk)
Pumpkin Spice Overnight Oats Recipe
Pumpkin Puree + Walnuts (Add ⅓ cup pumpkin, pinch of nutmeg, ⅓ cup chopped walnuts, 1 teaspoon maple syrup to ½ cup milk and ½ cup oats)
Chocolate Overnight Oats Recipe
Cocoa Powder + Mashed Banana + Mini Chocolate Chips (Add 2 teaspoons cocoa powder, 1 mashed banana, 1 tablespoon chocolate chips, 1 teaspoon honey to ½ cup oats, and ½ cup milk)
Frequently Asked Questions
For the best overnight oats, I recommend soaking the oats for at least 8 hours.
Yes, you can warm overnight oats but they are meant to be eaten cold. It may seem strange but cold overnight oats are really good! If you can't bring yourself to eat them this way, warm them in the microwave.
When stored in an airtight container, overnight oats can last up to 4 days in the refrigerator.
Overnight oatmeal is high in fiber which helps to keep you full for a longer period of time. Oats can be a good part of a healthy diet for weight loss. Oats tend to be lower in sugar and calories than other breakfast options.
Expert Tips
- Small mason jars are a great vessel to store your prepared overnight oats.
- If you would like to make gluten free overnight oats, be sure to use certified gluten-free oats.
- For vegan or dairy free overnight oats, be sure to use non-dairy milk like almond or cashew milk.
- If you prefer our overnight oats warm, remove the lid and microwave in a microwave-safe jar until warm.
How To Store And Meal Prep
It's as easy to make a single serving of overnight oats as it is to make several. Just double or triple the ingredient amounts.
To store: Overnight oats will stay good when stored in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Related: Simple Cooking For One Tips and Tricks
Ways To Use Leftover Ingredients
If you have any ingredients leftover from this apple cinnamon version of overnight oats, you might like to consider using them in any of these single serving and small batch recipes:
- Oats: Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies, Orange Oatmeal Cake, Baked Oatmeal
- Milk: Pralines, Strawberry Milkshake, Biscuit With Sausage Gravy
- Yogurt: Fruit Quesadilla, Tropical Smoothie, Curried Butternut Squash Soup
- Apples: Dutch Apple Pie, Apple Dutch Baby, Apple Galette
- Cinnamon: Snickerdoodles, Apple Cinnamon Scones, Donut Holes
- Nutmeg: Garam Masala, Creamed Spinach, Eggnog
- Maple syrup or honey: Pecan Pie, Butter Pecan Granola, Sweet Potato Pie
- Walnuts: Maple Walnut Muffin, Gingerbread Granola, Carrot Cake Cupcakes
If you would like more information on the baking dishes I use in our single serving recipes, please visit our FAQ page.
For examples of the dishes used at One Dish Kitchen, please visit our Store page.
If you’ve tried these overnight oats or any recipe on One Dish Kitchen please let me know how you liked it by rating the recipe and telling me about it in the comment section below.
If you take a picture please tag us on Instagram (@onedishkitchen) we’d love to see!
Recipe
Overnight Oats
See the post above for expert tips,
FAQs and ways to use leftover ingredients.
Ingredients
- ½ cup old fashioned oats
- ½ cup milk (use your choice of regular, almond, soy or coconut)
- ¼ cup yogurt (use your choice of plain, vanilla or Greek)
- ¼ cup diced apples
- ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ⅛ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon maple syrup or honey
- walnuts for topping, (optional)
Instructions
- Add the oats to a container of your choice. Pour in the milk and add the remaining ingredients.
- Cover and refrigerate overnight.
- In the morning, add walnuts, additional apples and maple syrup or honey, if desired and enjoy.
Notes
- Small mason jars are a great vessel to store your prepared overnight oats.
- If you would like to make gluten free overnight oats, be sure to use certified gluten-free oats.
- For vegan or dairy free overnight oats, be sure to use non-dairy milk like almond or cashew milk.
- If you prefer our overnight oats warm, remove the lid and microwave in a microwave safe jar for 1-2 minutes.
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
Sally Putnam says
Question, i do not like cold oatmeal. Could I take this out of the refrigerator and warm it up before adding things?
Joanie Zisk says
If you prefer our overnight oats warm, remove the lid and microwave in a microwave-safe jar for 1-2 minutes.
Eileen Strain says
What can you use in place of the yogurt?
Joanie Zisk says
You can use a little additional milk or add applesauce or mashed banana.
Teacher479 says
I plan to bump up the protein by adding a scoop of protein powder. I think I’ll add my daily scoop of unflavored collagen powder supplement as well.
Nancy Saxon says
I'm not fond of cold oatmeal. Could you heat this up in microwave before eating? Or will it be too mushy>
Joanie Zisk says
You can briefly heat it in the microwave if you'd like. It's delicious.
Pat says
Can you use quick oats for this?
Joanie Zisk says
I don't recommend using quick oats. They will almost completely dissolve in the milk.
Pat says
Thanks. I’ve put old fashioned oats on my grocery list.
Debbie says
How long do they last before you need to eat them?
Joanie Zisk says
Hi Debbie,
The overnight oats keep well in the fridge for 4 days. They will soften as they remain in the fridge which makes them extra creamy.
Joanie
Debbie says
Oh great, thank you so much. Anxious to try now and make a couple so as to use an entire apple!
Denay DeGuzman says
I absolutely love making overnight oats. Your delicious Apple Spiced Overnight Oats contains so many wonderful breakfast flavors packed into a single fabulous dish. Yum, yum!