Learn how to make overnight oats! This easy, make-ahead breakfast is perfect for busy mornings. Find my base recipe plus 4 fun variations below.
When someone asks me for an easy, healthy breakfast idea, this overnight oats recipe is the first thing I suggest. It’s perfect for busy mornings, as you can make individual servings ahead of time and take them on the go. It’s also satisfying enough to keep you full till lunch, made with simple ingredients like oats, chia seeds, and (optional) yogurt. But best of all, it’s fun.
What could be fun about oatmeal, you ask? Well, this yummy breakfast is endlessly customizable. Once you learn how to make overnight oats, you can experiment with mix-ins like cocoa powder or vanilla extract or pile on toppings like nuts, seeds, and fresh fruit. To get you started, I’m sharing four tasty variations (+ my go-to base recipe!) below. Try them out, and then get creative making your overnight oats your own!
Overnight Oats Recipe Ingredients
When I first started making overnight oats, I kept them really simple, using just oats and almond milk. But after a little experimentation, I realized that adding chia seeds to overnight oats takes them to a whole new level. They give the oats a delicious thick and creamy texture, sort of like that of chia pudding. They also add protein, fiber, and healthy fats. What’s not to love?
Now, I use these ingredients in my go-to overnight oats recipe:
- Whole rolled oats – Also known as old fashioned oats. Quick oats and steel-cut oats will NOT work here. Quick oats will be too mushy, while steel-cut oats will be chewy and tough.
- Chia seeds – For extra protein and the perfect thick and creamy texture.
- Almond milk – Or any milk you like! Dairy milk and oat milk both work well. Coconut milk adds rich flavor and yields an especially creamy texture.
- Maple syrup – For sweetness. Honey works too.
- And a pinch of salt – To make the oats extra-flavorful.
If you like, you can stir in Greek yogurt as well. It adds more protein and makes the oats creamier. Skip it to make this recipe dairy-free.
Find the complete recipe with measurements below.
The Best Overnight Oats Ratio
Back when I made overnight oatmeal with just oats and milk, I used equal parts old fashioned rolled oats and milk.
Now that I add chia seeds, I like to use a little more liquid so that my oats don’t get too thick.
I use this ratio: 1/2 cup oats to 2/3 cup milk to 1 tablespoon chia seeds. When I make overnight oats with yogurt, I stir in 1/4 cup Greek yogurt to make them extra-creamy.
Find the complete recipe with measurements below.
How to Make Overnight Oats
My method for how to make overnight oats is super simple! Here’s how it goes:
- Place the oats, chia seeds, maple syrup or honey, salt, and yogurt, if using, in a lidded container or jar.
- Pour in the almond milk, and stir thoroughly to combine. Make sure that there are no chia seeds clumped around the bottom or sides of the jar!
- Cover and store overnight, or for up to 5 days, in the fridge.
When you’re ready to eat, give the oats another stir, add your desired toppings, and enjoy!
To meal prep overnight oats, set out a Mason jar for each serving you want to prep. Add all the ingredients EXCEPT the milk to each jar. Then, add the milk to one jar and stir that jar together before adding the milk to the next. I find that adding the milk to one jar at a time helps prevent the chia seeds from getting too clumpy. Once you mix up all the overnight oats, cover and store in the refrigerator until you’re ready to eat!
I recommend waiting to add your favorite toppings until the morning you plan to eat your oats. That way, nuts, seeds, and granola will stay crunchy, and fruit will stay bright and fresh.
Overnight Oats Recipe Variations
Now for the fun part: flavor variations! Here are four that I really love:
1. Apple Pie Overnight Oats
I stir applesauce and warm spices into the creamy oat base and top it off with diced apples and toasted pecans for crunch. If I have them on hand, I also add a scoop of my stovetop cinnamon apples to this variation. They taste like the inside of an apple pie!
2. Peach Crisp Overnight Oats
Topped with sweet, juicy peach slices and nutty granola, this overnight oatmeal is an ode to my favorite peach crisp.
3. PB&J Overnight Oats
I load up this variation with creamy peanut butter and a strawberry chia jam that packs a HUGE punch of berry flavor. Fresh strawberries and raspberries amp up that flavor even more, and toasted peanuts add the perfect crunch. For a twist on this variation, swap almond butter and toasted almonds for the peanut butter and peanuts.
4. Chocolate Banana Bread Overnight Oats
I stir cocoa powder, mashed banana, cinnamon, and nutmeg into this variation’s base to give it a rich, chocolatey banana bread flavor. Sliced bananas, walnuts, and chocolate chips top it off.
I hope you love these variations! But remember – you can also feel free to make your oats your own.
Other Topping Ideas
Try stirring spices or protein powder into the oat base, or experiment with toppings like seasonal fresh fruit, dried fruit, coconut flakes, nuts, seeds, or nut butters.
If you find a combination you love, let me know in the comments below!
More Favorite Healthy Breakfasts
If you love this recipe, try one of these healthy breakfasts next:
- Chia Seed Pudding
- Instant Pot Steel-Cut Oats
- Baked Oatmeal
- Oatmeal Breakfast Cookies
- Healthy Blueberry Muffins
- Or any of these 60 Healthy Breakfast Ideas!

Overnight Oats
Equipment
Ingredients
Base Recipe
- ½ cup whole rolled oats
- 1 tablespoon chia seeds
- ½ teaspoon maple syrup, plus more for serving
- Pinch sea salt
- ¼ cup whole milk Greek yogurt, optional
- â…” cup unsweetened almond milk
Variations:
Apple Pie
- 2 tablespoons unsweetened applesauce
- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon or apple pie spice
- Diced apple
- Chopped pecans
- Cinnamon Apples, optional
Peach Crisp
- Peach slices
- Granola
PB&J
- Chia Jam, see note
- Peanut butter
- Chopped strawberries
- Raspberries
- Chopped peanuts
Chocolate Banana Bread
- ½ banana, mashed
- 1 teaspoon cocoa powder
- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
- Pinch nutmeg
- Banana slices
- Chopped walnuts
- Chocolate chips
Instructions
- Make the base recipe: In a Mason jar or other lidded jar, place the oats, chia seeds, maple syrup, salt, and Greek yogurt, if using.
- Add the almond milk and stir until the mixture is well combined and there are no clumps of chia seeds at the bottom of the jar. Cover and refrigerate overnight, or for up to 5 days.
- In the morning, top with your desired toppings and serve with drizzles of maple syrup.
- For apple pie overnight oats, stir the applesauce and cinnamon into the overnight oat base. Refrigerate overnight. In the morning, top with diced apple, chopped pecans, and cinnamon apples and drizzles of maple syrup, if desired.
- For peach crisp overnight oats, make the plain overnight oat base. Refrigerate overnight. In the morning, top with peach slices, granola, and drizzles of maple syrup, if desired.
- For PB&J overnight oats, make the plain overnight oat base. Refrigerate overnight. In the morning, top with chia jam, peanut butter, chopped strawberries, raspberries, and chopped peanuts.
- For chocolate banana bread overnight oats, stir the mashed banana, cocoa powder, cinnamon, and nutmeg into the overnight oat base. Refrigerate overnight. In the morning, top with banana slices, chopped walnuts, chocolate chips, and drizzles of maple syrup, if desired.
Notes
- 1 pound strawberries
- ½ teaspoon fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon maple syrup
- Pinch of sea salt
- 3 tablespoons chia seeds
Delicious! The mashed banana in the chocolate banana bread oats helps it firm up a bit!
They were absolutely delicious! I made the PB&J recipe and it will be a new go to! Easy and ready for the morning. Mine definitely wasn’t as pretty but still tasted amazing!
I must be doing something wrong. I did not have chia seeds, but used flax seeds instead. I also used lactose free milk instead of almond milk. For the basic recipe the oatmeal was not very soft and needed something? dumped it in a bowl, added a couple of TBSPS more milk and heated it in the microwave for several two minute intervals. Topped with another tsp of maple syrup and some strawberries. It was better. Think I determined that I prefer hot oatmeal to cold oatmeal.
I made this overnight oats recipe base using coconut milk. I added mashed and sliced banana, frozen blueberries, and chopped pecans. It was delicious!
Yum!!! This recipe came along at a perfect time – – I was getting tired of eating homemade seed bread every morning. This recipe was easy and delicious and kept me full until lunch. I can’t wait to try the variations!
Hi Jeanine, I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
This base overnight oats recipe is fantastic! They turn out super creamy every time! I did a twist on the chocolate banana bread flavor, but made it banana cream pie. I didn’t use cacao powder, I used ground flaxseed instead of chia seeds, and I put crushed graham crackers on top instead of walnuts. It was delicious!
Hi Taylor, fun idea to add the graham crackers! I’m so glad you enjoyed the recipe.
I made the chocolate banana bread overnight oats. The extra banana & walnuts on top were definitely key!
So glad you enjoyed them, Stacey!
Great recipe and love the variations. I added frozen cherries and chocolate protein powder to make it a Black Forest overnight oats. Delicious and protein packed!
Hi Angela, I have some cherries in my freezer right now, and I’m going to have to try this. It sounds so good! Glad you enjoyed the recipe.
Also, other blogs have said you have to use within 2 days, yours is a week. Obviously, I’d prefer a week! 🙂 Just clarifying.
Loved the extra crunch of granola in the peach crisp variation! Such an easy morning go-to! And easy and delicious dairy-free breaky!
So glad you loved it, Samantha!
This recipe is so good and easy to put together. Perfect for meal prepping breakfast for the week on Sundays. The yogurt makes it very creamy and delicious. I topped ithe overnight oats with a mix of berries and some walnuts for crunch and it was perfect.
So glad you loved them, Annika!
This recipe is delicious! I was worried I put too much nutmeg in but after I topped it with walnuts and apple, it all balanced out for a delicious and healthy breakfast.
I’m so glad you loved it!
So good and easy for fast mornings. Made one with blackberry, kiwi, and honey and one with cherries in syrup, pecans, and cocoa nibs
Hi Ally, ooh those sound like great combos! I haven’t had kiwi in a while. Now I think I have to get some!