How to Make Overnight Oats … Basic Recipe, Topping Ideas & Tips!

Learn how to make overnight oats … a delicious, healthy breakfast that’s perfect for busy mornings!

This basic overnight oats recipes takes minutes to make, plus I’m sharing my favorite recipes and tons of tips to get you started.

This post contains affiliate links.

I don’t know about you, but I love an easy breakfast.

Most mornings, I’m just trying to get going, so I stick to my tried-and-true favorites. That usually means a breakfast sandwich or my other go-to, overnight oats.

I love overnight oats … they’re healthy, super delicious, and because everything is prepped the night before, you can grab and go in the morning!

Today, I’m showing you how to make overnight oats with tons of tips and some great recipes to get you started.

This is my basic overnight oats recipe. It’s pretty much foolproof, and I return to these oats for breakfast over and over again!

Once you learn how to make these gluten-free, healthy overnight oats, you can customize the recipe in so many ways.

Simply add your favorite toppings (I love fresh fruit and nuts) or mix in a nutrient or flavor booster (like chia seeds or peanut butter). It’s so easy.

How to Make Overnight Oats

I’m so excited to share this recipe with you! As far as I’m concerned, these are the best overnight oats, because they’re simple (no crazy ingredients), super delish, and they really does make mornings stress free!

Watch the video below to see just how easy this recipe is, then keep reading for my basic recipe, topping ideas, and tons of tips.

For this basic overnight oats recipe, I’m going to show you how to make overnight oats with milk. Then, I’ll show you how to make overnight oats with yogurt, as well as vegan overnight oats.

Let’s start with the simple overnight oats recipe first. You’ll need a jar or small bowl.

I used these cute jam jars for my photos here, but if you plan to add toppings with a lot of volume (like fruit), choose a larger pint-size for your mason jar oatmeal instead.

You’ll also need old fashioned oats (not instant) and milk.

I like to use 2% or whole milk, but feel free to use your favorite. Just keep in mind that the more fat your milk has, the creamier your finished oats will be.

The overnight oats ratio of milk to oats is 1:1 … I use 1/2 cup of each.

Next, it’s time for flavorings. I like to add a dash of cinnamon, a pinch of salt, and a little maple syrup.

Feel free to experiment different spices or another sweetener, like honey, brown sugar, agave, or even regular sugar.

You can also add mix-ins at this point, if you’d like. I sometimes add chia seeds,  but hemp hearts, flax seeds, and peanut butter are also great options.

Once you’ve added the ingredients to your jar, give it a good stir. Then, cover the jar and refrigerate everything overnight.

Don’t worry if your oats looks a little unappealing when you pop them in the fridge. By the morning, the oats will have absorbed the milk and will be creamy, and delicious.

You can eat these plain overnight oats as is. If you’re anything like me though, you’ll want to add some toppings!

I usually keep it super simple with fruit and nuts, but the sky is the limit. Keep scrolling after the recipes for lots of yummy options.

By the way … if you know you’ll be in a rush in the morning, you can add your toppings to the jar at night, too. Simply layer them on top of all the other ingredients before refrigerating.

How to Make Overnight Oats with Yogurt

I usually make my overnight oats with milk, but you can also make overnight oats with yogurt. The yogurt gives the oats an extra creamy texture, even if you’re using low-fat.

I’ve experimented a bit with this recipe. And to be honest, I prefer using a combination of yogurt and milk, as oats made with all yogurt were too thick for my taste.

To make overnight oats with yogurt, you follow the same process as my basic recipe, replacing the 1/2 cup milk with 1/3 cup milk and 1/3 cup yogurt. Easy, right?

Want to make overnight oats with Greek yogurt? Since Greek yogurt is extra thick (and has less liquid in it), add an extra tablespoon or two of milk to thin things out a bit.

How to Make Overnight Oats Vegan

So, you may have noticed that there’s a lot of dairy in these overnight oats!

Despite all that dairy, it’s super easy to make vegan overnight oats. Simply replace the milk with a dairy free substitute, like almond, soy, or coconut milk. You can use a non-dairy yogurt, as well, if you’d like to make vegan overnights with yogurt.

Another thing to pay attention to when making vegan overnight oats is your sweetener. Maple syrup is vegan, but honey is not. If you don’t like or don’t have maple syrup, try another sweetener, like agave, molasses, or date syrup instead.

Do You Eat Overnight Oats Hot or Cold?

I usually eat my oats chilled. It sounds a little strange, but this “cold oatmeal” tastes delicious. Give it a try!

Of course, you can warm overnight oats, too. Simply microwave the cold oatmeal for a minute or two before eating. (Make sure to remove the jar lid first, if it’s metal.)

How Long Can Your Keep Overnight Oats in the Fridge?

The nice thing about overnight oats is that they will keep for a while. So you can make breakfast once, and you’ll be set for a few days!

I’ve found that overnight oats will keep for 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator. If your oats get too thick after sitting a few days, simply add an extra splash of milk before serving.

Okay, I think that covers all the bases … phew!

Let me know if you have any questions. I’d love to hear them.

And keep reading after the recipe, because I’m sharing lots of topping ideas, plus my favorite overnight oats recipes.

Print

How to Make Overnight Oats

Prep Time

10 mins

Total Time

10 mins

 

Learn how to make overnight oats with this simple and delicious recipe, then have fun experimenting with different toppings and flavor combinations!

Course: Breakfast

Cuisine: American

Keyword: breakfast, cold oatmeal, easy overnight oats, gluten free, healthy, oatmeal, overnight oatmeal, overnight oats, quick, vegan, vegan overnight oats

Servings: 1 person

Calories: 236 kcal

Author: Ginnie

Ingredients

Overnight Oats (Basic Recipe)

• 1/2 cup old fashioned rolled oats
• 1/2 cup milk (I usually use 2% or whole milk)
• 1 teaspoon maple syrup (or sweetener or choice)
• dash cinnamon
• pinch salt
• 1 teaspoon to 1 tablespoon mix-ins, such as chia seeds, hemp hearts, or flax seeds (optional)
• toppings of choice

Overnight Oats with Yogurt

• 1/2 cup old fashioned rolled oats
• 1/3 cup milk
• 1/3 cup plain yogurt (or your favorite flavor)
• 1 teaspoon maple syrup (or sweetener or choice)
• dash cinnamon
• pinch salt
• 1 teaspoon to 1 tablespoon mix-ins, such as chia seeds, hemp hearts, or flax seeds (optional)
• toppings of choice

Vegan Overnight Oats

• 1/2 cup old fashioned rolled oats
• 1/2 cup dairy-free milk alternative, such as almond milk, coconut milk, etc.
• 1 teaspoon maple syrup (or vegan sweetener of choice)
• dash cinnamon
• pinch salt
• 1 teaspoon to 1 tablespoon mix-ins, such as chia seeds, hemp hearts, or flax seeds (optional)
• toppings of choice

Instructions

For Overnight Oats (Basic Recipe)

1. Combine oats, milk, maple syrup, cinnamon, and salt in a mason jar or small bowl. If using, add mix-ins.

2. Stir well, cover, and refrigerate overnight.
   

3. In the morning, stir oats well, then add toppings of your choice.
   

For Overnight Oats with Yogurt:

1. Combine oats, milk, yogurt, maple syrup (skip if using sweetened yogurt), cinnamon, and salt in a mason jar or small bowl. If using, add mix-ins.

2. Stir well, cover, and refrigerate overnight.

3. In the morning, stir oats well, then add toppings of your choice.

For Vegan Overnight Oats:

1. Combine oats, dairy-free milk, maple syrup, cinnamon, and salt in a mason jar or small bowl. If using, add mix-ins. (You may also prepare vegan overnight oats with dairy-free yogurt; use same proportions as for Overnight Oats with Yogurt.)
   

2. Stir well, cover, and refrigerate overnight.

3. In the morning, stir oats well, then add toppings of your choice.

Notes

Calorie calculation is based on the basic recipe, does not include mix-ins or toppings, and is approximate.

Overnight Oats Topping Ideas

Now that you know how to make my basic overnight oats recipe, get creative with your toppings! Here are a few ideas to get you started:

• Amp up the nutrition by adding chia seeds, hemp hearts, or flax seeds.
• Add your favorite berries and fruits. Strawberries, apples, bananas, peaches, blackberries, pineapple, mango, and more all work great. Give frozen fruit and dried fruit a try, too!
• Try different spices and seasonings, like ginger, cardamom, allspice, or pumpkin pie spice.
• Brighten things up with a little citrus zest or juice.
• Mix in your fave nut butters.
• Sprinkle the oats with your fave nuts, such as walnuts, almonds, and pecans.
• Add a dollop of yogurt to the top for extra creamy oats.

My Fave Overnight Oats Recipes

I love my basic oats recipe, but it’s fun to change things up a bit, too.

Try one of these recipes to take your oats obsession to the next level!

 Strawberry Overnight Oats

Love, love, love these Strawberry Overnight Oats! They are so fresh and delicious.

Pumpkin Pie Overnight Oats

These Pumpkin Pie Overnight Oats are my most popular oats recipe.

And for good reason, this pumpkin pie-inspired oatmeal recipe is sooo delicious!

Cranberry Orange Overnight Oats

I love the combination of cranberries and oranges. It tastes so fresh and bright … perfect for dreary fall and winter months!

This Cranberry Orange Overnight Oats recipe replaces some of the milk with juice, and the result is so tasty.

Almond Joy Overnight Oats

Craving something sweet? These yummy Almond Joy Overnight Oats will remind you of the popular candy bar. Yum!

This recipe is the perfect breakfast treat.

Chocolate Covered Raspberry Overnight Oats

This unique Chocolate Covered Raspberry Overnight Oats recipe is made with chocolate milk and topped with fresh raspberries.

It’s so delicious and perfect for chocolate lovers!

Which recipe will you try first?

Now that you know how to make overnight oats, breakfast will never be the same!

Make sure to let me know if you try this easy overnight oats recipe, and what your favorite flavor combination is.

Have your ever tried overnight oats?