Wake up to the creamiest Overnight Oats with Yogurt! This healthy, delicious refrigerator Oatmeal couldn't be easier to make ... it's the perfect morning treat!
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Ginnie's Take
It's hard to get tooo excited about oatmeal, which is pretty much the most basic of breakfast foods. Once you try this super creamy version though, all bets will be off! Overnight Oats are one of my favorite no cook breakfasts, because they're so easy to make with just milk and oats. As tasty as the basic recipe is though, there's an easy way to level it up with one simple ingredient: yogurt! These extra creamy, dreamy Overnight Oats with Yogurt are truly a morning treat.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Delicious - Most importantly, these homemade Oats are super scrumptious! You will look forward to waking up to this flavor-packed breakfast every day.
- Healthy - This recipe is made with nutritious ingredients, including fiber-packed oats and protein-filled dairy. They're also low cal (great for weight loss), and you can pile on healthy toppings, like fruit, guilt free.
- Easy to Customize - You won't get bored with this recipe, because it's simple to change up with different toppings and mix-ins. Plus, you can eat the oats hot or cold, depending on the weather or your preference.
- Grab and Go - This is the perfect make head breakfast (great for meal prep). Spend just five to ten minutes prepping a few jars in the evening, and you have a tasty morning meal for days. Never skip breakfast again!
- Minimal Cleanup - You mix everything together right in the same jar (or bowl) that you eat from. Which means cleanup is super simple.
Jump to:
Ingredients
This easy Overnight Oatmeal recipe has the perfect ratio of oats to yogurt, and it uses basic ingredients you probably have at home. Here's what you'll need:
- Oats - For the best results, make sure to use old-fashioned rolled oats for this recipe. Instant and steel cut oats absorb milk differently, so they don't work as well.
- Yogurt - Plain, unsweetened yogurt is best for this recipe. Choose a full fat version for the creamiest results, or go low fat. Greek yogurt doesn't work quite as well, because it contains less liquid. You can use it, but you'll need to thin it with an extra tablespoon (or two) of milk or water.
- Milk - Yogurt and oats on their own are pretty thick, so you'll also need milk. Choose your favorite milk, regular or plant based, such as almond, oat, or soy (which is what I used). If you prefer, you can even prepare this recipe with no milk. Just use water instead.
- Maple Syrup - Delicious maple syrup to adds the ideal amount of sweetness, and you can easily add more or less to taste. Other sweeteners, like honey or brown sugar, can also be used.
- Cinnamon - A little cinnamon is the perfect finishing touch that adds lots of flavor. Leave it out (or add other spices) if you prefer.
- Toppings - I topped my jars with mixed berries, but you can easily customize this part of the recipe to taste. Check out the Toppings and Mix-Ins section below for more ideas!
You'll Also Need
To make this recipe, you'll also need a jar or small bowl with a lid to prepare and store the oats. Mason jars are my favorite, because they have a reusable lid and are easy to transport. I used these cute 12-ounce quilted mason jars, but if you're adding lots of toppings a standard 16-ounce mason jar (pint jar) will work best.
How to Make Overnight Oats with Yogurt
Ready to get started? This Overnight Oats recipe with yogurt is so simple to prepare ... you'll be done in no time! You'll find a detailed, printable recipe card with measurements below, but here's an overview of the steps.
- Combine ingredients. Add the oats, yogurt, milk, maple syrup, cinnamon, and a pinch of salt to a mason jar or a small bowl. Mix well.
- Refrigerate. After mixing everything together, cover your jar or bowl, then refrigerate the oats overnight (or for at least four hours).
- Add toppings + eat. Although you can add your toppings before mixing, I personally prefer to add perishable ingredients, like fruit, just before serving. Especially if I'm making multiple jars. The toppings stay much fresher this way. Plus, if you don't like eating the same thing every day, this makes it easy to change things up!
Tip: To make multiple jars for meal prep or for serving a crowd, line up the jars in a row and add the ingredients assembly line-style. Then mix, seal, and refrigerate the jars.
Layered Oats
Want to layer the oatmeal with fruit like I did for these photos? It's easy:
- Mix the oatmeal ingredients together in a bowl.
- Add half the oat mixture to a jar.
- Top with half the fruit.
- Add remaining oat mixture.
- Finish by topping with remaining fruit.
This is the perfect way to serve this recipe for brunch. It looks super pretty, but it's no more difficult to make!
Toppings + Mix-Ins
I topped by oats with mixed berries, but it's easy to experiment with different flavors! Here are some toppings and mix-ins to try:
- Fruit - Fresh or dried fruit is a natural with oatmeal. Try strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, peaches, mangos, cherries, pineapple, kiwi, plums, and more ... almost anything works!
- Nuts + Seeds - Healthy nuts and seeds add a wonderful texture to creamy oats. Pecans, almonds, walnuts, macadamia nuts, pepitos, sesame seeds, hemp hearts, flax seeds, and more will all work.
- Chia - These popular seeds are another typical mix-in. To add them, stir in one tablespoon chia seeds, plus 3 extra tablespoons milk.
- Nut Butter - A swirl of nut butter (such as peanut butter, almond butter, or your fave) is always a welcome addition!
- Citrus Zest - A little lemon, lime, or orange zest (about ½ teaspoon per jar is all you need) is a simple way to add tons of fresh flavor.
- Granola - Top your finished jars with a little granola just before serving for a delicious crunch (a great counterpart to the creamy oatmeal). Try it with my Homemade Granola!
- Other Ideas - You really can get creative with toppings! Think chocolate (chips, or chopped), coconut chips, goji berries, coconut, and more.
Variations
Once you've mastered the basic recipe, it's easy to change things up. Here are some easy ideas:
- Greek Yogurt - Although this recipe works best with plain yogurt, it's fine to use Greek if you prefer. Make sure thin it with one to two extra tablespoons of milk or water ... just enough to give it the same consistency as regular yogurt.
- Flavored Yogurt - Need to use up some flavored yogurt? Feel free to substitute it for the plain yogurt. Because it's already presweetened, you can probably skip the maple syrup.
- No Milk - To make this recipe without milk, you can use water instead. Just keep in mind that it probably won't turn out quite as creamy and rich tasting.
- Vegan / Non Dairy - You can easily make this recipe vegan / non dairy by using your favorite plant based milk (such as almond, oat, soy, coconut, etc.) and yogurt.
- Sweetener - Don't have any maple syrup? Swap it out for honey, agave, brown sugar, or even regular sugar instead.
- Different Spices - Not a cinnamon fan? Leave it out, or substitute other warm spices, like nutmeg or cardamom.
Storage
Store the oats in an airtight jar or covered bowl in your refrigerator. They will stay fresh and taste best when eaten within three to four days.
Related Recipes
If you loved this Oats and Yogurt recipe, try my Blueberry Overnight Oats and Peach Overnight Oats next! They're both made with yogurt, too. And you'll love these other flavors, too:
- Simple - These Basic Overnight Oats is similar to this recipe, but it's made without yogurt. It's super simple and endlessly versatile!
- Berry Lovers - If you're a berry fan, try these Blackberry Overnight Oats, Raspberry Overnight Oats, and Strawberry Overnight Oats recipes.
- Fall Flavors - Love autumnal flavors? Then these Apple Overnight Oats, Cranberry Orange Overnight Oats, and Pumpkin Overnight Oats are for you!
- Banana - These scrumptious Banana Overnight Oats have a flavor you won't be able to resist.
- Sweet Treat - Indulge your sweet tooth in these Almond Joy Overnight Oats and these Chocolate Peanut Butter Overnight Oats!
- Tropical - Craving a taste of the tropics? Then you'll love these Mango Overnight Oats and these Pineapple Overnight Oats.
Looking for more yogurt breakfast ideas? Try this Yogurt, Granola, and Fruit Parfait or these Breakfast Popsicles!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Still have questions? Check out these helpful FAQs:
Overnight Oats with Yogurt will stay fresh and taste best when eaten within three to four days. Make sure to add perishable toppings (like fruit) just before serving for the freshest and tastiest results.
Overnight Oats can be eaten hot or cold. They are typically eaten cold right from the refrigerator, but if you prefer, you can gently warm them in your microwave before serving.
Overnight Oats do need to be refrigerated once the ingredients have been mixed together.
If your Overnight Oats didn't work out, you probably didn't use enough liquid. Try adding a little extra milk or water. For more flavor, make sure to add a pinch of salt and a little maple syrup for sweetness. You can also stir in other flavorful ingredients, like cinnamon (and other spices), fresh fruit, nut butters, and more.
Overnight Oats with Yogurt
Ingredients
- ½ cup old fashioned rolled oats
- ⅓ cup plain yogurt
- ⅓ cup milk
- 1 to 2 teaspoons maple syrup
- dash cinnamon
- pinch kosher salt
- ½ cup mixed fruit (or other toppings)
Equipment
Instructions
- Combine oats, yogurt, milk, maple syrup, cinnamon, and salt in a mason jar (or small bowl). Mix well.
- Cover mixture and refrigerate overnight (or at least four hours).
- Add fresh fruit or other toppings, then serve. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
I think, I just found the best recipe for yogurts for my Aussie
Hey, thanks I am so thankful to have come across this post I follow your articles they are really helpful and easy to make. I learned so many dishes from your blog and now will try this one too.
Thank you so much, Supriya! I'm so glad you're enjoy the recipes 🙂