Wake up to these scrumptious Strawberry Overnight Oats! This wonderful make ahead breakfast recipe takes minutes to prepare, and it has a wonderful strawberries and cream flavor you'll ... a healthy, easy, and delicious way to start your day!
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I love a lazy morning! I'm definitely a night person, so I prefer to ease my way into the day slowly, but surely. And one of my favorite ways to do that (even on busy mornings) is by preparing a make ahead breakfast.
Waking up to a delicious, healthy meal—like these mouthwatering Strawberry Overnight Oats—is truly the best way to start the day! Overnight oatmeal is one of my go-to breakfasts, and it's even better when made with fresh, sweet strawberries.
You are going to love this simple morning meal! The recipe uses basic ingredients, and the results are so fresh and creamy ... ... it's like eating strawberries and cream, but without any of the guilt!
Best of all, these oats are so easy to prepare and ready in minutes. And because you do all the work the night before, all you need to do at breakfast time is eat and enjoy. They're perfect for meal prep and for relaxing mornings!
Ready to try this recipe for yourself? Then keep reading for all the delicious details!
Ingredients
These yummy Strawberry Oats are made with simple ingredients you'll find in any grocery store! Here's what you'll need:
- Strawberries - You'll need some fresh berries, of course! Look for the sweetest, juiciest strawberries you can find for the best results.
- Oats - This recipe is made with old-fashioned rolled oats. Because they absorb milk differently, avoid using instant or steel cut oats.
- Milk - The oats are soaked in a milk mixture. Use your favorite milk for this recipe ... both regular or plant based milks —such as almond, oat, or soy milk (which is what I used)—will work.
- Yogurt - This recipe features a layer of vanilla yogurt, which gives the oats their strawberries and cream flavor! Both regular and Greek yogurt will work.
- Maple Syrup - A little maple syrup naturally sweetens the oats, and you can easily add more or less to taste. Other sweeteners, like honey or brown sugar, may also be used if you prefer.
- Cinnamon - A dash ground cinnamon gives this refrigerator oatmeal a cozy flavor.
- Salt - A pinch of kosher salt is all that's needed to enhance all the flavors!
This recipe is naturally vegetarian and gluten free! If you have an allergy, make sure to use specially-labeled gluten free oats to avoid cross-contamination. You can also make these oats dairy free and vegan, simply by using your favorite vegan yogurt and plant based milk. I prefer soy milk, because it's thick, creamy, and has a neutral flavor, but almond milk, oat milk, coconut milk, etc. will also work great.
You'll Also Need
To prep and store the oats, you'll need a small jar or bowl with a lid. Mason jars work great, because they have a reusable lid and are easy to transport. I used jam jars for these photos, however they're a little small. A 12-ounce jar or a standard 16-ounce mason jar (pint jar) would work perfectly though. If I'm making more than one jar, I also like using this canning funnel, which keeps the mess to a minimum.
How to Make Strawberry Overnight Oats
This recipe couldn't be easier to make! You'll find a detailed recipe card below, but here's an overview of the steps:
- Add ingredients to jar. Start by adding the oats, milk, maple syrup, cinnamon, and a pinch of salt to a jar. Top with half of the strawberries.
- Stir. Mix the ingredients together until they are well-combined.
- Add yogurt and strawberries. After you've mixed everything together, top the oats with a layer of yogurt, followed by the remaining berries.
- Refrigerate. Cover the jar and refrigerate the oats overnight (or for at least four hours).
Told you that was easy! And the best part is waking up to these irresistible Strawberry Overnight Oats the next morning. The taste is so fresh, sweet, and delicious!
Tip: Overnight Oatmeal has a thicker texture than the stovetop oatmeal. This makes them creamy, as well as easy to transport. If you prefer a looser texture, simply stir in a little extra milk before serving.
Variations
Now you know how to make this basic Overnight Oats with Strawberries recipe, you can start experimenting! Here are a few easy ideas to try:
- Mixed Fruit - Pair the strawberries with other fruits, such as raspberries, blackberries, peaches, bananas, mangos, or pears.
- Chocolate - Adding a little chocolate is a fun way to customize this recipe. Stir in some chocolate chips or chunks, use chocolate milk, or mix in ½ teaspoon unsweetened cocoa powder and up the maple syrup to 1 ½ teaspoons.
- No Yogurt - If you don't have any yogurt, feel free to leave it out. Your overnight oatmeal will still taste great without it.
- Chia - These nutritious seeds make a wonderful addition to the recipe. To add them, stir in one tablespoon chia seeds and up the milk to ⅔ cup.
- Sweetener - Swap out the maple syrup for honey, brown sugar, or your favorite sweetener.
- Other Toppings + Mix-ins - Feel free to get creative with other toppings and mix-in. Nuts (such as almonds, pecans, or walnuts) would be delish. You could also add a pinch of ginger or coriander to amp up the flavor. Or try topping the oats with crunchy coconut chips or Homemade Granola before serving.
- Vegan / Dairy Free - As mentioned above, you can easily make this recipe vegan and dairy free simply by using your favorite vegan yogurt and plant based milk. I prefer soy milk, because of its neutral flavor and thick, creamy texture, but almond milk, oat milk, coconut milk, etc. may also be used.
Storage
Store your Strawberry Oats in an airtight jar or covered bowl in your refrigerator. Because strawberries tend to go bad quickly, the oatmeal will taste best when eaten within a couple days. The oats themselves with stay fresh for about four days, so if you'd like to make more jars, just add the berries before serving.
Tip: This recipe makes a single serving, but if you'd prefer to make multiple servings, simply line the jars up on your counter. Then add your ingredients assembly line-style (first oats, then milk, etc.) to save time.
Related Recipes
Craving more strawberry breakfast ideas? Try my Strawberry Compote (delish on pancakes, waffles, etc.), Fruit, Yogurt, and Granola Parfaits, Strawberry Banana Bread, Strawberry Green Smoothie, or Breakfast Popsicles next! If you're looking for more refrigerator oats recipes, then you'll love these recipe, too:
- How to Make Overnight Oats - This basic recipe is simple to prepare, endlessly customizable, and has tons of tips!
- Overnight Oats Recipe with Yogurt - An extra creamy variation on the classic recipe!
- Apple Overnight Oats
- Peach Overnight Oats
- Raspberry Overnight Oats
- Almond Joy Overnight Oats
- Banana Overnight Oats
- Cranberry Overnight Oats
- Pumpkin Spice Overnight Oats
- Mango Overnight Oats
- Blueberry Overnight Oats
- Peanut Butter Chocolate Overnight Oats
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Overnight oats is a no cook method for making oatmeal, that's made with old-fashioned rolled oats that have been soaked in liquid (milk, yogurt, or water) overnight or until they've softened. Check out my guide How to Make Overnight Oats for an easy recipe, tips, variations, and topping ideas!
Overnight Oats will last for about three to four days once refrigerated. If you're using perishable toppings (like berries), add them just before serving for the freshest, most tasty results.
Overnight Oats can be eaten cold or hot, although they are usually eaten chilled straight from the refrigerator. To warm your oats, gently heat them in your microwave right before eating.
Yes, Overnight Oats need to be refrigerated once you've mixed all the ingredients together.
If your Overnight Oats didn't work, there may be a few issues. If they have a thick, gluey texture, you probably didn't use enough liquid. Try adding a little extra milk or water to thin them, then refrigerate for a couple more hours. If your oats aren't tender, you need to refrigerate them longer (overnight is best). To add more flavor, make sure to add a pinch of salt, a dash of cinnamon (or other flavoring), and some maple syrup for sweetness.
Strawberry Overnight Oats
Ingredients
- ½ cup old fashioned rolled oats
- ½ cup milk
- 1 teaspoon maple syrup
- dash cinnamon
- pinch salt
- ½ cup diced strawberries, divided (about 5 large strawberries)
- ¼ cup vanilla yogurt
Equipment
Instructions
- Combine oats, milk, maple syrup, cinnamon, salt, and ¼ cup strawberries in a mason jar or small bowl.
- Stir well. Then top with yogurt and remaining berries (do not mix in).
- Cover and refrigerate overnight (or at least four hours) before eating. Enjoy!