5 Easy and Healthy Overnight Oats Recipes
Do you love overnight oats? They’re easy to make and super delicious!
I’ve been preparing this healthy breakfast for a while now, and it’s a great option for those busy mornings when you don’t have time to cook. There are so many different ways to prepare overnight oats, so you’ll never get tired of them!
What I love most about these recipes is that not only are they healthy and packed with energy, but also that they taste great! If you’re a desert lover like me, it's also a great way to get your sweet fix!
How to make the best overnight oats
Overnight oats are very simple and easy to make: it’s literally just raw rolled oats that you soak overnight!
What’s the difference between overnight oats and oatmeal? Oatmeal is made by cooking the oats with water or milk over the stove or in the microwave. Overnight oats are made with raw rolled oats by soaking the oats overnight. Raw rolled oats are healthier and less processed than the standard quick oats you make in the microwave. You can make oatmeal with raw oats, but it's much more time consuming. Overnight oats let you get the health benefits of the raw rolled oats without wasting lots of time in the morning!
To prepare overnight oats, simply take the raw oats (both steel-cut oats and rolled oats work) and soak them in milk or water overnight (or at least for a few hours) in a container in the fridge. This gives them enough time to absorb the cooking liquid and soften them enough so you’ll be able to enjoy them.
Note: There’s no need to put your overnight oats in the microwave or the oven the next morning, although some might choose to do so if they prefer to eat their oats warm.
Ingredients you’ll need for an overnight oats recipe!
Main ingredients
Raw Oats: You can use both steel-cut oats and rolled oats for these recipes.
Milk or Water: You’ll need either milk or water to soak your oats. If you decide to go with milk, which I recommend, feel free to use any type of milk! Full-fat, skimmed milk, almond milk, soy milk, coconut milk, and even oat milk! My favorite is almond milk.
Add-in ingredients and topping
And now for the best part: the add-ins!
I definitely love to mix my oats with some seeds while soaking them overnight. And in the morning, top them off with some fruits and nuts!
The final result: A filling, nutritious, and delicious breakfast meal!
Seeds: Seeds are a great mix-in for your oats. They are packed with antioxidants, fiber, and protein, plus they’ll help thicken your oats and make your recipe more filling!
You can mix any kind of seeds to your recipe, but I’ll usually go with Flax, Chia, Sunflower or Pumpkin.
Honey: Whenever I decide to add some sweetener to my oats, I always use raw honey. I love honey and its many benefits! Some other sweeteners that work great with overnight oats are: coconut sugar, agave, fresh vanilla, and maple syrup.
Shredded Coconut: Another one of my favorites mix-in is shredded coconut! The Coconut adds a delicious flavor and makes your oats more filling with a delicious creamy consistency. You can mix the coconut with the oats, or simply add it on top at the end!
Cinnamon: Cinnamon works great with your overnight oats, especially if you are not adding any honey or sweetener. And the best part: cinnamon is loaded with antioxidants and even has anti-inflammatory properties!
Toppings: Any kind of fresh fruits and nuts are my favorites, but you don’t have to stop there. There are so many things you can add to your oats: dried fruits, almond or peanut butter, dark chocolate, granola, etc. Get creative: your overnight oats are your oyster! (Note: don’t add oysters!)
The best base recipe for overnight oats
It’s all about the right proportions!
After experimenting with different ingredients and different measurements, this ratio works best for me::
Main Recipe Base: 1/2 CUP OATS (rolled oats) + 1/2 CUP LIQUID (water or milk), soaked overnight in a glass container. You can use any container, but I like to use glass mason jars!
These proportions will give your oats the perfect texture!
Add your dry oats, then add the seeds, cinnamon, shredded coconut, or honey to taste. Mix your ingredients and pour the milk or water on top of it.
Stir everything and put the lid on the container. Place it in the fridge and wait overnight (or at least a few hours).
In the morning, take out your overnight oats and simply add your additional fresh toppings! Take it to go or just eat it at home!
My 5 Favorite Easy and Healthy Overnight Oats Recipes
1. Summer Delight Oats
Berries, mangos , chia seeds and shredded coconut!
This is my all-time favorite overnight oats recipe! It’s my go-to breakfast in the spring and summer, and I often have it as a snack too! The mix of delicious strawberries, mango, and coconut reminds me of the flavor of my favorite acai bowls. I use the base recipe with coconut milk, and I’ll add 1 teaspoon of honey and ¾ tbsp of chia seeds overnight. In the morning I’ll top it with the berries, mango and chocolate or shredded coconut. You can easily swap the honey for agave to make this recipe fully vegan!
2. Cinnamon Banana
This recipe is perfect for colder days and for those who might be allergic to nuts. All you’ll need is the base recipe (oats, milk, chia seeds and cinnamon, all soaked overnight) and some bananas and honey in the morning. In the winter, I like to warm the overnight oats before adding the banana, honey and extra cinnamon.
It's a very simple recipe, but the flavors all combined together add the perfect kick to make this one of your favorite overnight oats recipes!
3. Almond Butter Cups
This is the perfect snack for before or after your workouts. I took a classic peanut butter overnight oats recipe and switched it up a little bit! Simply combine milk, ¾ tbsp of chia seeds, almond butter, and rolled oats in your container overnight! You can also add a bit of honey, agave, or maple syrup for a sweeter flavor.
In the morning, top the overnight oats with a few mini almond butter cups (or almonds if you don't have those) to perfect this mouth-watering treat!
Alternatively, you can use peanut butter, peanuts and peanut butter cups !
4. Nutty Chocolate
If you are like me and love to have dessert for breakfast, this is the perfect way to do so while still having a healthy breakfast!
This overnight oat recipe is made with chocolate almond milk, oats, chia seeds, and honey.
Alternatively, you can use regular almond milk, dark cocoa powder, chia seeds, and maple syrup.
In the morning, top it with some toasted almonds, hazelnuts, cocoa nibs and shreeded coconut to taste. Delicious!
5. Power Morning
If you like creamy textures and need some extra protein, this is the ideal morning recipe for you!
Take the base recipe and add ¾ tbsp of chia seeds and ¾ tsp of vanilla extract. I use almond milk in this mixture, but you can use any milk you like. In the morning, top it with berries (strawberries, raspberries, blueberries…) toasted almonds, honey and greek yogurt in the morning.
The greek yogurt will give it that extra boost of protein and the toasted almonds some extra crunch and flavor!
To make this recipe vegan friendly, switch the greek yogurt for coconut yogurt and the honey for agave. To still get that protein, try adding some pea protein powder to the base mixture!
Step by Step: how to meal prep overnight oats
Overnight Oats are the perfect breakfast recipe for meal prep. It’s really easy to prepare enough for the whole week, and it won't take you more than a few minutes. I normally meal prep all my weekday meals on Sunday evening.
There are two ways to meal prep your overnight oats. In the first one, you’ll portion the oats and dry ingredients into individual containers, and then add the milk for the next day each night. For the second: prepare the base recipe overnight on Sunday, and then add the fresh toppings when you are ready to eat them!
Note: I prefer option number one because the oats get a bit too soft for my liking after a few days in the fridge. If you prefer to make the base recipe all at once, you might want to do this twice per week instead of once.
Toppings Tip: Add the toppings only when you are ready to eat your overnight oats! Adding non-fresh toppings overnight can often result in loss of color, texture, and taste.
To store your overnight oats in the fridge, you can use any glass sealed jar or airtight container. I use these and they work perfectly!
Overnight Oats Bonus Tip and Health Benefits!
Oats are packed with fiber and protein. They are rich in many minerals and vitamins, including vitamin B, Magnesium, Zinc, Selenium and Iron. These will help keep your body healthy, regulate your hormones, and help your metabolism.
Tip: Oats are packed with more protein and fat than most other grains. They are an incredible source of soluble fiber, which is vital to good digestive health!
Did you enjoy these overnight oat recipes? Let us know in the comments if you have your own tips!
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Besitos from the kitchen,
Laura
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