Overnight Oats

Keri Watkins Webb
Feb 19
2 min read

Updated: Mar 4

This easy overnight raw oats recipe is a healthy simple breakfast that you can make ahead for busy mornings and customize with many add-ins and toppings!

Oats: Make sure to use old-fashioned oats instead of quick oats because the consistency is best with rolled oats. You can also use gluten-free oats. Do not use steel-cut oats.
Milk: For the liquid part, you can make this with water! But it’s more common to use milk. You can use full-fat, 2%, or low-fat milk. You can also use plant-based milk like almond, coconut, cashew, or oat.
Chia seeds (optional): These seeds are packed with tons of nutrition and help give the oats a pudding-like texture. So I always like to include them in my base recipe.
Greek or vegan yogurt (optional): This gives the oats a tangy flavor, creamy texture, and protein boost.
Vanilla extract (optional): This enhances all the flavors that go into the overnight oatmeal and gives it sweetness without any sweetener.
Sweetener (optional): Use honey or maple syrup to sweeten the mixture, especially because oats can be somewhat bland on their own.
Toppings: This is where you can have some fun with fresh fruit, dried fruit, nut butter, nuts, seeds, and spices (like cinnamon, nutmeg, or cardamom). There are so many topping ideas and combinations, and I think that’s what makes this such a great versatile recipe!

Directions

It’s all about the ratios to get the consistency you like. So try this suggested ratio below and then add more milk or use less milk until you find what works perfectly for you! Once you nail down the ratio of the basic overnight oats recipe, the sky’s the limit with the flavor combinations and toppings.

Here’s our simple ratio:

1 PART OATS + 1 PART MILK + ⅛ PART SEEDS

To start, combine old-fashioned oats and chia seeds. You can use a bowl, a mason jar, or just some glass cups.
Add Greek or vegan yogurt and vanilla extract.
Add the sweetener of your choice and the milk.
Mix the overnight oats together until you see no clumps.
Seal or cover with a lid, and chill in the fridge for at least 2 hours or overnight.
The next morning, grab a spoon, add your favorite toppings and dig in!