Overnight Oats — 3 Easy Make-Ahead Breakfast Recipes
No-cook overnight oats made in a jar — creamy, filling, and ready to eat straight from the fridge. Three variations: classic vanilla, peanut butter banana, and berry compote.
What is this dish?
Overnight oats are a no-cook breakfast made by soaking rolled oats in milk and yoghurt overnight in the fridge. In the morning, they are ready to eat — thick, creamy, and completely customisable with toppings. Three variations are given here.
Why you'll love it
10 minutes of prep the night before produces a nutritious, filling breakfast that requires zero effort in the morning. Make 4–5 jars at once for a full week of breakfasts. Naturally vegan and gluten-free with the right milk and oat choices.
When to serve
The ideal weekday breakfast — prepare a week's worth on Sunday evening. Also works as a pre-workout meal or healthy desk breakfast.
Quick tips
Use rolled oats, not instant. Refrigerate for at least 6 hours. Add toppings just before eating to keep them fresh. Add a splash of milk in the morning if the oats are too thick.
Rolled Oats
The base of the dish. Rolled oats soften perfectly overnight — not too mushy, not too firm. Don't substitute instant oats (too soft) or steel-cut oats (too hard).
Chia Seeds
Small but important. They absorb liquid and swell overnight, thickening the mixture and adding omega-3 fatty acids, fibre, and a pleasing gel-like texture.
Plant Milk or Whole Milk
The soaking liquid. Oat milk produces the creamiest, most neutral flavour. Almond milk adds a slight nuttiness. Whole milk gives the richest result.
Substitution Options
Use any milk — dairy, oat, almond, coconut. Swap yoghurt for kefir or coconut yoghurt. Use honey instead of maple syrup. Omit chia seeds if unavailable — the oats still work without them, just thinner. Add a tablespoon of flaxseeds for similar nutritional benefits.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Combine base ingredients
Add the rolled oats, chia seeds, vanilla extract, maple syrup, and a pinch of salt to a jar or container with a lid. Pour over the milk and stir the yoghurt through. Mix everything together well until combined.
Pro Tips:
- •A 500ml jar is the ideal vessel — wide enough to stir easily and with a lid for overnight storage.
- •Rolled oats work best here; instant oats go mushy and steel-cut oats won't soften enough overnight.
Refrigerate overnight
Seal the jar and refrigerate for at least 6 hours, or overnight (up to 3 days). The oats will absorb the liquid and soften into a thick, creamy consistency.
Pro Tips:
- •Stir once after 1 hour if you think of it — it helps the chia seeds distribute evenly.
- •The oats will keep absorbing liquid over time — add a splash more milk in the morning if the consistency is too thick.
Check consistency and adjust
In the morning, remove from the fridge and stir well. If the oats are too thick, stir in a splash of milk until you reach your preferred consistency. Taste and add more maple syrup if needed.
Pro Tips:
- •Overnight oats should be thick and spoonable, not runny — aim for a porridge consistency.
- •If you prefer them slightly warm, microwave for 60 seconds and stir.
Add toppings and serve
Add your chosen toppings. For classic vanilla: fresh banana slices and a drizzle of honey. For peanut butter banana: a tablespoon of peanut butter, banana, and a drizzle of maple syrup. For berry: a spoonful of berry jam or fresh berries and a sprinkle of granola.
Pro Tips:
- •Add toppings immediately before eating — they soften if left overnight.
- •Granola and nuts stay crunchiest when added just before serving.
Chef's Tips
Techniques that separate good from great
Layer rather than mix for better texture
Instead of mixing everything together, layer the oats, then the yoghurt, then the milk, and stir only the bottom layer before refrigerating. The yoghurt sits on top and the two layers create a more interesting texture and visual when you eat from the jar.
Add protein powder for a high-protein version
One scoop of vanilla protein powder mixed into the liquid base adds 20–25g of extra protein per jar without significantly changing the flavour. Use a protein powder that blends smoothly into cold liquid.
Use kefir instead of yoghurt
Kefir — fermented milk — produces a tangier, thinner base that some people prefer. It's also richer in probiotics than standard yoghurt. Use the same quantity as the yoghurt called for.
Bloom the chia seeds separately
Mixing chia seeds with just the milk for 10 minutes before adding oats ensures they hydrate evenly and don't clump. Clumped chia seeds in finished overnight oats are unpleasant.
Nutrition Facts
Equipment Needed
- 500ml jar or container with lid
- Spoon
Quick Tips
- Use rolled oats, not instant — instant oats become mushy overnight.
- The chia seeds absorb liquid and thicken the mixture while adding omega-3s and fibre.
- Prepare 4–5 jars at once for a full week of breakfasts — they keep for 3 days in the fridge.
Recipe Variations
Different ways to make this dish your own
Peanut Butter Banana
Swirl 1 tablespoon of peanut butter into the base before refrigerating. Top with sliced banana, a drizzle of maple syrup, and a few dark chocolate chips.
Berry Compote
Top with a spoonful of warmed berry jam or fresh mixed berries and a sprinkle of granola for crunch. Add a drizzle of honey.
Apple Pie Overnight Oats
Add ½ teaspoon of cinnamon and ¼ teaspoon of mixed spice to the base. Top with grated apple, raisins, and a drizzle of maple syrup.
Chocolate Hazelnut
Stir 1 tablespoon of cocoa powder into the base and top with a teaspoon of hazelnut butter and a few crushed hazelnuts.
What to Serve With
Perfect pairings to complete the meal
Fresh Seasonal Fruit
Whatever is in season — mango and passionfruit in summer, apple and pear in autumn, banana year-round.
Nut Butter
A tablespoon of almond, peanut, or cashew butter stirred through adds healthy fats and protein, making the breakfast much more sustaining.
Granola
A sprinkle of granola adds crunch contrast to the creamy oats. Add just before eating to keep it crispy.
Honey or Maple Syrup
A drizzle at the end brightens all the flavours. A small amount goes a long way.
Storage & Make-Ahead
Keep it fresh and plan ahead
Refrigerator
Store in sealed jars for up to 3 days. The oats continue absorbing liquid over time — stir in extra milk before eating if needed.
Freezer
Not recommended — the texture changes significantly after freezing.
Make-Ahead
The entire point of this recipe. Make up to 5 jars on Sunday evening for weekday breakfasts. Keep toppings separate and add in the morning.
Reheating
Microwave for 60–90 seconds if you prefer warm oats. Stir well and add a splash of milk if the consistency is too thick after heating.
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