Overnight Oats

By Lee Funke

12/27/2023

You can’t go wrong with overnight oats for breakfast ! FFF’s famous overnight oats base recipe is made with just a few ingredients and there is no cooking involved. Plus, you get at least 10g of protein/serving! You need oats, chia seeds, Greek yogurt, maple syrup, and milk.

A variety of bowls of overnight oats with different toppings. - 3

Here at Fit Foodie Finds, I am known for overnight oats. Heck, I’ve been posting about them since 2010 and have over 30 variations on the site! So many of you love our overnight oats recipes, and rightfully so! They’re thick, creamy, and taste like dessert.

This is my guide to overnight oats. In this post, I’ll teach you how to make overnight oats and how to flavor them, too! I have a base recipe that I swear by and have tested 8 simple flavor variations so that you don’t get bored.

My 1-year-old, Gus loved EVERY version of these oats and if he could talk, he’d tell you his favorite flavor is the peanut butter and jelly (he even had seconds!).

What do you need for overnight oats?

To make the most basic (and easy) overnight oats recipe you really only need oats and liquid. However, our famous overnight oats recipe calls for a few more things to give it that dreamy + creamy texture!

Oats: I’ve tested this recipe with both rolled oats and quick-cooking oats and they both work great. Rolled oats will give you more of a “bite” and quick-cooking will be creamier.
Milk: feel free to use any kind of milk with this recipe. We prefer almond milk, but cow’s, soy, oat, etc. work too!
Chia seeds: chia seeds are my secret weapon for thick overnight oats. As chia seeds sit in liquid, they expand and become gelatinous. DO NOT skip the chia!
Greek yogurt: Not only does Greek yogurt add protein, but it will make your oats taste like cheesecake. Feel free to use a plant-based yogurt if you’re looking to keep things vegan.
Vanilla: you can’t go wrong with vanilla. I almost always add a teaspoon of vanilla extract to all overnight oatmeal recipes!
Honey/maple syrup: these are my preferred all-natural sweeteners, but you can also use agave or even brown sugar.

A bowl of oatmeal, oats and a dollop of whipped cream. - 6

How to Make Healthy Overnight Oats (2 Steps)

Mix: Add all ingredients for your overnight oats in a bowl or jar and stir until combined.
Soak: Cover and let the oatmeal soak in the fridge overnight (or for at least 2 hours).

Do I have to let me oats sit overnight? The longer you let your oats soak in the liquid, the thicker they will be. We recommend at LEAST 2 hours, but overnight is optimal.

Oats too thick or too thin?

Too thick: add more milk and mix to thin things out.
Too thin: add more oats and let sit for at least 30 minutes.

Make them Blended Overnight Oats!

If you love a smooth and creamy overnight oats recipe, then blended overnight oats are for you.

Add all of the ingredients into a high-speed blender.
Blend on high for about a minute. This will pulverize the oats and make them super creamy.
Transfer the overnight oats into an airtight container and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight.
In the morning, you can eat as-is, or add a splash of milk to thin things out a bit.

A group of jars filled with oatmeal, fruit, and nuts. - 7

8 Flavors for Healthy Overnight Oats

Below I am sharing 8 different overnight oats flavor variations. Simply add the additional ingredients to the base recipe, and you’ve got 8 different ways to eat overnight oats!

Snickers

2 tablespoons peanut butter
1 tablespoon chopped peanuts
1 tablespoon mini chocolate chips
Optional: 1 more tablespoon maple syrup

Oatmeal in jars with different toppings. - 8

PB&J

2 tablespoons peanut butter
2 tablespoons preserves

A bowl of oatmeal with peanut butter, jelly and strawberries. - 9

Chocolate Protein

¼ cup chocolate protein powder
2 tablespoons mini chocolate chips
1/4 cup milk, any kind

Oatmeal in jars with bananas, strawberries and chocolate chips. - 10

Lemon Blueberry

1/2 cup fresh blueberries, mashed
2 teaspoons lemon zest

Three jars of oatmeal with black olives and almonds. - 11

Vanilla Latte

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Replace 1/2 cup of the almond milk with brewed coffee or bold brew

Three jars of oatmeal on a white background. - 12

Apple Pie

1/2 cup shredded apple
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 tablespoons slivered almonds

Three bowls of oatmeal with fruit and granola. - 13

Strawberry Banana

1 medium banana, mashed
4 medium strawberries, diced

Three jars of oatmeal with chocolate chips, bananas and strawberries. - 14

Banana Cream Pie

1 medium banana, cut into slices (or mashed)
2-4 vanilla wafer cookies, crushed

Two jars of oatmeal with bananas, nuts and whipped cream. - 15

Do you serve overnight oats hot or cold?

Overnight oats are traditionally served cold and how I like to serve them, but there is nothing wrong with heating them up!

A bowl of oatmeal with a spoon in it. - 16

Storage

The best way to store overnight oats is in a glass container in the refrigerator. You can either store your overnight oats in one batch in a large meal-prep container, or you can store them individually (our favorite jars are the W&P jars ) for an easy grab-and-go breakfast option.

How long do overnight oats last?

Overnight oats will last around 3-5 days in the fridge. If you’re using fruit, we recommend days and if you’re not using fruit, they will last 5 days.

W&P

Jars

The W&P Porter Seal Tight Jar holds 16 oz. and is perfect for oats, soups, salad, etc.