Basic Overnight Oats is my go-to easy breakfast that is simple, quick, can be made ahead of time and does not need cooking.
I am so excited to share this easy overnight oats recipe, which is really for beginners who have never tried overnight oats before. I also share lots of topping suggestions to enjoy it with different flavours.
I like how convenient and easy this breakfast is. It makes a delicious, easy and quick breakfast for busy mornings.
If you like oatmeal but have never tried making overnight oats before, I highly recommend it!
I have other overnight oat recipes; check Nutella Overnight Oats and Peach Overnight Oats; they are super delicious recipes!
Jump to:
Why We Love This Recipe
This Basic Oats recipe is made with whole grains, easy to prepare for 2-3 days ahead of time, good for meal prep, and made with basic ingredients.
I also love this recipe because it is totally customizable; you can make it vegan, dairy-free, or even sugar-free, and it is a no-cook breakfast dish.
What Are Basic Overnight Oats?
Overnight Oats are when you soak the oats all night in milk instead of cooking them; they absorb quite a lot of the liquid and become soft and chewy.
Until this stage, you have made basic overnight oats. To give these oats some flavour, add any toppings you like. I usually add a little honey or maple syrup along with some chopped up fruits (anything I have).
Ingredients
Before we dive into the recipe, let me tell you what ingredients you need.
- Rolled oats: In this recipe, we will use old fashioned rolled oats.
- Vanilla extract: I like it because it gives a lovely flavour to the oats.
- Whole milk: You can use almond milk, coconut milk, or oat milk instead.
- Greek yoghurt: (I prefer to use plain Greek yoghurt; however, you can use any flavour you like).
- Honey: I like to use honey or maple syrup to give a bit sweetness to the oats.
- Pinch of Salt: I like to add a pinch of salt to balance the sweet flavour.
“See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.”
How To Make Basic Overnight Oats?
One: Mix together oats, milk, vanilla, yoghurt, honey and salt in a medium-sized bowl.
Two: Pour the mixture in a glass jar or container then cover and put in the fridge for overnight.
Three: For breakfast, stir well then add your toppings and enjoy.
Top Tips!
- Oats will get softer the longer they remain.
- Adding a tablespoon of chia seeds helps to thicken your oats and make them creamier.
- You can add the toppings or adds-in to the oats to soak overnight, or you can add them fresh before serving. For me, I like adding them before serving.
- If you choose to make this recipe with Quick-cooking oats, I suggest reducing the amount of milk by a quarter cup.
- The liquid amount is very important for the oat’s consistency; this recipe will give you a thick, creamy, and slightly chewy oats. If you like it to be a little liquidy, you can add more milk (about a quarter cup more).
- You can use plain yoghurt instead of Greek yoghurt and if you are not a fan of yoghurt at all substitute it with ¼ cup milk and 1.5 tablespoons of chia seeds to thicken your oats.
Make Overnight Oats With Different Types Of Oats
There are three types of oats, which will give you slightly different texture.
Quick-cooking oats: They cook much faster than rolled oats, but it ends up with a texture more like a porridge.
Rolled oats: Absorb water or milk quickly and have a thick and creamy texture. They are the best option for this recipe.
Steel-cut oats: Sometimes they called Irish oatmeal. It is made of the whole grain oats from the oat plant. And it usually needs much more liquid to be ready for eating. The final result of using it in making overnight oats will be a bit chewier than using rolled oats.
Topping And Add-In Options
Feel free to mix in and top your Overnight Oats with any topping you like. Below are some suggestions:
Fresh fruits: I like to top my oats with some chopped strawberries, blueberries, bananas, or any fresh fruits I have in the fridge.
Instant coffee powder: Add in a teaspoon of instant coffee powder such as Espresso to get a caffeine boost in your oatmeal breakfast.
Whey protein powder: Add in more protein to your oatmeal breakfast by adding half scoop of pure whey protein powder.
Flavour extracts: Add more flavours to your oats by adding ⅛ teaspoon of any extract you like such as lemon, peppermint, almond, or orange.
Chia seeds: Not only are chia seeds a good source of fibre, omega-3, and high-quality protein but they also it help to thicken your oats. Add one tablespoon of chia seeds.
Spices: To have lovely fall flavours, add ½ teaspoon of cinnamon and ⅛ teaspoon of nutmeg to your Basic Overnight Oats.
Nut butter: My favourite topping is to add a tablespoon of smooth peanut butter or almond butter.
Chocolate: If you want your oats to be chocolaty, add to it one tablespoon of unsweetened cocoa powder.
Lemon and poppyseeds: Add to your basic overnight oats a lovely tangy flavour and more crunchiness by adding one tablespoon lemon juice, one teaspoon lemon zest, and two tablespoons poppy seeds.
Nuts: Add to your oats some chopped nuts such as pecan, walnuts, or toasted almond.
Coconut: If you love coconut flavour, you can replace whole milk with coconut milk and add a tablespoon of shredded coconut to your overnight oats.
Other topping options: Chocolate chips, raisins, and cranberries.
Make It Your Way
- Sugar-Free: Although only use one tablespoon of honey or maple syrup in this recipe, you can substitute it with any sweetener you prefer such as Erythritol or Swerve.
- Dairy-Free: Use non-dairy milk such as almond or coconut milk instead of whole milk.
- Vegan: Use non dairy milk and replace yoghurt with peanut butter.
Recipe FAQs
To store your overnight oats, just put them in a glass jar or container, seal, then place in the fridge. They will stay fresh in the fridge for about 2-3 days.
It is best to soak them at least for 7-8 hours. However, if you are in a rush, you can just soak them for 3-4 hours.
Yes, you can. Quick-cooking oats will work as well. It may be a bit mushy but will stay delicious and has a lovely chewy texture.
Unlike a warm oatmeal bowl, this recipe meant to be eaten cold. It is so delicious when it is cold. However, you can warm it if you like.
Of course not. If you don't make oats regularly, don't rush to buy those fancy overnight oatmeal jars. You can make them in a small bowl or any small glass container you have.
I recommend using a ratio of 1 part liquid to 2 parts oats as a base for the overnight oats. However, you may like it thicker, so you need to adjust the thickness to your liking.
You can use milk, or non-dairy milk, such as almond, soy or coconut milk. You can also use yogurt if you like.
What Is The Best Jar For Making Overnight Oats?
These oats will fit in a half-litre jar. Below are some suggestions:
Weck 742 Mold Jar: These are absolutely wonderful, but they are expensive. It is worth it if you make oats regularly.
Ball Mason "PINT" Jars: These jars are good quality, affordable, and look amazing.
More Breakfast Recipes
- Peanut butter pancakes
- Oat and honey granola bars
- Lemon and blueberry baked oatmeal
- Pumpkin pancake recipe
Thank you for checking out my recipe; don't forget to subscribe to the newsletter to recipe all the latest recipes once published! You can also follow Healthy Life Trainer on Pinterest!
Recipe Card
Basic Overnight Oats
Equipment
- Jar
Ingredients
- ½ cup Rolled oats
- ½ teaspoon Vanilla extract
- ½ cup Whole milk
- ¼ cup Greek yoghurt
- 1 tablespoon honey
- Pinch of Salt
Instructions
- Mix together oats, milk, vanilla, yoghurt, honey and salt in a medium-sized bowl.½ cup Rolled oats, ½ teaspoon Vanilla extract, ½ cup Whole milk, ¼ cup Greek yoghurt, 1 tablespoon honey, Pinch of Salt
- Pour the mixture in a glass jar or container then cover and put in the fridge for overnight.
- For breakfast, stir well then add your toppings and enjoy.
Notes
- Oats will get softer the longer they remain.
- Adding a tablespoon of chia seeds helps to thicken your oats and make them creamier. (They also have lots of health benefits.)
- You can add the toppings or adds-in to the oats to soak overnight, or you can add them fresh before serving. For me, I like adding them before serving.
- If you choose to make this recipe with Quick-cooking oats, I suggest reducing the amount of milk by a quarter cup.
- The liquid amount is very important for the oat’s consistency; this recipe will give you a thick, creamy, and slightly chewy oats. If you like it to be a little liquidy, you can add more milk (about a quarter cup more).
- You can use plain yoghurt instead of Greek yoghurt and if you are not a fan of yoghurt at all substitute it with ¼ cup milk and 1.5 tablespoons of chia seeds to thicken your oats.
sun says
before I decided to try overnight oats, I thought it would be extremely bad but I gave it a go. while I was making it I saved some for later so I could taste, to see if it's the real deal. so bomb, I'm loving it (*U*)-'
Naomi says
I made this recipe, and it was so good. I have a question, can I replace yoghurt with coconut cream?
Radwa says
Yes you can!
Mia says
All my family loved this overnight oats recipe. My son liked them on breakfast with peanut butter and some berries. Also, adding maple syrup gives these oats a lovely sweetness. My elder daughter likes it a bit warm, so I microwave it for 1 minute. Thank you for sharing this perfect recipe!
Caroline says
I’ve been making overnight oats for a long time, but I like this particular recipe because it is so basic and tasty at the same time. For making it more delicious. I add to it some fresh fruit and some shredded coconut.
Anna says
I loved this oats recipe because it is so easy to customize. For me, I love it with a tablespoon of almond butter and some banana slices.
Madelyn says
Recently, I have been trying to make a healthy breakfast and have made these overnight oats for about seven days. Love them! I also use almond milk, and I add a handful os chopped nuts. Delicious!