Overnight oats are one of the most dynamic and easiest breakfasts. You can make them the night before, or days in advance by storing them in the fridge. All you need to do the next day is grab the overnight oats jar and head out to work. It is a perfect breakfast recipe for people with a busy schedule.
What Do You Need For Overnight Oats?
Oats: This one is pretty straightforward. You need good quality plain ol’ rolled oats. Try not to use steel-cut or quick oats because of the consistency. The steel-cut oats will not be soft enough and quick oats are going to be too soggy.
Milk: You can use any type of milk. However, if you don’t want a lot of milk, mix it up with a little bit of water. For those who are vegan, any plant-based milk works.
Chia Seeds: Chia seeds are a powerhouse of nutrients and antioxidants. They help overnight oats by giving them a thick and creamy consistency. They are optional, so if you don’t like them you can skip them and move on to the other ingredients.
Yogurt: If you are not looking to lose weight and you can use full–fat yogurt, however, with oats Greek yogurt is the preferred option because the tanginess gives a bit of a kick to the oats.
Vanilla Extract: This is another optional choice. Most people don’t like their oats with a lot of vanilla flavour, so bear in mind that little goes a long way.
Sweetener: This is also optional. You can choose from different types of sweeteners, from honey to stevia to agave.
Health Benefits of Overnight Oats
- Protein: Overnight oats are an excellent source of protein, more than any other grains.
- Fiber: They are a rich source of fibre which is important for the healthy functioning of our body.
- Nutrient Dense: Overnight oats can be highly nutritious when paired with different fruits and dried fruits.
Here are four delicious and healthy overnight oats recipes that will wake you up in the morning and get you through the entire day.
Peanut Butter Overnight Oats
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 2 Tablespoons peanut butter
- 2 teaspoons maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon chia seeds
- 1 cup old fashioned rolled oats
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk
- pinch of sea salt
- Add oats, milk, maple syrup, peanut butter, chia seeds, sea salt, and vanilla extract into a bowl.
- Stir until thoroughly combined and then divide the mixture into containers.
- Make sure the containers you use are airtight.
- The next day before leaving for work drizzle a heaping spoon of peanut butter and sprinkle some blueberries and coconut flakes for added flavour.
Cold Brew Coffee Overnight Oats
Ingredients
- 1 to 2 tsp of almond butter
- 2 tsp maple syrup
- 1 tsp chia seeds
- A sprinkle of salt
- ½ cup rolled oats
- 2 tbsp cold brew coffee
- ½ cup of milk
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Add all the ingredients to a large bowl, and mix until thoroughly combined.
- Divide the mixture into smaller jars with an airtight lid.
- Before consuming it in the morning, warm up the oats and sprinkle cacao nibs for extra nutrition.
Overnight Oats with Chia seeds
Ingredients
- 6 tablespoons rolled oats
- 2 teaspoons chia seeds
- 2 teaspoons hemp hearts
- ⅔ cup milk almond, oat, or regular milk
- 2 tablespoons Peanut Butter
- Berries sliced
- Bananas sliced
- Sliced almonds
- Unsweetened coconut
- For individual servings, take two 8-ounce jars, add 3 tbsp of oats, 1 tsp of chia seeds, 2 tsp of hemp hearts, and 1/3 cup of milk in each jar.
- Close the lids and shake the jars to thoroughly combine all the ingredients.
- Pop them in the fridge and allow them to sit for at least two hours or overnight.
- When ready to consume, take the jar out of the fridge and add the optional topping such as peanut butter, or honey for sweetness.
Apple Cinnamon Overnight Oats
Ingredients
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- A pinch ground ginger
- A pinch kosher salt
- 1/2 medium apple sliced or diced
- 1/2 cup Unsweetened Vanilla Almond milk
- 1/3 cup old fashioned oats
- 1 1/2 teaspoons pure maple syrup
- 1/2 cup non-fat plain Greek yogurt
- 1 tablespoon ground flaxseed meal
- Add the oats, flaxseed meal, Greek yogurt, and almond milk to a large bowl and thoroughly combine.
- In a small pan add the apples, spices, and maple syrup until the apples are softened.
- Add the cooked apples into the oats mixture and divide it into small mason jars.
- Allow to cool before putting the jars with a lid on in the fridge overnight.
- The next day sprinkle a bit of cinnamon on the overnight oats before consuming.
Key Takeaway
This no-cook method of making oats is simple, delicious, and allows you plenty of freedom to play around with different flavour profiles, fruits, and seeds. Adding it to your daily routine will provide you with enough protein for the day and is a healthy choice compared to a lot of other sweet breakfasts.
