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What are overnight oats?
So, overnight oats are essentially an easy, no-cook way to make porridge. Instead of cooking oats on the hob, you mix them with milk or any liquid you prefer—like almond milk, oat milk, or even yoghurt—and let them sit in the fridge overnight. The oats absorb the liquid, soften, and by morning, you’ve got a creamy, ready-to-eat breakfast.
It’s perfect if you’re after a quick, healthy breakfast that you can prep in advance. Just grab it from the fridge, and you’re set! Plus, they’re highly customisable, so you can add different fruits, nuts, or even protein powder for variety.
The basic ingredients to over night oats:
The Oats
Over night oats only really need 2 ingredients to make an edible breakfast and this is the first one. You want rolled oats. The fine oatmeal makes something of a mushy mess and the steel cut oats, or pinhead oats as we call them in the uk are just a bit chunky for my liking.
The Milk
Milk being the second integral ingredient, you can use literally any milk you want or like. Full fat, 2% or low fat milk. You can use almond milk, coconut, oat or any plant based milk you can get hold of. You can even make this with water but I much prefer a creamier flavour to my overnight oats.
The Chia Seeds
Chia Seeds are very popular in over night oats because they blow up and get nice and bulbous and puddingy. They are optional but they are so nutritious and relatively inexpensive, I include them in my overnight oats every time!
The Yogurt
Use Greek yogurt where you can as it adds a lovely creaminess and good protein hit! You can use any natural or flavoured yogurt you choose.
The Sweetener
You can use any sweetener you would like here however I try and go healthy if I can. You can use honey or maple syrup but golden syrup or a little bit of brown sugar work fine too.
The Toppings
The world is your oyster when it comes to toppings! Some of your additions you will want to add when you add the oats, some you will want to add right at the end. As a rule – if you want to keep it fresh or crunchy put it on at the end when you serve it, if not, put it in at the start when you make your oat mixture.
The Perfect Start…
Overnight oats is all about getting the consistency you like and this is the perfect formula for me. You want just the right amount of chunk from the oats with just the right amount of creaminess from the milk without it being too liquid and soupy. I use the following recipe as my base for most of my overnight oats recipes…
1 Person = 50g Oats + 100ml Milk + 60g yogurt + 2tsp chia seeds
I use this as a serving for 1 person. Use this as a base and adjust to your liking. This recipe will give you some delicious, healthy overnight oats, but we can make these even more delicious!…
What to make your overnight oats in?
You want to make your overnights oats in something air tight. You can use Tupperware or really any container but I do find glass jars are just easier, more efficient and they have the classic ‘overnight oat’ look! I like these – a bit expensive but quite convenient for one person…and they look good! Who doesn’t love to instagram a good overnight oat pic!
How to make overnight oats…
- Combine your ‘Perfect Start Ingredients’ from the section above. Multiply if you are making for more than one person – 50g Oats – 100ml Milk – 60g yogurt – 1tsp heaped chia seeds
- Add your choice of sweeteners and flavourings and mix to fully combine with the oat mixture.
- Let sit in the fridge for a minimum of 4 hours or preferably overnight.
- To serve, add any fresh fruit, nuts or toppings or serve as is!
My Favourite Flavours…
To make Chocolate Peanut Butter Oats combine oats, milk, chai seeds, yogurt, cocoa powder, maple syrup and peanut butter. This creates quite a rich, creamy overnight oats. Gate some dark chocolate over it and make it something special.
To make Berry Vanilla Oats combine oats, milk, chai seeds, yogurt, maple syrup, vanilla extract and a berry of your choice. A super healthy, creamy and fruity way to start the day.
To make Brown Sugar Cinamon Oats combine oats, milk, chai seeds, yogurt, brown sugar, cinnamon and vanilla extract. These are delicious and usually end up being the favourite. A crushed up banana is great in this!
Blended Overnight Oats…
For blended oats, combine all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth before refrigerating. This step creates a creamy, pudding-like texture, unlike traditional overnight oats where ingredients are simply stirred and soaked.
How do you store your over night oats?
You can make your overnight oats and store them in the fridge in an air tight container for up to 5 days. You can also make and freeze them in a freezer safe jar for up to 6 months. I personally would always make fresh, the night before, as making any other way alters the texture of the final product.
Are Overnight Oats actually healthy?
Well it all depends on what extras you put in and the toppings you add. For the most part, yes, overnight oats are definitely healthy! They’re packed with fiber to keep you full and help with digestion, plus lots of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Soaking them overnight also makes them easier to digest. You can toss in fruits, nuts, or seeds for extra nutrition—making them an easy and balanced breakfast choice.