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How to Make Overnight Oats

October 31, 2024 by Julie 310 Comments

Overnight oats! Let’s talk about ’em. You guys know overnight oats have been a favorite in our house for years. They’re are satiating, versatile, easy to make and, most importantly, delicious! They’re a recipe that has popped up on the blog for years because they make breakfast a breeze. Any breakfast recipe I can prep ahead to help decrease morning craziness is a win in my book!

Peanut Butter Cookie Dough Overnight Oats

How to Make Overnight Oats

Confession: I can still remember the first time I made overnight oats and it was not a pleasant experience. I initially thought they were rather disgusting but I now realize it’s because the recipes I tried were a little odd and the texture was simply off. I now absolutely adore them because I gravitate toward recipes I find appealing — aka overnight oats recipes that are doughy, slightly sweet and have a little chewiness to the texture. No soupy oats allowed!

Many people make overnight oats with just oats and milk as a base recipe, but I’ve found that my favorite overnight oats recipes include four main ingredients:

  • Old fashioned oats (NOT quick cooking oats or steel cut oats)
  • Milk (Any kind — almond milk, coconut milk, soy milk, oat milk and regular milk all work really well)
  • Chia seeds
  • Greek yogurt (plain or flavored, though I prefer full-fat for a more creamy texture)

Step 1

It actually took quite a lot of experimenting in the kitchen with oats, milk, yogurt and chia seeds to finally get the combination I felt like yielded the perfect consistency and thickness but your preferred overnight oats consistency will vary person to person. I am now at the point where I eyeball measurements almost every time I make overnight oats, but if you’re looking for a go-to base recipe to use as a launching pad for your own overnight oats creations, I typically use around 6-ounces of Greek yogurt, two tablespoons chia seeds, 2/3 cup oats and 1/2 cup milk. To make the oats, you’ll simply combine everything in a large bowl. From here, you may add sweetener if you like (I almost always add a dash of maple syrup or honey) as well as any other mix-ins. (A splash of vanilla extract is delicious, too!)

Step 2

Then it’s time to stir everything together, cover up the oats and let them sit in the refrigerator overnight. (Note: Overnight oats are perfect to make in a mason jar if you’re someone who likes to make multiple jars of oats at one time for your weekly meal prep!)

As the overnight oats sit in the fridge, they will go from this…

BREAKFAST 029

To this…

BREAKFAST 043

BREAKFAST 045

Very thick and chewy!

Step 3

In the morning, it’s time to stir the super-thick oats and add in another 1/4 cup of milk to make everything slightly more liquidy, but still quite thick. (This is where you can play around with the recipe a bit. If you like thinner oats, simply add more of your preferred kind of milk to the oats at this point.)

Then it’s time to top the oats with your favorite toppings! The more the merrier!

Overnight Oats Toppings

A few of my favorite toppings for overnight oats include:

  • Fresh berries
  • A drizzle of natural peanut butter
  • Banana slices
  • Almond butter mixed with honey
  • Dried fruit (especially raisins or dried cranberries)
  • Toasted coconut
  • Walnuts or pecans
  • A sprinkle of cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice
  • Hemp seeds
  • Crunchy granola (my easy coconut granola is a personal favorite)

Overnight Oats Tips and Notes

To me, the key to making overnight oats is the inclusion of chia seeds. These cannot be substituted because they add thickness to the oats that simply cannot be duplicated. If you do not have or do not like chia seeds, you may wish to reduce the amount of milk in the overnight oats to maintain thickness.

If I am using plain Greek yogurt, I will add about one tablespoon of honey, maple syrup or fruit preserves to the oats before letting them sit overnight for a bit of sweetness.

Overnight Oats Recipes

If you’re looking to try overnight oats for the first time and prefer to follow a recipe, here are some of my favorite overnight oats recipes, with more descriptive notes about how to make them!

  • Peanut Butter Cookie Dough Overnight Oats (My all-time favorite overnight oats recipe!)
  • Maple Pecan Overnight Oats
  • Vegan Protein Overnight Oats
  • PB&J Overnight Oats

Question of the Morning

  • Have you ever tried overnight oats?
  • What is your favorite way to make overnight oats? Feel free to link to a favorite recipe!

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I'd love to connect with you! I am always so grateful when you let me know you tried one of my recipes or workouts and tag me in your photos or updates. Thank you so much!!!

Filed Under: Breakfast, Recipes, Workouts Tagged With: breakast, chia seeds, how to, leg workouts, overnight oats, workouts

About Julie

My name is Julie and I am a full-time blogger, new mama, fitness enthusiast (certified personal trainer and group exercise instructor) and food fanatic (mostly healthy... but also not-so-healthy) living in North Carolina with my husband, dog and baby boy. Thank you for visiting Peanut Butter Fingers! I hope you enjoy little glimpses into my life and have fun trying the sweaty workouts I frequently share and making some of my favorite recipes along the way!

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Comments

  1. Rebecca @ Miss Magnolia Munches & Moves says

    January 9, 2012 at 10:56 am

    I tried overnight oats in a jar. I had it for breakfast this am…fail! I put too much milk and they were disgusting. I’ll have to try adding chia seeds.

    Reply
  2. Jess @ Healthy 'n Hungry says

    January 9, 2012 at 10:57 am

    I am buying chia seeds today and making this tonight! Thanks for the awesome how-to 🙂

    Reply
  3. Kerry says

    January 9, 2012 at 11:04 am

    I love overnight oats! I made them last night! I’ve been making them with greek yog ever since I saw it on your blog and its delish! I also love them with pumpkin.

    Reply
  4. Katie @ Peace Love & Oats says

    January 9, 2012 at 11:10 am

    I tried overnight oats a few times this past summer and wasn’t a fan, although that was before I discovered Chia seeds! I definitely need to give them another try!

    Reply
  5. Geraldine says

    January 9, 2012 at 11:13 am

    When I first started reading blogs OOs were EVERYWHERE – I made them for myself so I wouldn’t feel left out 🙂 but alas they were nothing great. So happy to learn I just wasn’t making it right. I will definitely try this recipe to see if i can be converted! But I love how hot oats heat my whole body up in the morning especially in winter!

    Reply
  6. Carrie says

    January 9, 2012 at 11:15 am

    So many good ideas for this listed! I can’t wait to start experimenting! Perfect for c-o-l-d winter mornings 🙂

    Reply
  7. Heather @ For the Love of Kale says

    January 9, 2012 at 11:17 am

    I love overnight oats! They’re so comforting and the no-effort-needed factor in the morning is pretty fantastic too. 😉

    Here’s my favorite recipe (Pumpkin Raisin Overnight Oats): http://fortheloveofkale.com/2011/12/where-do-you-see-beauty/

    Reply
  8. Cat @Breakfast to Bed says

    January 9, 2012 at 11:18 am

    ever since Tina at BBF (formerly TinaFFF) started using coffee in her OO, I can’t get enough. coffee, chocolate almond milk, hazlenut butter, chia. Even my 3 year old is an addict.

    Because really, you should start em young on coffee. (jk, he tasted mine and loved it, ped says it’s fine and dandy.)

    Reply
  9. MP says

    January 9, 2012 at 11:25 am

    I’ve been adding flax seeds to my overnight oats and they also add that consistency to the oats! Plus fiber!

    Reply
  10. Laura says

    January 9, 2012 at 11:26 am

    what a coincidence! i made my very FIRST bowl of overnight oats (after hearing about them repeatedly on your blog) and they were delish!!! i altered the recipe just a bit because i only had fruity yogurts and i was going for a chocolate/dessert-flavored mixture.
    i used 1/2 cup skim milk (since no yogurt), 1/2 cup quick oats, 1 scoop chocolate protein powder, 1 tbsp flax seeds (dont have chia seeds yet, so i figured next best thing?), and dash of cinnamon. it thickened up in the morning and was amazing. i’m sure it will only get better with yogurt, chia seeds, etc. i owe my delicious breakfast to you, so thanks!! xoxo

    Reply
  11. Lindsey says

    January 9, 2012 at 11:32 am

    As I read this, I’m eating the most dreadfully bland bowl of oatmeal. I think I’m going to try this for tomorrow’s breakfast. I thought I could spice up my plain oatmeal with nutella and a banana. But, it’s still missing something. Thanks for the recipe Julie!

    Reply
  12. Jamie says

    January 9, 2012 at 11:34 am

    Have you ever tried Steel Cut overnight oats? Just wondering if they will work the same way since that is what I have on hand. Also, how much do you taste the yogurt? I am not a huge yogurt fan but I know it adds a lot of nutrients.

    Reply
    • Krystina (Organically Me) says

      January 9, 2012 at 1:08 pm

      I’ve tried and it doesn’t work. Steel cut oats need to be cooked to soften, or else it tastes like a bowl of stale Grape Nuts.

      Reply
    • peanutbutterfingers says

      January 9, 2012 at 3:38 pm

      i’ve never tried it, but would trust krystina!

      Reply
  13. Emilie @ Emilie's Enjoyables says

    January 9, 2012 at 11:38 am

    I need to finally give these a try. Thanks for sharing your tips!

    Reply
  14. Jessica @ Sushi and Sit-Ups says

    January 9, 2012 at 11:52 am

    I have been really into overnight oats lately because it’s an easy grab-and-go breakfast. I love mine with plain Greek yogurt, skim milk and a dallop of nut butter on top.

    Reply
  15. Stephanie @ LiveCookLove says

    January 9, 2012 at 11:53 am

    The other day I made them with plain greek yogurt. I thought they were OK, but I couldn’t get over the tanginess of them. I think I need to try again with flavored yogurt and see if that changes my opinion on them. I don’t mind the texture, so its just the taste I need to get right.

    Reply
  16. Amy says

    January 9, 2012 at 12:08 pm

    I use ground flax seeds and get a great thick texture. My favorite way is to smear PB in the bottom of the container before putting in the fridge. Strawberries on top in the morning…yum! And thanks for the tip for jelly on the egg sandwiches… I’m addicted!!! 🙂

    Reply
  17. Erica @ For the Sake of Cake says

    January 9, 2012 at 12:09 pm

    I actually JUST got into overnight oats after reading some suggestions on how you prepare them in previous blog posts! I didn’t like them the first time I tried them (a year or so ago) but now I’m hooked. I definitely think including the Greek yogurt is key! I’m having fun experimenting with different add-ins & just last week made “cake batter overnight oats” which was AWESOME!

    Reply
  18. Brittany @Little b's healthy habits says

    January 9, 2012 at 12:15 pm

    Overnight oats are my fav!! I have the bf hooked too, adding pumpkin is the best!

    Reply
  19. Jamie says

    January 9, 2012 at 12:26 pm

    I have tried them and I think that are totally gross. I also hate pumpkin oats. I tried them after so many bloggers raved about them and almost barfed. I am more of a savory breakfast person too and find that I need a high protein breakfast to stay full for more than two hours.

    Reply
  20. Annie says

    January 9, 2012 at 12:31 pm

    ooooh I want to try different combos now!

    My usual is:

    1/2 cup of oats
    1/2 cup of yogurt
    1/2 cup of milk
    half a banana

    and then in the morning I add the other half of the banana and some berries if I have some.

    Reply
  21. Andrea says

    January 9, 2012 at 1:02 pm

    PB- Do you know how many calories this recipe contains? Thanks!

    Reply
    • peanutbutterfingers says

      January 9, 2012 at 2:09 pm

      i’m really not sure! perhaps you could plug in the ingredients into a recipe nutrition calculator like this one: http://caloriecount.about.com/cc/recipe_analysis.php

      Reply
  22. Krystina (Organically Me) says

    January 9, 2012 at 1:06 pm

    I never use chia seeds in my overnight oats and they’re always super thick and perfect without them. I just use oats, equal parts milk + plain Greek yogurt, honey, and banana/other fruit. Perfect every time.

    Reply
  23. Laura @ Unchartered 20s says

    January 9, 2012 at 1:14 pm

    OMGosh you eat these cold?? i always thought they were warmed up!

    Reply
    • peanutbutterfingers says

      January 9, 2012 at 2:07 pm

      haha nope! COLD!

      Reply
  24. Mattie @ Comfy and Confident says

    January 9, 2012 at 1:16 pm

    I have seen overnight oats on a million different blogs. I have tried them a couple times, but the consistency and taste is never quite right. I will try out your recipe and see how I like it. I want to like them, because they always look so good!

    Reply
  25. Brittany says

    January 9, 2012 at 1:29 pm

    I’ve been a fan of overnight oats for a while now. I’ve found I don’t LOVE yogurt in the mix so I add protein powder for an extra omph of protein. I also really like the texture that chia seeds add. 🙂

    Here’s my favorite combo at the moment – http://www.eatingbirdfood.com/2011/05/protein-overnight-oats-and-incline-walking-hiit/

    Thanks for the link love Julie!

    Reply
    • peanutbutterfingers says

      January 9, 2012 at 2:07 pm

      of course! i LOVE the look of all of your combinations!

      Reply
  26. Christina says

    January 9, 2012 at 1:33 pm

    Great post! I have to try your recipe. I use my digital scale to make sure my proportions are exactly right. Also, I have to heat mine in the microwave for 30 seconds so they’re not so cold. I eat overnight oats every morning!

    Reply
  27. Keri :) says

    January 9, 2012 at 1:51 pm

    Wanted to share my random Smoothie Concoction with you 🙂 It isn’t perfected yet, but I thought I would share!

    I mixed:
    1 White Choco. Macadamia Luna bar (crumbled)
    Skim Milk
    Peanut Butter
    Ice

    (portions are to your discretion…I was trying it, so mine made approximately a cup.)

    It is yummy..and nutritious! 🙂

    Reply
  28. Merri says

    January 9, 2012 at 2:05 pm

    Great post -definitely on my grocery list tonight!!

    Topic Request: Healthy foods during the frigid winter months!

    I always crave salads over summertime but when it’s freezing out I crave HOT but usually high-fat comfort foods. I usually end up just defaulting to lean cuisines which are such a drag! A post of the best healthy HOT comfort foods would be fantastic for us northerners!

    xo

    M

    Reply
  29. Ruth says

    January 9, 2012 at 2:21 pm

    I use steel cut oats and soak them overnight in just water and microwave it in the morning for 2 min. Then I add in the greek yogurt and fruit. I love that they are ready to go in the morning, no big cooking to do.

    Reply
  30. Brandi @ Faith Fitness and Laughter says

    January 9, 2012 at 2:38 pm

    I love overnight oats! Especially when I add a tbls of some nut butter. 🙂

    Reply
  31. Michelle @ Blogitness says

    January 9, 2012 at 3:02 pm

    The more blogs I read, the more I want to try overnight oats. I’m an extremely picky eater though and have something against eating cold food, so I am not sure how that will work out!

    Reply
  32. Amanda @ xo, Amanda says

    January 9, 2012 at 3:03 pm

    I agree you DEFINITELY need to play around and find a thickener that works for you to make them palatable. The first time or two I tried them I didn’t understand the appeal at ALL. I still don’t get the breakfast cookie appeal (ok Amanda let’s stay on topic), but as far as overnite oats go now? YUM. I can take or leave the chia seeds personally (I like them and usually include them, but I find sometimes it makes them TOO thick for me), but MUST have the greek yogurt (plain for me, but I add a lil stevia). Just milk and oats (almond milk for me, always) is gross and watery and goes down the drain. I especially like overnite oats when adding a mashed banana and/or pumpkin, so maybe that’s why I find too many chia seeds to be too thick.

    Reply
  33. Brittany Tyler says

    January 9, 2012 at 3:10 pm

    Loveee this post, I have been dying to try overnight oats but have never seen a good basic post for how to make them. Have you ever used steel cut oats? I heard they might be better for you as they are less processed. Do you ever heat them up or is that gross?

    Reply
    • peanutbutterfingers says

      January 9, 2012 at 3:41 pm

      i eat them cold and haven’t personally tried steel cut oats. i’m not sure they’d work b/c they’re so hard!

      Reply
  34. Sam @ The Real Pretty says

    January 9, 2012 at 3:20 pm

    I am so glad you posted this! I have been thinking for the past week about emailing you or looking it up on google. You must just be able to read my mind… like BFFs! 😛

    Reply
  35. Maria @ Pappa Don't Preach says

    January 9, 2012 at 3:28 pm

    I absolutely LOVE overnight oats but I include whey protein powder in mine. I had some this morning and find that my necessary ingredient is cinnamon! I can NOT get enough of it! Any Time Whey – Birthday cake adds a yummy flavor too. nom nom nom!

    Your leg workout looks pretty stellar. Going to have to give it a shot on Thursday (leg day).

    Reply
  36. Tessa says

    January 9, 2012 at 3:42 pm

    Overnight oats are so 2010.

    Reply
    • Kari says

      January 9, 2012 at 3:47 pm

      Overnight oats are delicious and will be in 2050! I’m just wondering what foods are “so 2012?” Great post, Julie!

      Reply
    • peanutbutterfingers says

      January 9, 2012 at 3:49 pm

      haha they probably peaked in popularity in 2010. i’m always late to trends, anyway. 🙂

      Reply
  37. Maria says

    January 9, 2012 at 3:42 pm

    These look great!! I haven’t made overnight oats in a while, I definitely need to make them soon 😀

    Reply
  38. Amber K says

    January 9, 2012 at 3:54 pm

    I agree with Ryan, the stairmaster is not a warm-up. lol Hardcore sweat coming!

    I love overnight oats. Just 1/3 cup oats with 1.5 oz of vanilla Greek yogurt and 1/4 tsp of cinnamon. Nice and THICK the next morning. I love it being thick enough that I can pick it up and eat it with my fingers. Messy, but delicious. 🙂

    Reply
  39. Jeralyn says

    January 9, 2012 at 4:11 pm

    Do you always do cardio before weight training?

    Reply
  40. Stef says

    January 9, 2012 at 4:27 pm

    I love overnight oats! I just use milk (just enough to reach the top of the oats), old fashioned oats and a frozen fruit mix on top (bananas, strawberries and peaches already cut up!) In the morning 2 min in the microwave, a little brown sugar and they’re perfect! I even made them for my parents once and they loved them and that was saying something!

    Reply
  41. Kanoe says

    January 9, 2012 at 6:15 pm

    I Have never tried overnight oats & I guess it’s time I tried them :-). I’ve been reading your blog for ages now & I keep seeing you mention how tasty they are & they do look tasty I guess my concern was the texture b/c I was used to oatmeal being warm not cold. I’m going to give it a try & then let ya know how it goes. Thanks for all the different recipes & ideas :-O

    Reply
  42. Sarah says

    January 9, 2012 at 7:55 pm

    I’m toying with the idea of adding protein powder to my (not overnight–stove top made) oats, but it kindaaa terrifies me. At what stage do I add it? When they’re cooking? Afterwards? Any help would be great!

    Reply
  43. Katie says

    January 9, 2012 at 8:55 pm

    Thanks for posting this! I was just trying to find your overnight oats recipe for my husband yesterday. I was also trying to figure out if you eat them cold or warm but I see you already answered that question for someone else.

    Reply
  44. Laura@mypurposefullife says

    January 9, 2012 at 11:03 pm

    It took me a while to get used to overnight oats, and now I crave them, but I have never made them with yogurt! I think that’s key so I can’t wait to make your version. What a great idea for a post!

    Reply
  45. Pamela says

    January 9, 2012 at 11:50 pm

    I never thought to add Greek yogurt into my overnight oats! I would eat the same combination of peanut butter/banana oats over the summer, but I just put together oats, milk, and a strawberry Chobani to try in the morning with fresh strawberries! 🙂

    Reply
  46. Charissa says

    January 10, 2012 at 1:46 am

    Just making this for tomorrow’s breaky! Thanks girl!

    Reply
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Trackbacks

  1. Your Overnight Oats Additions | Peanut Butter Fingers says:
    January 9, 2012 at 6:13 pm

    […] How to Make Overnight Oats […]

    Reply
  2. My favorite overnight oats « Don't Forget the Cinnamon says:
    January 10, 2012 at 10:27 am

    […] Julie wrote a post detailing how she puts together her bowls of overnight oats, at the end of which she asked for our favorite recipes.  After reading and commenting on her […]

    Reply
  3. My Overnight Oats Recipe « Healthy 'n Hungry says:
    January 10, 2012 at 11:04 am

    […] Julie from Peanut Butter Fingers did a post on her overnight oats recipe.  The pictures of her overnight oats always look so delicious and thick!  I commented and asked […]

    Reply
  4. Too Chatty | Peanut Butter Fingers says:
    January 13, 2012 at 9:58 am

    […] Breakfast today was a new-to-me version of overnight oats. […]

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Hi! I’m Julie and I am a mom to three energetic boys and a personal trainer and blogger living in Charlotte, North Carolina. Welcome to my blog! Peanut Butter Fingers follows my life and my interests in food, fitness, family, travel and (mostly) healthy living.
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