Overnight oats are some of the tastiest, easiest, and most nutritious breakfasts out there. Learn how to make overnight oats easily and have your breakfast ready fast!
There‘s nothing better than tucking into a good breakfast. Especially if that breakfast is bacon and eggs.
But let‘s be real-mornings can be pretty hectic. Sometimes, you barely have time to brush your teeth and dress up before you head out the door- let alone sit down to breakfast.
It‘s times like this that you need something that you can grab and go. Like overnight oats. They’re easy to make, packed with nutrition, and will keep you full for the day to come. What’s not to like?
On top of that, they only take 5 minutes to make. All you have to do the night before is to add all your ingredients to a glass jar, mix, and place them in your fridge. These jars should do the trick.
The next morning, all you have to do is grab your jar and go. Does it get any easier than this?
Ingredients You’ll Need
Unsweetened Almond Milk (1/2 cup) – Essential for that creaminess! It softens the oats and makes them delicious.
Plain Greek Yogurt (1/4 cup)
Rolled Oats (1/2 cup) – Oats contain a ton of protein compared to other grains. For instance, half a cup of dry oats provides 13 grams of protein. They‘re are also high in fiber. So, they‘re good for your digestion.
Chia Seeds (1/2 tbsp) – Besides adding bulk to your overnight oats, chia seeds pack in a lot of protein. A one-ounce serving provides 4 grams of protein. If you need to stock up on some, you can get some here.
Vanilla Extract (1/4 tsp)
Banana (1/2, sliced) – The oats taste so much better with fruits. Some of the ideas: all sorts of berries, bananas, oranges, peaches, apples, nectarines, etc.
Vanilla Protein Powder (1 tbsp) – Add if you exercise and need to increase your protein intake.
Peanut Butter (1 tbsp)
Maple Syrup (1/2 tbsp)
How to Make Overnight Oats
Step 1. When it comes to making these overnight oats, this is pretty easy. All you have to do is add in all the ingredients in a glass jar like this and mix them together.
Step 2. Keep in the fridge for 8 hours or overnight.
Step 3. Once oats are ready, give it a stir and top up with slices of banana. However, that‘s optional. You‘re free to use any topping you want, as long as it complements the taste of the oats.
Are Overnight Oats Healthy?
Overnight oats are mostly healthy, depending on the ingredients you use. However, avoid high sugar foods to keep your blood sugar levels at bay.
Instead, focus on using high protein and fiber ingredients. I mention most of them above. When overnight oats are full of nutrition, they’re great both for breakfast and as a post-workout meal.
Tips and Tricks
1. Make overnight oats vegan
Making these overnight oats vegan is quite simple. Instead of using Greek yogurt, use a good vegan yogurt. Some options include coconut milk yogurt, soy milk yogurt, or almond milk yogurt.
2. Use protein powder that tastes good
Now some protein powders can be pretty chalky and downright awful. And no amount of maple syrup is going to mask that. So, make sure you use a good quality protein powder. I recommend this one here.
3. Do I have to add protein powder to overnight oats?
No, you don‘t. Your overnight oats will still contain a good amount of protein.
To ramp up the protein content, you can replace the almond milk with soy milk or regular milk. And you can add toppings like almonds and hemp hearts. Yum!
4. Can you heat up overnight oats?
You betcha! Just place your overnight oats in a microwave-safe container. Then, heat for about a minute.
5. What is the Ratio for Overnight Oats?
If you’re not following a particular recipe, stick to a 2:1 ratio for liquids and oats. Oats will have enough liquid to soak up!
Other Overnight Oat Ideas
- Chocolate Protein Overnight Oats
- Apple Cinnamon Protein Overnight Oats
- Strawberry Protein Overnight Oats
- Cinnamon Protein Overnight Oats
How to Make Overnight Oats
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk
- 1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 1/2 cup rolled oats
- 1/2 tbsp chia seeds
- 1/2 banana sliced
- 1 tbsp vanilla protein powder
- 1 tbsp unsweetened peanut butter
- 1/4 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 tbsp pure maple syrup
Instructions
- Mix all the ingredients in a food container or glass jar. Make sure you combine them well.
- Keep in the fridge for 8 hours or overnight.
- When you take it out of the fridge, top it with slices of banana.