Easy Overnight Oats Recipes (6 Flavors!)

Last Updated March 8, 2024. Published July 29, 2019 By Lorie 94 Comments

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Want breakfast ready in the morning when you wake up? Try these 6 Easy Overnight Oats recipes for the easiest breakfast of all. 5 minutes to prep and waiting for you in the morning--these will become the best part of your day!

Easy Overnight Oats Recipes (6 Flavors!) | Lemons + Zest (1)

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Whether you are new to overnight oatmeal or a long time fan, these easy overnight oats recipes are going to quickly become your favorite.

Simple ingredients, so easy to whip up and with just 5-10 minutes, you can prepare a week's worth of breakfasts. They can be eaten hot or cold and the possibilities of flavors go well beyond these 6!

Why You Will Love These Easy Overnight Oats Recipes:

They are so quick and easy to prep. If you like to meal prep, these recipes are a dream. A healthy, delicious breakfast whipped up in about 5 minutes. Can't beat that.
Can easily be varied to meet your dietary needs. There are so many different ways to make these oats--you can truly make them your own. Use dairy free milk if needed, gluten free oats, a different sweetener, endless options, but making them yours is what it's about!
Can be eaten hot or cold. I have had readers say they were told overnight oatmeal could only be eaten cold and that is not true. I warm mine up all the time! You can make these recipes and still have your hot oatmeal in the morning.
Breakfast is ready when you wake up! Overnight oats are the best make-ahead breakfast. When it comes to busy mornings, you can't beat having your meal ready right when you wake up!

Easy Overnight Oats Recipes (6 Flavors!) | Lemons + Zest (2)

What are Overnight Oats?

They are exactly what they sound like--oats that are prepared by soaking all the liquid up and softening throughout the night. If you want to cook rolled oats, you typically have to boil them stove top. However, if you make overnight oats, you are allowing the liquid to soak into the oats and soften them instead of boiling the oatmeal.

That's why they are called what they are called--it takes time for the oats to absorb the liquid and thus, allowing them to soak overnight in the fridge will make them ready to eat right when you wake up!

Recipe Ingredients:

My go-to base recipe of each of these oatmeal recipes include the following:

rolled oats: this is what I use. They are also known as old fashioned oats. Some people say steel-cut oats are great but I find them to be way too chewy. If that's your thing, then you can use them as well. In a pinch, you can use quick oats if you don't have old-fashioned oats on hand. You may need to adjust the amount of milk but other than that, they will work!
milk: this can be regular or dairy free. Use your milk of choice! Almond milk, oat milk, cashew milk, soy milk and coconut milk will work great along with any version of dairy milk.
sweetener: I LOVE pure maple syrup. It is my preferred breakfast sweetener. Use the sweetener you prefer. Honey, sugar, brown sugar whatever it may be, and adjust to your liking.
chia seeds: not necessary, but a great way to give your oats a boost of protein and fiber. Please do not go out and buy them if you are not interested. They will be fine without.
Pinch of salt: I like to add just a pinch to my recipes for a touch more flavor. Up to you!

*I often use vanilla extract in the base, but it varies because some recipes will use almond extract or another, so I left this out of the base ingredients.

How To Make Overnight Oats:

All you do is stir together some milk and oats, along with some other goodies for flavor, in a jar or bowl that can be sealed shut. That's it. Then you pop them in the fridge for the night.

These 6 flavors include:

Banana Bread Overnight Oats: Wake up to banana bread but without any of the effort! The perfect way to use up bananas that are about to turn--bonus!
Blueberry Muffin Overnight Oatmeal: Same story, different flavor. Everyone's favorite muffin in a big hearty bowl. No baking required!
Peanut Butter and Jelly Overnight Oats: While I LOOOOVE the banana bread version, I find myself making some form of this variety more often than not. Gotta gotta GOTTA have my peanut butter!
Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Overnight Oats: I want to call this one something fancy like peanut butter cup or something, but I am just calling this one like I see it. While a basic peanut butter version is fine, when you toss in some chocolate chips, you always take things up a notch, right??
Strawberries and Cream Overnight Oatmeal: Nothing like fresh cream with your berries, right? I love adding just a touch to my oatmeal for that rich creamy flavor. There's nothing extraordinary about this recipe, but I promise it will be a favorite!
Almond Joy Overnight Oatmeal: Because sometimes you feel like a nut, right? My favorite candy turned into one of my very favorite breakfasts!

Easy Overnight Oats Recipes (6 Flavors!) | Lemons + Zest (4)

Easy Overnight Oats Recipes (6 Flavors!) | Lemons + Zest (5)

Overnight Oatmeal FAQs

Here are some of the FAQs I have found I get asked the most when it comes to overnight oatmeal. I will update this if more questions start popping up! (I also try to include this list on many of my overnight oats recipes for future reference.

How long do overnight oats last?

I typically make 3 or so day’s worth at a time. 3-5 days is the range that they will last and certain ingredients in different flavors impact this. Oats with mashed banana that I makeare typically not good after 2 or 3 days due to the mashed banana but other recipes are good a few days longer. Just keep fruit out of your oats until serving and that should typically help.

What kind of oats do you use?

I preferrolled oatsin mine–I find that they soak up the milk perfectly and are nice and soft after sitting all night. I have seen others suggest steel cut oats for their overnight oats recipe but that is NOT for me. They are too hard and chewy for me. I have found that steel cut oats are best for me in theInstant Pot.

Do you have to make overnight oatmeal in a jar?

When the overnight oatmeal trend hit, it was all the rage to scoop your breakfast out of a mason jar. Heck, I still do. But don’t go out and buy cute little jars just yet. If you have an air tight storage container, then you are in perfect shape. Don’t feel like you have to buy anything extra to make your oatmeal in, bowls can be great as well. I have seen lots of people use the end of apeanut butterjar.

Do you eat overnight oats hot or cold?

I have had readers comment or reach out saying they don’t want to eat cold oats. No one says you have to–promise! Pop them in the microwave in the morning and you are all set! Love them chilled? Great, you just get to eat them about a minute sooner!

Can you add protein powder to your oatmeal?

You sure can! Add your favorite protein powder if you like! Just note that you may need to add more milk to balance it out. I usually add a touch more milk in the morning before eating them if they seem a bit thick.

Easy Overnight Oats Recipes (6 Flavors!) | Lemons + Zest (10)

Possible Add-Ins:

Here are some other great options for ingredients to add to your overnight oats.

lemon zest (great in the blueberry muffin!)
sweetened or plain Greek yogurt
dried fruit like cranberries, raisins, dates, etc.
other fresh fruit: raspberries, sliced peaches, blackberries, etc.
sunflower seeds
another nut or seed butter--cashew butter, almond butter, sunflower seed butter, etc.

Check out these other top flavors:

Carrot Cake
Coconut Cream Pie
Peanut Butter Cheesecake
Pumpkin Pie
Lemon Poppy Seed
Peanut Butter Banana

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6 Simple Overnight Oats Recipes

Want breakfast ready in the morning when you wake up? Try these 6 Easy Overnight Oats recipes for the easiest breakfast of all. 5 minutes to prep and waiting for you in the morning--these will become the best part of your day!

4.85 from 79 votes

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Course: Breakfast

Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Base Ingredients:

▢ ½ c rolled oats
▢ ½ c milk of choice

For the Banana Bread

▢ ½ mashed banana
▢ 2 T chopped pecans or walnuts
▢ ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
▢ ½ teaspoon cinnamon
▢ Dash of sea salt
▢ 1 T ground flax optional
▢ 2 teaspoon maple syrup

For the Blueberry Muffin:

▢ ¼ c blueberries
▢ 1 T cashew butter (or almond butter)
▢ 2 teaspoon maple syrup
▢ ½ teaspoon cinnamon
▢ ½ teaspoon vanilla
▢ 1 teaspoon chia seeds
▢ dash of sea salt

For the Peanut Butter and Jelly:

▢ 2 teaspoon peanut butter (extra to drizzle if desired)
▢ 1 teaspoon chia seeds
▢ 4-5 strawberries, mashed or chopped
▢ 1 teaspoon maple syrup
▢ dash of sea salt

For the Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip:

▢ 2 teaspoon peanut butter
▢ 1 teaspoon chia seeds
▢ 1 teaspoon maple syrup
▢ 1 T chocolate chips (I love mini chips!)
▢ dash of sea salt

For the Strawberries & Cream:

▢ 4-5 strawberries, sliced or chopped
▢ 1 teaspoon chia seeds
▢ 1-2 teaspoon maple syrup
▢ 2-3 teaspoon cream (half & half or heavy cream)
▢ dash of sea salt

For the Almond Joy:

▢ 2 T shredded coconut, unsweetened
▢ 1 T sliced almonds
▢ 1 T chocolate chips
▢ 1 teaspoon chia seeds
▢ ½ teaspoon vanilla
▢ small drop of almond extract (it's strong so go small--less than ¼ tsp)
▢ dash of sea salt

Instructions

For All Recipes:

Combine base ingredients plus all ingredients for desired flavor in a bowl or jar that can be sealed and stir well.
Refrigerate overnight.
Add an extra splash of milk if needed before serving. Serve hot or cold.