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Looking for an effortless, nutritious and delicious breakfast? You need to try this  easy overnight oats recipe.

Overnight oats in a ja with berries on top

I’m usually not into oats and oatmeal, but this is pretty much the only way I can have oats. Or in oatmeal raisin cookies.

This healthy effortless breakfast idea takes 1 minute to make and you can easily customize it to your taste.

Often times I skip breakfast, which is not good at all, but I’m either in a hurry or I’m too lazy to make one. But if I make oatmeal the night before and keep it in the fridge, I’m sure I’ll have breakfast, since all I need to do is add some fresh fruit to it. I topped my oats with some chia seeds and hemp hearts. Feel free to add your favorite nuts. 

Oats are rich in fiber, proteins, vitamins and minerals, which makes them healthy for your gut and perfect for breakfast.

Overnight oats

What are overnight oats? It is basically a “no cook” oatmeal. Instead of cooking oats on the stove top or in the microwave, you combine them with milk (I use nut milk) and leave in the fridge for the oats to soften and absorb the milk. They may soften for as little as 2 hours, but for 6-8 hours (or overnight) you’ll get better results.

These easy overnight oats are usually consumed cold, but if you’d like to you can try warming them up.

The two main ingredients involved in the preparation of these oats are – Old fashioned oats and milk (I used almond milk).

Then you add a sweetener. I recommend liquid sweetener like agave nectar or Stevia extract, but even granulated sugar can be used.

How to make overnight oats?

  1. In a jar (that comes with a lid) combine the oats and nut milk. I usually use equal amounts of oats to milk, so the ratio is 1:1, which makes my breakfast have great texture.
  2. The thickness depends on how much milk you add, but I don’t like mine too thick, I prefer soupy texture and you can tell from the photo.
  3. I used Bob’s Red Mill Organic Old Fashioned Rolled Oats, but even steel cut oats could be used as a substitute. I love my overnight chia pudding and that’s why, I also added 1 tsp of chia seeds to the oats.
  4. Add the sweetener to the jar. For sweetener I only used 1 tsp of agave nectar, since I prefer my oatmeal not too sweet. You can also use maple syrup or honey.
  5. If using Vanilla extract, add 2 drops to the jar.
  6. Close the lid. Shake 1-2 times and refrigerate overnight.
a jar with overnight oats and berries with a spoon inside

Toppings:

I’ve shared with you the basic overnight oatmeal recipe I usually use, but there are certain things you can add to yours to make them taste different.

Any nut butter – peanut, hazelnut or almond will be a great addition. Jams of all sorts will add fruity flavor to your breakfast.

Fresh fruit like sliced bananas, kiwi, berries or apples will add extra vitamins, texture and freshness to this breakfast.

You can add nuts and seeds if your choice like – chopped peanuts, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, flax seeds or hemp hearts. Don’t forget chia seeds to give you more energy.

A hand holding a jar with overnight oats

More breakfast ideas:

A different kind of healthy breakfast bowl – this Acai Bowl made with Acai powder tastes refreshing. This Asparagus, mushrooms and mozzarella frittata is perfect for a healthy weekend breakfast for the family. For a restaurant quality breakfast choose these Baked eggs in ramekins. You may also want to try this Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal from Running to the kitchen. It is the perfect for fall meal prep option. These Sweet Crepes from Cooktoria are quick and simple to make, just make sure you follow the step by step instructions.

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Overnight oats in a ja with berries on top
5 from 2 votes

Overnight Oats

By Lyubomira L
Easy Overnight Oats With Chia Seeds, Pumpkin Seeds And Raspberries
Prep: 5 minutes
Total: 5 minutes
Servings: 1

Video

Ingredients 

  • 1/2 cup rolled oats
  • 1/2 cup almond milk
  • 1/2 tsp chia seeds
  • 1 tsp agave nectar
  • 1/2 tsp hemp hearts, optional for topping
  • 2 drops vanilla extract
  • berries for topping

Instructions 

  • Mix oats, milk, agave nectar and vanilla extract in a jar or a cup. Cover and refrigerate for 6-8 hours.
  • When ready to consume, you can add more milk to adjust consistency.
  • Top with desired toppings.

Nutrition

Calories: 226kcal, Carbohydrates: 37g, Protein: 7g, Fat: 6g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Sodium: 166mg, Potassium: 147mg, Fiber: 5g, Sugar: 7g, Calcium: 184mg, Iron: 2mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Breakfast
Tried this recipe?Mention @cookinglsl or tag #cookinglsl!

Original recipe posted in September 2014. Updated in October 2020.

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Hi! I'm Mira.

I share simple, mostly low-carb and Keto recipes, that don't take a lot of time to make and use mostly seasonal, easy to find ingredients. I'm a supporter of healthy eating, but you'll also find some indulgent treats too.

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6 Comments

  1. I keep seeing these around but this is the first time I’ve actually been tempted to try it myself! Guess that’s the difference when I blog you trust posts a recipe šŸ™‚ Great photo by the way! From the time I spent browsing your blog, I’ve really noticed the change over time!! I love this photo – It’s my “type” šŸ™‚

    1. Thanks so much Nagi !!! I do agree that the photo is your “type” and I’m glad you like it, side every single photo on your blog looks amazing! And yes, the over time change in my photo amazes me, too šŸ™‚

  2. I need to start preparing my oats this way. What a wonderful way to save time in the morning! And I agree with Nagi. Your photography is stunning!