Short on time in the morning? Whip up this easy overnight oats recipe the night before and breakfast will be waiting for you when you wake up!

This Overnight Oats recipe was originally posted in September 2016. It has been updated with new photos and detailed preparation instructions.
I always seem to be in a rush to make breakfast in the morning. I'm lucky if I run out the door with a cup of coffee in hand. I stumbled upon the novel idea of making this easy overnight oats recipe (with fruit and nuts too!) to up my breakfast game.
Not only have my mornings become more relaxing, but I can power through until lunch without any hunger pains. Overnight oatmeal is a lifesaver! I'd love to eat one of these banana muffins or a few mini chocolate puff pastry rolls every day. But I try to stick to a healthier breakfast most days. I love this recipe so much that is now one of my menu suggestions for my personal chef clients.
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the ingredients for overnight oatmeal
- rolled oats
- cinnamon
- the milk of your choice ~ cow's milk, almond milk, soy milk, oat milk
- the fruit of your choice ~ apples, blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, bananas
- the nuts of your choice ~ pecans, walnuts, pine nuts, almonds
- the sweetener of you choice ~ honey, maple syrup, agave syrup
When short on time in the morning or just looking to get a jump start on the day, my Overnight Oats recipe provides a healthy and filling start to the day. Even a blurry eyed and tired non morning person can grab a spoon and stir their way to a delicious breakfast. Mornings will be infinitely better knowing that breakfast is waiting in the refrigerator.
how to make overnight oatmeal
Like so many lunches and dinners, breakfast can be prepped in advance too. For this Overnight Oats recipe, combine rolled oats, cinnamon, and any type of milk in single serve containers in the evening. Pop the dishes into the refrigerator for an overnight stay.
The oats soak up the liquid, whether it is cow's milk, almond milk or soy milk, to make the dish ready to be served in the morning. The resulting oats have a toothsome chewiness and a hardier bite. Top with your favorite fruits like chopped apples, peaches, bananas, and blackberries. Sprinkle with almonds, walnuts or pecans. A drizzle of maple syrup, honey, or agave syrup adds just a touch of sweetness.
Breakfast was never so easy to make and so delicious!
different flavor combinations for overnight oatmeal
The possibilities are endless for the versatile breakfast recipe. No combination of fruits, either fresh or dried, nuts, and spices is off limits. I like to tailor my oatmeal to the seasons.
- Add mangoes or pineapple along with almonds in the spring time.
- Blueberries and strawberries are at their peak of flavor in the summer. Pair them with walnuts.
- Add apples and figs with pecans in the fall months.
- In the winter months add cranberries or pomegranate along with pine nuts.
chef tips for making overnight oats
- Single serve containers are the easiest way to make grab and go breakfasts.
- Milk, whether it's cow, oat, or almond, is my first choice for making Overnight Oats. But water can be substituted for the milk. The oats will not be as flavorful, but it's still an option.
- Skip instant oats for this recipe. They will end up almost dissolving in the milk. Rolled oats result in a chewy and hardy breakfast.
- Add a bit of vanilla extract and/or nutmeg to change up the flavor of the oats.
- Serve cold straight from the refrigerator or slightly warmed in the microwave. About 1 minute on HIGH will warm this make ahead breakfast just enough.
If you make this easy overnight oats recipe, I’d love hearing from you all. Be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating ~ I do my best to reply to all your comments. And snap a photo to post to Instagram. I’ll add the photos to my Insta stories as I love seeing all your creations.
Also check out my Facebook and Pinterest pages for lots of fabulous foodie stories, videos, cooking tips, and recipes.
more make ahead breakfast recipes to try
- Spiced Breakfast Pumpkin Quinoa Bowls - a fall favorite!
- Freezer Fruit and Yogurt Smoothies - just whip up in the blender
- Crustless Quiche - make with your favorite vegetables and cheese
recipe
Easy Overnight Oats Recipe
- Total Time: Overnight
- Yield: 4 1x
Description
Short on time in the morning? Whip up this overnight oatmeal recipe that includes fruit and nuts. Breakfast will be waiting for you when you wake up.
Ingredients
- 2 cups rolled oats, divided
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon, divided
- 2 cups milk, divided (such as cow, soy, or almond)
- 1 1/3 cups cut up fruit, divided (such as apples, blueberries, strawberries)
- 4 tablespoons chopped nuts, divided (such as pecans, walnuts, almonds)
- 4 teaspoons honey, maple syrup or your favorite sweetener, divided
Instructions
- Assemble 4 - 2 cup glass containers. To each dish, add 1/2 cup rolled oats, 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon, and 1/2 cup your milk of choice. Stir to combine the ingredients.
- Cover with lids. Store in the refrigerator overnight.
- In the morning, top the oats with 1/3 cup fruit of your choice, 1 tablespoon nuts of your choice, and 1 to 2 teaspoons of the sweetener of your choice.
Notes
- Single serve containers are the easiest way to make grab and go breakfasts.
- Milk, whether it's cow, oat, or almond, is my first choice for making Overnight Oats. But water can be substituted for the milk. The oats will not be as flavorful, but it's still an option.
- Skip the instant oats for this recipe. They will end up almost dissolving in the milk. Rolled oats result in a chewy and hardy breakfast.
- Add a bit of vanilla extract and/or nutmeg to change up the flavor of the oats.
- Serve cold straight from the refrigerator or slightly warmed in the microwave. About 1 minute on HIGH is good.
- Prep Time: Overnight
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: breakfast
- Method: refrigeration
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 258
- Sugar: 15 g
- Sodium: 57 mg
- Fat: 5 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 44 g
- Fiber: 6 g
- Protein: 10 g
- Cholesterol: 6 mg
Keywords: overnight oatmeal recipe, oatmeal recipe, overnight oats recipe
Marie
Overnight oats are one of my favorite breakfasts! It's so nutritious and easy to pull together. Taking a few seconds to garnish a bowl with fresh fruits on a weekday morning feels luxurious! Loving the flavor combination and substitution ideas in your recipes. It makes this breakfast classic even more versatile!
Amy Casey
Thanks Marie! The flavor combinations are endless.
Susan Pridmore
What a great way to start the day. I'm always on the run too - and I love that it can be put together ahead, slid into the refrigerator, and all set to go in the morning. And I always have fresh fruit on hand!
Amy Casey
Thanks Susan!
Jessica l Tao of Spice
I’m not a big breakfast eater because I never seem to have enough time in the mornings. These overnight oats seem like the perfect solution. And since the flavors can be customized I won’t grow tired of eating the same thing day after day.
Amy Casey
Same for me! I never seem to leave enough time for breakfast.
veenaazmanov
A colorful Bowl of goodness and health for the start of an amazing day is the best one could get. Delicious and inviting.
Amy Casey
Thank you!
Linda
I love an easy, healthy, and yet filling breakfast to start my day; and this overnight oat can't be any better
Amy Casey
Me too! This is one of my favorites.
Marisa Franca
This recipe is just what I needed! Sometimes the mornings get away from me and before you know it I have other things to do and I just grab something for breakfast. Not always anything healthy. I tried out this recipe yesterday morning and it tasted fantastic. Plus I didn't have to worry about measuring and putting things together. Thank you.
Enriqueta E Lemoine
I love oatmeal in every shape and color. This overnight oatmeal recipe turned to be as good as it gets! Thanks for sharing!
Amy Casey
You are welcome Enriqueta 🙂
LaKita
Overnight oats are my favorite weekday breakfast to have and this recipe and options certainly did not disappoint!
Amy Casey
I love them too LaKita!
Chenée
This overnight oats recipe looks like such a delicious and easy breakfast! I can't wait to make this!
Amy Casey
I can't wait for you to try my recipe Chenee.
Farrukh Aziz
These are so easy to make yet so delicious! Definitely my favorite oats!
Amy Casey
Mine too! So yummy!