Yogurt Overnight Oats

Creamy yogurt overnight oats made with only five ingredients - this simple make-ahead breakfast will forever change your busy mornings. Top it with your favourite fresh berries, banana slices, peanut butter and maple syrup for a decadent yet healthy treat.

In its simplest form, overnight oats are raw rolled oats combined with liquid (most often milk, non-dairy milk, yogurt, or even water), sweetened, mixed well, then left to soften in the fridge overnight. This way of preparing oatmeal doesn’t require any cooking at all.

Ingredients You'll Need to Make These Overnight Oats

Rolled oats - for the best, soft but chewy, texture I recommend using old-fashioned rolled oats. Quick oats are not the best choice for overnight oats, and if you're looking for a recipe with steel cut oats, give these coconut cream pie overnight oats a try.

Yogurt - use any kind of yogurt you prefer. I usually make these oats with either store-bought or homemade soy yogurt.

Chia seeds - adding chia to the recipe will make the oatmeal even creamier and thicker. Plus, chia seeds are an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids, rich in antioxidants, as well as fibre, iron, and calcium.

Plant-based milk - use your favourite plant-based milk. My go-to choice is unsweetened almond milk.

Maple syrup - if you prefer your overnight oatmeal on the sweet side, sweeten it with a tablespoon of maple syrup. Alternatively, you can also go with agave syrup, honey (not strictly vegan) or a liquid sweetener, such as stevia, for a low-calorie option.

How to Make Yogurt Overnight Oats

Step One - Mix the Ingredients

Whisk together all ingredients in a medium-sized mixing bowl. Spoon into a jar with a tight-fitting lid. Alternatively, you can use a bigger jar and simply mix everything together in the jar.

Step Two - Refrigerate Overnight

Seal the lid and refrigerate for at least 5 hours, but preferably overnight before eating.

Step Three - Top and Enjoy the Next Morning

Top with fresh berries, banana slices, peanut butter, maple syrup, or an extra teaspoon of chia seeds.

Overnight Oats FAQs

How long should overnight oats sit in the fridge?

It’s best to prepare overnight oats the night before, so that they sit in the fridge for at least 7 hours. They are ready to eat in about 4 to 5 hours, though, so if you’re planning to enjoy your oats as an afternoon snack, you can make them in the morning as well. Quick oats only take about 30 minutes to get to the same level of creaminess.

Can you heat up overnight oats?

You can, but you don’t have to. The soaking essentially “cooks” the oats, so you don’t have to heat them up as well. But if you don’t like your oats cold, you can definitely prepare them the night before, and then heat them up in the microwave in the morning.

Can you use Greek yogurt in overnight oats?

Absolutely. In fact, you can use any kind of yogurt you like, including plain, flavoured, Greek, or non-dairy, to make your overnight oats richer and creamier. You can read a bit more about vegan yogurt options here.

What are the best oats for overnight oats?

For this recipe, I'd recommend using old-fashioned rolled oats.

There’s a lot of confusion around all the different kinds of oats and what you can do with them. For me, this guide on types of oats was a life-saver. Here’s a quick recap:

• Rolled oats, also known as regular or old-fashioned oats, are made when oat groats are steamed and then rolled into flakes. They are what you will most often find in oatmeal and overnight oatmeal recipes, cookies and other baked goods.
• Quick oats, also known as instant oats, are a step further from rolled oats. They’re steamed longer and rolled into thinner flakes, which results in a fluffier texture. These only require 30 minutes of soaking, and can be cooked in the microwave in just one to two minutes.
• Steel cut oats, sometimes also called  Irish oatmeal, act and look a bit differently. They are not rolled, but cut into small pieces, which makes them a lot coarser and harder to cook.

How long do overnight oats keep?

Overnight oats can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to five days - the longer they sit, the mushier they will become. This might differ slightly depending on your liquid of choice (milk, non-dairy milk or yogurt).

If you don’t like your oatmeal on the super-creamy side, a great tip for making a batch that would last a week is to put all the dry ingredients in your little containers at the start of the week, and then simply add the liquid the night before.

Do you have to put overnight oats in the fridge?

Just think of it this way - would you leave any of the ingredients at room temperature over night? If not, then it’s probably a good idea to put your overnight oats in the fridge as well (especially if making them with yogurt).

Top Mistakes to Avoid When Making Overnight Oats

When it comes to overnight oats, guessing on the liquid-to-oat ratio is pretty much the only big mistake you want to avoid. If you don't use enough liquid, the oats won't be able to soften enough and get that creamy consistency, while if you use too much liquid, you'll end up with soup. Sometimes, there are also other ingredients to consider, such as chia seeds which additionally thicken oats, so it’s best to always follow a recipe.

Don't add your toppings in the evening in hopes of saving a few valuable minutes in the morning. It's just not worth it. You want your fruits to stay fresh, and your nuts to stay crunchy, so always remember to add toppings once the oats are already done.

Don't forget to stir one more time in the morning. This seems like an obvious one, but the combination of hunger and hurry can lead to stupid decisions. Always give your overnight oats one final stir right before you dig in.

More Overnight Oatmeal Recipes for You to Try

• Banana Peanut Butter Overnight Oats
• Basic Peanut Butter Overnight Oats
• Traditional Bircher Muesli
• Apple Bran Porridge

Click here for a complete listing of vegan overnight oats recipes.