Easy Overnight Oats

It’s safe to say that mornings – specifically weekday mornings – are the busiest time of the day for me. So any breakfast that can be prepped ahead of time is right up my alley. Enter one of my all-time favorite breakfasts…overnight oats!

WHAT ARE OVERNIGHT OATS?

• Overnight oats are essentially a cook-free method of making oatmeal. It’s raw oats, liquid (typically milk) and various mix-ins, such as fruit and nuts combined together in a jar or container and chilled in the refrigerator overnight. The milk is absorbed into the oats, which softens them, and the mix-ins add flavor to the oatmeal.

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WHAT I LOVE ABOUT OVERNIGHT OATS:

• Overnight oats are an easy and wholesome breakfast. Also, the amount of whole grains and fiber in the oats combined with protein (I like to use nut butter) keeps me feeling full until my next meal.
• The flavor combinations of overnight oats are truly endless. You can switch up any of the ingredients – the type of oats, the fruit, the sweetener, the nuts, the seeds, the protein, the milk – so you never get bored eating the same concoction. (I’ve listed a bunch of ingredient ideas at the bottom of this post!)
• Overnight oats can be stored in the refrigerator for up to five days in an airtight container making them a great option for weekly meal prep!

The recipe below is exactly how I make my favorite overnight oats.

INGREDIENTS:

DRY INGREDIENTS:

• 1/2 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon chia seeds
• 1 teaspoon hemp seeds
• 1/2 teaspoon flax meal
• 2 teaspoons powdered peanut butter
• 2 teaspoons slivered almonds

WET INGREDIENTS/FRUIT

• 1/2 banana, mashed with a fork
• Blueberries
• Strawberries (sliced small)
• Drizzle of honey
• 1/2 cup organic soy milk (or any nut milk I have on hand)

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Add all of the dry ingredients into a 16 ounce mason jar or container. Stir until combined. (If you’re using a mason jar you can shake instead of stir to combine).
2. Add all of the fruit and wet ingredients to the dry ingredients. Stir again until thoroughly combined.
3. Cover mason jar or container tightly. Refrigerate overnight (or at least two to three hours).
4. In the morning, or when ready to eat, add a splash of milk and stir well before serving.

NOTES:

• Feel free to add more, less or omit any ingredient to your liking/taste. Get creative and play around with various flavor combinations. As I mentioned above, the possibilities are endless!
• A good rule of thumb whenever making overnight oats is to use a 1:1 ratio of oats vs. milk. So if you use a 1/2 cup of oats, use 1/2 cup of milk. 1 cup of oats equals 1 cup of milk, and so on. However, if you want your oats to have a thinner consistency, increase the amount of milk.
• You can use any type of oats, but I’ve found that old-fashioned rolled oats work and taste the best.
• You can heat up your overnight oats in the microwave if you prefer to eat them warm. Remove the lid and microwave in 30 second increments, stirring after each increment, until the oats reach your desired temperature.
• When ready to eat, feel free to add toppings, such as fruit slices, granola, nut butter, an extra drizzle of honey or a pinch of cinnamon!

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If you make overnight oats, be sure to tag me on Instagram (@jolene116) so I can see your delicious breakfast!