In our ever-changing world, when it comes to food, we often prioritize convenience and efficiency over taste and pleasure. Sad but it’s true. But — and stay with me here — what if we didn’t have to choose? What if, instead of choosing efficiency for the sake of efficiency, we Save preparation time so we can pay attention to Like eating? Obviously that crossed someone’s mind, and thus the easy overnight oat recipe phenomenon was born.
I was a love breakfast from birth. When I grow up, like every good kid in the 90s, I’ll rise and shine with a bowl of cereal. In college, you can see me early in the morning and early in the cafeteria, quietly sipping my coffee while continuing to read mine. Even today, I’m stuck with a consistent and committed morning routineFollow my favorite workout with nothing more than my tried and true overnight oats.
With overnight oats, here’s where things get even more magical: When it comes to this breakfast treat, the possibilities are endless. There are many dishes and options — savory or sweet, the combos are up to you. So with that in mind, let’s get to the good stuff. These 10 couldn’t be simpler overnight oat recipes that will make us all a morning person.
Featured image of Tieghan Gerard.
Peaches and Overnight Cream Oats from a minimalist baker
Why we love it: Serve hot: There’s no better classic combination than peaches and cream (IMO—to shame apple and cinnamon). With my vision in the summer, you can bet I’ll consume my weight with ripe golden peaches. Meanwhile, this recipe plus frozen peaches works great.
Hero composition: Cashew butter gives your overnight oat pot a little fat and body, balancing sweetness while keeping this superstar breakfast from tasting…too healthy (yes, that’s a thing!).
Get the recipe for Peach and Oatmeal Overnight.
Blueberry & Coconut Bircher Muesli from The First Mess
Why we love it: Vegan, portable and designed for easy preparation? Test, test and test. This recipe achieves the perfect triple of overnight oat gold. And those colors? I have never seen such a beautifully executed red, white and blue aesthetic.
Hero composition: Whether you choose plain or vanilla, the yogurt keeps this muesli like ice cream.
Get the recipe for Blueberry & Coconut Bircher Muesli.
Blueberry Muffin Oats Overnight
Why we love it: In the morning, nothing beats a blueberry muffin — except this healthy, hearty, and nutrient-packed roast. Even on the busiest of mornings, it only takes about three seconds to pull a jar out of the fridge and into your wallet. Got a little more time? Treat yourself to the gift of sitting down and sipping in delightful comfort at this dreamy, creamy breakfast.
Hero composition: Lemon peel enhances the natural sweetness of the fruit.
Get the recipe for Blueberry Muffin Oats Overnight.
Overnight Oats from Love & Lemon
Why we love it: One recipe, four delicious recipes. Step-by-step, this recipe will guide you through all the basics for making the best overnight oats. From there, you can choose from four coveted topping combos. I would choose chocolate chip cookies – because I would take any excuse to have dessert for breakfast.
Hero composition: Topping options are plentiful, and while I’ll always prefer sweet, definitely try the tahini and pomegranate combo. Tahini’s slightly bitter, nutty taste is like nothing you’ve ever tasted before.
Get the recipe for Overnight Oats.
Maple Pecan Overnight Oats from Fed + Fit
Why we love it: Say the words “maple pecans” and I can’t help but let out a cry of excitement and joy. Like the creamy peaches and oats above, this Maple Pecan Overnight Oats takes on the traditional combo recipe. Add in a tablespoon of maple syrup and some chopped pecans, sprinkle with ruby red pomegranate seeds, and you have the best breakfast ever — and oh my god, it’s a beautiful sight.
Hero composition: I got into the habit of teasing the hero component in the paragraph above, and here it is again. Those pomegranate seeds: gorgeous.
Get the recipe for Maple Pecan Oats Overnight.
Pecan Banana Bread Overnight Oats from Half-Naked Harvest
Why we love it: Leave it for Tieghan Gerard to create the most coveted overnight oats in the game. If you love banana bread (which I’m 95% sure you do), you won’t be able to enjoy all the flavors of this comforting and cozy breakfast. I love this recipe because it beautifully displays one of the (many) things I love most about overnight oats. With the oat and liquid combination as the base, you can play with the flavors as you like. Have fun and be inspired by your favorite desserts and sweets. Because with banana bread and overnight oats, you really can’t go wrong.
Hero composition: A sprinkle of toasted shredded coconut will give your oats an unexpected, but totally welcome, tropical flavor.
Get the recipe for Pecan Banana Bread Overnight Oats.
Basic easy overnight oats from eating bird food
Why we love it: In this formula (and it holds true for all other formulas in the pivot table), easy is the active word. The proportions of oats to milk and yogurt are perfectly balanced, giving you a creamy, slightly runny consistency that’s just right for each spoonful. If the photo above is any indication — it absolutely is — this recipe encourages creativity and allows you to reduce cravings. Chocolate biscuits? Peanut butter? Berry Oats? The choice is yours.
Hero composition: It might seem like a surprise, but that pinch of salt helps all the flavor out.
Get the recipe for Easy Basic Overnight Oats.
Peanut Butter Overnight Oats from Minimalist Baker
Why we love it: Two words: peanut butter. Do I even need to complete this paragraph? While the nut butter options are endless, I will always go back to the classic. Soft and fluffy (creamy PB > crispy PB), peanut butter not only makes these oats super tasty, but it also supplies your Mason Jar with protein, keeping you full until lunch — and perhaps more.
Hero composition: With only five ingredients to choose from, it’s clear that all of the ingredients in this recipe play an important role. But what if I had to choose? The chia seeds soak up the almond milk evenly, making the oats thicker.
Get the recipe for Peanut Butter Overnight Oats.
Overnight Protein Oats from real foods for a lifetime
Why we love it: One fact about overnight oats that I’ve only skimmed so far? They ask you not to cook. Sure, if you have time for it, a thoughtful weekday breakfast can make you feel especially good. But what if I need to log into a meeting 15 minutes after I wake up (it happens…)? You can bet I’m looking for something that’s prepped and requires nothing more than popping a lid and flooding a spoon.
Hero composition: One scoop of vanilla protein powder not only fills you up and fills you with energy, but it’s been combined with the tiniest bit of vanilla extract, flavoring just enough for your jar with just the right amount of sweetness.
Get the recipe for Oatmeal Overnight Protein.
Easy Overnight Oats from Downshiftology
Why we love it: I’ve highlighted many great things about overnight oats, and while all of these are true, nothing beats the endless creativity your oats can inspire. Case in point, these amazingly easy oatmeal treats. I love a good infographic, and this recipe perfectly illustrates the five ingredients that make up the meal (intro: oats, yogurt, milk, chia seeds, and maple syrup). From there, only the limits of your imagination can hold you back. This recipe also offers an important pro tip: If you want your oats sooner rather than later, just two hours in the fridge will do. Ice cream awaits.
Hero composition: You must try the carrot cake combo. It’s like your favorite treat, minus the sugar rush – and the inevitable crash.
Get the recipe for Easy Overnight Oats.
Do you love easy overnight oats recipes? Share in the comments!
