Overnight Oats Recipes

Oats easily double, triple and quadruple in volume the longer they are soaked and they make for a quick and healthy breakfast.

Oats are amazing, rich is fiber, beta-glucan and help to cleanse and support the digestive system. They boost up your healthy cholesterol levels and provide a source of manganese, selenium, phosphorus, magnesium, zinc and antioxidants. As most of us simply do not have enough time to stir them in the morning, whip up a bowl of overnight oats to slurp up next morning. Kick start your day with flavor and nutrition.

Oats milk ratio

The oats - milk (coconut milk and yogurt are other options) ratio is important. If it is off, then oats will, at best, become creamy porridge. If too much of milk is added, oats will lose their consistency as they won't absorb all the liquid. If less milk is added, oats will be less creamy and more akin to freshly mixed concrete. Hence, ensure that double the liquid per each serving of oats (that is 1 cup of milk to ½ cup of oats) is added to have a creamy scooping texture.

Using the right kind of oats

Most of us love the chewy texture of steel-cut oats; they are too firm to use for overnight oats. Instant oats will break down after an overnight soak in the fridge and will vanish completely into the milk. The best option is to stick with old-fashioned regular and thick rolled oats for best results.

Adding mix-ins

For crunchy oats, do not add nuts or seeds until just before eating. Fresh fruits can be added just before eating too. Banana can be used either way, but make sure a ripe one that blends well is used. Chia seeds are an exception. These super seeds need time to absorb liquid. They help to thicken the porridge; hence the amount of liquid should be increased accordingly.

Under sweetening

As cold foods need more seasoning than hot, little more honey or dates can be added to overnight oats than one would to hot oatmeal. Brown or raw sugar which has deeper and richer flavor than granulated white sugar can be used.

Another way to add flavor is to toast the oats in a dry pan until they are golden brown and nutty smelling. This way, the final product is much tastier.

Re-mixing before meal

While overnight oats are one of the lowest-maintenance breakfast foods, many miss an important step in between removing them from the fridge and chowing down – forgetting to remix. Take extra few seconds to stir the oats for a perfect mix of sweetness, chewy texture and crunch in every bit.

Oats are so delicious, versatile and inexpensive, they can be the best breakfast ingredient as they work well when soaked overnight so that next morning you can grab your breakfast and go without worrying about getting up to cook something healthy.

Look up some delicious ways to revamp oats with minimal preparation time in the morning. Eat them warm or cold, the choice is entirely yours.

Oats and honey

Oats 100 grams
Honey 1 and ½ tablespoons
Almond milk 150 ml

Mix all the ingredients in a bowl. Transfer them into two air-tight jars and store them in the fridge overnight. Add a small handful of sultanas and bananas to each jar and any other choice toppings such as fresh berries, banana slices and some toasted nuts.

This preparation is wonderfully simple but delicious; with just three ingredients – oats, honey and almond milk.

Oats, coconut and blue berries

Oats 1 cup
Blueberries ½ cup
Coconut milk ½ cup
Liquid 1½ cup

Any spices, sweeteners, nuts, seeds, dried berries, coconut flakes can be added. If you are adding chia seeds, ensure that there is enough liquid to soak them.

Take a jar with an airtight lid to let the oats soak overnight in the fridge and in the morning they can be eaten fresh. They make for a great portable breakfast, heading straight after a workout at the gym or if you are running late for work.

Overnight oats can be tried with any flavor combinations. The base recipe can be kept for 2 days in an airtight container in the fridge.

Option 1

Coconut and blueberries

Cooking oats ½ cup
Coconut milk or coconut water ½ cup
Frozen blueberries ¼ cup
Desiccated coconut 1 tablespoon
Cinnamon 1 teaspoon
Coconut sugar 1 teaspoon
Chia seed 1 teaspoon

Toppings:

Extra coconut, blueberries and Chia seeds to serve

Option 2

Cacao banana

Banana, mashed ½ ripe
Whole rolled oats ¾ cup
Chia seeds 1 tablespoon
Water ¾ cup
Cacao powder 2 tablespoon
Maple syrup 1 tablespoon
Coconut milk or almond milk ¼ cup

Toppings

Cacao nibs sprinkle and banana slices

Option 3

Pecan peanut butter

Whole oats ½ cup
Chia seeds 1 tablespoon
Cinnamon 1 teaspoon
Ground vanilla bean 1 teaspoon
Almond or coconut milk ¾ cup
Natural peanut butter 1 tablespoon
Maple syrup 1 teaspoon
Pecans crushed 1 tablespoon
Banana mashed ½ ripe

Toppings:

Extra pecans, nut butter- a drizzle, banana slices, cacao nibs or shredded coconut

Simple overnight recipes

Oats are simple awesome for their health benefits. In the midst of marathon training and for those with revamped fitness goals, oats cannot be ignored. And overnight oats do not require any cooking at all. Hence no mess or fuss! Simply soak oats in yogurt or any liquid of your choice and they can be made the night before as a quick and nutritious breakfast.

Some overnight oats recipes that you can get excited about in the morning:

Vanilla Berry Overnight Oats

Oats 1 cup
Milk 1 ½ cup
Vanilla yogurt ½ cup
Apple, sliced ½
Strawberries sliced 4
Blueberries – a handful
Peach, diced
Almonds chopped 1 tablespoon
Honey 1 tablespoon
Brown sugar for sweetness

Soak milk and oats and refrigerate overnight. In the morning, if there is any extra liquid in the bowl drain it. Stir in yogurt, fruit and nuts.

Skinny pumpkin overnight oats

Steel cut oats ¼ cup
Unsweetened almond milk ½ cup
Pumpkin butter 2 tablespoon
Chia seeds 1 teaspoon
Cinnamon pinch
Pumpkin pie spice pinch
Banana sliced ¼ (freeze the rest for smoothies)

Topping

Unsweetened almond milk ¼ cup
Cinnamon and pumpkin pie spice a pinch
Pepitas or other nuts 1 tablespoon

Combine the oats with milk in a jar. Stir in the pumpkin butter, Chia seeds and spices. Add banana, cover the jar and shake and refrigerate overnight. Next morning, remove from the refrigerator and let it sit on the counter for about half-hour to take out the chill. You can even microwave it, if desired. Stir in the remaining milk, sprinkle a little cinnamon and pumpkin spice and top with nuts.

Single serving carrot cake with oats

Flour ¼ cup
Sugar 1 tablespoon
Cinnamon ½ teaspoon
Nutmeg ¼ teaspoon
Baking powder ½ tsp
Salt a dash
Coconut oil 1 tablespoon
Milk 1 tablespoon
Vanilla ½ teaspoon
Carrot grated 1

In a microwave cup, combine all the dry ingredients and stir in the coconut oil, milk and vanilla. Finally stir in the grated carrot and microwave on high for about 90 seconds and top with vanilla yogurt and pecan.

Almond butter chocolate overnight oats

Steel cut oats ½ cup
Chia seeds 1 teaspoon
Flax meal 1 teaspoon
Cacao powder 2 teaspoons
Almond butter 1 tablespoon
Honey 2 teaspoons
Unsweetened almond milk ½ cup

Put all the ingredients in an airtight jar. Mix well and store in the refrigerator overnight and stir again in the morning before eating.

There is nothing better than waking up to a delicious cooked pot of healthy and filling oatmeal on a cold morning. You can make several version of this recipe with banana, pumpkin and other fruits.

Overnight apple pie oatmeal

Steel cut oats 1 cup
Water 3 cups
Almond milk 1 cup
Cinnamon 2 teaspoon
Raisons ¼ cup (optional)
Apples peeled and chopped into ½ inch pieces
Brown sugar 2 tablespoons

Add all the ingredients to a slow cooker and stir to combine. Cover and cook on low for seven hours. Serve up oatmeal in a bowl and add additional sugar, butter or milk to taste. Store the leftovers in refrigerator.

Overnight oatmeal savory

Water 8 cups
Cranberries 1/3 cup dried
Salt ¼ teaspoon or to taste
Dried apricots 1/3 cups chopped
Steel cut oats 2 cups

Combine water, oats and dried cranberries, dried apricots and salt in a slow cooker. Turn heat to low. Put the lid on and cook until the oats are tender and the porridge is creamy; seven to eight hours. Combine 4 cups water, 1 cup steel cut oats, 3 tablespoons dried cranberries dried apricots and pinch of salt in the top of a double boiler. Cover and cook over boiling water for about 1 ½ hours, checking the water level in the bottom of the double boiler from time to time.

You can use 'Irish oatmeal' which looks like small pebbles. They are toasted oat groats and the oat kernel has been removed from the husk that has been cut in 2 or 3 pieces. The cooking time is 7-8 hours slow cooker time.

Fantastic for quick on-the-go snacking; these easy overnight oat recipes are quick to grab and quick to eat with a total preparation time of just five minutes. And it is perfect for those looking for something both sweet and healthy. Overnight oats with bananas and nuts are a naturally perfect combination and will give you the much-needed energy boost. The oatmeal blend will keep you full through the morning and can keep you going till lunchtime.

Bananas, nuts, apples and cinnamon are a classic combo too. These overnight oats are both gluten-free and vegan not to mention delicious, so that people with various diet restrictions can dig in. Take just ten minutes to prepare, store the mix in the refrigerator overnight for about eight hours and grab it in the morning and enjoy. And these awesome recipes hold the record for the shortest preparation time.

Oatmeal ½ cup
Almond ½ cup
Honey and vanilla yogurt ¼ cup
Chia seeds 1 teaspoon
Dash of cinnamon

Combine all ingredients in a bowl, mix well, cover and let it sit in the fridge overnight. Wake up, top the mixture with your favorite toppings and enjoy. The possibilities of mix-ins and toppings with overnight oats are endless so you are not likely to get bored easily.