Overnight Oats

Base Ingredients for Overnight Oats

Granola: We think the best oats for overnight oats are actually granola! For this easy overnight oats recipe, we’ve used Cascadian Farm™ Oats and Honey Granola, which contains whole grain oats that are sweetened with honey and molasses and seasoned with a touch of sea salt. This extra boost of flavor means our two-ingredient recipe is delicious without any extra toppings, though those are welcome as well. (See our Variations of Overnight Oats section below.)

Milk: For the second ingredient, we tested with 2% milk. If you avoid dairy, non-dairy options like almond milk, soy milk, or oat milk work as well. The milk not only softens the oats but also contributes to the overall flavor profile.

Extras: Add-ins like chia seed and yogurt should be mixed with the granola and milk. If you choose to add chia seed, you need to increase the milk-to-oats ratio. Typically, for every tablespoon of chia seed, add an extra 1/4 cup of milk. Adding Greek yogurt creates a creamy texture. Similar to chia seed, adding yogurt will require adjusting the liquid. For every tablespoon of Greek yogurt, reduce milk by 1 tablespoon.

Variations of Overnight Oats

While the base recipe for overnight oats is quite straightforward, you can get creative with ingredients to suit your taste and dietary preferences. We’ve already mentioned adding stir-ins like chia seed and granola, but don’t forget the toppings!

See our Kitchen Tip below for our favorite topping combos, or try your own concoctions using toppings like:

Fruits: Classic pairings for granola are apples, peaches, and berries.

Nut butters: From peanut butter to almond butter, cashew butter and sunbutter, it’s hard to make a bad choice!

Nuts: Add a little crunch with toasted pecans, walnuts, almonds, or pistachios.

Seeds: Sunflower seeds and pepitas are natural choices, but a sprinkle of poppy seed works well, too.

Sweets: Drizzle with honey or maple syrup for added sweetness.

Spices: Lastly, add a pinch of cinnamon, nutmeg, or pumpkin pie spice to create overnight oatmeal versions of classic dessert flavors like apple pie.

You’ll want to make this recipe again and again just to have the excuse to experiment with the endless flavor options!

How to Make Overnight Oats

Curious about how to make overnight oats? We’ll cover the high points, but keep reading below for the full detailed directions.

Add Granola to Jars: Divide the granola among 4 jars. If you don’t have half-pint canning jars, you can use another 8-oz lidded container. Try to make sure the granola is level in each jar, so that it soaks up the milk evenly. If adding chia seed, stir in with the granola now (and be sure to include additional milk in the next step).

Add the Milk: Pour the milk evenly over the granola in each jar, then seal jars. If adding yogurt, stir it into the milk before adding to the granola, being sure to reduce the amount of milk as well.

Refrigerate, then Top: Store the overnight oats in the refrigerator for at least 8 hours, and up to 3 days. Just before serving, add your favorite toppings, and enjoy! It’s just that simple.

Storing Overnight Oats

This overnight oatmeal recipe is designed to be stored! It’s an excellent make-ahead breakfast option that takes just 5 minutes to prep and lasts up to 3 days in the fridge. Since you prep the overnight oats directly in the container that it’s served in, you also have fewer dishes to wash. This recipe is a meal-prep winner you’ll want to commit to your standard recipe rotation.

We don’t recommend freezing overnight oats as the uncooked milk can separate during freezing and thawing.

More Easy Breakfast Recipes

Now that you’ve tried our best overnight oats recipe, take a look at some of our other favorite easy breakfast recipes.

Impossibly Easy Mexican Chorizo Breakfast Bake is another easy make-ahead breakfast. It can be assembled unbaked and refrigerated for up to 12 hours before baking. Then serve with avocado, tomato, salsa, hot sauce, and lime wedges for a fresh and fun meal that’s perfect for a weekend breakfast or brunch.

Waffles from scratch are easier to make than you would think! You only need 8 ingredients (that you probably already have on hand) and a waffle maker to make these simple stunners. Bonus: leftover waffles can be frozen up to a month.

Impossibly Easy Mini Breakfast Sausage Pies beautifully combine the savory flavors of sausage, mushrooms, cheddar, and sage in these Bisquick™-based pies. They can also be prepared and refrigerated up to a day ahead of baking.

Fluffy Homemade Pancakes are a classic freezable favorite. Store in the fridge for a couple of days, or freeze up to a month. They can be reheated in the microwave or toaster oven.

Whether you make and serve these breakfast classics immediately, prep them ahead, or freeze them, we know you’ll find a new treasured recipe from this bunch!