These Overnight Oats with Almond Milk make a healthy and delicious breakfast that can be prepped the night before and are perfect for busy mornings. These creamy oats are easy to make, creamy, and filled with delicious toppings like peanut butter, chocolate chips, and chia seeds to keep you feeling full and satisfied all morning. This overnight oats recipe is also gluten free, dairy free, and vegan.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- This is a great make-ahead breakfast recipe - These overnight oats are the perfect breakfast for meal prep. They can even be made in large batches to enjoy throughout the week.
- Overnight oats use simple Ingredients - The basic overnight oats recipe simply requires oats and milk (whether dairy free or not), two ingredients you likely already have on hand. In these overnight oats with almond milk, I like to add chia seeds and peanut butter for the added health benefits and to make it even more satiating.
- The topping options are so versatile - This healthy overnight oats recipe makes a great breakfast for the entire family because it can easily be customized with toppings. Some of our favorite flavor combinations include chocolate and peanut butter and fresh fruit with a drizzle of honey.
What are overnight oats?
Overnight oats are a delicious and convenient breakfast option that has become increasingly popular recently. Overnight oats are made by combining raw oats with a liquid (in this case, almond milk) and allowing them to soak in the refrigerator overnight. This process allows the oats to absorb the liquid and soften, creating a creamy and satisfying texture.
The great thing about overnight oats is that they're so versatile and can be customized to suit your taste buds. You can add in your favorite fruits, nuts, seeds, or natural sweeteners to create a delicious and nutritious, healthy, and convenient breakfast. Plus, because you can prepare them in advance, overnight oats are perfect for busy mornings when you don't have time to cook breakfast. Simply grab your jar of oats the next morning and head out the door.
Ingredient Notes
- Oatmeal - I use Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free Oats. If you have celiac disease, it is important to get the certified gluten free oats.
- Milk - I use Califia unsweetened almond milk. Feel free to substitute coconut milk, cashew milk, oat milk, soy milk, or cow's milk.
- Nut Butter - I used peanut butter but I've made this many times with both almond butter and cashew butter.
- Chia Seeds - These are optional but they add healthy fats and extra nutrients to this breakfast making it even more healthy.
- Toppings of choice - the topping options are truly endless but here are some of our favorites; nuts, seeds, berries, sliced bananas, coconut flakes, and chocolate chips. You can also stir in a heaping spoonful of greek yogurt for added protein.
How To Make This Recipe
- Mix the oatmeal, chia seeds, and milk of choice in a mason jar or airtight container, then cover with the lid.
- Place in the fridge overnight.
- When ready to serve, top the oats with your favorite toppings such as almond or peanut butter, coconut flakes, and/or mini chocolate chips and enjoy.
Tips For The Best Overnight Oats
- Choose the right oats: Use rolled oats or old-fashioned oats instead of quick oats or steel-cut oats which will affect the texture. If you’re looking for a recipe that uses steel-cut oats, try this crock pot steel cut oats with chocolate, cherries, and cashews.
- Use the right ratio of liquid to oats: Always use a 1:1 ratio of oats to liquid (in this case, almond milk) for the base recipe. This will ensure that the oats absorb the liquid properly and have a creamy texture.
- Toppings are key: Overnight oats are incredibly versatile, so feel free to add your favorite fruits, nuts, seeds, or sweeteners to the mix. I’ve listed some of our favorites below.
- Let the oats soak overnight: As the name suggests, overnight oats need to soak overnight in the refrigerator to allow the oats to absorb the liquid and to soften to a delicious texture.
- Gluten-Free overnight oats: If you are gluten free, be sure to use certified gluten-free oats.
- Use a mason jar: I recommend making these oats in a mason jar as it is easy to mix and store.
Leftovers and Storage
Storing overnight oats is incredibly easy and convenient. Once you've made your oats, simply cover them tightly and store them in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. I recommend using a jar or container with a tight-fitting lid, as this will help keep your oats fresh and prevent them from drying out.
When you're ready to eat them, give them a quick stir and add any desired toppings or mix-ins.
The Best Overnight Oat Toppings
One of my favorite things about this oat recipe is its versatility in terms of toppings. While you can certainly keep it simple and top these overnight oats with whatever you have on hand, these are a few of my favorite “fun” topping combinations:
- Banana Nut: Slice a ripe banana and sprinkle some chopped walnuts or pecans over the top of your overnight oats. Finish it off with a dash of cinnamon and a drizzle of honey or maple syrup for a touch of sweetness.
- Fresh Fruit: My favorite way to enjoy these overnight oats is to add a handful of fresh berries (frozen works as well). You can top them with a sprinkle of shredded coconut or chopped almonds for added crunch. The sweet and tangy flavors of the berries pairs perfectly with the creamy texture of the oats.
- Chocolate Peanut Butter: A classic flavor combo for a reason. Stir in a spoonful of natural peanut butter (or almond butter) and a tablespoon of cocoa powder. Top with sliced bananas or strawberries for some added sweetness. This overnight chocolate oatmeal protein bowl is another great recipe for chocolate lovers.
- Almond Joy: This one is a healthy twist on almond joys that’s so delicious. Top your overnight oats with some unsweetened shredded coconut, a handful of sliced almonds, and a drizzle of honey or maple syrup. For some added crunch, top with a sprinkle of cacao nibs or mini chocolate chips.
For cozy fall favorites, give these overnight oats a try:
- Cranberry Chocolate Overnight Oats
- Overnight Pumpkin Oats with Chocolate
- Apple Cinnamon Overnight Oats with Chia Seeds
Remember that toppings can add a large number of calories and sugar to your oats, so whichever you choose, try to keep your portion sizes under control.
FAQ’s
How do you make basic overnight oats?
To make basic overnight oats, combine 1 part raw oats with 1 parts liquid (such as dairy or non-dairy milk) in a jar or container, and mix well. Cover and refrigerate overnight; in the morning, you'll have a delicious and creamy breakfast ready! From there, you can customize your oats with your favorite add-ins and toppings to make them even more delicious and nutritious.
Are overnight oats healthy?
Yes, overnight oats are a great healthy breakfast option. They're packed with fiber from whole grains, protein, and nutrients and can help keep you full and satisfied all morning. However, it's important to be mindful of the toppings you use, as they can quickly add up in calories and sugar. I like to stick to fresh or frozen fruit, nuts, seeds, and natural sweeteners like honey or maple syrup for a nutritious and satisfying breakfast.
What are the best oats to use for overnight oats?
Rolled oats or old-fashioned oats are the best oats to use as they provide the perfect creamy texture after soaking up the liquid overnight. If you use quick oats or instant oats, they may soften too much, and using steel-cut oats may result in the oats not softening enough overnight.
More Healthy Breakfast Ideas You’ll Love
- Cranberry Chocolate Overnight Oats
- Apple Pie Overnight Oats
- Carrot, Apple and Turmeric Smoothie
- Healthy Gluten Free Oatmeal Toppings
- Chocolate Chia Pudding
If you make this recipe, let me know what you think! I’d love it if you could add a star rating ★ and a comment below. Be sure to follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook, too!
Overnight Oats with Chia Seeds and Almond Milk
Ingredients
- 1 cup gluten free oats I like Bob's Red Mill
- 1 cup plain almond milk
- 1 tablespoon chia seeds
- 1 tablespoon honey optional
- Toppings:
- 1 tablespoon coconut flakes
- 1 tablespoon chocolate chips
- 1 tablespoon peanut butter
Instructions
- Mix all ingredients in a jar with lid and place in fridge overnight.
- In the morning top with favorite toppings and enjoy.
- If it's too thick add a bit more almond milk.
Michelle Chesley
Is the nutritional information with or without the toppings?
And is the nutritional info “per serving” or is it for the entire recipe?
Karen Kelly
It's without the toppings and nutritional info is per serving.