Overnight oats are everywhere right now, from foodie blogs to fitness websites. And with good reason too – they’re super-healthy, quick to prepare and taste delicious.
Oats have actually been a staple part of European diets for hundreds of years. In fact, oat porridge has even been found in the stomachs of 5000-year-old Neolithic bodies! But overnight oats are a fresh twist on the traditional breakfast.
With our modern, hectic lifestyles, they’re a perfect quick alternative to cooking oats for twenty minutes in the mornings. Not to mention the fact that they’re healthy, delicious and filling too.
Learn more… about the practical and health benefits of overnight oats.
How To Make Overnight Oats – The Basics
The formula for making overnight oats is super-simple…
(Oats + Liquid) x 8 Hours = Overnight Oats
It’s just about adding the right amount of oats to your choice of liquid (milk, water, etc) and letting them soak overnight.
Here is a basic overnight oats ingredient list, which is the foundation of all the recipes we share in our book and on the website…
- ½ cup or 40g oats
- ½ cup or 120ml liquid
- Flavourings (like spices, sweeteners, or preserves)
- Toppings (like fruit, nuts, or seeds)
Following this recipe framework will ensure you get a tasty outcome, with balanced flavours and a good texture. You can add to and experiment with different oats, liquids, flavourings and toppings.
Overnight Oats Step-By-Step
So, now we’ve covered the basics let’s get to the fun part – making your overnight oats taste awesome!
It’s the versatility of oatmeal that makes it a winner at most breakfast tables. Oats are a nutrient-rich blank canvas, which we can adapt to our individual tastes with different liquids, flavourings and toppings. We can add fresh fruit for extra vitamins, spices for calorie-free flavouring, or Greek yogurt or peanut butter for a protein boost.
Here’s a handy infographic that summarises exactly how to make healthy overnight oats, along with lots of different ingredient ideas. Feel free to share it with anyone who might find it helpful!
As you can see, the key steps to making delicious overnight oats are…
- Choose your oats – Rolled oats (also known as old fashioned oats) create a smooth texture when soaked overnight, where as steel cut oats are a bit crunchier.
- Add your liquid – Your choice of liquid will determine how creamy your oats are. Dairy and plant-based milks will create a creamier result than juice or water.
- Pick a healthy flavouring – Flavourings are what elevate plain old oatmeal into a delicious breakfast. Spices, protein powder, nut butter, flax and chia seeds, extracts, and citrus peel all work well.
- Mix well & refrigerate overnight – Let the oats soak for at least four hours, but ideally eight or more.
- Add a nutritious topping – Go for nutrient-rich toppings that’ll super-boost your vitamin and mineral intake, like fruits, seeds, and nuts.
High Protein Ingredient Ideas [Free Guide]
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You can’t go wrong with this approach. It’ll work whether you’re making healthy protein oats or cookie-inspired dessert oats. But if you want some ready-made recipe ideas, then we’ve got you covered…
Our Fav Overnight Oats Recipes
Here are some of our favourite recipes that you can try at home. They’ll also super-easy to prepare and don’t require any fancy ingredients…
- Banana & Peanut Butter Overnight Oats
- Carrot Cake Overnight Oats
- Chia & Strawberry Overnight Oats
- Honey & Cinnamon Overnight Oats
- Lemon & Raspberry Overnight Oats
- Peaches & Cream Protein Oats
- Tropical Coconut Overnight Oats
These are just our top picks – you can find loads more recipe ideas on the blog or in our book.
