How To Make Protein Overnight Oats 3 Ways

Interested in learning how to make protein overnight oats at home? Whether you’re looking for healthy breakfast ideas or want to find the perfect post-workout fuel, protein oats are ideal. Plus, they’re really easy to make and will keep you feeling full until lunch.

In this article – we outline how to make protein overnight oats using three different (but equally delicious) methods, plus our go-to protein-rich oats recipe.

The approach can vary depending on what ingredients you have in your kitchen which is why there are several to choose from. In a nutshell, you can make protein oats by adding protein powder, including high-protein toppings, or using ready-made protein oats.

1. Adding protein powder
2. Including high-protein toppings
3. Using ready-made protein oats

Let’s explore each of these methods in more detail…

1 – Add Protein Powder To Your Oats

Mixing protein powder into your overnight oats is a quick and easy way to increase its nutrient value. Whey, pea, and soy are some of the most popular protein powders for adding to oats, since they have high branch chain amino acid (BCAA) contents and dissolve easily into the mix. BCAAs are what help you muscles recover and grow after exercise which is why many fitness-fans pay attention to their levels.

One scoop of protein powder will add around 15g-25g of protein to your breakfast bowl, depending on the variety you choose. You can use plain protein powders or flavoured ones to overnight oats. Vanilla is great because it’s subtle and goes well with just about every other ingredient, from bananas and berries to seeds and nuts. But chocolate, strawberry, butterscotch, and coffee flavour powders are also delicious in oats.

To make protein overnight oats with protein powder…

1. Place a scoop of protein powder, half a cup of rolled oats, and half a cup of milk into a container.
2. Mix well so that the oats are thoroughly coated in milk and the protein powder dissolves.
3. Store in the fridge overnight (or for a minimum of four hours).
4. Serve the next morning.

By following these steps, you’ll have a high-protein bowl of oats to enjoy without fuss. Dairy and soy milk contain the highest amounts of protein (8g and 7g per cup respectively), so use one of them if you can.

2 – Include High-Protein Toppings

If you want to make protein overnight oats without protein powder, then you’ll need to add protein-rich toppings instead. You might be surprised by just how much protein a few carefully selected ingredients can provide.

Cottage cheese tops the rankings with an incredible 28g of protein per cup! While we don’t personally like it mixed into our breakfast oats, we know a lot of other people who really enjoy the creamy texture it gives them.

Then there’s Greek yogurt, which contains 15g of protein per cup. Or silken tofu, which has 20g per cup. Or you can use a combination of other high-protein ingredients to ramp up your intake.

Some of our favourite protein-rich toppings and ingredients for oats include…

• Greek Yogurt: 15g of protein per cup
• Chia Seeds: 5g of protein per ounce
• Hemp Seeds: 10g of protein per ounce
• Flaxseeds: 6g of protein per ounce
• Pumpkin Seeds: 9g of protein per ounce
• Almonds: 6g of protein per ounce
• Peanut Butter: 8g of protein per 2 tablespoons
• Almond Butter: 7g of protein per 2 tablespoons
• Coconut Milk: 5g of protein per cup
• Cacao Nibs: 4g of protein per ounce

If you’re looking for more ideas and inspiration, here’s an even longer list of high-protein ingredients for oats.

There are so many ways you can be creative by mixing and matching these ingredients. We tend to go all out by adding protein powder AND protein-rich toppings, but you can go with whatever takes your fancy.

Here’s one of our fav high-protein oats recipes that uses all of the tastiest, most protein-packed ingredients. It’s really filling and packed with nutrients too…

But if you’re looking for an even easier option, then we’ve got you covered…

3 – Use Ready-Made Protein Oats

Did you know that you can make protein overnight oats using ready-made sachets? And that they come in an incredible range of delicious flavours too?

Using pre-packaged protein oats is a quick and easy solution when you’re busy, at work, or travelling. They’re really convenient because all you need to do is add water or milk to the sachet. That’s it!

The downside is that prepackaged options aren’t always as healthy. They sometimes add sugar, preservatives, and flavourings that can make them overly processed. But not all of them, so its just important to read the label carefully.

• Quaker – make high-protein oats sachets in banana nut, maple brown sugar, cranberry almond, cinnamon, golden syrup, and original flavours.
• ONO Protein Oats – create mouthwatering flavours like Rocky Road, Peanut Butter & Banana Split, and Mocha Chip.
• Kodiak – offer cinnamon, peanut butter, chocolate chip, blueberries and cream, plus maple and brown sugar.

These are just a few of the most popular and up-and-coming brands. There’s so much choice that you’re sure to find a oat option that suits your tastes.

Make Protein Overnight Oats Your Own

So, there you have three ways to make protein overnight oats that are all easy and delicious. There are plenty of ways to customise your protein oats by adding different milks, protein powders, or toppings. They’re a healthy breakfast option that you can tailor to your dietary needs – just get creative with the protein-rich ingredients already in your kitchen!