Basic Overnight Oats are your life saver on those busy mornings! Just whip up a batch the night before and breakfast will be ready in the fridge for your family.
It’s no secret that I love the convenience of overnight oats:
Healthy ingredients, filling, make-ahead and super easy to prep.
I have plenty of recipes for different varieties on the blog already (AND a detailed guide on How to Make Overnight Oats!), but lately I’ve been doing something new:
Instead of making smaller batches of individually flavored oatmeal, I just whip up one large container of these basic ones – and then everyone can add the toppings they like.
Recipe Video Tutorial:
What are Overnight Oats?
So, what is this magic breakfast sorcery? They’re basically birchermuesli. You know, that weird 80ies trend your mom used to follow? ?
Long story short, they’re simply oats soaked in some form of liquid in the fridge overnight.
So… Do you eat overnight oats cold??
Yes, you sure do.
Don’t worry, most commercial oats are steam-rolled (so you’re not eating raw grain) to keep them from turning bitter over time.
Can you heat overnight oats if you want to? Well, yes. But I recommend leaving out the yogurt if you intend to warm them up in the morning – otherwise it tastes… Off.
Are overnight oats healthy?
Well… “Healthy” is a pretty difficult definition to make.
But in my books, yes. I consider them a healthy breakfast.
How to Make Basic Overnight Oats:
To make basic overnight oats, you don’t have to worry about any mix-ins or anything – you just stir together the base ingredients and shove the thing in the fridge.
You have two options here:
assemble in individual containers (great if some of your family members take more than their fair share, ahem, or if some of your family needs an on-the-go option)
make one large container of oats from where everyone can serve themselves in the morning (great for large families, or families with vastly different breakfast appetites)
I usually pick the second option now, because it’s SO much faster to prep!
Mix all ingredients in a large container. Either keep in the large container OR spoon into individual jars to refrigerate (covered) overnight. Serve cold with fruit, fruit preserves and/or nut butter.
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About Nora When I got married to my professional chef husband, I realized I had to step up my game in the kitchen. Now I share my favorite foolproof family recipes here on Savory Nothings: Chef-approved, kid-vetted and easy enough for everyday home cooks like you and me! Learn more.
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Lindsaysays
I’ve tried a lot of overnight oat recipes, but this one is my favorite by far! I usually prep a batch into four individual containers at a time, stash in the fridge, and then also prep a fruit topping of some kind. Lately I love frozen mixed berries microwaved with a drizzle of maple syrup for the fruit. These creamy oats + fruit topping + a spoon of almond or peanut butter is dreamy and filling. This registered dietitian approves. Thanks for the recipe!
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Norasays
I’m so glad to hear this, Lindsay! And how delicious with the microwaved frozen berries.
Mix equal parts old-fashioned oats (rolled oats, that is, not quick-cooking-they'll get too mushy) and water along with a pinch of salt in a jar, cover and refrigerate overnight and up to 3 days. For one serving, we recommend using: 1/2 cup oats. 1/2 cup water (or milk or nondairy milk)
What's the Best Ratio for Overnight Oats? Making overnight oats is actually as easy as memorizing a simple ratio: Use equal parts old-fashioned rolled oats and milk, plus half as much yogurt. For example, the recipe below calls for 2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats, 2 cups milk, and 1 cup yogurt.
Whether you prefer whole milk, rice milk or coconut milk, you can use it. Just make sure to add twice as much milk as oats. Note: You can also use whey, buttermilk or thinned yogurt for a tangier flavor.
As Best points out, "some of the worst ingredients that are mistakenly added to healthy overnight oat recipes include chocolate sauce, sugar, syrup, and dried fruit."
Greek yogurt, for example, is a good choice as it is high in protein and lower in sugar compared to other types of yogurt. Low-fat or non-fat milk can also be used in moderation to reduce the overall fat content. Yes, combining yogurt and milk to make overnight oats is a healthy choice for your body.
Overnight Oats are great with all kinds of milk, dairy (pasteurized) or non-dairy. Feel free to use your favorite! We do not recommend making Overnight Oats with water because it will result in an overly liquid texture. Did this answer your question?
Why Do You Put Chia Seeds in Overnight Oats? Chia seeds up the nutrition content in overnight oats. They're loaded with good-for-your-gut fiber and omega-3 fatty acids, which help calm inflammation in your body and may protect you from chronic disease. They also add a nice protein boost to this recipe.
In a large glass jar, combine the oats, milk, yogurt, maple syrup or honey, chia seeds, vanilla cinnamon, and sea salt. Stir well to make sure all the ingredients are combined. Cover with a lid and place in the refrigerator overnight. In the morning, remove from the refrigerator and stir.
Another mistake people make is not adding enough liquid to their overnight oats. If you don't add enough liquid, your oats will be dry and clumpy in the morning, making them less enjoyable to eat. Make sure to add enough milk or yogurt to fully cover your oats and give them a creamy consistency.
Making oatmeal a regular part of your menu can potentially lower your disease risk, help your gut health thrive, make bowel movements easier and keep you feeling fuller for longer. If you're ready to start your morning with a bowl of oats, try our Cinnamon-Roll Overnight Oats.
Whatever you do, steer clear of the worst offenders: dried fruit with added sugars, like Craisins or dried pineapple. "These are almost always made with added sugar, if not also an artificial sweetener, says Pennsylvania-based RD Gina Consalvo. "Always choose a fresh fruit instead." Need hard proof?
You can definitely make overnight oats in a plastic container. Plastic jars tend to be more durable than glass, especially when dropped, making them a popular choice for families. They're also lightweight and inexpensive.
Can I use water? No. Adding enough water to make your oats drinkable will greatly damage the taste. Think of it like eating cereal with water, don't do it!
Oats have a low glycemic index, meaning they cause a slower and more gradual rise in blood sugar levels compared to refined carbohydrates. This slow release of glucose into the bloodstream helps prevent spikes in blood sugar, promoting stable glycemic control.
Just like with regular stove top oats, there are some classic add-ins like vanilla extract, ground cinnamon, maple syrup (or honey) and a pinch of sea salt that really elevate the flavor and make overnight oats super tasty.
Use 1 tsp at first to see how your baby tolerates it, or follow your doctor's instructions. You might add more oatmeal if your doctor says it's okay. The maximum amount of oatmeal that you can add to a bottle is 1 tsp (2 g) of oatmeal per 1 tablespoon (15 mL) of formula.
You can make the over night oats with baby's usual milk (breast milk or first infant formula) or cow's milk if baby is over 6's months. Soft fruit such as banana can be mashed with the porridge oats. Hard fruits such as apple can be softened by steaming or simmering them until soft.
Here are some alternatives. Flaxseed: If you don't like flaxseeds or chia seeds, you can replace them with nut butter, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, or mashed fruit. Maple Syrup: Agave syrup or brown sugar is an excellent replacement for maple syrup.
Overnight oats offer a range of health benefits, due to their rich fibre and protein content. They also contain a number of vitamins and minerals, some of which include manganese, phosphorus, magnesium, copper, iron and zinc. This makes overnight oats healthy for your gut, as well as for overall health and well-being.
Introduction: My name is Van Hayes, I am a thankful, friendly, smiling, calm, powerful, fine, enthusiastic person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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