Name: How To Make Overnight Oats
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Yield: 2
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 Cup Old Fashioned Oatmeal; 1 Cup Nut Milk; Add Ins of Choice

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If you need a quick, easy and healthy breakfast recipe let me show you How To Make Overnight Oats! This filling overnight oatmeal recipe is gluten free and vegan. Add your favorite fruits, nuts and toppings to this no cook oatmeal to make it your own!

This post may contain affiliate links. See my Disclosure Policy for more info. This post was originally published February 27, 2018.

Easy Overnight Oatmeal Recipe

These Overnight Oats save my butt on the regular! With my aversion to mornings, I NEED a grab and go breakfast.

It’s not just me I’m worried about. I need a quick, healthy breakfast for my daughter. She loves to start the day with a bowl of warm oatmeal with raisins, coconut, cinnamon and maple syrup. Overnight Oats are very customizable. Eat them warm or cold and with just about any add-ins you can think of.

You don’t need any special tools or ingredients. Just a jar or container and your refrigerator.

What kind of oatmeal should you use for overnight oats?

Rolled Oats and Old Fashioned Oats will work just fine. I even use steel cut oats but you have to like a chewy texture. If gluten is a concern, be sure to buy Gluten Free Oatmeal that has not been cross-contaminated. (Regular oatmeal may have trace amounts of gluten from the manufacturing facility) Instant or Quick Oats will get very soft and mushy.

What should you add to your overnight oatmeal?

This is completely up to you and depends on your preferences. Any types of nuts and dried fruit will work great. I like to add the dried fruit at night so that it has time to soak and get soft. Fresh fruit and berries can be added at night or in the morning. Your preferred sweetener can be added before serving. Flavor it with cinnamon, vanilla or even chocolate. Yogurt (plain or flavored) can be added for extra creamy oats.

What type of milk works best for overnight oats?

Nut milk works best for overnight oats. You can use regular dairy milk, I just find that it doesn’t give you that silky texture like nut milks do. I prefer coconut milk but any nut milk will work. There are so many options now to choose from. I have used cashew milk, almond milk and pecan milk with success.

Should you eat overnight oatmeal hot or cold?

Again, the choice is yours. I do it both ways depending on my mood and the season. My daughter absolutely will not eat it cold so I just heat it in the microwave for 30-60 seconds before serving it to her. If you like it hot it is a good idea to use a microwaveable container like a Glass Mason Jar to make your oats that way it can go right from the refrigerator to the microwave in the morning.

Tips → Tricks → Suggestions →

Make sure there is some extra room in your container once filled with ingredients. The oatmeal will expand a little overnight.
Think of unique add-ins to keep it interesting. Apple sauce, nut butters and Greek yogurt add flavor while staying healthy.
The oatmeal should stay good in the refrigerator for a couple days. After the second day it can start to get funky. IMHO
Keep in mind that oatmeal is not Whole30 or Paleo compliant. Oats are a nutritious breakfast when prepared with healthy ingredients and can easily be a great vegan breakfast option.

More overnight oatmeal recipes for your busy mornings:

Peaches & Cream No-Cook Oatmeal
Strawberry Cream Overnight Oatmeal
Carrot Cake Overnight Oats

More Easy Breakfast Recipes:

Whole 30 Breakfast Hash – Mushroom Spinach Frittata – Easy Baked French Toast – Orange Cream Breakfast Smoothie