When your busy, seriously amazing sister who’s chasing around two beautiful kids (4 and 2 years old) all day asks if you could make her an overnight oats recipe to make morning mealtime easier, for goodness sake, you make the woman some overnight oats.
This version is as simple as it gets:5 ingredients,5 minutes prep time, no fancy methods, and simple ingredients. Let’s do this!
What Are Overnight Oats?
Overnight oats are a quick and easy breakfast or snack made by soaking rolled oats in liquid overnight.
We love how overnight oats seem to keep the integrity of the oat intact, helping to avoid that gummy texture that cooked versions sometimes take on.
They’re simple to prepare (no cooking required!) and perfect for when you need a make-ahead breakfast or snack, especially for those with hectic mornings.
Keep reading to learn our perfect formula for overnight oats!
How to Make Overnight Oats
After a little testing, I’m happy to report that our simple, straight-forward method truly yields the best results! I even tried partially cooking the oats with warm almond milk before refrigerating, but much preferred this completely raw version.
We use the following base formula for making perfect overnight oats:
1/2 cup Dairy-Free Milk + 3/4 Tbsp Chia Seeds + 1/2 cup Rolled Oats = Perfect Overnight Oats
You can play with formula as needed, adding more dairy-free milk for wetter oats, or adding more chia seeds (or oats) for thicker, more pudding like oats.
To make your overnight oats, simply add these ingredients to a small jar or bowl with your preferred sweetener (we love maple syrup or stevia!). We also added peanut butter to this version for a flavor and protein boost!
Give the mixture a few stirs to make sure the oats have been fully immersed in the milk. Then, cover and leave in the refrigerator overnight to let the oats soften and flavors meld.
Overnight oats FAQs
How long do overnight oats last?
Overnight oats can be prepared up to 2-3 days in advance, sometimes longer.
Can you eat overnight oats hot?
Overnight oats can be eaten hot or cold. To heat, microwave for ~45-60 seconds (just ensure there’s enough space at the top of your jar to prevent overflowing), or transfer to a saucepan and heat over medium heat until warmed through.
Can you use quick oats?
We prefer using rolled oats to make overnight oats, but you can use quick oats – they will just be softer.
Can you use steel cut oats?
Though we haven’t tried it, some people report success using steel cut oats to make overnight oats. They will take longer, require more liquid, and probably won’t be quite as soft. They may also be more difficult to digest.
Are oats gluten-free?
This is somewhat controversial as some believe even certified gluten-free oats to be troublesome for those with gluten sensitivities and celiac disease. But based on our own research and experience, it seems certified gluten-free oats make this recipe gluten-free.
overnight oats Flavor Ideas
Using our formula as a base, the possibilities for overnight oat flavor variations are endless!
We have recipes for:
- Decadent Chocolate Overnight Oats
- Peaches and Cream Overnight Oats
- Apple Pie Overnight Oats
- Pumpkin Pie Overnight Oats
- Golden Milk Overnight Oats
More inspiration:
- Peanut butter + chocolate almond milk or cacao nibs
- Coconut yogurt + berry compote
- Homemade nutella + banana
- Carrot cake (add in some finely shredded carrot, walnuts, and a chopped date!)
- Peanut butter + “jelly” compote
We hope you LOVE these oats! They’re:
Creamy
Hearty
Perfectly (& naturally) sweet
Peanut buttery
Satisfying
& Absolutelydelicious
These oats wouldmake the perfect make-ahead breakfast or snack, especially for those of you with hecticmornings. We also think it would make the perfect meal to enjoy after an intense workout – hello 15 grams of protein!
Into oats? Try these Recipes!
- How to Make Oat Flour
- How to Make Oat Milk
- 1-Bowl Vegan Banana Oat Pancakes
- The Perfect Bowl of Oats
If you give these a try, leave a comment below, rate them, and don’t forget to tag a picture @minimalistbaker on Instagram! We’d love to see what you come up with. Cheers, friends!
Peanut Butter Overnight Oats (5 Ingredients!)
EASY peanut butter overnight oats made with just 5 ingredients and 5 minutes prep time. Naturally sweetened, vegan, gluten-free, and so delicious.
Author Minimalist Baker
Print SAVE
4.93 from 364 votes
Prep Time 6 hours hours 5 minutes minutes
Total Time 6 hours hours 5 minutes minutes
Servings 1
Course Breakfast
Cuisine Gluten-Free, Vegan
Freezer Friendly No
Does it keep? 2-3 Days
Ingredients
US Customary – Metric
OATS
- 1/2 cup unsweetened plain almond milk (or sub other dairy-free milks, such as coconut, soy, or hemp!)
- 3/4 Tbsp chia seeds
- 2 Tbsp natural salted peanut butter or almond butter (creamy or crunchy // or sub other nut or seed butter)
- 1 Tbsp maple syrup (or sub coconut sugar, organic brown sugar, or stevia to taste)
- 1/2 cup gluten-free rolled oats (rolled oats are best, vs. steel cut or quick cooking)
TOPPINGS optional
- Sliced banana, strawberries, or raspberries
- Flaxseed meal or additional chia seeds
- Granola
Instructions
To a mason jar or small bowl with a lid, add almond milk, chia seeds, peanut butter, and maple syrup (or other sweetener) and stir with a spoon to combine. The peanut butter doesn’t need to be completely mixed with the almond milk (doing so leaves swirls of peanut butter to enjoy the next day).
Add oats and stir a few more times. Then press down with a spoon to ensure all oats have been moistened and are immersed in almond milk.
Cover securely with a lid or seal and set in the refrigerator overnight (or for at least 6 hours) to set/soak.
The next day, open and enjoy as is or garnish with desired toppings (see options above). See more flavor/topping suggestions in the blog post above!
OPTIONAL: You can also heat your oats in the microwave for 45-60 seconds (just ensure there’s enough room at the top of your jar to allow for expansion and prevent overflow), or transfer oats to a saucepan and heat over medium heat until warmed through. Add more liquid as needed if oats get too thick/dry.
Overnight oats will keep in the refrigerator for 2-3 days, though best within the first 12-24 hours in our experience. Not freezer friendly.
Video
Notes
*Overnight oats adapted from Eating Bird Food (one of my many girl crushes).
*Prep time reflects preparation and overnight soaking.
*The first, fifth, and last images reflect two servings (double ingredients) with additional chia seeds and peanut butter.
*Nutrition information is a rough estimate calculated with fortified almond milk and without optional ingredients.
Nutrition (1 of 1 servings)
Serving: 1 serving Calories: 452 Carbohydrates: 51.7 g Protein: 14.6 g Fat: 22.8 g Saturated Fat: 4.1 g Polyunsaturated Fat: 7.04 g Monounsaturated Fat: 10.19 g Trans Fat: 0 g Cholesterol: 0 mg Sodium: 229 mg Potassium: 479 mg Fiber: 8.3 g Sugar: 15.8 g Vitamin A: 253 IU Vitamin C: 0.12 mg Calcium: 341 mg Iron: 3.95 mg
