Hearty and Healthy Overnight Oats Recipes for Hectic Mornings

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If your house is anything like mine, mornings can get a little…chaotic.  People are trying to get ready…and find their homework…and grab breakfast somewhere in there, too. 

I know plenty of people who are just fine skipping breakfast and jumping right into their day—but I am not one of those people.  Mornings are hard enough for me to endure without having to do it on an empty stomach.  Breakfast is non-negotiable.  But with our crazy morning schedule, breakfast also has to be quick and easy.  And since I tend to go on my walks in the morning, it also needs to give me enough fuel to keep me from running out of energy on Mile 2.

Earlier this year, I started blending up a morning smoothie (you can find some of my favorite recipes in this post) while getting my daughter ready for school.  I love getting a blend of fruit and protein and calcium—and maybe some leafy greens, too—all in a to-go cup.  And, as an added bonus, all of those vitamins help me power through my morning walk.

But, since I’m always looking for ways to change things up (and to make my mornings go a little more smoothly), I started looking into overnight oats.  To be fair, it was my husband’s idea first.  Whether he’s working from home or heading in to the office, he likes to have something that’s both filling and easy.  While I loved the idea of filling and easy, I did not love the idea of my husband’s overnight oats.  My husband is a pretty plain guy, so he just mixes equal parts oats and water and calls it a day—and that would not work for my flavor-loving palate.  So I started searching for oats recipes with more…taste.

What are Overnight Oats and How Do They Work?

I don’t know who first discovered overnight oats, but I’m pretty sure this person is a genius.  They’re incredibly simple to make.  They’re hearty and filling and good for you, too.  And you can easily take them on the go.

The concept behind this tasty make-ahead breakfast is pretty basic: you just need some kind of oats and some kind of liquid.  You simply mix them together before you turn in for the night (or you can make several days’ worth at once) and seal them up in a container (like these) in the refrigerator, and when you get up in the morning, the liquid has soaked into the oats, making them soft enough to eat.  Some people prefer to heat them up in the microwave, while others (like me) just eat them cold.  And that’s it!  EZPZ! 

The finished product here isn’t quite like the oatmeal that you heat up in the microwave.  The texture is a little different—which made me nervous at first, since I’m picky about food textures.  But while it’s definitely chewier than the typical packet of instant oats, it didn’t actually bother me at all. 

Overnight Oats Basics

If you’re okay with the plainest of plain—like my husband—overnight oats can be incredibly quick to make.  All you need is oats (any kind will do—we’ve used both quick and old fashioned) and some kind of liquid.  That can be water or your preferred variety of milk. 

Personally, though, I can’t do plain.  So I need to add in a little more flavor. 

Some of my regular mix-ins include:
– Cinnamon (for taste and also for its antioxidant properties)
– Vanilla extract (and sometimes almond extract—because I love almond extract)
– Peanut butter (for flavor and protein—though other butters and powder would work, too)
– Maple syrup or brown sugar to sweeten things up
– Greek yogurt
– Chopped fruit

Some people also love to add in things like protein powder, nuts, and chia or flax seeds.  I keep thinking about adding some chia seeds—because the health benefits are endless—but my texture issues and chia’s general sliminess keep me from giving it a shot.

Overnight Oats Recipes

For months, I’ve been scouring the Internet for quick, easy, and delicious overnight oats recipes.  I’ve tried some that were too runny or too solid, some that tasted too bitter or too blah, and some that were just right.  And here are some of my favorites to help you get through your crazy weekday mornings and fuel you through your morning walks.  I’m including links here (along with some notes), but if you’re a Pinterest person, you can find these and other tasty recipes in the Favorites section on my Recipes board (and be sure to give me a follow and a like while you’re at it!).

Maple and Brown Sugar

This recipe is pretty plain and simple—easy to make with ingredients that you’ve most likely got lying around the house.  And it’s absolutely delicious, too. 

This one tends to be a little on the runny side, so if you prefer your oats to be less runny, you can experiment with the proportions.  Keep in mind, too, that this recipe makes two servings, so you’ll have to do some math to make just one.

Find the recipe at LoveToBeInTheKitchen.com

Peanut Butter Cup

I’ve always been a big fan of kids’ breakfast cereals—the ones that make breakfast taste like candy.  So this recipe is right up my alley.  The mix of chocolate and peanut butter for breakfast makes me feel like a kid—and the peanut butter (or whichever nut butter you prefer) gives it some protein to help you start the day on the right foot, too!

I feel like everyone has a different preference when it comes to cocoa powder.  I’ve tried some recipes that were way too bitter, but this one is a pretty good mix.  Once you try it, you may want to adjust the cocoa/sweetener levels.

Find the recipe at LemonsAndZest.com

Birthday Cake

My daughter will tell you that sprinkles make everything better—and I could use all the help I can get in the morning.  Admittedly, when I give my oats a stir in the morning, the colors from the sprinkles tend to make weird little smears of color in my oats—but as long as they’re pretty colors, who cares?

As I noted before, I’m a big fan of a little almond extract—and this is one of the recipes where I add a little in.

Find the recipe at NoFussKitchen.com

Cookie Dough

I spent a long time looking for a good recipe for cookie dough overnight oats.  And, in the process, I deleted a whole lot of stuff from my recipe board on Pinterest.  But I finally found a recipe that worked for me. 

I love how overnight oats are easy to customize—and I skip the chia seeds and go with peanut butter instead of almond (because it’s what we’ve got around the house).  And it’s still just delish.

Find the recipe at LiveEatLearn.com

Banana Bread

If you love the taste of banana bread, you won’t want to skip over this recipe.  It tastes just like Mom’s fresh banana bread—but you don’t have to go through the process of mashing and mixing and baking. 

The recipe is incredibly simple—and you can customize it with extra nuts if you love the extra nutty flavor (or if you want an extra bit of protein).

Find the recipe at LemonsAndZest.com

PB&J

Peanut butter and jelly makes a great lunch—but this recipe also makes it a delicious breakfast! 

Again, I skip the chia seeds for this one (and I use Mom’s homemade strawberry jam), and it’s a fruity, protein-rich way to start the day. 

Find the recipe at EatWithClarity.com

Nutella

This was the recipe that absolutely sold me on overnight oats.  It is necessarily healthy to start the day with oats topped in chocolatey Nutella?  Well…maybe not exactly.  But is it delicious?  Yes.  And that makes me happy.

It’s important to note, however, that Nutella can get pretty solid after refrigerating overnight, so it will require some extra stirring—or a few seconds in the microwave.  Or you can just add the Nutella in the morning.

Find the recipe at LemonsAndZest.com

These overnight oats recipes make breakfast totally EZPZ.  I usually make mine while putting together my daughter’s lunch, and breakfast is ready when I get up. 

Once you get the hang of it, it’s easy to change up your recipes to add in your favorite flavors, too!  Do you have a favorite oats recipe?  Share it here, so we can try it!