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What oats should I use for overnight oatmeal?
Can you eat overnight oats with nuts?
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What are overnight oats?
What oats should I use?
Pop those overnight oats in the fridge and have an easy breakfast to-go ready and waiting. And you can dress them up with your favourite flavours so they never get boring.
- Overview
- 1. Basic overnight oats
- 2. Chocolate peanut butter
- 3. Tropical
- 4. Pumpkin spice
- 5. Carrot cake
- 6. High-protein mint chocolate chip
- 7. Coffee-infused
- The bottom line
Overnight oats make for an incredibly versatile breakfast or snack.
They can be enjoyed warm or cold and prepared days in advance with minimal prep.
Moreover, you can top this tasty meal with an array of nutritious ingredients that benefit your health.
This article provides 7 tasty, nutritious, and easy overnight oats recipes.
Ingredients
•Oats. Old-fashioned oats work best for overnight oats. For a shorter soaking time, use quick oats, and for a longer one, use steel-cut oats. •Milk. Use cow’s milk or a fortified, unsweetened, plant-based milk of your choice at a 1:1 ratio with the oats. For example, 1/2 cup (120 ml) of milk per 1/2 cup (120 ml) of oats. •Chia seeds (optional). Chia seeds act like glue to bind the ingredients. Use 1/4 part chia seeds per 1 part oats. For instance, use 1/8 cup (30 ml) chia seeds per 1/2 cup (120 ml) oats. •Yogurt (optional). Yogurt adds extra protein and creaminess. Use a dairy or plant-based yogurt and adjust the amount to your preference. •Vanilla (optional). A dash of vanilla extract or vanilla bean adds a touch of flavor to your overnight oats. •Sweetener (optional). A little maple syrup, 2–3 chopped dates, or half a mashed banana can sweeten your overnight oats.
Nutrition
Overnight oats are a great source of many nutrients. One prepared cup (240 ml) of the basic recipe made with 2% cow’s milk and without the optional ingredients provides the following (1): •Calories: 215 calories •Carbs: 33grams •Fiber: 4 grams •Sugars: 7 grams •Fat: 5 grams •Protein: 9grams •Vitamin D: 299% of the Daily Value (DV) •Manganese: 25% of the DV •Selenium: 27% of the DV •Vitamin A: 26% of the DV •Vitamin B12: 25% of the DV •Riboflavin: 23% of the DV •Copper: 22% of the DV •Phosphorus: 22% of the DV This amount of overnight oats also provides 12–19% of the DV for calcium, iron, magnesium, zinc, thiamine, and pantothenic acid. Oats contain more protein and fat than most other grains. They are also a particularly good source of beta glucan, a type of fiber that reduces hunger and promotes feelings of fullness (2, 3, 4). Naturally, the nutritional content of this recipe varies depending on the type of milk and which optional ingredients you choose to include.
Preparation
To prepare your overnight oats, simply combine all the ingredients and refrigerate them overnight in an airtight container. The oats and chia seeds soak up the milk and soften overnight, yielding a pudding-like texture come the next morning. Overnight oats keep for up to four days when refrigerated in an airtight container. That means you can easily batch-prepare larger portions of the base recipe and add your favorite toppings to individual portions throughout the week for variation (5). Summary Overnight oats use simple ingredients, are rich in many nutrients, can be made in large batches, and don’t require any heating. Simply mix the ingredients, refrigerate overnight, and add your favorite toppings in the morning.
This variant of basic overnight oats is reminiscent of the popular treat peanut butter cups.
Simply add 1–2 tbsp (15–30 ml) of cocoa powder to your basic overnight oats recipe. In the morning, mix in 2 tbsp (30 ml) of natural peanut butter and top with chopped peanuts, fresh raspberries, and mini chocolate chips for extra flavor and texture.
The peanuts and peanut butter add a dose of healthy fat to this recipe while the cocoa and raspberries add antioxidants, which are beneficial compounds that help protect your body from disease (6, 7, 8).
Summary
For this tropical overnight oats recipe, swap the milk and yogurt in your basic recipe for coconut milk and coconut yogurt.
Then top it with a handful of pecans, sprinkle of unsweetened coconut flakes, and freshly cut or defrosted tropical fruits like mango, pineapple, or kiwi. Refrigerate it overnight just like the base recipe.
You may also use dried fruits, but remember to exercise portion control. Generally, a portion of dried fruit should be 2–3 times smaller than the same portion of fresh fruit. Opt for unsweetened, oil-free varieties (9, 10, 11, 12).
Summary
Pumpkins are high in fiber and vitamins C and K. They add a rich and perhaps unexpected flavor to this overnight oats recipe.
Pumpkins are also a good source of beta carotene, a compound that may reduce your risk of metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of conditions linked to an increased risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease (13).
To make this recipe, add 1/2 cup (120 ml) of pumpkin purée to your basic overnight oats recipe and refrigerate it overnight. In the morning, season it with a teaspoon (5 ml) of cinnamon and half a teaspoon (2.5 ml) each of ground cloves and nutmeg.
Summary
Carrots are rich in fiber and rank low on the glycemic index (GI), which means they are less likely to cause a blood sugar spike after you eat them (14, 15).
Similarly to pumpkins, they are rich in beta carotene. Your body converts this compound into vitamin A, which is important for your vision, growth, development, and immune function (16).
To prepare this nutritious take on a popular dessert, simply mix 1/2 cup (120 ml) of shredded carrots, 1/4 cup (60 ml) of raisins, and 2 tbsp (30 ml) of cream cheese or a cream cheese replacement with your basic overnight oats ingredients.
Refrigerate it overnight, and garnish it with freshly shredded carrot, a few raisins, and a sprinkle of cinnamon or allspice in the morning.
Summary
Carrot-cake overnight oats are a great alternative to the sugar-laden dessert. The recipe is a good source of fiber and beta carotene, and given that carrots rank low on the GI index, this version may help stabilize your blood sugar levels.
Protein is a nutrient that’s known to reduce hunger and promote feelings of fullness (17).
With around 13 grams per cup (240 ml), the basic overnight oats recipe already contains a moderate dose of protein.
Adding yogurt to your recipe and topping it with nuts or seeds further boosts the protein content to around 17 grams per prepared cup (240 ml).
If you’d prefer even more protein, consider incorporating 1–2 tablespoons (15–30 ml) of protein powder to the mix. This will bring the protein content up to around 20–23 grams per cup.
For extra flavor, add a dash of peppermint extract and top it with freshly sliced strawberries, mini chocolate chips, and a few mint leaves. Finally, use 1 tsp (5 ml) of spirulina powder for a natural, nutrient-rich touch of green color.
Summary
This recipe is an interesting way to infuse your breakfast with caffeine.
Substitute 1 ounce (30 ml) of milk with a shot of espresso, or simply mix 1 tsp (5 ml) of ground or instant coffee with the original quantity of milk.
This adds 30–40 mg of caffeine to your overnight oats — an amount that research shows may be enough to improve alertness, short-term recall, and reaction time (18).
Top this recipe with your choice of fresh fruits, nuts, and seeds.
If you like the taste of coffee but want to limit your intake of caffeine, simply substitute the espresso or ground coffee with ground chicory root. Brewed chicory root tastes similar to coffee but is naturally caffeine-free.
Summary
Overnight oats are healthy and easy to prepare.
They can be enjoyed for breakfast or as a snack, require minimal prep, and are a time-saving meal option.
- Cassandra Talmadge
- Kiwi. One medium kiwi provides 100 percent of the USDA's recommendation for vitamin C, a nutrient that helps the body oxidize fat during moderate-intensity exercise, according to a study published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition.
- Nuts. Topping overnight oats with nuts is a great way to add satiating fiber and protein. This example is one "brownie" you don't have to feel guilty about: Almond milk, greek yogurt, cocoa, oats, and protein powder, topped with heart-healthy nuts!
- Banana. No time for a mid-morning snack? Top a half-cup of oats with ½ of a medium banana for approximately 200 calories and 5 grams of satiating fiber. The combination of wholesome oats and banana will not only hold you over until lunch, but provides a host of flat-belly nutrients.
- Plums. Not only are fruits with pits, like plums, among the lowest in fructose (fruit sugar), but they contain phenolic compounds that can turn off your fat genes!
- (1)
- Breakfast, Recipe Roundup
- Peanut Butter Overnight Oats. You’ll adore these no-fuss, lip-smacking peanut butter overnight oats. They’re time-saving, meal-prepping heroes! Who doesn’t like starting their week with delightful breakfasts ready to roll?
- Apple Pie Overnight Oats. Combine your love for oats and apples into these epic apple pie overnight oats. This 9-ingredient wonder is perfect for your busy mornings.
- Blueberry Muffin Overnight Oats. These overnight oats mimic your favorite blueberry muffin’s taste. They’re a fun, lip-smacking morning kick-starter! Don’t have any chia seeds?
- Triple Chocolate Overnight Oats. Chocoholics, brace yourselves! Overnight oats just got a deliciously decadent spin. These triple chocolate oats are the perfect wake-up call and take a breezy 5-minute prep time.
- Cinnamon Roll Overnight Oats. It takes just minutes to assemble this healthy no-cook breakfast and you'll have meal-prepped grab-and-go breakfasts on hand for the rest of the week.
- Banana Overnight Oats. The banana flavor comes through perfectly in these banana overnight oats. Pecan butter has a delicate flavor that complements the flavors nicely, but you can also easily swap it out for any nut butter.
- Sriracha, Egg & Avocado Overnight Oats. If you love avocado toast, give this savory overnight oats recipe a try. The oats soak overnight for easy "cooking."
- Peanut Butter-Chocolate Chip Overnight Oats with Banana. It takes just a few minutes to prepare these overnight oats and you will be all set with 4 packable healthy breakfasts to enjoy throughout the week.
Recipes. Easy overnight oats recipe. Made the evening before, this fruity, filling no-cook breakfast is perfect for busy mornings – just serve with some juicy fresh or frozen berries. Prep: 10 mins. Serves 4. Nutritional information. Ingredients. 150g high-fibre porridge oats. 25g dried cranberries. 50g ready-to-eat apricots, chopped. 25g sultanas.
Jan 23, 2024 · Overnight oats are a meal prep standard in our kitchens for a few reasons: they’re portable and make a great on-the-go breakfast; you can create them up to a few days ahead of time; and they are so versatile. You can make them as sweet or creamy as you’d like and add any of your favorite toppings.
