I’m sharing my favorite easy overnight oats made with just four ingredients and a touch of vanilla, and I’ll cover how to make overnight oats healthy plus everything you need to know about oats in a jar for busy mornings.
I never thought a jar could change my mornings, but this Easy Overnight Oats had me hooked after the first try. With simple rolled oats and a splash of vanilla extract it feels like breakfast magic that takes zero brain power.
I like that it’s flexible so you can keep it clean and simple, which is why I tag it Over Night Oats Easy and How To Make Overnight Oats Healthy in my notes. Sometimes I add a spoon of yogurt or chia but honestly just the basics are enough to make me actually get out of bed and excited, no joke.
Ingredients
- Whole grain oats give slow carbs fiber and keep you full longer
- Milk adds calcium, vitamin D and extra protein, choose dairy or plant
- Greek yogurt boosts creaminess and protein, makes the oats extra rich
- Natural sweeteners add sweetness and flavor, use less if watching sugar
- Chia soaks up liquid, thickens texture and brings omega three and fiber
- Fresh fruit gives vitamins, natural sweetness and bright color to bowls
- Nuts add crunch healthy fats and extra protein, a little goes far
- Vanilla lifts flavor adds a warm sweet note without adding sugar
- A pinch of salt intensifies flavors and balances the sweetness, tiny but key
Ingredient Quantities
- 1/2 cup old-fashioned rolled oats (about 45 g)
- 1/2 cup milk (120 ml) dairy or plant based
- 1/4 cup plain greek yogurt (about 60 g) optional but makes it creamier
- 1 tbsp maple syrup or honey (15 ml) or to taste
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- pinch of salt
- 1 tbsp chia seeds (optional, for thickness)
- fresh fruit for topping eg berries or sliced banana (optional)
- nuts or seeds for topping eg chopped almonds or walnuts (optional)
How to Make this
1. In a jar or bowl add 1/2 cup rolled oats, 1/2 cup milk, 1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt, 1 tbsp maple syrup or honey, 1/2 tsp vanilla and a pinch of salt, then add 1 tbsp chia seeds if you want it thicker.
2. Stir everything together until the oats are evenly coated and the sweetener is dissolved, press the mixture down so no big air pockets remain.
3. Seal the jar or cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 4 hours but overnight is best for the creamiest texture.
4. Next morning give it a good stir, if it seems too thick add a splash of milk and mix, if its too thin add a little more yogurt or another teaspoon of chia and wait 10 minutes.
5. Taste and adjust sweetness or vanilla if needed, remember small changes go a long way so dont overdo the syrup.
6. Top with fresh fruit like berries or sliced banana and sprinkle nuts or seeds for crunch right before eating, bananas brown fast so add them last.
7. For meal prep make 2 or 3 jars at once and keep them sealed in the fridge up to 3 days, add perishable toppings only when youre ready to eat.
8. Quick hack if you want it warm: microwave the jarred oats for 30 to 60 seconds and stir, be careful the jar might be hot.
Equipment Needed
1. Jar with lid (mason jar or any jar you can seal) or a mixing bowl with a cover
2. Measuring cups (1/2 cup and 1/4 cup)
3. Measuring spoons (1 tbsp and 1/2 tsp)
4. Spoon or small rubber spatula for stirring and pressing the oats down
5. Small whisk or fork to break up lumps if needed
6. Cutting board and knife for slicing fruit (bananas go on last)
7. Refrigerator for chilling the jars or bowl
8. Microwave or small saucepan for quick warming option (optional)
FAQ
Easy Overnight Oats Recipe Substitutions and Variations
- Old-fashioned rolled oats -> quick oats (same ratio, softer texture after overnight), or quinoa flakes (use same liquid, they give a nuttier bite).
- Milk (dairy or plant based) -> any plant milk like almond, oat or soy for flavor swaps, or full-fat canned coconut milk for extra creaminess.
- Plain Greek yogurt -> plain plant yogurt (coconut or soy) for a dairy-free option, or silken tofu blended for protein and a super-smooth texture.
- Maple syrup or honey -> agave nectar or date syrup for a vegan swap, or brown sugar or mashed ripe banana to sweeten naturally.
Pro Tips
1) Press the oats down in the jar so there are no big air pockets, that helps them hydrate evenly and gives a much creamier texture after sitting overnight.
2) If it’s too thick in the morning add milk a splash at a time, don’t dump a lot or it gets runny fast.
3) Chia seeds thicken fast so start with 1 tsp not a full tbsp unless you want pudding, they can go gummy if you overdo it.
4) Put fragile toppings like banana or soft berries on right before you eat, nuts can go in earlier for crunch, and if you want it warm microwave the jar 30 to 60 seconds but be careful the glass will be hot.
Easy Overnight Oats Recipe
I’m sharing my favorite easy overnight oats made with just four ingredients and a touch of vanilla, and I’ll cover how to make overnight oats healthy plus everything you need to know about oats in a jar for busy mornings.
1
servings
370
kcal
Equipment: 1. Jar with lid (mason jar or any jar you can seal) or a mixing bowl with a cover
2. Measuring cups (1/2 cup and 1/4 cup)
3. Measuring spoons (1 tbsp and 1/2 tsp)
4. Spoon or small rubber spatula for stirring and pressing the oats down
5. Small whisk or fork to break up lumps if needed
6. Cutting board and knife for slicing fruit (bananas go on last)
7. Refrigerator for chilling the jars or bowl
8. Microwave or small saucepan for quick warming option (optional)
Ingredients
1/2 cup old-fashioned rolled oats (about 45 g)
1/2 cup milk (120 ml) dairy or plant based
1/4 cup plain greek yogurt (about 60 g) optional but makes it creamier
1 tbsp maple syrup or honey (15 ml) or to taste
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
pinch of salt
1 tbsp chia seeds (optional, for thickness)
fresh fruit for topping eg berries or sliced banana (optional)
nuts or seeds for topping eg chopped almonds or walnuts (optional)
Directions
- In a jar or bowl add 1/2 cup rolled oats, 1/2 cup milk, 1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt, 1 tbsp maple syrup or honey, 1/2 tsp vanilla and a pinch of salt, then add 1 tbsp chia seeds if you want it thicker.
- Stir everything together until the oats are evenly coated and the sweetener is dissolved, press the mixture down so no big air pockets remain.
- Seal the jar or cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 4 hours but overnight is best for the creamiest texture.
- Next morning give it a good stir, if it seems too thick add a splash of milk and mix, if its too thin add a little more yogurt or another teaspoon of chia and wait 10 minutes.
- Taste and adjust sweetness or vanilla if needed, remember small changes go a long way so dont overdo the syrup.
- Top with fresh fruit like berries or sliced banana and sprinkle nuts or seeds for crunch right before eating, bananas brown fast so add them last.
- For meal prep make 2 or 3 jars at once and keep them sealed in the fridge up to 3 days, add perishable toppings only when youre ready to eat.
- Quick hack if you want it warm: microwave the jarred oats for 30 to 60 seconds and stir, be careful the jar might be hot.
Notes
- Below you’ll find my best estimate of this recipe’s nutrition facts. Treat the numbers as a guide rather than a rule—great food should nourish both body and spirit. Figures are approximate, and the website owner assumes no liability for any inaccuracies in this recipe.
Nutrition Facts
- Serving Size: 250g
- Total number of serves: 1
- Calories: 370kcal
- Fat: 9.1g
- Saturated Fat: 2.2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Polyunsaturated: 3.8g
- Monounsaturated: 2.2g
- Cholesterol: 5mg
- Sodium: 120mg
- Potassium: 480mg
- Carbohydrates: 53g
- Fiber: 9g
- Sugar: 22g
- Protein: 17g
- Vitamin A: 200IU
- Vitamin C: 0.5mg
- Calcium: 250mg
- Iron: 2.7mg
