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    Home » Recipes » Breakfast Ideas

    Sep 23, 2022 · Modified: Dec 5, 2022 by Harriet

    Vanilla Overnight Oats

    Jump to recipe card

    These vanilla overnight oats are a healthy breakfast you can prepare the night before. All you need to do is mix everything into a bowl and refrigerate overnight.

    Vanilla overnight oats with fresh fruit on top.
    Jump to:
    • 👛 Cost To Make
    • 🌟 Why You'll Love This Recipe:
    • 🥘 Ingredients In This Recipe
    • 🍽 Equipment
    • 🍳 Step By Step Instructions
    • ✏️ Recipe Notes
    • 👪 Serving Size
    • 🍬 Calories Per Serve
    • 🥗 Serving Suggestions
    • 📖 Variations
    • 🌡️ Storage
    • 🍲 Meal Prepping
    • 📝 Frequently Asked Questions
    • More Easy Recipes
    • 📋 Recipe Card

    These vanilla overnight oats make a healthy breakfast that you can prep ahead of time. It is a simple six-ingredient recipe that makes a delicious grab-and-go breakfast for busy weekdays.

    👛 Cost To Make

    Estimated cost = $1.22 per serve (does not include toppings)

    🌟 Why You'll Love This Recipe:

    You will love these vanilla overnight oats because:

    • It's a cheap and easy breakfast that takes less than five minutes to make.
    • They have a lovely flavor that you can enjoy all year round. 
    • You can eat these cold and straight from the fridge in the summertime or warm the oats up in the microwave oven for winter.
    • This recipe makes one serving, but you can increase the quantities to make more.
    • You can meal prep and make a big batch of these oats over the weekend to enjoy quick and easy breakfasts during the week.
    • You can make it dairy-free by using plant-based milk and yogurt.
    • It is also naturally gluten free.

    🥘 Ingredients In This Recipe

    The printable recipe further down the page has the complete list of ingredients, including quantities and step-by-step instructions.

    Ingredients image for vanilla overnight oatmeal.

    Oats – You can use old fashioned rolled oats or quick oats to make this recipe but avoid using steel cut oats.

    • Overnight oats made with rolled oats are thick with an almost smooth, creamy texture. 
    • Overnight oats made with quick oats, when soaked overnight, are creamier and smoother than rolled oats.
    • Overnight oats made with steel cut oats remain grainy and soften to a chewy and gummy texture. Also, steel-cut oats don't soak up as much liquid as rolled and quick-cooking oats. 

    Oats are naturally gluten-free but may contain traces of gluten depending on how they are processed, so always read the label before buying if you need them gluten free.

    Milk – You can use dairy milk, almond milk, soya milk, coconut milk, oat milk, or other types of milk.

    Yogurt - use plain dairy or dairy-free yogurt. We used our homemade yogurt in this recipe.

    Seeds – Chia or basil seeds can be used. These thicken the oats by soaking up moisture and are high in fiber.  

    We used basil seeds in this recipe because it is budget friendly.

    Both chia and basil seeds are good sources of minerals and are rich in plant-based omega-3 fatty acids.

    Maple Syrup – if you like your oatmeal sweet, it can be sweetened with maple syrup, agave, or honey.

    Vanilla - Use whatever vanilla you have extract or essence, and add the vanilla to taste.

    🍽 Equipment

    You don't need any special equipment to make these oats, but if you are planning to make these for a grab-and-go breakfast, store the oats in mason jars or old jam jars with lids for easy transportation.

    🍳 Step By Step Instructions

    Milk and yogurt in a bowl.

    Step 1 – Place the milk, yogurt, maple syrup, and vanilla into a mixing bowl. Stir until well combined. 

    Oats and basil seeds with milk and yogurt in a bowl.

    Step 2 – Add the oats, and seeds and mix well. Taste for flavor and adjust if necessary by adding more vanilla and maple syrup. Cover and store in the fridge overnight.

    Overnight oats in a jar with a cutting board at the back with fruit on it.

    Step 3 - In the morning, if desired serve the oats with a topping of yogurt and berries, and toasted nuts.

    ✏️ Recipe Notes

    • Oats too thick the next day - If you find the overnight oats are too thick, mix in a little more milk to achieve the consistency you like.
    • Use vanilla-flavored milk, vanilla yogurt, or both to make this even more delicious.

    👪 Serving Size

    This recipe serves one and make about 267 grams (9.45 ounces) or just over 1 cup of overnight oats.

    🍬 Calories Per Serve

    A single serving is about 315 calories.

    🥗 Serving Suggestions

    Serve vanilla overnight oats hot or cold with or without a topping. 

    If you would like to add a topping or two, here are some ideas for you to try:

    • Fresh fruit is always a nice topping. You could top these vanilla overnight oats with slices of banana, diced apple, strawberry pieces, blueberries, grapes, peaches, or whatever fresh fruit you have on hand.
    • Dried fruit adds texture to the oats. You could use dried apricots, apples, pears, cranberries, blueberries, or sultanas. Use the smaller dried fruits as they are, but cut larger pieces like dried apricots into smaller pieces.
    • Nuts -  like toasted almonds, peanuts, or cashews add crunch and extra flavor.
    • Coconut - shredded toasted coconut is a lovely topping and goes so well with chopped toasted nuts and pineapple pieces.
    • Nut butter - for extra protein, top the oats with a spoonful of peanut butter, almond butter, or cashew butter.

    Serve cold or hot

    Traditionally overnight oats are served cold as a summer breakfast idea, but there is no reason not to eat them hot.

    Heating overnight oats

    Stove top - Overnight oats can be warmed on the stove top in a small saucepan over a medium heat.  

    Mix in some extra liquid like water or milk because it is thick, up to third of a cup if needed.

    Microwave oven - Transfer the oats to a microwave safe dish and microwave on high for 1-2 minutes or until hot. 

    📖 Variations

    Milk – use milk suitable for your diet, such as unsweetened milk for a sugar free diet or plant milk for vegans, and if you don't like milk, use water instead.

    Sweeteners – like honey, sugar, or artificial sweeteners can be used instead of maple syrup.

    Yogurt – can use vanilla flavored yogurt instead of plain yogurt. 

    Use flavored milk - like vanilla almond milk instead of plain milk.

    Make it sugar free - by using sugar free sweeteners instead of sugar, and use sugar free milk.

    🌡️ Storage

    Refrigeration – Keep stored in the fridge until needed.

    🍲 Meal Prepping

    These overnight oats are great for meal prepping because they will last five days in the fridge.

    📝 Frequently Asked Questions

    Can I use water in my oats instead of milk?

    Yes, you can make oats with water instead of milk. However, it will taste bland. You can improve the flavor by mixing in a sweetener of your choice.

    Is this recipe vegan?

    If you use plant-based milk and yogurt these overnight oats are vegan.

    More Easy Recipes

    • Strawberry Shortcake Overnight Oats
    • Raspberry Overnight Oats
    • Strawberry Pistachio Overnight Oats
    • Blueberry Lemon Overnight Oats

    You might also like to read our easy overnight oats recipe page for helpful tips and ideas or see all our overnight oats with yogurt recipes or try these easy recipes:

    • 3 Ingredient peanut butter oatmeal balls
    • Oatmeal banana blueberry muffins
    • No bake peanut butter oatmeal balls

    If you are looking for some other breakfast recipe ideas and love bananas, see our collection of Healthy Banana Breakfast Recipes.

    Overnight oats.

    I do hope that you will make these delicious vanilla overnight oats. If you do, please come back and leave a comment below because I would love to know how you went.


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    📋 Recipe Card

    Overnight oats in a storage jar on a small bamboo mat.

    Vanilla Overnight Oats

    A delicious recipe for vanilla overnight oats using six ingredients, it is healthy, quick to make, and great for eating breakfast on the go.
    Print Recipe
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    Prep Time : 5 mins
    Cook Time : 0 mins
    Overnight refrigeration : 6 hours
    Total Time : 6 hrs 5 mins
    Cuisine: : Western
    Course : Breakfast
    Servings : 1 serving (just over 1 cup)
    Calories : 315 : kcal
    Estimated Cost (AUD) : $1.22 per serve (does not include toppings)

    INGREDIENTS

    • ½ cup (120 grams) milk dairy or plant-based
    • ¼ tablespoons (60 grams) Greek yogurt plant-based yogurt
    • 2 - 3 teaspoons maple syrup or add to taste
    • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract or add to taste
    • ½ cup (55 grams) oats, rolled or quick
    • 1 tablespoon of chia seeds or basil seeds

    Toppings (optional)

    • Greek yogurt or plant-based yogurt
    • 1 - 2 fresh berries
    • nuts toasted and chopped
    Tap button to prevent your screen from going dark while cooking.

    INSTRUCTIONS

    • Place the milk, yogurt, maple syrup, and vanilla into a mixing bowl. Stir until well combined. 
    • Add the oats, and seeds and mix well. Taste for flavor and adjust if necessary by adding more vanilla and maple syrup. Cover and store in the fridge overnight.
    • In the morning, serve the oats with a topping of yogurt and berries, and toasted nuts.

    Notes

    The toppings are optional and have not been included in the nutritional information below.
    Nutrition Facts
    Vanilla Overnight Oats
    Serving Size
     
    1 serving
    Amount per Serving
    Calories
    315
    % Daily Value*
    Fat
     
    8
    g
    12
    %
    Saturated Fat
     
    3
    g
    19
    %
    Trans Fat
     
    0.01
    g
    Polyunsaturated Fat
     
    3
    g
    Monounsaturated Fat
     
    2
    g
    Cholesterol
     
    15
    mg
    5
    %
    Sodium
     
    56
    mg
    2
    %
    Potassium
     
    396
    mg
    11
    %
    Carbohydrates
     
    51
    g
    17
    %
    Fiber
     
    5
    g
    21
    %
    Sugar
     
    27
    g
    30
    %
    Protein
     
    9
    g
    18
    %
    Vitamin A
     
    176
    IU
    4
    %
    Vitamin C
     
    0.3
    mg
    0
    %
    Calcium
     
    251
    mg
    25
    %
    Iron
     
    2
    mg
    11
    %
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
    Nutrition Disclosure

    More Breakfast Ideas

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    • Overnight Oats with Yogurt
    • Biscoff Overnight Oats
    • Strawberry Almond Milk - Easy 3 Ingredient Recipe

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    Hi, I'm Harriet! The face and photographer behind Recipe Pocket. I am a mother of two who is a cook by day and blogger by night.

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