Overly Easy Overnight Oats

Overly Easy Overnight Oats is a wonderful grab and go breakfast that takes five minutes to prepare the night before. I like this recipe for so many reasons.

Benefits of Overly Easy Overnight Oats:

• Fast
• Very few dirty dishes
• Kid-friendly
• Way to use extra milk
• Healthy
• Delicious

If you have a busy life as I do, this recipe is for you. My feet hit the floor at 4:30 a.m. and I am off and running for the day. Even though I wake up very early in the morning (you can read more about my mornings here), I usually don’t have time to make my family a big, elaborate breakfast. My children usually wake up around 7:00 a.m. and I am teaching for VIPKID at that time. 

My children have learned to make their own breakfast, which is great! I like to surprise them about once a week with one of their favorite breakfasts: Overnight Oats. This recipe is so versatile and the recipe below should be used as a framework. I encourage you to change up the ingredients to fit your taste buds. 

Oats

The first ingredient is oats. There are several options for oats. I prefer rolled (old-fashioned) Oats, but you could use quick oats if that is all you have on hand. However, unless cooked, steel cut oats will not work. 

Yogurt

Yogurt is the second ingredient. I prefer a homemade, Greek-style yogurt. If you have a family milk cow, as I do, I am always looking for ways to use extra milk. I make my own yogurt in my Instant Pot. I will be writing a future post about how easy Instant Pot yogurt is. Making your own yogurt is very economical. However, if you don’t make your own yogurt, any store bought yogurt will work. I also prefer unsweetened to keep the sugar content of this breakfast low.

Chia Seeds

Chia seeds are the next ingredient. Not only do chia seeds add health benefits such as high in antioxidants, fiber, and Omega-3 Fatty Acids; they may help you lose weight and lower your risk of heart disease. Chia seeds also thicken the recipe overnight and give it a nice texture. If you don’t have any Chia Seeds, this recipe is delicious without them. You may need to adjust the liquid content if you don’t use them to avoid a soupy consistency.

Milk

There is a variety of different kinds of milk that can be used for this recipe. I prefer almond milk because it is low in calories and carbs for weight loss benefits. I also use our cow’s milk for my children. It is another great way to use up extra milk.

Vanilla

Vanilla gives this recipe a lovely flavor. I like to add it right after the milk to blend it throughout the other ingredients. 

Sweetener

Next, the sweetener. I prefer pure stevia. I do not want to spike my blood sugar so early in the morning and I like to keep my sugar intake under control. However, if you prefer sugar, it is certainly an option. I use raw honey for my children’s overnight oats since they need more calories and energy than me. Raw honey also contains healthy benefits such as antioxidants and can improve digestion. 

Fruit

The last ingredient is the fruit. In the winter, I usually use frozen berries and in the summer when many fruits are in season, I use fresh berries. However, the options are endless. Mango, apples, bananas are all great options. You can also use canned fruit such as peaches. Whatever, you have on hand. Use your imagination. Once you understand the framework, you can start creating new combinations, such as peanut butter chocolate. Yum!

Once you have added all the ingredients to the pint jar, stir it up, and put it in the fridge overnight. In the morning, stir it again and enjoy. 

I hope you give Overly Easy, Overnight Oats a try. In the comments below, tell me what is your favorite overnight oats combination.