This Overnight Oats Recipe needs only 3 simple, pure ingredients and no cook time at all. It’s incredibly easy to get your healthy, hearty oatmeal in the morning with zero fuss. Prepare individual jars for your eaters and let them choose their toppings.
Easy, Hearty Overnight Oats
If there’s ever been a non-recipe type of recipe that everyone needs up their sleeve, this Overnight Oats is it.
Of course, the headlined 3-ingredient recipe will be provided on this amazing oatmeal deal, but use it as more of a guideline rather than a rigid recipe. I mean, some eaters like their oatmeal thicker, while others prefer it slightly thinner. Some want their breakfast sweeter. Some like it less sweet. The gist is, this overnight oats recipe is super flex. Add more of what you want and less of what you don’t.
We’ve been on an oat kick for years now. I guess that means it’s technically not a kick anymore. It’s more of a lifestyle. When you can have the goodness of healthy, hearty oats in everything from this Maple Cinnamon Baked Oatmeal for a brunch crowd…to these irresistible Thick, Chewy Oatmeal Raisin Cookies for dessert, it’s easy to enjoy all the oats.
Lately, we’ve been devouring jar after jar of today’s Overnight Oats, and nobody is complaining one teensy bit. It’s ridiculously easy to meal-prep several jars of overnight oats to keep in the fridge. Every morning is a fuss-free, quick, satisfying reach for a yummy jar of no-cook oats and all the toppings for my peeps to sprinkle on.
Everyone’s fed and happy, which makes mama happy, which means everyone is even happier.
How to make no-cook overnight oats in a jar
This is genius simple. In fact, I don’t know why I haven’t been doing this since I was three. But it’s better late to the game than never.
All you need are 3 simple ingredients to get you started:
- Old fashioned rolled oats: whole oats absorbs liquid nicely, without becoming mushy. We use it exclusively in these oat granola bars.
- Almond milk (We love vanilla almond milk for both oats and ice cream, but feel free to use any milk of your choice)
- Pure honey, agave nectar, or maple syrup. My favorite is local, raw, unfiltered honey. It’s the star of our famous Honey Cornbread.
You’ll combine those 3 ingredients into a jar, cover, and chill until ready to enjoy. It’s really that easy. If you want to jazz up your overnight oatmeal a bit, add these 2 highly recommended items into your jar before the overnight soak:
- Chia seeds – this helps to thicken oatmeal overnight, provides great texture, and awesome nutrition. Definitely try this healthy, creamy chia seed pudding.
- Cinnamon – yes and yes. It’s optional, but many love a nice dash of spice in their oats.
As all that weren’t fabulous enough at 7am or whatever time you break your fast… we get to do it all up with toppings! To make our morning oat fix happen seamlessly, I pre-cut my fruits the night before and lay out whatever toppings people may want to grab. It’s all on the ready — just grab, sprinkle, and eat.
Tips for perfect overnight oats
- You don’t really need a jar. Any individual sized container with a lid will work just fine. Jars are trendy and cute, but they’re mostly for trendy cuteness.
- Be sure to add certain toppings, like nuts, only when ready to eat. Mushy nuts aren’t delicious.
- Other toppings, like berries or dried fruits, can be included for the overnight soak for an extra easy morning.
- If your oatmeal turns out too thick, just add a bit more milk for desired consistency. If it’s too thin, add extra toppings like chia seeds or ground flax; much of the thickness depends on how long the oats were allowed to soak.
- You can enjoy overnight oats hot OR cold. I personally prefer my oatmeal hot, so I pop my jar/bowl in the microwave for a minute and it comes out perfectly.
This is the best non-recipe kind of recipe.
Try this maple cinnamon baked oatmeal, too:
Overnight Oats Recipe (No-Cook)
- Prep Time: 5 min
- Total Time: 5 min
- Yield: 1 1x
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
This Overnight Oats Recipe needs only 3 simple, pure ingredients and no cook time at all. It’s incredibly easy to get your healthy, hearty oatmeal in the morning with zero fuss. Prepare individual jars for your eaters and let them choose their toppings.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup old fashioned rolled oats (not quick cook)
- 1/2 to 1 cup almond milk (or other milk of your choice)*
- 3 tsp pure honey, agave nectar, or maple syrup
- Optional add-ins: 1/2 cup any flavor yogurt, cinnamon, chia seeds*
- Optional Topping ideas: fresh berries, dried fruit, bananas, nuts, coconut, chocolate chips
Instructions
- In a mason jar or other glass container with lid, add the oats, desired amount of milk, and desired amount of honey.
- If desired, add chia seeds and cinnamon (recommend including them for extra texture and flavor) Stir to combine well. Add yogurt if you’d like. Stir and cover with lid. Chill overnight.
- If enjoying cold, simply add your choice of toppings and eat. If you prefer hot oatmeal, be sure your container is microwavable and set it on high for about 1-1.5 minutes. Stir well, add your toppings, and enjoy!
Notes
If adding chia seeds, go with closer to 1 cup milk, as chia seeds will soak up some liquid. If not using chia seeds, use 1/2 cup milk. Also, if you’re planning to do a quick microwave zap in the morning for hot oatmeal, add more milk (heating the oats will soak up more liquid as well)
Yogurt provides creamier, thicker texture. It’s not recommended that you heat up your oats in the morning yogurt was added to the mixture.
You can easily customize this to make it vegan, gluten free, or sugar free
If you enjoyed this recipe, please come back and give it a rating ♡
- Category: breakfast
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: overnight oats, overnight oatmeal, no-cook oatmeal
Oat-ally Delicious:
Maple Cinnamon Baked Oatmeal (Gluten-Free)
Chewy Pumpkin Oatmeal Cookies Recipe
Thick, Chewy Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
World’s Best Chocolate Oatmeal Cupcakes
I love this idea for school. I have son starting Jr High and he starts an hour before my other children. This would be a much better option then pop tarts which was the plan.
Ohhhh so yummy and healthy. I love how you can easily convert these to non dairy recipe versions as well.
NO COOK and THREE INGREDIENTS – ummmmmmmm music to my ears!!!
I eat oatmeal every morning but I haven’t tried overnight oaks. I even bought the jars to do it but I never took the time. I wouldn’t mind getting started with this recipe.
I’ve been wanting to make some overnight oats forever, but I keep forgetting about it! I’m totally going to try this recipe ASAP!!
I like how this recipe does not require cooking and with simple pure ingredients. The fresh berries are my favorite and glad it is used as topping.
If you would have written this 6 months back I would have worshipped you but now I hate oats. I have to eat oats everyday. And this one also I have tried.
OOOWWWWhh this is so good to know a healthy oatmeal that you will enjoy the great new recipe that no cook thanks for this wonderful idea.
Wow! I would love to try making this recipe! My husband would absolutely love these. This is my kind of weekend treat.
I have free masons jar which are usually used as canister for my sugar, rice, and cereals LOL, but never it came on my mind that i can use these as breakfast containers.. hmm let me try this as well
I gotta try this someday! I think we have oatmeal here in Japan, I think it is at Costco. I should try this as my days are really busy!
Only 3 ingredients?! My kind of recipe. This looks scrumptious will have to try!
I’ve always wanted to make my own oats. This recipe sounds delicious!
I have never tried to make an overnight oats but it looks so really delicious and healthy.
Overnights oats are one of my favourites. They are so easy to do and are delicious too.
Looks so yummy and easy to prepare my favorite vlogger do this too overnight oats, I would love to give this a try
We love overnight oats! It’s so easy and healthy. Anyone can make them.
Oh my gosh! What an awesome recipe! I love the chia seeds added, and of course, cinnamon, and use a little stevia as sweetener. I’ve made this 5 times in as many days. This is delicious. I love that I can easily take pack this up for later when rushed out of the door in morning. I will never, again, use a pan and stovetop to make my oatmeal!!! Thank you for bringing me and my oatmeal back together. 🙂 .
Awesome, Chey! So glad you enjoyed this so much. I’m sorta obsessed myself 😉 Happy continued cooking!
Hi – Do you have to use a glass container or can you use plastic?
Bev, a sturdy plastic container is fine 🙂 Enjoy!
I totally NEED these in the morning. I don’t normally like breakfast, but this may change my opinion.
★★★★★
Thank you for this recipe, I had pinned a few recipes years ago and then moved to a lower carb lifestyle. Now I am back to a balanced diet and this was a great reminder of a new breakfast!
★★★★★
I always gravitate back to balanced diet as well, Ali!
I just love overnight oats! They’re so good for you and filling too! I cannot wait to try your recipe!
★★★★★
Overnight oats are the best 🙂
Amazing just three ingredients make such a delicious breakfast. I going to get my mason jar right now and fill it up.
★★★★★
It’s so easy and good! 🙂
I was inspired by this for my breakfast this morning and wow, it was amazing. I did soak the oats only for a couple of hours and I added the chia and some flax. What a winner. It will be my mornings’ hero going forward. Thanks for sharing this dear Amy xx
★★★★★
You’re so welcome, Ramona! 🙂
I grew up eating raw oats so this brings me back to my childhood. I am going to try yours.
★★★★★
Great recipe! Oatmeal is such a comforting way to start the day. I love the chia seeds to thicken the oats.
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YUM! I love how easy and simple this oatmeal recipe is. What a perfect start to a lovely breakfast. My family loved it.
★★★★★