Overnight oats in a jar can be made in just minutes and are the perfect healthy breakfast. Filled with fiber, fruit, and yogurt, you can have a great meal even on-the-go.

My life follows a the same routine every week day. I set an alarm to make breakfast for myself and the kiddos and every single day, I end up pouring them a bowl of cereal and skipping it altogether myself. That is until I figure out that making breakfast in advance, like the night before, is amazing! My kids get something good for them and I actually take time to eat something.

These healthy overnight oats in a jar are by far the easiest thing I could make and take 5 minutes the night before and 5 minutes in the morning to add any extra fruit, nuts, or honey.

Let me walk you through how to make them and give you some of our favorite recipes.

How to make overnight oats: a tutorial

There are really only 3 easy steps to make this easy overnight oats recipe.

Step 1:

Get all your ingredients and tools ready. Get out your jars, lids, yogurt, nut butters, or anything you are going to add to your jars.

Step 2:

Layer the dry ingredients in the jars first starting with the nut butter, chia seeds, nuts, and oats. Pour the milk over the top of the oats and then add in the yogurt and drizzle with honey. Put the lid on and place in the refrigerator.

Step 3:

In the morning, take them out of the fridge and add any additional toppings you might want. I suggest adding nuts, fresh fruit, and a little more honey. This way the nuts will be crunchy, the fruit will be firm (and not mushy), and a little honey, because well, honey goes great with this!

Overnight oatmeal flavors

Here are 6 of our favorite overnight oats toppings. **Pro tip: toast any nuts for better flavor!

• Crunchy peanut butter, oats, chia seeds, milk, yogurt, and honey in the jar the night before. The next morning, add sliced bananas and another drizzle of honey.
• Oats, chia seeds, almond milk, and chocolate powder in the jar the night before. The next morning, add sliced strawberries and chopped walnuts.
• Oats, chia seeds, almond milk, cinnamon, and pumpkin puree (not pie filling). The next morning add sliced apples and a drizzle of maple syrup. (Sauté the apples in a pan with some butter and a sprinkle of cinnamon for a few minutes and let cool for an added punch.)
• Almond butter, oats, chia seeds, 2% milk, and plain greek yogurt. The next morning add some sliced strawberries, blueberries, chopped walnuts, and a drizzle of honey.
• Nutella, Oats, almond milk, vanilla yogurt, and chocolate chips. The next morning add crunchy granola.
• Steel-cut oats, chia seeds, almond milk, and coconut yogurt. Top with sliced strawberries and bananas and chopped pecans (toast them for even better flavor).

Do you eat these hot or cold?

You can eat these simple overnight oats either hot or cold, it's up to you! When I first tried them, the thought of eating them cold was weird. Now, it's how I prefer them. My kids like them heated up though, so this is perfectly acceptable too. I suggest trying it both ways to find out what you like best.

Are overnight oats meal prep worthy?

You better believe it! Overnight oats are perfect for breakfast meal prep. They can fit right in with your normal prep routine for another healthy meal.

How long do overnight oats last

You can keep them in the fridge for up to 5 days. I think this is alright based on the way I suggest to put them together. Oats, milk, and nut butters the night before and anything that could potentially be mushy added the morning you want to eat them.

Is this healthy?

This is definitely healthy! Obviously, it depends on what you put in your oats, but all the recipes I listed above are healthy. There are many health benefits to oats. They are good for your heart, help lower blood sugar, and help to lose weight.

Which tools to use

Mason jars are the best for overnight oats. I suggest using these 8-ounce jars from Amazon and these plastic lids which are easier to clean than the metal ones.

FAQ

Do overnight oats have to be in a jar? No, you can put the oats in any container for this. Jars are generally easier and oh-so pretty!

How do you make overnight oats taste better? I suggest adding toppings of fruit, nut butters, granola, honey, maple syrup, or a number of other ingredients.

Do overnight oats need to be refrigerated? Yes, they need to be refrigerated overnight. After you get them out in the morning you can leave them on the counter to warm up or you can heat them in the microwave.

Are overnight oats vegan? Yes, you can make these vegan! Use non-dairy milk and skip the yogurt.

Can you use quick oats? I don't suggest using quick oats because they get mushy while they sit overnight. Use old fashioned rolled oats or steel-cut oats.

Can you use steel-cut oats? Yes, you can you steel cut oats! They will be chewy after one night (which I think is still good). Or you can wait an extra night and they will be more tender.

Are they gluten-free? Not all oats are gluten-free. Make sure you find some that have the gluten-free label. If you use the right oats, then, yes, overnight oats in a jar are gluten-free!

If you like overnight oats, you may also like...

How to make Oat Milk

Slow-cooked Applesauce

Homemade Breakfast Waffles

Summer Fruit Crisp

If you try it out, let me know how it goes in the comments or on Instagram, Facebook, or Pinterest.