Master the Basics and Make it YOUR Own
Watch our base recipe video to learn the basic skills, and discover how you can customize overnight oats to your taste!
This is one of the base recipes as seen in our Whole Life Meal Plan. Overnight oats are great for breakfast and can make busy mornings a breeze. Perfect to grab and go! This recipe teaches a basic overnight oats ratio so that you can customize any bowl of overnight oats to YOUR taste. Creamy oats, crunchy nuts, juicy fruit; the sky is the limit!
Must-Know Cooking Skills to Level Up your Kitchen Game
To make this recipe even easier, check out these videos to master the basics:
Plus, we’ve got an awesome Knife Skills 101 course to help you slice and dice like a pro (for other recipes)!
Culinary Tips for the Basic Overnight Oats Recipe
Looking to whip up a quick and healthy breakfast that’ll last all week or feed the whole fam? Easy! Mix up a big batch in one bowl, then portion it out for grab-and-go goodness.
Toast those nuts for next-level flavor! Whole nuts? Pop them in the oven, then chop them up. Sliced? Toast them on the stovetop until they’re golden and aromatic. 🥣
If adding berries, wash and add them in the morning or whenever you plan to eat the oats. Washed berries turn mushy very quickly!
Ingredient Swaps & Substitutions
- Oats: You can swap in quick-cooking oats, but be prepared for a softer texture. Steel-cut oats? Not this time—they don’t work well in this recipe.
- Milk: Regular or dairy-free milk both work beautifully!
- Sweetener: use any variety – agave nectar, brown sugar, honey, coconut sugar, or maple syrup. You can also use jam, juice, or pureed fruit in place of sweetener.
- Flavor Extract: use vanilla, almond, or coconut for yummy flavor.
- Spices: use cinnamon, ginger, cloves, cardamom, allspice, nutmeg, apple pie spice, pumpkin spice, or make your own spice blend!
We like to buy our spices from the Spice House. They have great quality, variety, and flavor!
Recipe Variations: Make it Your Own!
Remember that this is a base recipe, so the goal is for you to customize it to your taste! Keep it simple or spice it up!
Use these additional ingredients for even more flavorful oats.
- Fruit: use any fruit of your choosing. Diced apple, diced pear, sliced banana, fresh berries, and frozen blueberries are just some ideas!
- Fruit or Vegetable Puree: use mashed sweet potato, pumpkin puree, mashed banana, applesauce, or pureed butternut squash.
- Greek Yogurt: Swap for plain regular yogurt if you prefer. Pick the fat content that suits your diet, and opt for plain varieties so you can sweeten to your liking. No yogurt? No problem—just skip it! For a vegan version, go with a plant-based yogurt.
- Dried Fruit: use any dried fruit – raisins, chopped figs, cranberries, cherries, and dried blueberries all work well. If using larger fruits such as dried apricots, figs, or prunes, dice into smaller pieces before adding.
- Nuts, Seeds, or Nut Butter: sliced or slivered almonds, pecans, walnuts, cashews, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, ground flax seeds, or hemp seeds all add great texture and nutrition. Toast before adding for better flavor. If using nut butter, don’t worry if it doesn’t combine thoroughly. It will soften overnight and be easier to mix when ready to eat.
- Coconut Flakes: use unsweetened coconut shreds, flakes, or smiles.
- Mini Chocolate Chips: substitute dark or semi-sweet chocolate chips or chunks for best flavor and nutrition. Milk or white chocolate, however, doesn’t deliver the same health benefits—or that rich, bittersweet flavor we love.
- Cocoa Powder: mix cocoa powder in with the milk and oats, or add just a dash for a pretty garnish before serving.
Need some overnight oats recipe inspiration?
Use our base recipe as a guide, and create your own signature variation!
Take a look at our stovetop oatmeal base recipe and its variations for even more ideas!
Banana Nut
Berry
Blueberry
Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana
Apple Pie
Cinnamon
Chocolate Cherry Almond
Pumpkin Pie
Equipment Recommendations: The Essentials
You just need a few basic tools for this recipe. Here’s your shopping list:
- Measuring cups & spoons – precision makes a difference.
- Liquid measuring cup – let’s be honest, you will probably use the cup you use for oats, but in theory, a liquid cup should be used!
- Mason jars – for a fun presentation!
Check out our essential equipment guide to stock your kitchen with ALL the tools you need to prepare anything and everything!
Overnight Oats: A Healthy and Nutritious Start to Your Day!
Your first meal sets the tone for the rest of your day, so make it count! A balanced breakfast should pack fiber-rich complex carbs, protein, and healthy fats to keep you energized and satisfied. Our overnight oats recipe hits all the right notes with hearty oats, creamy Greek yogurt, and way less sugar than your typical cereal, but just as satisfying! 🥣✨
Oats
Oats of any variety are a good source of fiber and complex carbohydrates. Fiber is important for digestion, satiety, stable blood sugar, good cholesterol, and healthy gut bacteria, while complex carbohydrates provide steady energy and focus.
We’ve already covered a topic where you can learn about the different types of oats.
Greek Yogurt
Making overnight oats with Greek yogurt creates a creamy texture and taste. Plus, it adds a nutritional boost! Greek Yogurt is a great source of protein, calcium, and gut-friendly probiotics.
Less Sugar than Breakfast Cereal
Many breakfast cereals contain large amounts of added sugars that might give you a quick pick me up, but it’s guaranteed to be followed by a crash. By making your own homemade overnight oats, you get to control the amount of added sugar that you eat!
Dive into our ingredient guide to discover the freshest, tastiest picks for all your recipes—because great ingredients make all the difference! 🌟🍎
Serving Suggestions
Overnight oats aren’t just for breakfast! They can also be a great snack or post-workout treat.
They are meant to be enjoyed cold, but you can microwave them if you insist on a warm breakfast!
Learn how to build a healthy balanced meal with our Whole Life Plate, meal plan, and book!
How to Store Overnight Oats
Store overnight oats in the refrigerator, and they will be ready to enjoy the next morning. They’ll stay fresh for up to 5 days, but heads up – the longer they hang out, the mushier they’ll get. So, if you’re a fan of that perfect chewy texture, don’t wait too long to dig in!
Want more healthy breakfast recipes? We got you!
Check out these healthy base recipe breakfast ideas, then adjust to YOUR taste! Also, be sure to check out this healthy oatmeal recipe roundup article for more ideas!
Greek Yogurt Smoothie Base Recipe
Whole Grain Pancakes Base Recipe
Baked Oatmeal Cups Base Recipe
Share the Love – Leave us a Review!
Unlike many other recipe blogs, we actually encourage you to tweak our recipes. Not because they’re in need of change, haha, but because we believe one of the secrets to success in the kitchen is cooking to YOUR taste. Make the recipe, leave us a review, and tell us if you made any changes! We love hearing how you’ve made it your own.
Overnight Oats Base Recipe
Ingredients
Base Recipe
- ½ cup old fashioned oats
- ½ cup milk or milk alternative (ex. almond milk, oat milk, soy milk)
- 1 teaspoon natural sweetener (or to taste)
- Dash flavor extract and/or spice (or to taste)
Toppings or mix-ins to YOUR taste
- ½ cup fresh or frozen fruit
- ¼ cup fruit or vegetable puree (pumpkin, sweet potato, etc.)
- ¼ cup Greek yogurt
- 1-2 Tablespoons dried fruit
- 1-2 Tablespoons toasted nuts, seeds, or nut butter
- 1-2 Tablespoon toasted coconut
- ½-1 Tablespoon mini dark or semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1 teaspoon cocoa powder
Instructions
- Combine oats, milk, sweetener, flavor extract and/or spices in a bowl or jar.
- Mix-in or top with ingredients to your taste, or add them in the morning.
- Cover and refrigerate overnight.
- Enjoy cold!
Notes
This is a variation of our overnight oats base recipe. Overnight oats are great for breakfast and can make busy mornings a breeze. This banana nut overnight oats recipe tastes like banana bread, but has a fraction of the added sugar and is filled with whole grain goodness!
Master the Basics and Make it YOUR Own
Watch our base recipe video to learn the basic skills, and discover how you can customize overnight oats to your taste!
Must-Know Cooking Skills to Level Up your Kitchen Game
To make this recipe even easier, check out these videos to master the basics:
Culinary Tips for Banana Nut Overnight Oats
Looking to whip up a quick and healthy breakfast that’ll last all week or feed the whole fam? Easy! Mix up a big batch in one bowl, then portion it out for grab-and-go goodness.
Toast those pecans for next-level flavor! Whole nuts? Pop them in the oven, then chop them up. Chopped? Toast them on the stovetop until they’re golden and aromatic. 🥣
Ingredient Substitutions
- Oats: You can swap in quick-cooking oats, but be prepared for a softer texture. Steel-cut oats? Not this time—they don’t work well in this recipe.
- Milk: Regular or dairy-free milk both work beautifully!
- Greek Yogurt: can substitute regular plain yogurt. Choose a fat content that works for your overall diet. Choose sugar-free varieties and sweeten to your taste. Don’t have yogurt? Simply leave it out. Substitute a plant-based yogurt to make your overnight oats vegan.
- Maple Syrup: substitute agave, honey, or brown sugar. You can also use jam, juice, or pureed fruit in place of sweetener.
- Pecans: substitute any nut of your choice. For best flavor, toast the pecans. If using whole pecans, toast in the oven, then chop finely. If using chopped pecans, toast on the stovetop.
- Cinnamon: substitute any sweet spice – allspice, cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, or nutmeg. Adjust to taste.
We like to buy our spices from the Spice House. They have great quality, variety, and flavor!
Recipe Variations
Feel free to add other mix-ins or toppings: vanilla extract, chia seeds, ground flax seeds, coconut flakes, cocoa powder, nut butter, etc. Additional spices are also fair game – a dash of cloves or nutmeg add some pizazz!
Need some overnight oats recipe inspiration?
Use our base recipe as a guide, and create your own signature variation!
Take a look at our stovetop oatmeal base recipe and its variations for even more ideas!
Overnight Oats Base Recipe
Cinnamon
Apple Pie
Blueberry
Chocolate Cherry with Almonds
Berry
Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana
Pumpkin Pie
Equipment Recommendations: The Essentials
You just need a few basic tools for this recipe. Here’s your shopping list:
- Measuring cups & spoons – precision makes a difference.
- Liquid measuring cup – let’s be honest, you will probably use the cup you use for oats, but in theory, a liquid cup should be used!
- Mason jars – for a fun presentation!
Check out our essential equipment guide to stock your kitchen with ALL the tools you need to prepare anything and everything!
Banana Overnight Oats are a Healthy Breakfast
Your first meal sets the tone for the rest of your day, so make it count! A balanced breakfast should pack fiber-rich complex carbs, protein, and healthy fats to keep you energized and satisfied. The featured ingredients in this healthy overnight oats recipe are oats, Greek yogurt, banana, and pecans. This recipe also contains natural sweetener, but far less than many breakfast cereals.
Oats
Oats of any variety are a good source of fiber and complex carbohydrates. Fiber is important for digestion, satiety, stable blood sugar, good cholesterol, and healthy gut bacteria, while complex carbohydrates provide steady energy and focus.
We’ve already covered a topic where you can learn about the different types of oats.
Greek Yogurt
Making overnight oats with Greek yogurt creates a creamy texture and taste. Plus, it adds a nutritional boost! Greek Yogurt is a great source of protein, calcium, and gut-friendly probiotics.
Banana
Bananas contain prebiotic fiber, vitamins, and minerals – important for digestion, steady energy, and metabolism. Greenish bananas are firm and are higher in prebiotic fiber. Brownish bananas are soft and are higher in sugar, making them a bit sweeter.
Pecans
Nuts of all varieties contain plant-based protein, fiber, and healthy fats that help you feel satisfied until your next meal. Pecans are a great source of heart-healthy monounsaturated fats.
Less Sugar than Breakfast Cereal
Many breakfast cereals contain large amounts of added sugars that might give you a quick pick me up, but it’s guaranteed to be followed by a crash. By making your own homemade overnight oats, you get to control the amount of added sugar that you eat!
Dive into our ingredient guide to discover the freshest, tastiest picks for all your recipes—because great ingredients make all the difference! 🌟🍎
Overnight oats aren’t just for breakfast! They can also be a great snack or post-workout treat.
They are meant to be enjoyed cold, but you can microwave them if you insist on a warm breakfast!
Learn how to build a healthy balanced meal with our Whole Life Plate, meal plan, and book!
How to Store Banana Nut Overnight Oats
Store overnight oats in the refrigerator, and they will be ready to enjoy the next morning. They’ll stay fresh for up to 5 days, but heads up – the longer they hang out, the mushier they’ll get. So, if you’re a fan of that perfect chewy texture, don’t wait too long to dig in!
Want more healthy breakfast recipes? We got you covered!
Check out these healthy base recipe breakfast ideas, then adjust to YOUR taste!
Whole Wheat Muffins Base Recipe
Greek Yogurt Smoothie Base Recipe
Whole Grain Pancakes Base Recipe
Baked Oatmeal Cups Base Recipe
Share the Love – Leave us a Review!
Unlike many other recipe blogs, we actually encourage you to tweak our recipes. Not because they’re in need of change, haha, but because we believe one of the secrets to success in the kitchen is cooking to YOUR taste. Make the recipe, leave us a review, and tell us if you made any changes! We love hearing how you’ve made it your own.
Banana Nut Overnight Oats
Ingredients
- ½ cup old fashioned or quick oats
- ½ cup milk or milk alternative
- ¼ cup Greek yogurt (optional)
- 1 teaspoon maple syrup (or to taste)
- Dash cinnamon
- Dash vanilla extract
- ½ medium banana, sliced (~½ cup)
- 2 Tablespoons toasted, chopped pecans
Instructions
- Mix oats, milk, yogurt, maple syrup, cinnamon, and vanilla extract in a bowl. Top with bananas and toasted pecans, or add them in the morning.
- Cover and refrigerate overnight.
- Enjoy cold!
This Post Has 16 Comments
I first tried it on a cruise ship and have been making it since. Add Apple, nuts and cranberries. Chopped apricots when I have those.
That sounds delicious!
Another great staple in my house! Super easy and delicious. I love to make mine with a little brown sugar and cinnamon. I usually top with berries and banana and sometimes nuts or granola (recipe from your website!) for a little texture. I usually make a few at once and it keeps very well in the fridge. Thank you!
We love that you have tried-and-true ways to customize it to your taste!
Is the oats amount before or after cooking?
Before cooking – use raw oats. They sort of “cook” in the liquid overnight. No heating required!
Cheryl you don’t cook it! Just mix and put in fridge overnight.
Great basic recipe. Have made just 3 so far and your right, the possibilities are almost endless. Thanks!!!!!!!
So glad to hear that you have found this recipe helpful! Enjoy!!
How long would you recommend heating it for in the microwave if you want them warm in the morning?
I would say microwave it in 30 second intervals, stirring each time. I’ve never actually tried them warm, so would love to hear how they taste!
I’ve made this one many times for my little boys. So many, that they ask for it weekly! Their favorite is to add dried cherries, but do go with blueberries sometimes as well.
Going to make them for the first time tonight, they sound yummy ???? and I’m sure I’ll love them ????
They are delicious! Let us know what flavor you come up with!
Is the consistency of this recipe thin enough to drink?
It’s too thick to drink as written, but if you want it drinkable, you could add more liquid.
Otherwise, if you are looking to add some oats to a drink, take a look at our Greek yogurt smoothie base recipe and include oats 🙂