Packed with over 35g of protein and slow-digesting carbs, these chocolate protein overnight oats will help power through your mornings. This grab-and-go breakfast calls for simple ingredients and comes together in 5 minutes!
We love having oats for breakfast, whether it is in the form of overnight oats, oatmeal protein pancakes, banana oatmeal muffins, or vegan baked oats.
While weekends are reserved for slow mornings and recipes like almond milk French toast or vegan protein waffles, I need something quick, delicious, and satisfying for the weekdays.
Enter overnight oats. I love my basic vegan protein oats, but these chocolate protein overnight oats are what I make when I am craving something decadent and fudgy for breakfast.
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💚Why you will love chocolate protein overnight oats
- Creamy and rich, it's like having dessert for breakfast
- No-cook recipe that's perfect for warmer days
- Super satisfying and is packed with fiber + 35g protein
- Lasts for days in the fridge and is freezer-friendly
🌾What you will need
- Rolled (or quick) oats - Rolled oats are heartier, while quick oats yield a smoother consistency. Steel-cut oats are too tough and will not work (check out my protein steel-cut oats instead!)
- Protein powder - Either whey or plant-based will work. I like Orgain's chocolate plant protein. If using vanilla or unflavored, add another ½ to 1 tablespoon cocoa powder.
- Chia seeds - Feel free to skip if you don't like them and slightly reduce the amount of milk added.
- Maple syrup - Any other liquid sweetener can be used in place. Can be left out if your protein powder is already quite sweet.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Make it without protein powder
Here are some high-protein ingredients you can add to your oats, replacing protein powder:
- Milk - Low-fat or soy milk have decent protein but go with a bottled protein shake or ultra-filtered milk for a higher protein alternative.
- Greek yogurt - Replace ½ cup of milk with ⅓ to ½ cup of Greek yogurt for a protein boost.
- Hemp seeds - 2-3 tablespoons add healthy fat and another 10g of protein.
With all the above tweaks made, this version delivers a solid 25-30g of protein without adding protein powder!
✨Flavor variations and add-ins
- Chocolate banana - Mash ½ banana and mix it into the oats, topping it with more banana slices if desired.
- Chocolate peanut butter - Stir in 1-2 tablespoons of peanut butter or peanut butter powder (like PB2) for a rich, nutty flavor boost.
- Double chocolate - For chocolate lovers, mix in 1-2 tablespoons of your favorite chocolate chips.
- Mocha - Add a tablespoon of instant coffee for a caffeine boost!
- Extra high protein - Replace ½ cup of milk with ½ cup Greek yogurt to further bump up the protein.
- Gluten-free - Make sure to use certified gluten-free oats.
🔪How to make chocolate protein overnight oats
Step 1: In a bowl/glass jar/container, add all dry ingredients. Stir to mix. (I like using 16-oz wide-mouth mason jars for easy mixing.)
Step 2: Add wet ingredients and stir to combine.
Step 3: Allow to soak overnight or at least 4 hours, refrigerated.
Step 4: When ready to serve, give the chocolate protein overnight oats a stir. Add desired toppings and dig in!
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✅helpful tips
- Pick a protein powder you enjoy - The taste of overnight oats will vary depending on the protein powder used.
- Make oats in a Mason jar - You can just prep, store, and enjoy protein oats with just a jar. I recommend the 16-oz wide-mouth jars.
- Mix ingredients thoroughly - Make sure there are no pockets of dry ingredients at the sides or bottom of the jar.
- Only add toppings right before serving - To ensure they stay fresh. This is especially true for fruits and crunchy toppings (nuts, seeds, granola).
❄️Meal prep and storing suggestions
- Batch prep - Multiply the ingredients and mix everything in a large bowl. Divide them using Mason jars or containers before refrigerating.
- Refrigerating - You can refrigerate overnight oats for up to 4 days.
- Freezing - Alternatively, freeze overnight oats up to 2 months, using Souper cubes. Allow to thaw overnight in the fridge.
- Serving - Give oats a quick stir, adding toppings and more milk, if needed. If you prefer warm oats, heat them in the microwave.
?Commonly asked questions
You can use water instead of milk to make overnight oats, but it will be less creamy. You can stir in a tablespoon of nut butter or ¼ cup of yogurt to compensate.
Protein powder is the most common choice. However, you can also add other high-protein ingredients. Below are some of my favorites:
- Greek yogurt or high-protein yogurt
- Low-fat milk, soy milk, or bottled protein shake
- Hemp seeds
- Peanut butter powder (like PB2)
Overnight oats are highly forgiving; you can use almost any kind of protein powder, be it whey, casein, egg white, or plant-based. For this recipe, a chocolate protein powder works best, but vanilla and unflavored work as well.
However, it is recommended to choose a protein powder you like, as its flavor will hugely influence how your oats taste.
🍽️More make-ahead breakfasts
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📖 Recipe
Chocolate Protein Overnight Oats
Equipment
Ingredients
- ½ cup rolled oats or quick oats (use gluten-free if needed)*
- 1 cup soy milk or another dairy/non-dairy milk
- 1 scoop chocolate protein powder (30g)**
- 1 tablespoon cocoa powder
- 2 teaspoons chia seeds
- 1-2 tablespoon maple syrup or another liquid sweetener (see notes)***
Instructions
- In a bowl/glass jar/container, add all dry ingredients. Stir to mix.
- Add wet ingredients and stir to combine. Ensure that there are no dry pockets of protein powder, especially towards the bottom edges of the glass jar.
- Allow to soak overnight or at least 4 hours, refrigerated.
- When ready to serve, give overnight oats a stir. Add desired toppings and dig in!
Notes
- Serving overnight oats warm - Warm them in the microwave (1-2 minutes) or on the stovetop, stirring often to avoid burning.
- Only add toppings when ready to enjoy - This is especially true for fruits and crunchy toppings, such as granola, nuts, and seeds, to maintain their freshness.
- Meal prepping overnight oats - Multiply the ingredients to make a larger batch. They can be refrigerated for up to 4 days, and frozen for 3 months.
Save this recipe!
Email yourself a link to this page and come back later.
Also get a FREE high-protein vegan recipe eBook + weekly new recipes! Unsubscribe anytime.
Nutrition
Nutrition info calculated is just a rough estimate and is provided as a courtesy. Bear in mind that value will vary based on variables like specific brand or type of product used. To obtain the most accurate representation, it is highly recommended that you calculate it on your own with the actual amount and type of ingredient used.
Nancy says
It turned out very delicious. I love your breakfast recipes!