Start your day with this creamy and decadent chocolate protein overnight oats! This refreshing recipe is packed with almost 40g of protein, making it super filling. The best part is you can make it in under 5 minutes.
I am a big fan of oatmeal for breakfast. I enjoy it in various forms, like baked oats, protein steel-cut oats, and oatmeal protein pancakes.
However, with my busy schedule, I have been drawn to overnight oats lately. In particular, I love this recipe for chocolate protein overnight oats. It's effortless to prepare and serves as a convenient grab-and-go breakfast option!
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💚Why you will love this recipe
- A no-cook, refreshing recipe that is great for the warmer weather
- Quick and simple to prepare
- A convenient breakfast that stores well, making it great for meal prep
- Highly customizable with endless flavor combinations and toppings
🌾What you will need
📃Ingredients notes and substitutions
- Oats - Both rolled or quick oats can be used. Rolled oats yield a chewier texture, while the latter produces smoother and creamier overnight oats. Use a certified gluten-free brand of oats to make this recipe gluten-free.
- Protein powder - I am using a pea-based chocolate protein powder, but feel free to use other types of protein powder. I recommend sticking with vanilla/chocolate-flavored or unflavored protein powder.
- Milk - Both dairy and plant-based milk will work.
- Maple syrup - Can be substituted with another liquid sweetener like honey, agave syrup, or sugar-free syrup. If your protein powder is particularly sweet, you can reduce the amount used or omit it entirely.
🔪How to make
In a bowl/glass jar/container, add all dry ingredients. Stir to mix.
Add wet ingredients and stir to combine.
Allow to soak overnight or at least 4 hours.
When ready to serve, give overnight oats a stir. Add desired toppings and dig in!
✅Helpful tips
- Use mason jars - Jars allow you to make, store, and enjoy overnight oats in one container. I usually opt for my 16oz wide-mouth jars.
- Adjust the texture - If your overnight oats are too thick after soaking, add a splash of milk to thin them out. Conversely, add a teaspoon of chia seeds if your oats are too thin. Let the mixture sit for a few minutes, allowing the chia seeds to gel and thicken the oats.
- Serve it warm - You can also serve this chocolate protein overnight oats hot! Transfer the mixture to a microwavable bowl, and cook at 30-second increments or until oats are warm.
- Batch-make overnight oats - If you're making a meal for the entire family or meal-prepping for the week, multiply the ingredients to make more servings. They can be refrigerated for up to 4 days.
✨Variations and add-ins
Here are some flavor variations to try out:
Chocolate banana - Mash up ½ a banana and add it to the oats along with the rest of the ingredients. Before serving, top it with banana slices or caramelized banana.
Chocolate peanut butter - Mix 1-2 tablespoons of peanut butter or peanut butter powder (like PB2).
Double chocolate - Stir in 1-2 tablespoons of your favorite chocolate chips. I love using the Enjoy Life’s dark chocolate morsels.
Chocolate hazelnut - Add a tablespoon of hazelnut chocolate spread or hazelnut butter to your overnight oats.
Extra high-protein - For an extra protein boost in your chocolate protein overnight oats, swap out ¼ cup of milk for Greek yogurt, soy yogurt, or cottage cheese.
🍌Topping ideas
- Fruits - sliced bananas, frozen/fresh berries, chopped dates, raisins
- Chopped nuts - walnuts, hazelnuts, pecans
- Nut butter - peanut butter, cashew butter, coconut almond butter
- Chocolate chips or cacao nibs
- Whipped cream - regular or plant-based
❄️Storing suggestions
Fridge - This chocolate protein overnight oats can be refrigerated for up to four days. To keep toppings fresh, add them only when ready to serve. Oats may thicken over time when soaked, so add a splash of milk to thin it if necessary.
Freezer - Overnight oats can be frozen for two months. Divide them into individual servings using sealed containers before freezing. Allow oats to thaw overnight in the fridge when ready to enjoy.
?Commonly asked questions
Both rolled oats and quick oats (instant oats) suit this recipe. Rolled oats will provide a chewier texture, while quick oats will give a smoother and creamier mouthfeel. However, steel-cut oats won't work in this recipe because they are too tough and cannot be softened enough during the soaking process.
Once the oats have soaked for at least 2 hours, they are ready to be enjoyed. However, it is recommended to soak them for more than 4 hours to allow sufficient time for the oats to soften and flavors to mellow. This will result in a creamy and delicious bowl of overnight oats.
If your overnight oats are too thin, you can thicken them by adding 1-2 teaspoons of chia seeds. Then, stir the mixture and let it sit for 5-10 minutes before enjoying. The chia seeds will absorb the liquid and create a gel-like consistency.
You can make overnight oats with water instead of milk. Your overnight oats might be slightly less creamy and rich, but they will still be delicious. Optionally, add a spoonful of yogurt or nut butter to your oats to compensate for the reduced creaminess.
🍽️More make-ahead breakfasts
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📖 Recipe
Chocolate Protein Overnight Oats
Ingredients
- ½ cup rolled oats or quick oats (use gluten-free if needed_
- 1 cup soy milk or another kind of milk
- 1 scoop chocolate protein powder (30g)
- 1 tablespoon cocoa powder
- 2 teaspoons chia seeds
- 1-2 tablespoon maple syrup or another liquid sweetener
Instructions
- In a bowl/glass jar/container, add all dry ingredients. Stir to mix.
- Add wet ingredients and stir to combine.
- Allow to soak overnight or at least 4 hours.
- When ready to serve, give overnight oats a stir. Add desired toppings and dig in!
Notes
- Adjust the texture - If your overnight oats are too thick after soaking, add a splash of milk to thin them out. Conversely, add a teaspoon of chia seeds if your oats are too thin, and let it sit for a few minutes.
- Serve it warm - You can also serve this chocolate protein overnight oats hot! Transfer the mixture to a microwavable bowl, and cook at 30-second increments or until oats are warm.
- Batch-make overnight oats - If you're making a meal for the entire family or meal-prepping for the week, multiply the ingredients to make more servings. They can be refrigerated for up to 4 days.
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.
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