It is possible to make creamy and thick overnight oats without chia seeds! This easy breakfast recipe only calls for a handful of simple ingredients and is ready in 5 minutes.
I love starting my day with oats, whether in the form of vegan oatmeal pancakes, vegan baked oats, banana oatmeal muffins, or overnight oats. Although most of my overnight oats recipes contain chia seeds, I know not everyone is a fan of their texture. Hence, this recipe is great for those of you who dislike chia seeds or simply run out of them!
If you want higher protein variations, I recommend checking out my chocolate protein overnight oats, vegan protein overnight oats or this basic protein overnight oats. You could also add a scoop of protein powder to this recipe, adding more milk until it reaches the desired consistency.
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🤔What are overnight oats
Overnight oats are a no-cook way of making oats. Ingredients like rolled oats, yogurt, and chia seeds are soaked in milk overnight, allowing oats enough time to absorb the liquid and soften up. This results in a creamy texture similar to porridge.
💚Why you will love this recipe
- A satisfying and filling breakfast that tastes like dessert
- Nutrient-dense, wholesome, and packed with fiber
- A great grab-and-go breakfast that can be made ahead of time
- Budget-friendly - Much cheaper than cafe breakfast!
- Easy to throw together and is ready in 5 minutes
🥣What you will need
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📃Ingredient notes and substitutions
- Oats - Both rolled oats and quick oats will work. Rolled oats will yield a chewier and chunkier texture, while quick oats produce a smoother mouthfeel. You can opt for a certified gluten-free brand to keep this recipe free from gluten.
- Yogurt - Give oats extra richness and creaminess. You can use Greek yogurt, regular yogurt, or plant-based alternatives like Silk vanilla soy yogurt.
- Milk - Any milk including full-cream, skimmed, and plant-based alternatives (almond, soy, pea, etc.), works here. Soy milk (like this Silk vanilla) is my go-to.
- Maple syrup - Can be substituted with other sweeteners. You can also omit it if you prefer your overnight oats to be unsweetened.
🔪How to make
Add all ingredients to a mason jar or bowl and mix until smooth and free of clumps. Let the mixture soak for at least 2 hours or overnight in the fridge.
Add toppings of choice, like fresh fruits and nut butter before serving. Give everything a quick stir, and enjoy!
✅Helpful tips
- Do not use steel-cut oats - They are much tougher than regular oats and will not soften enough just by soaking. This will yield tough oats that are unpleasant to chew on. Instead, I recommend you try my protein steel-cut oats.
- Batch-make overnight oats - These stay well in the fridge for up to 4 days. Hence, I love making a big batch for my meal prep. One thing to note is only adding fruits before serving to ensure they stay fresh.
- Make it in a jar - It is much more convenient to mix and store oats in mason jars. They are also easy to have on the go on busy mornings! Use a 16oz mason jar so you will have space to add toppings and stir your oats.
- Heating overnight oats - If you are not used to cold oatmeal, heat your oats in the microwave before enjoying them. Add oats and a splash of milk to a microwave-safe bowl, and heat it in 30-second bursts until oats reach the desired temperature.
✨Variations and add-ins
Here are some flavor variations for your overnight oats -
Banana bread - Stir ½ a mashed banana, a tablespoon of almond butter, and a pinch of cinnamon to your oats.
Chocolate - Add 1-2 tablespoons of cocoa powder to your oats. I also love topping it with chocolate chips or cacao nibs.
Apple pie - Add some ground cinnamon and a small pinch of nutmeg to your overnight oats, and top with chopped apples and pecans before serving.
High protein - Stir in ½-1 scoop of your favorite protein powder. You might need to add more milk, around ¼ to ⅓ cups.
Spices - Feel free to add your favorite spices to the oats, such as nutmeg, cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, or cardamom.
🍌Topping ideas
This recipe is a versatile base, so you can switch up the toppings every morning for different flavors of overnight oats! Here are some ideas to get you started:
- Chocolate chips or cacao nibs
- Fruits - sliced banana, fresh or frozen berries, cherries, chopped apples
- Nut butter - Peanut butter, cashew butter, coconut almond butter
- Nuts and seeds - pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, chopped peanuts or walnuts, almond flakes
- Jam or fruit compote
- Granola - Either homemade protein granola or store-bought ones (highly recommend checking out this peanut butter granola by Kinds!)
❔Commonly asked questions
Although overnight oats are commonly eaten cold straight out of the fridge, you can heat them if you prefer them warm. The easiest way to heat them is in the microwave.
Add overnight oats and a splash of milk to a microwave-safe bowl. Heat in 30-second bursts or until the oats are thoroughly warmed. Or, you can heat it in a pot on medium until hot.
Overnight oats can be stored in a sealed container or glass jar for up to 4 days. Hence, they are a great meal prep recipe!
For the best result, use old-fashioned rolled oats to make your overnight oats. They absorb liquid well, forming a creamy texture with a slight bite. If you prefer a smoother texture, you might want to consider using quick oats.
Steel-cut oats are too tough and will not soften enough to be eaten even after being soaked overnight. Hence, they are unsuitable for making overnight oats.
Let the oats soak for at least 2 hours before enjoying them. This allows time for the oats to absorb the liquid and soften.
Although milk yields creamier and richer overnight oats, you can use water in place. You can enhance the flavor and mouthfeel by adding other ingredients, such as yogurt or nut butter.
📖 Recipe
Overnight Oats without Chia Seeds
Equipment
Ingredients
- ½ cup oats quick or rolled*
- ½ cup soy milk or other kinds of milk (plant-based/dairy)
- ¼ cup soy yogurt or coconut/greek/almond/plain
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup or another liquid sweetener
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- In a mason jar, add all ingredients and stir well.
- Refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or ideally overnight. Give it a quick stir, add toppings of choice, and enjoy!
Notes
- Batch-make overnight oats so you will have breakfast ready to go for the next few days. They will stay well in the fridge for up to 4 days. If adding fruits, do so right before serving.
- Mixing and storing overnight oats in mason jars is much more convenient. They are also easy to have on the go on busy mornings! Use a 16oz mason jar so you will have space to add toppings and stir your oats.
- If you are not used to cold oatmeal, heat your oats in the microwave before enjoying them. Add oats and a splash of milk to a microwave-safe bowl, and heat it in 30-second bursts until oats reach the desired temperature.
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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.
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