Vanilla Overnight Oats

by Kayla Berman on March 2, 2023 3 comments

Vanilla Overnight Oats are an easy, healthy, and delicious breakfast recipe! Made with old fashioned oats, vanilla almond milk, vanilla greek yogurt, and chia seeds … this oatmeal recipe is creamy, nutritious, and loaded with that sweet vanilla flavor. It’s high protein, high fiber, and takes 5 minutes to make. Truly perfect for meal prep!

Easy, Healthy, & Delicious Breakfast Recipe

I truly live by the saying breakfast is the most important meal of the day. I could not agree more with it!

So many of my friends and family members just don’t eat breakfast. They see it as anything but the most important meal of the day. And I see them as crazy!

It is probably because they don’t know about all the easy, healthy, and delicious options out there! Like Vanilla Overnight Oats.

These creamy oats are everything you want and more in a morning meal. They are quick and easy to make, loaded with nutrients, and full of that sweet vanilla flavor. Plus they taste like dessert!

This breakfast is high protein (20 g), high fiber, and will keep you full and satisfied all morning long.

I promise, this 5 minute breakfast will without a doubt make it into your weekly rotation.

Ingredients

This easy breakfast is made with only a handful of healthy and simple ingredients!

Ingredient List

Old-Fashioned Oats: This overnight oat recipe of course calls for oats! My tried and true are old fashioned oats. You will need 1/3 cup.
Vanilla Greek Yogurt: Vanilla greek yogurt makes this oatmeal recipe extra creamy and high protein. Plus it really helps give that sweet and delicious vanilla flavor. Add 1/2 cup. My favorite kind is Fage Blended Vanilla Greek Yogurt!
Vanilla Almond Milk: The second key ingredient that gives this recipe its signature flavor is unsweetened vanilla almond milk. Add 1/2 cup!
Chia Seeds: 1/2 tablespoon of chia seeds thickens this oatmeal to the perfect texture. The nutritious seeds also add omega-3 fatty acids and fiber!
Pure Maple Syrup: 1/2 tablespoon of pure maple syrup gives this nutritious breakfast the perfect little boost of sweetness.
Vanilla Extract: Lastly, pure vanilla extract is the third ingredient to nail the vanilla flavor in these oats. And it might just be the most important! Add 1 tsp or however much you’d like.

Substitutions & Additions

I love this oatmeal recipe because it is super customizable!

Substitutions

You can substitute in different ingredients for it to meet your personal preferences, tastes, or needs.

Milk: Almond milk is my typical milk of choice but you can use any type you’d like! For non-dairy milk options – coconut milk, soy milk, oat milk, or cashew milk would all work. You could also use regular dairy filled milk! However, I do recommend using a vanilla option to really get the flavor to shine through.

Sweetener: You could replace the maple syrup used here with any liquid sweetener – like honey or agave. I think even granulated sweeteners would work too if that is all you have on hand. Perhaps brown sugar or coconut sugar!

Greek Yogurt: If you are not a fan of flavored yogurt, you can swap in plain yogurt for the vanilla greek yogurt in this recipe.

Additions

You can also add different ingredients to this basic recipe to switch up the nutrition or flavor profile.

Cinnamon
Cocoa Powder
Peanut Butter
Chocolate Chips
Protein Powder
Flax Seeds
Fresh Fruit
Nuts

Kitchen Tools

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How To Make This Recipe

This delicious breakfast is so incredibly easy to make! All you need is 5 minutes and you’ll have a healthy morning meal ready to go for the next day.

It is such a good option to meal prep the night before busy mornings!

Step-By-Step Instructions

Step 1: Add the vanilla unsweetened almond milk, vanilla greek yogurt, pure maple syrup, and vanilla extract to a small bowl.

Step 2: Combine thoroughly. A whisk is very helpful here!

almond milk, greek yogurt, maple syrup, and vanilla extract in a liquid measuring cup

Step 3: Next add the old fashioned oats and chia seeds to the wet ingredients. Combine thoroughly.

overnight oats wet ingredients with oats and chia seeds on top

Step 4: Cover or transfer the oatmeal mixture to an airtight container. Place in the refrigerator overnight or at least for a few hours.

Step 5: Remove the oats from the fridge the next morning and add your favorite toppings. I like fresh fruit, nut butter, and honey.

Step 6: Enjoy!

Expert Tips

Use a whisk when combining the liquid ingredients! This helps get a good stir and prevents any clumps.

Store in old jam jars or cute mason jars for a grab & go healthy breakfast option.

Adjust the consistency and thickness of the oats to your liking!

Too Thin: If you find these exact measurements to lead to a too thin oatmeal consistency, add less almond milk. Or more chia seeds!
Too Thick: If you find these exact measurements to lead to a too thick oatmeal consistency, add more almond milk.

Add in different mix-ins and toppings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are overnight oats healthy?

I am not a dietician or nutritionist, but in my opinion yes! Overnight oats are a super healthy option.

First, these overnight oats are a great high protein option because of the greek yogurt! They have 20 grams of protein per serving.

Plus this recipe is full of complex carbohydrates, omega-3 fatty acids, fiber, and vitamins. It’s a nutritious, delicious, and filling breakfast!

Do I eat overnight oats cold?

Yes, overnight oats are typically enjoyed cold. I just take mine out of the fridge and eat straight away!

However, if you prefer warm oats you could pop in the microwave to heat up for a minute or two.

Can I meal prep these easy overnight oats?

Absolutely! Overnight oats are a fantastic meal prep breakfast.

You can take 5 minutes in the beginning of the week to prepare a few servings and store in the fridge. You’ll have breakfast ready for the whole week!

How to best serve this recipe?

My favorite way to serve this vanilla overnight oatmeal recipe is with fresh berries and a drizzle of honey on top!

You could also add some peanut butter or almond butter on top for extra flavor and healthy fats.

How to best store this recipe?

Store this recipe in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It will keep best for up to 5 days!

Love this recipe? Check out more delicious recipes below…

Overnight Oat Recipes

Healthy Breakfast Recipes

Connect With Me!

If you make this healthy breakfast recipe or any of my other recipes, I would absolutely love to know! Tag me @wellnessbykay on Instagram so I can see and share your recreations.

Love this recipe? Leave a comment and a rating! I love to see and it helps me continue to develop delicious recipes for this blog.