Overnight Oats for Busy Back to School Mornings
Overnight oats for busy back to school mornings are a simple make-ahead breakfast made by stirring rolled oats, Greek yogurt, chia seeds, milk, and maple syrup together at night so they’re creamy and ready to eat in the morning.
Equipment
- 2–3 lidded jars or containers (10–12 oz / 300–350 ml)
- Medium Bowl
- Whisk
- Spoon or spatula
Ingredients
Base recipe
- 120 g rolled oats (old-fashioned) about 1 1/3 cups
- 240 ml milk of choice about 1 cup
- 120 g plain Greek yogurt full-fat or 2%; about 1/2 cup
- 30 g chia seeds about 2 tbsp
- 2–3 tbsp pure maple syrup or honey 30–45 ml, to taste
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/4 tsp fine sea salt
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon optional
Toppings & add-ins (mix and match)
- 1 small apple diced
- 100 g berries fresh or frozen; about 3/4 cup
- 2–3 tbsp nut butter peanut, almond, or cashew
- 2–3 tbsp chopped nuts or seeds add in the morning for crunch
- 1 small banana ripe, mashed (optional)
Instructions
- Choose your containers: use 2–3 lidded jars or containers that hold about 300–350 ml (10–12 oz), leaving a little headspace for stirring and toppings.
- Mix the base: in a medium bowl, whisk together the milk, Greek yogurt, maple syrup or honey, vanilla, salt, and cinnamon (if using) until smooth.
- Add the dry ingredients: stir in the rolled oats and chia seeds until fully combined and no dry pockets remain.
- Portion into jars: divide evenly among containers. Add sturdy fruit (like frozen berries or diced apple) now if you like; save softer fruit (like banana or fresh berries) for the morning.
- Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours; 8–12 hours gives the best texture.
- Stir and adjust in the morning: stir well from bottom to top. If too thick, add a splash more milk; if too loose, stir in a spoonful of oats or chia and let sit 5–10 minutes.
- Add toppings and serve: top with fruit, nut butter, and/or nuts/seeds (add crunchy toppings in the morning so they stay crisp).
- Optional warm version: transfer to a microwave-safe bowl and heat in 20–30 second bursts, stirring between, until just warm; add a little extra milk if needed.
Nutrition
Calories: 420kcalCarbohydrates: 58gProtein: 20gFat: 13gSaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 20mgSodium: 260mgPotassium: 520mgFiber: 12gSugar: 18gVitamin A: 200IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 260mgIron: 3.2mg
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