Overnight Oats (Base Recipe plus Variations)
These easy Overnight Oats are the ultimate introduction to budget-friendly meal prep. They're no-cook, ideal for on-the-go, and customizable!
Servings: 1 8 oz mason jar
Calories: 302kcal
Equipment
- 8oz. Mason Jars
Ingredients
Base Recipe
- ½ cup old fashioned oats 50g, $0.17*
- ½ cup milk 118ml, $0.11
- ½ Tbsp brown sugar $0.03**
- ⅛ tsp cinnamon $0.01
- ½ Tbsp chia seeds $0.07
- pinch of salt $0.01
Peanut Butter and Jelly Variation (total: $1.28 per serving)
- base recipe $0.40
- 1 tsp blueberry jam $0.04
- 1 Tbsp peanuts $0.10
- 1 Tbsp crunchy peanut butter $0.49
- a few blueberries if desired, $0.23
Chocolate Raspberry Variation (total: $0.91 per serving)
- base recipe $0.40
- 1 tsp red raspberry jam $0.04
- 1 Tbsp dark chocolate chips $0.11
- a few raspberries if desired, $0.34
Banana Walnut Variation (total: $0.80 per serving)
- base recipe $0.40
- 1 Tbsp walnuts $0.29
- ⅓ banana diced, $0.09
Instructions
Base Recipe Instructions
- Combine old fashioned oats, brown sugar, cinnamon, chia seeds, and salt in an 8 oz. Mason Jar.
- Pour in milk.
- Stir or shake to combine, making sure all ingredients are mixed in evenly to avoid clumps of chia or brown sugar.
- Put the lid onto your mason jar and place it in the fridge.
- Refrigerate for 15 minutes or up to 12 hours before enjoying.***
Peanut Butter and Jelly Variation Instructions
- Once refrigerated, top the base recipe with the blueberry jam, peanuts, crunchy peanut butter, and a few blueberries, if desired.
- For a layered version, scoop out about half of the oats (after chilling), spread a thin layer of jam and peanut butter in the jar, spoon the oats back in, then finish with the remaining toppings.
Chocolate Raspberry Variation Instructions
- Once refrigerated, top the base recipe with the raspberry jam, dark chocolate chips, and a few raspberries, if desired.
- For a layered version, scoop out about half of the oats (once chilled) and add a thin layer of raspberry jam. Spoon the oats back into the jar and top with the chocolate chips and raspberries, if using.
Banana Walnut Variation Instructions
- Once refrigerated, top the base recipe with the walnuts and diced banana just before serving. You can also chop the walnuts up, mix them into the chilled oatmeal, and then add the bananas on top.
See how we calculate recipe costs here.
Video
Notes
*I use old-fashioned oats (also known as rolled oats) for my overnight oatmeal. Quick-cook oats and steel-cut oats don't work as well, as they absorb liquid differently. I only recommend old-fashioned oats for this recipe.
**If you don't want added sugar, skip it! The ratios in this recipe come out great with or without the brown sugar.
***Let the oats sit overnight (about 8 hours) for the best texture, but 15 minutes or so is okay if you're in a hurry. This is enough time for the chia seeds to absorb some liquid and for the oats to soften slightly.
Overnight oats are meant to be enjoyed cold, but you can absolutely heat them up if you prefer a warm breakfast. 60-90 seconds in a microwave-safe container should do the trick!
Nutrition
Serving: 18 oz jar (base recipe only) | Calories: 302kcal | Carbohydrates: 48g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 8g | Sodium: 344mg | Fiber: 6g