Overnight Oats (Base Recipe plus Variations)

Overhead view of overnight oats with various toppings

5 from 1 vote

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!

Prep Time5

Chill Time8

Total Time8 5

Course: Breakfast

Cuisine: Amercian

Total Cost: $0.42 recipe

Servings: 8 oz mason jar

Author: Jess Rice

Ingredients

Base Recipe

½ cup old fashioned oats* $0.20
½ cup milk $0.09
½ Tbsp brown sugar** $0.04
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 $0.42
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 $0.42
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 $0.42
1 Tbsp walnuts $0.29
⅓ of a banana, diced $0.09

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.

See how we calculate recipe costs here.

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.

**If you don't want added sugar, skip it! The ratios in this recipe come out great with or without the brown sugar.

Add fresh fruit just before eating to stop them from getting mushy. The same goes for granola or anything else you want to stay crunchy.
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