The Best Recipes for Vegan Overnight Oats

Overnight oats have become increasingly popular thanks to their trendy endorsement from celebrities and fitness experts over the last few years. Since taking over the ‘Gram, there’s been a lot of delicious recipes all over the Web and in magazines with variations of the popular oat recipe. While we like the traditional recipe, we want to share a few of our favorite vegan-friendly recipes to get you a healthy jumpstart on the day.

What Are Vegan Overnight Oats?

Traditional overnight oats are a deliciously simple breakfast you can make ahead and don’t have to cook. You simply soak uncooked oats in a jar overnight with a liquid of your choice like water or milk. For vegan oats, you can substitute cow’s milk for a vegan alternative like almond or soy milk. To add more flavor to your oats, you can mix in some fruits, nuts, and seasonings like cinnamon or flavored milk. Continue reading to discover more yummy add-ons to include in your oats to keep things interesting.

How To Make Overnight Oats

Overnight oats are appealing because of their simplicity. Making a basic overnight oats breakfast is inexpensive and takes just a few steps:

1. Put your uncooked rolled oats (about ½ cup) in a mason jar. You can also use a bowl or mug if you prefer.
2. Choose your liquid, such as almond milk, and pour it over your uncooked oats. You will need about 1 cup of liquid. We recommend nut milk because it leaves the oats more creamy and with more flavor than just water.
3. Stir in any other flavors you’d like to add like honey, nuts, nutmeg, or whatever else you enjoy.
4. Combine all the ingredients together and place them in the fridge for at least 5 hours.

Preparation and Recipe Tips:

1. You can make a large batch and divide it into several jars for a ready-made breakfast.
2. Old-Fashioned oats are the best variety to use because they hold their shape best. If preferred, you can also use rolled oats or steel oats; however, steel oats would likely require more liquid.
3. Overnight oats last about four days in the fridge but enjoy any oats containing bananas right away to avoid a brown, mushy mess.
4. Oats can be microwaved to warm them up for chilly mornings or enjoy them chilled.

Our Favorite Vegan Overnight Oats Recipes

You can start any overnight oats with a base recipe and then add ingredients you would like to include. A basic, vegan overnight oats recipe has just three ingredients:

• 1 cup Old- Fashioned oats
• 1 cup non-dairy milk
• 1 TBSP of flax or chia seeds (optional, but they help make the oats less mushy and add protein and heart-healthy nutrients)

Peanut Butter Overnight Oats with Jam

This simple peanut butter overnight oats recipe brings a childhood favorite to your busy morning schedule.

Use our basic overnight oats recipe:

• 1 cup Old- Fashioned oats
• 1 cup non-dairy milk
• 1 TBSP of flax or chia seeds (optional, but they help make the oats less mushy and add protein and heart-healthy nutrients)

-And add-

• 2-4 TBSP of your favorite peanut butter (you can use almond or sunflower butter instead)
• 2-4 TBSP of fruit jam

Chocolate Vegan Overnight Oats

Whenever you’re craving a chocolate muffin or that classic kid’s cereal that makes you go
“Coo-coo!” try this delicious and healthy recipe from Nutrition in the Kitch.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup rolled oats (steel cut or Old-Fashioned also work)
• 2 TBSP chia seeds
• 2 TBSP pure maple syrup
• 2 TBSP natural almond butter
• 2 TBSP plant-based chocolate protein powder (optional)
• 2 TBSP cocoa powder
• 1 ½ cups unsweetened vanilla almond milk
• 2 TBSP mini dark chocolate chips

Directions:

1. Combine the oats, chia seeds, maple syrup, almond butter, protein powder, cocoa powder, and almond milk in a bowl.
2. Mix very well to combine, then stir in the chocolate chips.
3. Divide the mixture between two jars or Tupperware containers.
4. Place in the fridge and leave overnight, or 5 hours at a minimum.
5. In the morning, before eating, warm in the microwave for 30 seconds (see notes), then top with a drizzle of almond butter and a sprinkle of chocolate chips, and dig in!

Apple Cinnamon Vegan Overnight Oats

This delicious recipe from Well Plated by Erin features a light tartness from the apples with a hint of sweetness.

Ingredients:

• ⅓ cup Old-Fashioned oats
• ½ TSP ground cinnamon
• Tiny pinch ground ginger
• Tiny pinch of ground cloves
• Tiny pinch of kosher salt
• ½ medium apple cored and diced (peeling optional), any kind you enjoy eating
• ½ cup Almond Breeze Unsweetened Vanilla Almondmilk
• 1 ½ TSP pure maple syrup
• ½ cup non-fat plain Greek yogurt
• 1 TBSP flaxseed meal or chia seeds

Directions:

Add the ingredients to a 16-ounce mason jar or another individual storage container in the order listed above: oats, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, salt, diced apples, almond milk, maple syrup, Greek yogurt, and flaxseed. Do not shake. Seal the jar and refrigerate overnight (or up to 5 days). You can also layer the ingredients in a bowl, then cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate.

When ready to eat, shake the jar to combine the ingredients or empty the contents of the container into a serving bowl and stir to combine. Add a little more Greek yogurt or almond milk if a thicker/thinner consistency is desired. Add any desired toppings and enjoy.

Mango Coconut Overnight Oats

Shake things up a bit and enjoy this tropically-inspired overnight oats recipe by The Conscientious Eater.

Use the basic overnight oats recipe:

• 1 cup Old- Fashioned oats
• 1 cup non-dairy milk
• 1 TBSP of flax or chia seeds (optional, but they help make the oats less mushy and add protein and heart-healthy nutrients)

-And add-

• Two tablespoons shredded coconut (or coconut cream)
• ½ mango, cut into small pieces (or puréed)
• A dash of cinnamon
• A dash of ground ginger
• Optional: 2-3 teaspoons maple syrup

Add some delicious coconut cookies crumbled on top for an extra decadent bonus.

Banana Bread Overnight Oats

Banana bread may be one of the best-tasting breads on the planet, but unfortunately, it’s not exactly healthy. Try this overnight oats recipe when you get a craving for some delicious banana bread. This recipe from Downshiftology has the flavors of the bread without the… well, bread.

Ingredients:

• ½ cup rolled oats
• ½ cup milk, dairy or dairy-free
• 1/4 cup Greek yogurt or dairy-free yogurt
• 1 TBSP chia seeds
• 1 TBSP maple syrup
• ½ banana, mashed
• Two tablespoon of chopped walnuts
• ½ TSP vanilla extract
• ½ TSP cinnamon
• pinch of ground flaxseed

Directions:

1. Add all the ingredients into a sealable jar or bowl and stir it until combined.
2. Let it soak in the fridge for at least 2 hours, but it’s best to soak overnight for 8 hours, and this will yield a creamier consistency.
3. Top your overnight oats with your favorite toppings, and enjoy!

Vegan Savory Spinach Oats

If you’re more of a savory breakfast eater, this overnight oats recipe is right up your alley. Full of healthy, antioxidant-rich vegetables, enjoy this recipe by Veggies Don’t Bite for a satisfying breakfast minus the sweetness. You can swap out the spinach for kale or another favorite green vegetable.

Ingredients:

• ⅔ cups unsweetened cashew milk, can sub another milk of choice
• 1 TSP fresh lemon juice
• 2 cups fresh spinach, measure packed
• ¼ TSP garlic powder
• ¼ TSP sea salt
• Drizzle veggie broth or oil to sauté
• ½ cup rolled oats
• Grateable Vegan Parmesan, optional for topping

Directions:

1. Mix the lemon juice and milk and set aside.
2. Sauté the spinach with the garlic powder and salt using oil, or broth if you don’t use oil, until slightly wilted—about 2 minutes.
3. Add in the milk mixture and the oats and stir until you’ve reached the desired consistency. About 2-3 minutes.
4. Top with Parmesan if using, and enjoy!

Best Toppings For Overnight Oats

Once you’ve got your base recipe down pat, you can add practically endless ingredient combinations to create a flavorful masterpiece. Make your oats savory, sweet, creamy, or crunchy-whatever your (healthy) heart desires!

Fruits- Add some fresh fruit to your overnight oats to boost vitamins and brighten flavor!

Nuts and Seeds- Need a little crunch on your oats? Grab some healthy nuts and seeds like almonds, cashews, and flax seeds to get your healthy Omega 3’s easily added to your diet.

Fruit Jams- Fruit jams are an easy way to satisfy those pastry cravings. Don’t give in to the temptation (or do! Life is short, right?), and get yourself a high-quality fruit jam.

Seasonings- Sprinkle some cinnamon or nutmeg on your oats for some zero-calorie sweetness.

Dried Fruits- Enjoy delicious dried fruits as a sweetness and fiber boost to your healthy oats. Raisins, dried cranberries, and dried banana chips are all a yummy way to add texture to your oats.

Nut Butter- Nut butter is a great way to add flavor and protein to your oats; almond, peanut, and cashew butter all make a delicious addition to your breakfast.

Granola- For an extra crunch and to add some keto-friendly nuts into your diet, sprinkle some deliciously flavored granola on your oats. Adding a vanilla and coconut flavored granola to your breakfast sounds pretty good, right? Best of all? You can choose grain-free granola.

Natural Sweeteners- When you need a little extra sweetness, choose a natural means of satisfying your sweet tooth. Brown sugar, agave syrup, maple syrup, and other clean sweeteners can add subtle sweetness without adding many calories.

Yogurt- Adding a non-dairy yogurt to your overnight oats will up the creaminess factor and increase the protein.

FAQs About Overnight Oats

• Are overnight oats healthy?
  • Yes! Oats and oatmeal are highly nutritious while also being low in fat and high in fiber. Oats also contain a soluble fiber called beta-glucan, which is known for its numerous health benefits like lowering bad cholesterol and blood sugar. Additionally, oatmeal is a food that’s often recommended when you’re trying to lose weight. Oatmeal’s beta-glucan also helps you feel fuller longer by slowing down the process of emptying the stomach.
• Do you eat overnight oats warm or cold?
  • You can enjoy overnight oats cold from the refrigerator; that’s how they’re intended to be enjoyed. If you prefer warm oats, heating them in the microwave is totally fine too. There’s no wrong way to enjoy them.
• How long do overnight oats last?
  • Overnight oats can last up to 4 days in the fridge in a tightly sealed jar or container. If the oats have bananas, enjoy them within 24 hours to avoid brown spots and excess mush.

Check out our blog for more recipes!