Easy Overnight Oats with Yogurt

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Easy Overnight Oats with Yogurt are a great healthy high-protein breakfast! This recipe only takes 6 ingredients and 5 minutes to prepare! Plus it’s no-cook, gluten-free and can easily be made dairy-free!

front view of three jars of yogurt overnight oats


Make-ahead breakfasts are life-savers on busy mornings! Starting the week knowing that my refrigerator, freezer and pantry are well-stocked with easy and healthy breakfast options makes me one happy momma.

This Overnight Oats with Yogurt recipe is a nutritional powerhouse. It’s loaded with protein, calcium and fiber and will keep you full all morning long.

This is a great meal-prep recipe that is made with only six ingredients in 5 minutes (no cooking required). Plus, it’s highly customizable and can even be made dairy-free.

Overhead view of a jar of yogurt overnight oats

How do you make overnight oats? 

As always, let’s walk through the steps of making this recipe. It’s super simple and comes together in no time.

Gather the ingredients

Here is what you will need to make these overnight oats: yogurt, milk, oats, honey, vanilla, cinnamon, sea salt and toppings of your choice

overhead view of the ingredients in this Yogurt Overnight Oats recipe

Overnight Oats: Ingredients and Substitutions 

It’s important to take a minute and chat about the ingredients in this overnight oats recipe, as well as possible substitutions (because I know you all too well and I am certain you will ask). Please remember, a recipe is only as good as the quality of the ingredients used to make it.

  • Greek Yogurt.  Our family’s favorite Greek yogurt is The Greek God’s Greek Yogurt. It is made with very minimal, natural ingredients and tastes amazing! In this recipe I use Honey Vanilla Greek Yogurt. It adds a touch of sweetness and a more intense vanilla flavor – which we love. You can use your favorite yogurt variety and it doesn’t have to be Greek yogurt (even fruit-flavored yogurts if you would like to create fruity overnight oats). If you use plain Greek or regular yogurt, just be aware that your final product will not be as sweet, and you might want to add more honey to taste.
  • Honey. Depending on the sweetness of your yogurt and your personal taste preferences, the amount of honey could either be omitted or increased. Any liquid sweetener works well in this overnight oats recipe, however the two that I recommend most highly are honey and pure maple syrup.
  • Milk. I used whole milk in this recipe (because it’s what we have been buying lately). Any milk variety works well in these easy overnight oats. Just be aware that a milk with a lower fat content will result in less-creamy overnight oats.
  • Oats. As stated above you can use any variety of oats you wish including old-fashioned, rolled, quick-cooking and steel cut. My personal favorite is old-fashioned oats.
  • Cinnamon.love the flavor the cinnamon imparts in this recipe. I think it’s a crucial addition and makes this overnight oats recipe special. However if you don’t love cinnamon you can omit it.

Mix it all together

This simple overnight oats recipe is SO easy to make that the next step is just to mix all the ingredients together.

Combine wet ingredients. Start by combining the wet ingredients and stirring until the mixture is smooth.

two photos showing how to make overnight oats with yogurt - mixing together wet ingredients.

Add dry ingredients. The salt is optional in this recipe, but I find that a pinch really helps amp up the flavor.

Stir. Make sure to stir everything really well so that the ingredients are evenly distributed in the jars.

two photos showing how to make overnight oats with yogurt - adding dry ingredients & oats

Store & Refrigerate

The next step is to pour the mixture into container and store in the refrigerator overnight (or for at least 3 hours).

two photos showing how to make overnight oats with yogurt - pouring mixture into jars and putting a lid on

ENJOY!

After these overnight oats have been chilled, it’s time to crack open a jar and enjoy!

Serving Suggestions

My oldest daughter enjoyed these healthy overnight oats the best when they were served plain. Here are a few other suggestions for toppings/mix-ins:

  • Fresh Berries (careful not to use frozen berries unless you thaw and drain them first. They release water as they thaw and will cause your oats to become a little “soupy”)
  • Fresh fruits (bananas, apples, citrus fruits, etc.)
  • Nut Butters (like this vanilla almond butter or this homemade peanut butter)
  • Chia Seeds
  • Candied almonds
  • Cinnamon Sugar pecans 
  • Honey or Maple Syrup
  • Strawberry Sauce
  • Chocolate chips or cocoa nibs
  • Nuts (almonds, cashews, peanuts, etc.)
  • Dried Fruits (cranberries, apricots, rasins, etc.)

The sky’s the limit with what you can serve in/on this overnight oats recipe!

a jar of Yogurt Overnight Oats with the lid removed and a strawberry on the rim

FAQS about how to make Overnight Oats

Here are answers to some of the frequently asked questions about making overnight oats.

 How do you store overnight oats?

Pour the yogurt overnight oats into individual jars with lids. You can make two 8 ounce or four 4 oz servings.

Do overnight oats have to be in a mason jar? 

No! Of course not! You can choose any container you’d like to store the overnight oats. I do recommend using an airtight glass container with a lid.

How long do overnight oats keep? 

These simple overnight oats with yogurt keep in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. Just be sure that the ingredients you use do not expire before you eat them.
For example, if you make this recipe with milk that expires in 4 days, make sure to eat the overnight oats within those four days.

Do you eat overnight oats hot or cold? 

You really can eat them at whatever temperature you choose. They are meant to be eaten cold, and taste delicious that way. However many people just have to eat their oatmeal warm, which is totally acceptable too.

Can you microwave overnight oats?

Yes! If you want to enjoy these Greek yogurt overnight oats warm, you may heat them up in the microwave. I recommend starting by only warming them for 30 seconds, then stirring and tasting. Warm them in 30 second increments until you reach your desired temperature.

What kind of oats should I use for overnight oats? 

You can use all different types of oats to make this easy overnight oats recipe. Here are some suggestions:
old-fashioned oats  (my personal preference)!
quick-cooking oats
rolled oats
steel cut oats

Are overnight oats supposed to be runny? 

No, they should not be runny. They should be nice and thick as pictured above.

Can I make these overnight oats dairy-free? 

YES you can easily make this recipe into dairy-free overnight oats! Here’s how:
Substitute your favorite dairy-free yogurt for the Greek yogurt
Replace milk with your favorite non-dairy milk. I recommend coconut milk or almond milk.
I also have this dairy-free Peanut Butter Overnight Oats recipe that is AMAZING!

front view of three glass jars of Yogurt Overnight Oats with berries on top and around them

More delicious recipes

Here are some more of our favorite make-ahead breakfasts.

overhead photo of a spoon taking a bite of Yogurt Overnight Oats out of a glass jar

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Easy Overnight Oats with Yogurt

Laura
Overnight Oats with Yogurt are a great healthy high-protein breakfast! This recipe only takes 6 ingredients and 5 minutes to prepare! Plus it’s no-cook, gluten-free and can easily be made dairy-free! 
5 from 63 votes
Course Breakfast
Cuisine American
Servings 4 4 oz Jars
Calories 280.5
Prep Time5 minutes
Total Time5 minutes

Ingredients 
 

Instructions 

  • In a large bowl, mix together yogurt, honey and vanilla. Stir until the mixture is smooth.
  • Add milk and stir until combined.
  • Add oatmeal, sea salt, and cinnamon and stir until mixture is uniform throughout.
  • Pour into four 4 oz mason jars, or two 8 oz mason jars and secure the lids.
  • Place in the refrigerator to chill overnight (or for at least 6 hours).
  • Serve with fresh berries, a drizzle of nut butter or extra honey.

Video

Nutrition

Serving: 0.25recipe | Calories: 280.5kcal | Carbohydrates: 41.9g | Protein: 8.7g | Fat: 9.7g | Saturated Fat: 4.9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.8g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.8g | Cholesterol: 20.6mg | Sodium: 209mg | Potassium: 114.9mg | Fiber: 3.2g | Sugar: 21.3g | Vitamin A: 305IU | Vitamin C: 1.3mg | Calcium: 170mg | Iron: 1.5mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Did you enjoy this recipe? Have a question? Leave a comment below!

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Recipe Rating




34 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    This is a great recipe! The ratios of yogurt and milk and oats is perfect for my family, and the result is deliciously creamy. I add 2 Tbs of chia seeds for some extra fiber and minerals. Even my 7-year-old likes it!

  2. 5 stars
    This is a really good basic recipe. Because of certain health concerns, I’m on a mission to reduce sugar and add protein and fiber, so I use plain non-fat yogurt and add a scoop of vanilla vegan protein powder, which eliminates the need for any sweetener. The cinnamon is a great touch. I use quick steel cut oats for texture, which I’ve found requires extra liquid (I’ve had to experiment with this several times but I’m at about 1-3/4C if you don’t want it really sticky), and about an hour of standing time to thicken so the oats don’t go straight to the bottom of the mixing bowl and end up in the jars in different amounts. At that point, I put them in mason jars (I can get 5 6oz jars out of this recipe) and the fruit will sit nicely on the top until I’m ready to mix it. A few crushed pecans or walnuts is a great add-in too! Thank you!

  3. 5 stars
    This recipe is amazing. I make it just as described but with a bit of maple syrup and raisins instead of honey. I warm it up before eating in the morning and it has a cinnamon roll flavor. It makes the morning so much easier.

  4. 5 stars
    Making overnight oats has totally transformed my mornings. The consistency of this recipe is perfect — not too runny or too thick. Thanks for sharing the recipe!