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Overnight oats are easy to make, healthy and filling. You can customize these basic overnight oats recipes with your favorite milk, fruit, nuts and spices. Try the refrigerator overnight oats recipe for a quick, fresh breakfast. Opt for the slow cooker recipe if you prefer hot, rich flavors in the morning.

Ingredients

  • 1/2 to 2 cups (78 to 312g) rolled oats
  • 1/2 to 2 cups (118 to 473ml) dairy milk, non-dairy milk or yogurt, plus extra for serving
  • 1 tsp. (2.2g) chia seeds or flax seeds
  • 1 tsp. to 1 tbsp. (4 to 12g) sweetener
  • 1/4 to 1/2 tsp. (0.7 to 1.3g) spice, such as cinnamon
  • 1/2 cup (90g) frozen, fresh or canned fruit
  • 1/4 cup (27g) chopped nuts or dried fruit
  • 1 cup (156g) of steel cut oats
  • 1 to 2 cups (175 to 350g) fruit
  • 1.5 cups (355ml) dairy or non-dairy milk, plus additional for serving
  • 1.5 cups (355ml) water
  • 2 tbsp. (24g) brown sugar or other sweetener, plus extra for garnish
  • 1/2 tsp. (1.3g) spice, such as cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice
  • 1 tbsp. (6.6g) ground flax seed
  • 1/4 tsp. (1.5g) salt
  • 1/4 cup (27g) chopped nuts and/or dried fruit
Method 1
Method 1 of 2:

Making Refrigerator Oatmeal

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  1. You can use almost anything that has a lid. Canning jars are commonly used because they work great for storing and serving.
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Make Overnight Oats
    A serving is usually 1/2 cup of oats, but you may desire a more generous portion or a family size batch.
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  3. Watermark wikiHow to Make Overnight Oats
    If you use 1/2 cup of rolled oats, add 1/2 cup of milk. You can use cow’s milk, almond milk or another other type of milk to achieve the same result.
    • If you plan to add a lot of watery fruit, you can reduce the liquid by 1/4 to 1/2 cup. Fresh and frozen fruit releases plenty of liquid. This is especially important if you want a thick consistency.
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Make Overnight Oats
    of chia seeds or flax seeds. This improves the nutritional content of the meal, and it can also make you feel fuller longer.
    • You can actually replace the oats with four tbsp. of chia seeds. The texture of these overnight oats is like tapioca pudding. [1]
  5. Watermark wikiHow to Make Overnight Oats
    of sweetener, like honey, brown sugar or maple syrup. You can add in 1 tbsp. of cocoa powder or peanut butter for a similar sweet effect.
    • For sweeter oatmeal, add 1 tbsp. of sweetener.
  6. Watermark wikiHow to Make Overnight Oats
    of spices, like cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice.
  7. Watermark wikiHow to Make Overnight Oats
    Stir the ingredients together thoroughly with a spoon. Ensure that the oats are mostly covered with liquid.
  8. Watermark wikiHow to Make Overnight Oats
    Place it in the refrigerator overnight or for at least 5 hours. The oats will soak up the liquid so that they don’t need to be cooked.
  9. Watermark wikiHow to Make Overnight Oats
    Consider adding a handful of chopped nuts for a crunchy texture. Add tbsp. to 1/2 cup of additional milk, depending upon your preferred consistency.
  10. Watermark wikiHow to Make Overnight Oats
    [2]
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Method 2
Method 2 of 2:

Making Slow Cooker Oatmeal

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  1. Watermark wikiHow to Make Overnight Oats
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Make Overnight Oats
    Peeled, sliced apples work very well in this recipe. You can also use frozen fruit.
  3. Watermark wikiHow to Make Overnight Oats
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Make Overnight Oats
    Stir the ingredients well.
  5. Watermark wikiHow to Make Overnight Oats
    Spoon into bowls for serving.
  6. Watermark wikiHow to Make Overnight Oats
    Serve immediate. The extra can be stored in the refrigerator and reheated. [3]
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Join the Discussion...

WikiBadgerWatcher783
43
I tried overnight oats for the first time recently and they're so delicious! They're instantly one of my favorite breakfasts. How can I start mak... Read More
WikiLlamaSlinger279
Just add rolled oats and your choice of milk (I usually use almond milk) in a jar in a 1:1 ratio. Add fruits/nuts/other toppings of your choice.... Read More
WikiGiraffeJumper304
basically you just need to add oats and milk to a jar and put it in the fridge but you can also add other things like peanut butter or nutella, h... Read More

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      Tips

      • You can replace milk with an equal portion of plain or flavored yogurt. You can also do a half and half ratio of milk and yogurt. Once mixed, add water to thin the mixture and cover the oats completely.

      Tips from our Readers

      The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.
      • I actually prefer savory oatmeal. I add a dash of salt and pepper, melted butter, and soy sauce, and the next morning I'll sometimes cook up an egg and add it on top. It's a healthier alternative to the dessert oats and still very tasty.
      • I recommend adding some matcha powder to your oats for a matcha latte-flavor. It's become my morning ritual. Chia seeds, a bit of yogurt, soymilk, matcha powder, and rolled oats. Next morning, just add some honey and chopped nuts.
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      Things You'll Need

      • Canning jars
      • Spoon
      • Measuring cups and spoons
      • Refrigerator
      • Slow cooker
      • Serving bowls

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      To make overnight oats in the refrigerator, start by adding equal parts rolled oats and milk to a sealable container. Next, add an equal amount of milk and 1 teaspoon of chia seeds or flax seeds. For a sweeter oatmeal, you can also add some honey, brown sugar, maple syrup, peanut butter, cocoa powder, or fruit. Finally, seal the lid to the container and put it in the refrigerator for at least 5 hours. To learn how to make slow cooker overnight oats, keep reading!

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