We are back with another overnight oats recipe (can you tell I love them?!). This time we are going with a classic flavor with these strawberry overnight oats.
To take them up a notch from your typical overnight oat recipe, we are blending strawberries with our milk. While it takes just a little more time (about 2 minutes more), I find it adds so much flavor! You get strawberry in every bite rather than just randomly if it was diced and mixed in.
The milk combined with greek yogurt makes the texture super creamy, giving it almost a pudding-like consistency.
Just like all of my overnight oatmeal recipes, it is well-balanced for balancing your blood sugar and energy levels. There is protein from greek yogurt and milk. It also has complex carbs and fiber from oats and chia seeds, which helps slow down digestion. And healthy fats to keep you full until your next meal.
Enjoy these strawberry overnight oats as a quick and easy make-ahead breakfast, snack, or post-workout meal due to the protein and carbs!
Why we love these strawberry overnight oats
- 10 minutes to make – blend your milk, mix everything up, and pop it in the fridge!
- ready in 2 hours or can be made the night before for a grab-n-go breakfast or snack
- a great balanced breakfast – they have a nice serving of protein, full of complex carbohydrates, some healthy fats, and fiber.
- customizable – adjust the chocolate, peanut butter, or add-ins to your liking!
What are overnight oats?
Overnight oats are similar to your typical stovetop oatmeal but without any cooking. Rolled oats are mixed with a liquid (usually milk) and other flavors, spices, and ingredients and then let to sit overnight. As they sit, the oats absorb the liquid and become a thick and chewy texture, just like cooked oatmeal. Depending on how much milk you add, you are left with almost a pudding-like consistency.
They are quick and easy and so delicious! What I love about overnight oats is the flavor possibilities are endless. Some of my favorite add-ins are nut butter, fruit (fresh or dried), spices, yogurt, cocoa powder, and protein powder.
Are overnight oats healthy?
Overnight oats can be a great addition to one’s diet. Rolled oats are loaded with fiber, complex carbs, and whole grains, have plant-based protein, and are low in fat. Adding ingredients like chia seeds, greek yogurt, and fruit also adds fiber, protein, vitamins, and minerals. When making them, it’s important to add good sources of protein and fat to balance out the carbs to help keep your blood sugar stable. You can easily customize them to fit your liking and nutrition goals when making them.
Ingredients
- fresh strawberries
- milk of choice – I used whole milk, but any kind will work
- honey – for a little sweetness
- vanilla bean paste
- rolled oats – opt for certified gluten-free if needed
- greek yogurt – for added protein and makes them super creamy!
- chia seeds – this help absorb the liquid and adds some more fiber
- cinnamon
How to make strawberry overnight oats
- Make your strawberry milk. Add your strawberries, milk, honey, and vanilla to a blender and blend until smooth, about 30-60 seconds.
- Make overnight oats. Divide your oats, yogurt, chia seeds, and cinnamon between two medium jars. Pour overtop milk, evenly dividing it. Stir well to combine until all ingredients are thoroughly combined. Place the lid on the jar and put the oatmeal mixture in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours, or overnight, until the mixture thickens.
- Enjoy! Eat out of the jar or transfer to a bowl and top with toppings of choice.
How long do overnight oats take?
Overnight oats don’t really need to be “overnight”. I actually usually do “quick overnight oats” and make them the morning of, let them sit for an hour or two, and then enjoy. Two hours is usually enough for the chia seeds and the oats to absorb the liquid.
The reason why most people make them at night is that it just makes your morning easier. Just grab it and enjoy! But if you forget, you can totally make them on the same day.
How long do overnight oats last?
Overnight oats can last for up to 5 days in the fridge. The longer they sit, the more time to soak up the liquid. Overnight oats will last 5 days but will be a bit mushier than on day 3 or 4.
They make a great option for meal prep – I will make a few servings at a time (these jars are perfect for them) and just keep them in the fridge for something quick and easy to grab during the week.
Substitutions and additions
Overnight oats are so customizable and you can tweak them to your preference and your macronutrient needs. Here are a few suggestions for this overnight oat recipe:
- strawberries – I would suggest using fresh (in season is best!) as frozen can be hit or miss flavor-wise.
- milk – any kind of milk will work. Feel free to use nut milk, oat milk, coconut milk, or regular dairy milk.
- honey – maple syrup will work instead. Or you can leave it out altogether to keep them sweetener free.
- vanilla bean paste – vanilla extract will work instead.
- oats – you can use quick-cooking oats instead of rolled oats, although the texture will change slightly. While you can use steel-cut oats for overnight oats, they are a lot coarser (they aren’t as processed) and need to soak for at least 10-12 hours. Will will need more liquid if using steel-cut oats as well. Use certified gluten-free oats if needed.
- greek yogurt – use full-fat yogurt, fat-free yogurt, or dairy-free yogurt. The yogurt helps give them a super creamy consistency.
And here are some additions:
- protein powder – add a scoop or two of your favorite protein powder to increase the protein.
- cocoa powder – for a chocolate strawberry flavor.
- nut butter – to give them a peanut butter and jelly vibe. Try peanut butter, almond butter, or sunflower seed butter for a nut-free option.
More oatmeal recipes
- chocolate peanut butter overnight oats
- apple cinnamon overnight oats
- mango overnight oats
- coffee overnight oats
- chocolate coconut overnight oats
If you love quick and easy meals and want to learn how to build a balanced bowl, check out our FREE How to Build a Balanced Plate Guide!
Strawberry Overnight Oats
equipment
ingredients
- 1 cup diced fresh strawberries (150 grams)
- 1 1/2 cups milk (I used whole milk, but any kind will work)
- 2 teaspoons honey
- 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste
- 1 cup rolled oats (100 grams)
- 1 cup plain greek yogurt (8 ounces – I used 0% fat)
- 2 tablespoons chia seeds
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- optional toppings – fresh strawberries, peanut butter, chocolate chips, coconut flakes, cinnamon…
instructions
- Make your strawberry milk. Add your strawberries, milk, honey, and vanilla to a blender and blend until smooth, about 30-60 seconds.
- Make overnight oats. Add 1/2 cup oats, 1/2 cup greek yogurt, 1 tablespoon chia seeds, and 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon each to two medium jars. Pour overtop milk, evenly dividing it. Stir well to combine until all ingredients are thoroughly combined. Place the lid on the jar and put the oatmeal mixture in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours, or overnight, until the mixture thickens.
- Enjoy! Eat out of the jar or transfer to a bowl and top with toppings of choice.
Guin says
Love this!!! Easy to modify with different fruits. Hands down the best wet/dry ratio out there for overnight oats. I did up the chia seeds to 1TBSP because I used frozen fruits and it came out great! I’ve used blueberries, pineapple, mango, and cocoa powder. All worked amazing. Thanks 🙏
Kelly says
So glad to hear you enjoyed them so much Guin! Thanks for trying it!
Natasha says
Made this for my partner and I, for easy breakfasts. He loves it.
I used frozen strawberries and skim milk, and neglected to add vanilla.
Kelly says
Glad you both enjoyed it, Natasha!
Natasha says
Made this for my partner and I, for easy breakfasts. He loves it.
Kelly says
Happy to hear that! Thanks, Natasha!
Jessie says
I found this recipe completely flavorless and actually a little bitter. Such a bummer.
Kelly says
Sorry to hear that Jessie. Maybe it had to do with the strawberries you were using, that will definitely make an impact.
Dan says
Love strawberries
Kelly says
So good when they are in season!
Cami says
I really liked this. I didn’t really follow the recipe but the strawberry milk is a great addition to oats. I didn’t have chia seeds so I skipped them. I added a little chocolate nut protein granola instead. I used protein oats, Greek yogurt, honey, almond milk, ripe strawberries, and I topped it with a little bit of almond butter. Really rich but delicious.
Kelly says
Glad you enjoyed them Cami! Those subs sound great too – thanks for trying them!