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This article was reviewed by Chef Jeff Woodward. Jeff Woodward is a Private Chef and the Owner of The Rogue Chef based in Branson, Missouri. With over 20 years of experience in the restaurant industry, he has cooked for esteemed clients including The Harlem Globetrotters, Peyton Manning, Mark Wahlberg, and Justin Timberlake. Chef Jeff won the Branson Tri-Lakes News Reader's Choice Award 2023 for Best Catering. He has been the Featured Chef Demonstrator for 2 years in a row for The Women's Show in Springfield, MO. The Rogue Chef has been the Hollister Chamber of Commerce Spotlight Chef, an award published in Tri-Lakes News. Chef Jeff's food has been featured on KY3 Television. He publishes a recipe weekly in the Branson Globe newspaper and monthly in Lost on the Lake Magazine. He published a feature article for Chef Talks in Discover Home and Style Magazine. He has an associate’s degree from Southwestern Illinois College and a Culinary Arts degree with a Certification in Baking from Ozark Technical College.
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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
Steps
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![Step 1 Choose a container.]()
Choose a container. You can use almost anything that has a lid. Canning jars are commonly used because they work great for storing and serving. -
Add as many serving of rolled oats as you prefer. A serving is usually 1/2 cup of oats, but you may desire a more generous portion or a family size batch.Advertisement -
Add an equal amount of milk. 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.
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Stir in 1 tsp. 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]
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Add a tsp. 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.
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Measure 1/4 to 1/2 tsp. of spices, like cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice.
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Add 1/2 cup of frozen, fresh or canned fruit. Stir the ingredients together thoroughly with a spoon. Ensure that the oats are mostly covered with liquid.
- If you are using bananas, mash up 1/2 to one banana and then add it to the jar.
- Check out more overnight oat recipes from wikiHow users on the “Best overnight oats recipe ideas” forum.
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Seal the lid. 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.
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Remove the oats from the refrigerator in the morning. 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.
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Stir again and eat directly from the container.[2]
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Coat the inside of a large slow cooker with cooking spray in the evening before you go to bed.
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Slice 2 to 3 cups of fruit. Peeled, sliced apples work very well in this recipe. You can also use frozen fruit.
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Add the steel-cut or rolled oats, brown sugar, ground flax seed and spices.
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Mix in 1.5 cups of dairy or non-dairy milk and 1.5 cups of water. Stir the ingredients well.
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Cook on low for seven hours. Spoon into bowls for serving.
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Mix in garnishes, such as chopped nuts, maple syrup, milk or dried fruit. Serve immediate. The extra can be stored in the refrigerator and reheated.[3]
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![Step 7 Finished.]()
Finished.
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Expert Q&A
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Tips
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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.Thanks
Tips from our Readers 
- 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.
Things You'll Need
- Canning jars
- Spoon
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Refrigerator
- Slow cooker
- Serving bowls
References
About This Article
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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