While many overnight oat recipes call for using chia seeds, this particular version is chia-free, making it a great option for those who prefer to skip this ingredient.
Overnight oats have become a popular and convenient way to enjoy a healthy breakfast. This make-ahead oatmeal recipe allows the old-fashioned rolled oats to soak overnight in the fridge, creating a deliciously creamy and satisfying meal. Whether you prefer to make this basic overnight oats recipe with milk of choice, yogurt, or even water, the possibilities are endless.
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Use your extra oats to make our Old fashioned carrot cookies and check out my favorite Apple Cinnamon Muffin recipe!
Ingredients needed:
Here is a visual overview of the ingredients in the recipe. Scroll down to the recipe at the bottom for quantities.
Overnight Oats Ingredients
Whether you're a long-time lover of overnight oats or new to this healthy breakfast trend, this basic overnight oats recipe without chia seeds is sure to become a reader favorite. With the ability to easily customize it with your preferred mix-ins and toppings, you can create endless variations, from classic peanut butter overnight oats to indulgent chocolate overnight oats or refreshing overnight oats with frozen fruit.
- Rolled oats: Look for old-fashioned rolled oats or large flake oats, these a chewier texture than instant oats.
- Vanilla soy milk: Look for unsweetened or lightly sweetened varieties to control the overall sweetness.
- Maple syrup: Look for pure maple syrup rather than artificial syrups.
- Banana:
- Choose ripe bananas with minimal browning for the best flavor and texture.
- Blueberries: Look for plump, firm blueberries without excessive wrinkling or molding.
- Strawberries: Select ripe, fragrant strawberries with a deep red color and green caps attached.
Substitutions and variations
- Oats: You can substitute steel-cut oats or quick oats, but the texture and liquid ratio may need to be adjusted.
- Vanilla soy milk: Any plant-based milk like almond milk, oat milk, coconut milk, or cashew milk can be used instead. You can also use regular dairy milk if not keeping it vegan.
- Maple syrup: Substitute with honey, agave nectar, brown sugar, or your preferred liquid/dry sweetener.
- Banana: Applesauce, mashed pumpkin or sweet potato puree can replace banana for moisture and sweetness.
- Blueberries: Any fresh or frozen berries like raspberries, blackberries, strawberries.
- Strawberries: Diced mango, pineapple, peaches, or other fresh/frozen fruit.
Other potential add-ins or toppings:
- Nut butter including peanut butter, almond butter, sunflower butter and cashew butter
- Seeds like flax seeds , hemp seeds, or pumpkin seeds
- Dried fruit
- Mini chocolate chips
- Coconut flakes
- Nuts or nut pieces
- Spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla extract
- Cocoa powder or cacao nibs for a chocolate flavor
How to make overnight oats without chia seeds
- In a bowl or jar with a tight-fitting lid, combine the rolled oats and vanilla soy milk. Stir thoroughly until the oats are evenly coated with the liquid. Secure the lid and refrigerate the mixture overnight, allowing the oats to absorb the milk and soften.
- The following morning, transfer the soaked oat mixture into two individual serving jars or bowls, dividing it equally. Arrange your desired toppings, such as sliced bananas, fresh blueberries, and strawberries, in layers on top of the oats. Alternatively, you can mix the fruit into the oats before serving.
Can I skip soaking the oats overnight?
By letting the oats soak overnight in the fridge, they develop a delightfully soft and pudding-like texture, making for a hearty and filling breakfast that's perfect for busy mornings. Skipping the overnight soak is perfectly fine if you prefer a chewier oat texture and don't mind the extra step of cooking the oats before serving.
Here are some points to keep in mind if you skip soaking oats overnight.
- Quicker preparation: Not soaking allows you to prepare the oats right before eating, which is more convenient if you don't want to plan ahead.
- Texture difference: Unsoaked oats will have a chewier, more nutty texture compared to soaked overnight oats which become soft and porridge-like.
- Cooking required: To soften the unsoaked oats, you'll need to cook them with liquid on the stovetop or microwave for a few minutes until they reach your desired texture.
- Liquid ratio: For unsoaked oats, you may need to use slightly less liquid than the recipe calls for since the oats won't absorb as much during cooking as they would during an overnight soak.
- Toppings: You can still add your desired toppings like fresh fruit, nut butters, etc. after cooking the oats.
How long do overnight oats last in the fridge?
Overnight oats can typically last 4-5 days stored properly in the refrigerator. Proper refrigeration at 40°F or below is key to maximizing the shelf-life of your prepped overnight oats. Discard any oats that seem spoiled rather than risking foodborne illness.
Storage Tips
- For best quality and food safety, it's recommended to consume overnight oats within 4-5 days of preparing them.
- If you used just oats, milk/milk alternative, and add-ins like fruit, nuts, etc., they will keep for about 4 days refrigerated in an airtight container.
- If you added yogurt or other more perishable dairy ingredients, the overnight oats should be consumed within 2-3 days.
- The fresher your ingredients (especially fruits), the longer the prepared overnight oats will last.
- Don't let overnight oats sit at room temperature for more than 2 hours before refrigerating to prevent bacterial growth.
- Check for any signs of spoilage like an off-odor, change in texture, or mold before consuming oats that have been refrigerated for several days.
- For optimum freshness and texture, it's best to make overnight oat batches every 3-4 days rather than all at once for the week.
Frequently asked questions, answers and tips:
If your overnight oats did not absorb the liquid properly, there could be a few possible reasons:
Not enough liquid: The ratio of liquid to oats was not sufficient. For overnight oats, you typically need about ½ to ¾ cup of liquid per ½ cup of rolled oats. The recipe calls for 1 cup of oats and 1 cup of soy milk, which should be enough liquid, but you may need to adjust based on the type of oats or milk you used.
Type of oats: Using steel-cut oats or quick oats instead of rolled oats (old-fashioned) can affect the absorption. Steel-cut oats require more liquid and a longer soaking time, while quick oats may get mushy.
Temperature: Refrigerating the oats allows for slower, more controlled absorption. If you left the oats at room temperature, they may not have absorbed as well.
Freshness of oats: Older, stale oats may not absorb liquid as readily as fresh oats.
To fix the issue, you can try adding a bit more liquid (soy milk or water) to the unabsorbed oats and letting them sit for a little longer in the fridge.
Alternatively, you can cook the oats briefly on the stovetop or microwave with the added liquid to help them absorb properly.
Overnight oats no chia seeds
Ingredients
- 1 cup rolled oats
- 1 cup soy milk Vanilla flavor
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- 1 banana
- ¼ cup blueberries
- ¼ cup strawberries
Instructions
- In a bowl or jar with a tight-fitting lid, combine the rolled oats and vanilla soy milk. Stir thoroughly until the oats are evenly coated with the liquid. Secure the lid and refrigerate the mixture overnight, allowing the oats to absorb the milk and soften.1 cup rolled oats, 1 cup soy milk
- The following morning, transfer the soaked oat mixture into two individual serving jars or bowls, dividing it equally. Arrange your desired toppings, such as sliced bananas, fresh blueberries, and strawberries, in layers on top of the oats.1 tablespoon maple syrup, 1 banana, ¼ cup blueberries, ¼ cup strawberries
- Alternatively, you can mix the fruit into the oats before serving.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional facts are estimates and are provided as a courtesy to the reader. Please utilize your own brand nutritional values to double check against our estimates. Nutritional values are calculated via a third party. Changing ingredients, amounts or cooking technique will alter the estimated nutritional calculations.
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