Vegan Overnight Oats
Start your day in a super easy and tasty way with vegan overnight oats! You just mix a few ingredients the night before, let them chill in the fridge, and wake up to a ready-to-eat breakfast. No cooking needed and no rushing around in the morning. Plus, they’re perfect for meal prep and can be made in so many fun and yummy flavors.
This simple dairy-free overnight oats recipe is great for busy mornings. It uses plant-based milk, rolled oats, chia seeds, and your favorite mix-ins like fruit, nuts, or spices. We’ll share helpful tips, flavor ideas, and storing suggestions to keep things easy and stress-free. Whether you’re new to overnight oats or already love them, this recipe is a great one to keep on hand!
Grab a mason jar and let’s get started!
Why You’ll Love Overnight Oats
Looking for a delicious healthy breakfast ready and waiting for you when you wake up? Here it is! You can devour it when you first crawl out of bed or grab it on your way out the door. Boom—breakfast handled!
- Super Easy to Make. You just mix everything in a jar or bowl and let it sit overnight. No cooking, no mess, and no fuss in the morning. It’s the ultimate lazy breakfast that still feels like you tried!
- Perfect for Meal Prep. Make a few jars at once and you’re set for days. They stay fresh in the fridge, so you always have a quick breakfast ready to grab and go. It’s a big time-saver during busy weeks.
- Full of Good-For-You Stuff. Oats, chia seeds, and vegan milk make a filling, fiber-rich meal. You can also toss in protein-rich extras like nut butter or hemp seeds. It’s a wholesome breakfast that helps you feel full and satisfied.
- Great for All Seasons. Eat them cold in the summer or warm them up in the microwave when it’s chilly. They work year-round and still taste great either way. One recipe, lots of cozy (or cool) options!
- Kid-Friendly and Budget-Friendly. They’re easy for kids to help make and fun to eat. Plus, the ingredients are simple and affordable. Healthy breakfasts that don’t break the bank? Yes, please!
Key Ingredients and Substitutions For Overnight Oats
To create the perfect bowl of vegan overnight oats, you only need three simple ingredients:
- Rolled Oats – Also known as old fashioned oats, these will get you the best results. You can get away with quick oats, but they will be more mushy, however, don’t try steel cut oats as they won’t soften enough.
- Chia Seeds – Not only do these little seeds help to thicken the consistency, they’re also an extra boost of fiber and protein to keep you full longer!
- Plant Milk – Any kind of plant milk will do. For more protein, try soy milk, or if you fancy some extra creaminess, use coconut milk.
How To Make Overnight Oats
This basic recipe for dairy-free overnight oats is quick and simple to make! Once you know this recipe, it unlocks the door for myriad possibilities. Customize it with your favorite toppings and mix in additional flavors for a different option every morning!
Step 1: Combine Ingredients – In a sealable container like a mason jar, add the base ingredients and mix well. If the container has a tight lid, you can simply seal and shake to mix it all together.
Step 2: Soak – Allow the oats to soak and thicken for at least a few hours or overnight. If you’re meal prepping for the week, you can make a big batch and allow it to soak for several days even.
Finally, Step 3: Toppings! – When ready, add your favorite toppings like fresh or frozen fruit, nuts, seeds, chocolate chips, shredded coconut or anything else that sounds good to you. For more ideas, see our add-in suggestions below.
Top Tips for the Tastiest Overnight Oats
Want to make your vegan overnight oats extra tasty? These simple tips will help you get the best texture and flavor every time!
- Go for the Goldilocks Oats – Use rolled oats for the perfect texture—quick oats get mushy, and steel-cut oats stay too tough.
- Get Your Ratio Just Right – Stick to a 1:1 ratio of oats to milk for thicker oats, or add more milk if you like it soft and creamy.
- Warm It Up If You Want – Cold is classic, but you can totally microwave your oats if you prefer them warm—just heat before adding fruit.
- Prep a Week’s Worth – Make a big batch and store it in the fridge for easy breakfasts all week—just add fresh toppings later!
- Sweeten It Your Way – Add maple syrup, light agave syrup, mashed banana, or dates to sweeten things up—just taste and adjust before chilling.
Delicious & Nutritious Overnight Oats Extras
This is one of those recipes that you can get really creative with by using various plant milks, flavorings (like cinnamon or nutmeg), sweeteners (like maple syrup or brown sugar), and add-ins (like fresh fruit, chia seeds, raisins, goji berries, or even dairy-free chocolate chips). Have fun with what you have on hand, and take a look at the ideas below for inspiration!
Add-Ins
- Chia seeds
- Ground flaxseeds
- Frozen berries
- Sliced banana
- Fresh fruit
Toppings
- Shredded coconut
- Coconut whipped cream
- Raisins
- Goji berries
- Jam
- Nut butter (Peanut butter is a favorite of ours!)
- Maple syrup
- Agave nectar
- Brown sugar
- Cinnamon
- Nutmeg
Plant-Based Milk Options
- Coconut milk
- Soy milk
- Almond milk
- Cashew milk
- Water (yes, even water will work)
If you need some go-to ideas, try Strawberries and Cream Overnight Oats, Apple Overnight Oats, Vegan Banana Cream Pie Overnight Oats, or these delicious Peanut Butter and Jelly Overnight Oats!
FAQs
Overnight oats will stay fresh for up to 5 days if stored properly in an airtight container in the refrigerator. You can store them in individual serving-sized containers or meal prep in one big container and portion it out each morning when you’re ready to eat.
The longer oats soak, the softer they’ll get. If texture is a concern for you, you may only want to make enough for a few days instead of the whole week. If you like them more firm, just give them a few hours to soak instead.
Yes! Overnight oats freeze beautifully. Allow the oats to soak for a few hours to properly soften before freezing. Place them in a freezer-safe container and store in the freezer for up to three months. When ready to eat, transfer to the fridge to thaw overnight. Then when you’re to eat, add your toppings and enjoy!
Overnight oats are a no-cook, make-ahead breakfast you mix up the night before and grab in the morning. The oats soak in milk or water and soften up overnight, making them creamy and ready to eat. Just get the right oat-to-liquid ratio, and you’ve got a tasty base you can enjoy plain or load up with fun toppings!
Yes, oats are very healthy! They are a whole grain and are high in fiber, protein, vitamins, and minerals. Oats can help lower cholesterol levels, reduce the risk of heart disease, and aid in weight loss.
More Tasty Oat Recipes to Try
Print me! Did you know you can easily print our recipes? Just tap the “Print Recipe” button in the recipe card. You can keep a stack of new recipes to try in your kitchen—or better yet—create a recipe binder where you keep all your favorites!
Vegan Overnight Oats
Ingredients
- 1 cup rolled oats
- 1 tablespoon chia seeds, optional
- 1 cup plant-based milk, use full-fat coconut milk for extra creaminess and decadence
Instructions
- In a container, cup, or glass jar, add the rolled oats, chia seeds, plant-based milk, and any other desired add-ins and mix well.
- Cover and refrigerate overnight (or for 3+ hours).
- Remove from fridge and enjoy chilled! If you'd like, top with any desired toppings. Reference the post above for flavor and topping ideas.
Video
Notes
- Storing Leftovers: Store them in a sealed jar or container in the fridge to keep them fresh and easy to grab. They usually stay good for up to 5 days in the fridge.
- Freezing Tips: You can freeze overnight oats, but the texture might change a little after it thaws.
Nutrition
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Leave a Comment
This recipe for overnight oats looks amazing! I especially love the idea of adding fruit, nuts, and seeds to make it extra nutritious. Does anyone have any other creative toppings they like to add?
I love overnight oats!! so good!
Strawberries and Cream one was hands down my favorite! Thank you!
I can’t decide which one is my favorite…they’re all amazing and such a great breakfast idea!
Such a perfect way to start off the day! Love it!
I love the convenience of having this beautiful jar of deliciousness waiting for me in the morning. My fav is layers of nut butter and berries topped with sliced banana! Good morning!
Overnight oats are one of the best breakfast options ever! Quick, filling, and so versatile you really can’t go wrong. I cannot wait to make the Apple Pie flavor in particular from this list! Just got my new bag of oats the other day 🙂
Oats were never my favorite breakfast choice until I tried overnight oats. I’m not sure why it was a game changer for me. Maybe because I love the cool, thick texture compared with the warm, mushiness of hot oatmeal? I always add ground flaxseeds to mine – they add such a great nutty flavor. I loved all of these flavors, but the Apple Pie is my favorite. If you add a tiny bit of crunchy, maple flavored granola to the top, you’d swear you were biting into a slice of apple pie. Best overnight oats recipe in my book!