10 overnight oat recipes for the best grab-and-go breakfast

If you’re like us, your mornings are hectic. Without fail, you seem to find yourself running out the door, leaving a hearty, filling breakfast to be a sad afterthought. Well, listen up, friend: Overnight oats. Sure, you’ve heard the term, but focus for a minute, because these really are the perfect breakfast for when you’re rushing to school or work. And the best part: Most of them can be thrown together with whatever you’ve got in the fridge.

We know you know this, but it’s true: breakfast is the most important meal of the day, so you should really never skip it. With these easy overnight oat recipes, you should never have to again. Breakfast win!

If you’re not quite sure exactly what overnight oats are, don’t fret. Essentially, you can use raw rolled oats, or you can switch it up and use quinoa, millet (a gluten-free grain), spelt, buckwheat, or chia seeds, or a combination of these. Basically, whatever grains taste best to you work when it comes to overnight oats.

You can throw ’em in a container (mason jars are pretty and practica,l but if you don’t feel like getting fancy, anything fridge-safe will do), and add the below combinations to the oats at night before bed. Then boom! You wake up to a delicious grab-and-go breakfast you can toss in your bag. Easy peasy, right?

1Peanut butter and chocolate

Overnight oats can get a bad rep for being kinda, well, oatmeal…but this recipe will satisfy any sweet tooth. Adapted from Bo’s Kitchen, the original recipe calls for hazelnut butter (which is surely still delicious), but sometimes you just need a classic, so the combo of oats, nut milk, vanilla extract, and chia seeds with peanut butter and banana creates a mouthwatering morning meal.

2Banana vanilla

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Most of us struggle to get enough healthy fruit in our diets, but with this recipe, you’re starting the day off right. From A Spoonful of Health, this vegan-friendly oats recipe consists of rolled oats, ½ ripe banana, a little vanilla extract, flax seeds, a dash of cinnamon, boiling water, and the plant milk of your choice. This one requires a bit more prep, but it’s worth the wait, we promise. Plus, you can change up the fruit and toppings, adding in blueberries, blackberries, or whatever you’ve got on hand.

3Carrot cake

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Who says you can’t have cake for breakfast? This recipe is perfect for those chilly fall mornings, while also being packed with nutrients to give you the energy you need for a long day ahead. From Carolyn’s Pantry, this recipe combines oats, grated carrots, medjool dates, flax meal, pumpkin seeds, and almond milk, with a dash of cinnamon and nutmeg for that perfect autumn vibe.

4Overnight “not just” oats

One of the best things about overnight oats is how versatile they are. You can add in any combination of mix-ins depending on what you have on hand or your mood that day. This one from Rogers Foods adds oats with chia seeds, sunflower seeds, nutmeg, and cinnamon to plain Greek yogurt, milk, honey and vanilla; You can add any type of fresh or frozen fruit. We’re drooling already…

5Apple pie

If you’re dreaming of apple pie but don’t want to sneak a slice for breakfast (although we won’t judge if you do!), you must try this recipe, which combines oats with chia seeds, almond milk, vanilla almond Greek yogurt, apple pie spice (yum!), agave maple syrup, diced apples, chopped pecans, and cinnamon. Easy as pie, no?

6Superfood berry

The great thing about overnight oats is that they’re nutritious and totally filling, so you won’t be counting down the seconds to lunch. This recipe combines oats with water, strawberry protein powder, almond milk, and blueberries, giving you all the good stuff you need to start your day the right way.

7Pumpkin spice

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If you’re still not ready to say farewell to summer, we hear you. This tropical oats recipe adds a hint of citrus to get you going in the morning. Add oats, chia seeds, and plain Greek yogurt with milk, vanilla extract, honey, blueberries, and the juice and zest of a lemon for the ultimate power breakfast. Yum!

9Banana bread

If you’re dreaming of a healthy alternative to banana bread, we’ve got you. This overnight oats recipe mixes oats with vanilla almond milk, mashed banana, and a dash of cinnamon. You can top it off with Greek yogurt, more banana, and warm peanut butter mixed with honey. We’re not drooling, you are. (OK, no, we definitely are.)

10Overnight chia pudding with oats

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Chia pudding is one of the best-kept breakfast secrets out there, and you can make it at home to eat on its own or as part of an overnight oats bowl. This recipe combines chia pudding and oats with chia seeds with turmeric golden milk and plain yogurt, and you can add in fresh berries, chocolate, and nuts as you wish.

Overnight oats are a seriously easy way to get in a solid (and totally delicious!) breakfast each morning, and we love how versatile they are. The possibilities are endless, so you’ve officially lost all excuses to ever skip breakfast again.