{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"Recipe","url":"https://trevorfarias.com/recipes/overnight-oats","markdownUrl":"https://trevorfarias.com/recipes/overnight-oats/recipe.md","name":"Easy Overnight Oats Recipe (Base Ratio + 6 Flavors)","description":"The best overnight oats recipe: the right oat-to-milk ratio for creamy, not soggy, oats, plus chia, yogurt and maple. Five minutes at night, breakfast for the week. Six flavors, printable card.","summary":"The best overnight oats use a ratio of 1/2 cup old-fashioned rolled oats to 1/2 cup milk, plus 1/4 cup plain yogurt for creaminess, 1 tablespoon chia seeds to thicken, 1 tablespoon maple syrup and a pinch of salt. Stir everything in a jar, refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight, and top with fruit and nuts in the morning. Rolled oats, not instant or steel-cut, give the right texture, and the chia and yogurt keep them thick and spoonable instead of watery.","author":"Trevor","publisher":"Trevor's Kitchen","datePublished":"2026-09-08","dateModified":"2026-09-08","category":"Breakfast","cuisine":"American","keywords":["overnight oats recipe","best overnight oats","easy overnight oats","overnight oats ratio","healthy overnight oats","overnight oats with chia seeds","overnight oats with yogurt","meal prep breakfast","how to make overnight oats","overnight oats in a jar","high protein overnight oats"],"prepTime":"PT5M","cookTime":"PT0M","totalTime":"PT4H5M","yield":"1 jar (1 serving); scale up for the week","servings":1,"ingredientGroups":[{"name":"Base recipe (1 serving)","ingredients":[{"amount":"1/2","unit":"cup","name":"old-fashioned rolled oats","note":"45 g","text":"1/2 cup old-fashioned rolled oats, 45 g"},{"amount":"1/2","unit":"cup","name":"milk of choice","note":"120 ml","text":"1/2 cup milk of choice, 120 ml"},{"amount":"1/4","unit":"cup","name":"plain Greek yogurt","note":"60 g","text":"1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt, 60 g"},{"amount":"1","unit":"tablespoon","name":"chia seeds","text":"1 tablespoon chia seeds"},{"amount":"1","unit":"tablespoon","name":"maple syrup or honey","text":"1 tablespoon maple syrup or honey"},{"amount":"1/4","unit":"teaspoon","name":"vanilla extract","text":"1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract"},{"name":"Pinch of fine salt","text":"Pinch of fine salt"}]},{"name":"To serve","ingredients":[{"amount":"1/2","unit":"cup","name":"fresh berries or sliced fruit","text":"1/2 cup fresh berries or sliced fruit"},{"amount":"1","unit":"tablespoon","name":"chopped nuts or seeds","text":"1 tablespoon chopped nuts or seeds"}]}],"steps":[{"step":1,"name":"Combine","text":"In a 12- to 16-ounce jar or container with a lid, combine the oats, milk, yogurt, chia seeds, maple syrup, vanilla and salt. Stir well, making sure no dry oats or chia are stuck to the bottom.","tip":"Stir again after 5 minutes if you can; it stops the chia seeds from clumping."},{"step":2,"name":"Chill","text":"Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, preferably overnight.","tip":null},{"step":3,"name":"Finish","text":"In the morning, stir the oats. If they are thicker than you like, add a splash of milk. Top with fruit and nuts and eat cold, or warm in the microwave for 60 to 90 seconds.","tip":null}],"equipment":["Jar or container with a lid (12 to 16 ounces)","Measuring cups and spoons","Spoon"],"notes":["Use rolled oats, not instant or steel-cut.","Do not skip the salt; it makes every other flavor stronger.","Add crunchy toppings in the morning so they stay crunchy."],"storage":["Keeps refrigerated for up to 5 days, so make a batch of jars on Sunday.","Fruit stirred in before chilling is fine for 3 days; add delicate fruit like banana in the morning.","Do not freeze; the texture becomes watery when thawed."],"variations":["High protein: add 1 scoop of vanilla protein powder and 2 extra tablespoons of milk.","Vegan: use plant milk and a dairy-free yogurt, and maple syrup rather than honey.","Lower sugar: skip the sweetener and rely on mashed banana or fruit stirred in.","Blended: blend everything before chilling for a smooth, pudding-like texture."],"faqs":[{"question":"What is the correct ratio for overnight oats?","answer":"One part rolled oats to one part milk by volume, so 1/2 cup of each per serving. Add 1/4 cup yogurt and 1 tablespoon chia seeds for a thick, creamy result. For thinner oats, add a splash more milk in the morning rather than the night before."},{"question":"How long do overnight oats need to soak?","answer":"At least 4 hours to soften the oats fully, and overnight is ideal. They can also be made in the morning and eaten at lunch."},{"question":"Can I use quick oats or steel-cut oats?","answer":"Quick oats work but the texture is softer and pastier. Steel-cut oats stay hard without cooking, so they are not recommended for overnight oats unless you cook them first."},{"question":"Are overnight oats healthy?","answer":"Yes. The base recipe has about 10 grams of fiber and 15 grams of protein, with slow-digesting carbohydrates from whole oats. Control the sugar by choosing your sweetener and toppings."},{"question":"How long do overnight oats last in the fridge?","answer":"Up to 5 days in a sealed jar. The texture is best on days one through three."}],"nutritionPerServing":{"calories":370,"fatGrams":9,"saturatedFatGrams":2.5,"carbohydrateGrams":58,"fiberGrams":10,"sugarGrams":20,"proteinGrams":15,"sodiumMilligrams":190,"cholesterolMilligrams":8}}