Vanilla Overnight Oats with Raspberry (Creamy & Delicious)

A healthy breakfast doesn’t have to be complicated. Just mix up a batch of these creamy and delicious vanilla overnight oats made with just 5 simple ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry!

If you’re looking for a quick and convenient breakfast recipe that is also nutritious, these vanilla overnight oats check all the boxes. With just 5 minutes of prep time, you can have this easy breakfast ready to go for you for busy mornings.

In the weeks I know are going to be especially busy, I’ll meal prep a double or triple batch of this recipe on the weekend so I don’t have to worry about fixing breakfast for a couple of days. 

Just like hot oats, the flavor and topping combinations are endless so it’s difficult to get bored of overnight oats. This basic vanilla recipe makes a great base recipe for getting creative.

Check out some of my favorite variations below, or create your own. 

For even more healthy ideas to jumpstart your morning, explore all of my healthy breakfast ideas!

Ingredients for Vanilla Overnight Oats

Use these simple ingredients packed with nutritional value to make this delicious vanilla overnight oats recipe that is gluten free and easily adaptable to vegan or dairy free diets.

• Old fashioned rolled oats: we like the texture of old-fashioned oats best, but you can use instant oats for this recipe as well. There are tons of health benefits that come with oats!
• Milk: any dairy or non-dairy milk of choice (oat milk, cashew milk, almond milk) will work for overnight oats. I like to use unsweetened almond milk but you can bump up the protein in these oats by using either dairy milk or soy milk. For extra creamy overnight oats, try making them with canned coconut milk.
• Chia Seeds: the nutrient-packed chia seeds help thicken the oats for a creamy texture. In addition, they provide a ton of fiber for more filling overnight oats. If you don’t have chia seeds (they’re easy to get on Amazon these days!), you can substitute with 1 tablespoon of ground flax seed. 
• Vanilla: if you can find vanilla bean paste, use that for this recipe! It has a thicker consistency than traditional vanilla extract and you can actually see specks of vanilla bean. It has a much richer flavor that works really well in simple recipes like these overnight oats. However, you can use vanilla extract as well. If you want to switch things up, add 1/8 teaspoon almond extract – it gives these overnight oats a sugar cookie flavor.
• Honey: I like to use honey as a delicious natural-sweetener for this overnight oatmeal recipe, but you can also use maple syrup or agave. You can also use a sugar-free sweetener if you prefer. 

Variations

I love using this as a base recipe and add different toppings and flavors so that I never get bored. Here are a few of our suggestions for topping these creamy overnight oats. 

Chocolate: use chocolate protein powder and add 1 tablespoon of cocoa powder to the overnight oat mixture before chilling. We love topping this one with a few chocolate chips or fresh fruit like berries or banana the next morning. 

Peanut Butter & Jelly: top your overnight oats with a tablespoon of both peanut butter and jelly and give it a stir before serving. 

Apple Cinnamon: add ½ teaspoon cinnamon and ½ chopped apple to your oats before chilling. Drizzle with almond butter to serve.

Banana Peanut Butter: chop up ½ banana and add to the oats before chilling overnight. When ready to serve, stir in 1 tablespoon of peanut butter and top with the other ½ of the banana. 

Make it Vegan: use non-dairy milk and a vegan protein powder. 

Make it Gluten Free: use gluten free certified rolled oats. 

How to Make Vanilla Overnight Oats

This healthy overnight oats recipe is simple to put together in a few steps.

Mix and Chill: add the oats, almond milk, protein powder, ground flax seed, honey, and vanilla bean pasta to a mixing bowl and give it a good stir with a whisk. Transfer to a mason jar or airtight container and store in the fridge for a total time of at least 4 hours to overnight. 

Serve: Add your favorite toppings to the top of your oats in the morning after giving it a good stir. Enjoy!

How to Add Protein to Overnight Oats

It’s simple to add more protein to these overnight oats. For starters, you can mix 1 scoop of your favorite protein powder into the oats before you chill them.

Check out my high protein overnight oats recipe!

If you don’t like protein powder, try one of these other options:  1/4 cup cottage cheese or 1/4 cup plain non-fat Greek yogurt. You can also score a few extra grams of protein by topping your overnight oats with hemp hearts, nuts, or nut butter. 

Can I Make Overnight Oats with Steel Cut Oats?

Yes, but you would need to adjust the recipe in order to make it work since steel cut oats need more liquid for soaking.

First, you’ll need to add 1 cup each of water and milk to a saucepan and bring to a boil. Turn off the heat and stir in ½ cup of steel cut oats with the rest of the ingredients (chia seeds, honey, vanilla, salt).

Allow to chill overnight before serving. Add a splash of milk if needed.

Are Overnight Oats Good for You?

Yes! Overnight oats are a great source of fiber and can be packed with protein as well as other essential nutrients. Oats are a good source of soluble fiber which is particularly helpful for lowering cholesterol.

High fiber meals also support a healthier gut microbiome. A healthy gut not only means better digestion, but may also improve your mood, boost immune system health, and more.