Overnight Oats With Chia Seeds (Printable version)

Creamy oats blended with Greek yogurt and protein-rich chia seeds, prepared the night before for effortless mornings.

# What you need:

→ Base

01 - 1 cup rolled oats
02 - 1 cup unsweetened milk (dairy or plant-based)
03 - ½ cup Greek yogurt
04 - 2 tbsp chia seeds
05 - 1–2 tbsp honey or maple syrup
06 - ½ tsp pure vanilla extract

→ Toppings (optional)

07 - ½ cup fresh berries (blueberries, strawberries, raspberries)
08 - 1 small banana, sliced
09 - 2 tbsp chopped nuts (almonds, walnuts, or pecans)
10 - 1 tbsp nut butter (peanut, almond, or cashew)

# How to Make It:

01 - In a medium bowl or large jar, combine oats, milk, Greek yogurt, chia seeds, honey or maple syrup, and vanilla extract. Stir well to blend thoroughly.
02 - Cover and refrigerate overnight for at least 8 hours, allowing oats and chia seeds to fully absorb the liquid and soften.
03 - In the morning, stir the mixture. If the texture is too thick, add a splash of milk to reach desired consistency.
04 - Top with fresh berries, banana slices, chopped nuts, or nut butter as desired. Serve chilled.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • You literally wake up to breakfast already made, which feels like cheating the system in the best possible way
  • The texture develops into something silky and luxurious that hot oatmeal can never quite achieve
  • One batch feeds you for two days, making those chaotic weekday mornings feel slightly more manageable
02 -
  • The first time I made these, I used instant oats and woke up to what basically tasted like wet paper towels—old-fashioned rolled oats are absolutely nonnegotiable
  • Chia seeds will clump together if you do not stir them really well at the beginning, so take your time with that initial mix
  • These keep for three days in the fridge but the texture changes each day, becoming thicker and more pudding-like
03 -
  • Toast your nuts in a dry pan for three minutes before adding them as a topping—the difference in flavor is genuinely shocking
  • Add a pinch of sea salt to bring out all the flavors, especially if you are using nut butter or chocolate chips
  • If your mixture feels too thick in the morning, stir in cold milk rather than warm—the cold keeps the oats firm and refreshing
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