Most mornings, Bill and I have a smoothie for breakfast. We pull recipes from this list and from my “Blend It Up” Pinterest board.
Sometimes I’m in the mood for something besides a smoothie. Variety is one of the keys to a healthy, balanced diet that gives your body all the nutrients it needs. Plus, variety keeps meals fun and exciting 🙂
Today, I’m putting a new spin on a classic favorite – oatmeal!
The best part?
You don’t even have to cook it. It’s one of those set-it-and-forget-it recipes that takes the hassle out of breakfast!
I used to eat oatmeal every day for breakfast because it’s a pretty quick, easy, and healthy meal. Oats have tons of health benefits, too!
The way I usually make oatmeal is by cooking it slowly in a pot on the stove…but that’s not always the most convenient thing to do, especially in the morning, so I tried something new.
Overnight oats!
My friend Jess and I made a variation of an overnight oats recipe a few months ago when we did a cooking demo for a group of her employees. After browsing through several other recipes online, I came up with one that I REALLY like!
I’ve already made it twice this week, and it has come in handy on mornings when I’ve been pressed for time.
This overnight oats recipe takes less than 5 minutes to put together and is healthy, tasty, convenient grab-and-go option, perfect for when you’re feeling rushed in the morning.
All of the ingredients magically come together while they’re chillin’ in the fridge and you’re catching up on some sleep.
One thing I love about this recipe is that you can prep several jars at once and have breakfast ready to go for a few days in a row. That way, you literally don’t even have to think about what you’re going to do for breakfast in the morning.
All you have to do is open your fridge, grab a jar, and hit the road!
The possibilities for combinations of spices and add-ins are endless, so experiment with it to find what you like best! Feel free to share below if you find a combo that you really like!
“Berry” Quick Cinnamon Overnight Oats
Berry Quick Overnight Oats
Oats
- 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce (or half of a ripe banana)
- 2 teaspoons chia seeds
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- pinch ground ginger
- pinch ground nutmeg
- pinch fine grain sea salt
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/3 cup rolled oats (I use gluten-free oats)
- 1/2 cup almond milk (unsweetened)
Toppings
- 1 tablespoon chopped nuts or seeds
- 1/4 cup berries
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Mash the banana in the bottom of a mason jar or mug with a spoon until it’s the consistency of applesauce. OR pour applesauce into bottom of jar.
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Add spices, chia seeds, salt, vanilla, oats and raisins to banana mash and stir to mix everything together.
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Add almond milk and stir until all ingredients are combined. It will seem watery. That’s normal! The chia seeds and oats will absorb the liquid, and it will thicken up overnight, so just give it time.
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Store jar or mug in the fridge overnight, and everything will gel together.
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Remove from fridge in the morning and top with or stir in your choice of nuts, seeds, nut butter and/or berries (I used slivered almonds and blackberries!).
Optional/additional add-ins: 2 teaspoons almond butter or peanut butter, shredded unsweetened coconut, or sliced bananas, peaches or any other fruit you like!
Mash the banana in the bottom of a mason jar or mug with a spoon until it’s the consistency of applesauce. OR pour applesauce into bottom of jar.
Add spices, chia seeds, salt, vanilla, oats and raisins to banana mash and stir to mix everything together.
Add almond milk and stir until all ingredients are combined. It will seem watery. That’s normal! The chia seeds and oats will absorb the liquid, and it will thicken up overnight, so just give it time.
Store jar or mug in the fridge overnight, and everything will gel together.
Remove from fridge in the morning and top with or stir in your choice of nuts, seeds, nut butter and/or berries (I used slivered almonds and blackberries!).
You can heat it up if you’d like or just enjoy it cold, which works well when the weather is warmer like it is now. Add more almond milk if you want to thin it out. Enjoy 🙂
Greg Nalley
Rachel I need to place nutritional values on my Nalley Fresh food. Can you do this or do you know someone who does. I love your post!!!
racheldruck
Hey Greg! Thanks so much! I will be in touch with you about someone who can do that, but let’s get together soon to talk about some fun ideas for some joint initiatives. Have a good one!
traceycavey
Hey Rachel! I made this last night and it was great this morning! I think i may have dried it out with microwaving- maybe i will try to add more almond milk next time?
racheldruck
Great question! I have only eaten it cold, so if you microwave it, it will likely dry it out, so just add more almond milk before or after to keep it from drying out. I find that it’s easier to control and prevent drying out when I heat it up on the stove on a small pot, too. One of those ideas should work for you! Thanks so much for taking the time to comment 🙂
Gavin Church
Rachel thank for this recipe! What are your thoughts on using steel cut oats instead? Would you change the recipe in response?
Rachel Druckenmiller
Hi there! I haven’t tried it with steel cut oats, but it looks like this recipe does, so give it a try and let me know what happens! https://www.wellplated.com/overnight-steel-cut-oats-recipe/
Gavin Church
Hey Rachel thank you for the response. Again really love your recipes. Tried it with the steel cut – not ideal. To make it work I would imagine precooking the pats would work, but would detract from the recipe. Thank you again!