Overnight Oats With Chia Seeds (Printer-Friendly)

Creamy make-ahead oats with Greek yogurt and chia seeds, customizable with your favorite toppings for a quick wholesome breakfast.

# What You Need:

→ Base

01 - 1 cup rolled oats
02 - 1 cup unsweetened milk, dairy or plant-based
03 - 1/2 cup Greek yogurt
04 - 2 tablespoons chia seeds
05 - 1 to 2 tablespoons honey or maple syrup
06 - 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

→ Toppings

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

# How To Make It:

01 - In a medium mixing bowl or large jar, combine rolled oats, milk, Greek yogurt, chia seeds, honey or maple syrup, and vanilla extract. Stir thoroughly until all ingredients are well blended.
02 - Cover the container with a lid and refrigerate for at least 8 hours or overnight, allowing the oats and chia seeds to fully absorb the liquid and develop a creamy texture.
03 - In the morning, stir the mixture well. If the texture is too thick, add a splash of milk and stir until you reach your desired consistency.
04 - Transfer the oat mixture to a serving bowl or glass. Top with fresh berries, banana slices, chopped nuts, or nut butter as desired. Serve chilled.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • You literally cannot mess this up—it's just stirring and waiting, which means you can actually sleep instead of stressing about breakfast.
  • The chia seeds absorb everything overnight and create this silky, almost pudding-like texture that feels indulgent but is genuinely good for you.
  • Prep once on Sunday and eat for three mornings, which buys you actual free time when you need it most.
02 -
  • The ratio of liquid to oats is crucial—if you eyeball it and add too little milk, you'll end up with concrete by morning; if you add too much, it becomes soup by day two, so measure even if you usually don't.
  • Stir the mixture once more right before bed to prevent the chia seeds from settling into one dense clump at the bottom of the jar.
  • Store-bought yogurt separates sometimes overnight, which looks weird but is completely normal—just stir it back in when you wake up.
03 -
  • Mix everything in the actual jar you'll eat from—one less dish to wash and the oats get to know their container overnight.
  • Add the sweetener slightly more than you think you need, because cold softens flavors and things always taste less sweet in the morning than they did when you made them.
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