Strawberry Overnight Oats Recipe | Easy Overnight Oats for Meal Prep (2024)

FAQs

Can I meal prep overnight oats for the week? ›

Overnight oats can last up to five days in the fridge before becoming soggy and gross. Thankfully, that's the perfect amount to get you through the workweek. You can either make a big batch and store it in an airtight container, or split your oats into five small containers for convenience in the morning.

You only need to let the oats soak and rest in the fridge for 2 hours. But, it's ideal if you soak it overnight…hence the name overnight oats! The next morning you have a ready-to-eat, delicious, creamy bowl or jar of “oatmeal.” The consistency is like a porridge or pudding.

Add Twice as Much Milk as Oats

Whether you prefer whole milk, rice milk or coconut milk, you can use it. Just make sure to add twice as much milk as oats. Note: You can also use whey, buttermilk or thinned yogurt for a tangier flavor.

Mix equal parts old-fashioned oats (rolled oats, that is, not quick-cooking-they'll get too mushy) and water along with a pinch of salt in a jar, cover and refrigerate overnight and up to 3 days. For one serving, we recommend using: 1/2 cup oats. 1/2 cup water (or milk or nondairy milk)

Overnight oats are perfectly safe to be eaten every day. You may even eat them every morning if you like. However, some say that they feel oats give them digestive issues; overnight oats are not unsafe for those without medical conditions that affect digestion.

No, yogurt adds a creamy texture but it isn't mandatory. You can use nut butter, banana, applesauce, or coconut milk instead. Can I make overnight oats without chia seeds? Chia seeds add a nice thick and creamy texture.

Not only is it lower in calories compared to many other breakfast foods, but it also has a number of other health benefits. These include: Weight management: Oats have high fiber content, which can make you feel fuller for longer. This helps to control your appetite, naturally reducing your calorie intake.

Dairy milk and oat milk both work well. Coconut milk adds rich flavor and yields an especially creamy texture. Maple syrup – For sweetness. Honey works too.

Oatmeal's high fiber content and prebiotic qualities may benefit your body in more ways than one. Making oatmeal a regular part of your menu can potentially lower your disease risk, help your gut health thrive, make bowel movements easier and keep you feeling fuller for longer.

Do you stir overnight oats before putting in the fridge? ›

In a large glass jar, combine the oats, milk, yogurt, maple syrup or honey, chia seeds, vanilla cinnamon, and sea salt. Stir well to make sure all the ingredients are combined. Cover with a lid and place in the refrigerator overnight. In the morning, remove from the refrigerator and stir.

High-sugar toppings like chocolate, syrup, and dried fruit

As Best points out, "some of the worst ingredients that are mistakenly added to healthy overnight oat recipes include chocolate sauce, sugar, syrup, and dried fruit."

One exception: Chia seeds. These super seeds need time to absorb liquid. Martinez points out that they also help to thicken the porridge, so increase the amount of liquid accordingly.

The best alternative to chia seeds:

Flax seeds have a more robust flavor and will add a nutty flavor to your recipes making it the perfect thing to add to oatmeal or stir into nut butters for a nutrient boost.

I recommend a 1:1 ratio of rolled oats to milk, plus half as much yogurt. So for 1/2 cup of oats, I use 1/2 cup of milk + 1/4 cup of yogurt (or an additional 1/4 cup of milk). These proportions seem to give the oats the perfect consistency, not too thick, but not soupy.

We recommend storing overnight oats in the refrigerator in airtight containers for up to five days. That means if you're meal-prepping on Sunday, you can make a work week's worth of overnight oats and not have to think about breakfast again until Saturday.

Store your overnight oats in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. They will soften more the longer they sit so I find they're best on days 1-3, but they're still safe to eat on days 4 and 5.

There are many ways to make and store them, but when in doubt, keep overnight oats in the fridge (with fruit) for three to four days. You could stretch it to five days or eat them within two days — it's up to you. And if you hate mushy fruit, leave the fruit on the side until right before you dig in.

Notes on Batch Cooking:

I often prepare several single-serving batches in canning jars and refrigerate them for quick breakfasts throughout the week. The oats soaking in their liquid will keep for at least 5 days, refrigerated.