- Best overall: Escali Primo Digital Food Scale
- Best budget: Amazon Basics Digital Kitchen Scale
Mornings are tight. Overnight oats take about five minutes the night before, need no cooking, and are ready to grab from the fridge when you are. Start with one simple base, then change the flavor to match your mood. Here is the base recipe plus four easy variations so you never get bored.
- Prep time: 5 minutes per jar, plus at least 4 hours (or overnight) in the fridge
- Cook time: none
- Servings: 1 jar per recipe; the base multiplies easily
Base ingredients (per jar)
- 1/2 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
- 1/2 cup milk of your choice (dairy, soy, almond, oat)
- 1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 1 tablespoon chia seeds (optional but helps thicken)
- 1 to 2 teaspoons maple syrup or honey, to taste
- Small pinch of salt
Base steps
- Add the oats, milk, yogurt, chia, sweetener and salt to a jar or container with a lid.
- Stir well, scraping the bottom so no dry oats hide there.
- Add the toppings and mix-ins for your chosen flavor below. Save crunchy toppings for the morning.
- Seal and refrigerate at least 4 hours, ideally overnight.
- In the morning, stir. If it is too thick, add a splash of milk. Eat cold, or warm it in the microwave for 60 to 90 seconds.
Four ways to flavor it
1. Berry vanilla
Stir in 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract and 1/2 cup mixed berries (fresh or frozen). Frozen berries thaw overnight and tint the oats a pretty color.
2. Peanut butter banana
Stir in 1 tablespoon peanut butter and top with half a sliced banana in the morning so it does not brown. A sprinkle of cinnamon goes well.
3. Apple cinnamon
Stir in 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon and a small diced apple. Top with chopped walnuts just before eating for crunch.
4. Cocoa and cherry
Stir in 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder and 1/3 cup pitted cherries, fresh or frozen. Add a few dark chocolate chips on top if you like.
Storage tips
- Jars keep in the fridge for up to 4 days, so you can make a batch of four on Sunday night. Fruit that browns easily is best added fresh.
- Use a tightly sealed lid and keep them in the main part of the fridge, not the door.
- Freezing is possible, but the texture changes. Thaw overnight in the fridge and stir well.
- If a jar smells off or looks unusual, throw it out.
Simple swaps
- Dairy-free: use soy or coconut yogurt and a plant milk.
- More protein: add a scoop of protein powder (and a bit more milk) or use extra Greek yogurt in place of some milk.
- No chia: use ground flax, or just let the oats soak a bit longer.
- Gluten-free: choose oats labeled gluten-free.
- Less sweet: skip the syrup and rely on ripe fruit and cinnamon.
- Quick oats: they work, but come out softer. Rolled oats give a chewier texture.
Making a week of mornings
On Sunday, line up four jars. Put the same base in each, then make a different flavor in every jar. That way, Monday is berry, Tuesday is peanut butter banana, and so on. You get variety with almost no extra effort. If you would rather keep things consistent, make four of your favorite and rotate the toppings.
The texture is a matter of taste. Prefer it thick and spoonable? Use a little less milk. Like it loose and drinkable? Use a little more. After a batch or two you will land on the ratio that you like best, and you can jot it on the lid with a marker.
Overnight oats are also a good option when you have a long commute or an early shift, because you can eat them at your desk or in the car without any reheating. Pack a spoon and a napkin and you are set.
Gear that makes this easier
- Wide-mouth glass jars with lids: easy to fill, stir and eat straight from, and they stack neatly in the fridge. Check price on Amazon
- Measuring cups and spoons set: consistent ratios mean consistent texture every time. Check price on Amazon
- Digital food scale: handy if you prefer to weigh oats and yogurt, though not required. Check price on Amazon
Product Label Who it’s for Escali Primo Digital Food Scale Best overall Everyday portioning and baking OXO Good Grips 11-lb Food Scale with Pull-Out Display Meal-prep bowls and big containers Amazon Basics Digital Kitchen Scale Best budget Budget buyers Best overallEscali Primo Digital Food ScaleWirecutter’s best: among the fastest and most accurate tested, with a long auto-off.Who it’s for: Everyday portioning and bakingCheck price on AmazonOXO Good Grips 11-lb Food Scale with Pull-Out DisplayAmerica’s Test Kitchen’s winner: fast and accurate, and the pull-out display stays visible under large bowls.Who it’s for: Meal-prep bowls and big containersCheck price on AmazonBest budgetAmazon Basics Digital Kitchen ScaleBon Appétit’s best budget scale: responsive and accurate about 99% of the time in its testing.Who it’s for: Budget buyersCheck price on Amazon - Insulated lunch bag: keeps jars cool if you take breakfast to work, and it helps only as long as you add an ice pack. Check price on Amazon
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