This post may feature affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
Stop what you’re doing, and listen. Can you hear these strawberries and cream overnight oats are calling your name? Well, they’re going to save your butt tomorrow morning when you oversleep and don’t have time to make any food!
So, let’s get to it!
Table of Contents
📖 About
We personally love oatmeal. It’s one of our go-to breakfasts in the winter, but it’s just not quite as enjoyable when you break a sweat eating a hot, steamy bowl in the middle of August (or is that just us?).
We love switching things up by making overnight oats in the warmer summer months though. We still get to eat our beloved oatmeal, but with a twist!
Now, you may only have memories of hot, mushy oatmeal that taste like a sad excuse for breakfast. Well, we’re here to tell you that overnight oats are anything but. They’re a delicious meal made by soaking rolled oats in liquid (preferably plant milk) overnight. What you’re left with in the morning is a quick and tasty dish that you can grab on your way out the door!
Not only are overnight oats even quicker to make than regular oatmeal, but they have a super creamy texture that can’t be beaten. By simply leaving the oats to soak in your fridge, you’ll prevent that dreaded gummy consistency that sometimes happens with the cooked variety.
We promise there are no wild or weird ingredients in these oats. They’re simple, wholesome, and healthy. All the things you need for a breakfast of champions, right?
🍲 Key ingredients
- Strawberries: we’ve been growing strawberries in our garden this year, so we wanted to make a recipe that included them. And we definitely think this sweet, red fruit takes oats to the next level. Each bite is loaded with juicy berry explosions that keep you coming back for more. Plus, strawberries are one of the best sources of vitamin C you could ask for!
- Coconut yogurt: not only is coconut yogurt creamy and delectable, it’s also full of beneficial probiotics. It’s made by fermenting coconut milk with healthy bacteria, usually from the lactobacillus family, until it turns tangy. These microscopic cells help you maintain a healthy gut, which is important for your overall well-being. When you eat, you’re not just feeding yourself. Those little guys live in your intestines and make sure things are running smoothly (they can even affect your personality).
- Chia seeds: they’re notorious for getting stuck in your teeth, but they’re also what makes or breaks an overnight oats recipe. When combined with liquids, chia seeds take in nearly 12 times their weight in fluid. This means 2 things: they’re full of fiber, and they create a delicious, pudding-like consistency. In just 1oz (28g) of these seeds, there is a whopping 11g of fiber! This will help keep your gut healthy as well by providing food for the bacteria already living there.
- Rolled oats: it wouldn’t be an overnight oats recipe without some oats! We really love using old-fashioned (rolled) oats in this recipe because they hold their shape better than quick oats, but turn creamier and take less time to soak than steel cut. If you don’t have the rolled variety, you can definitely just use whatever is in your pantry. But, we’re pretty biased towards good old-fashioned oats.
🔪 Instructions
To prepare this recipe, all you’ll need to do is simply combine the ingredients in a large bowl, except the garnishes. Make sure you stir everything thoroughly to evenly disperse the chia seeds.
Once you’ve stirred everything, transfer the oat mixture to a few mason jars or containers with lids. Then, let the oat mixture sit covered in your fridge overnight. Or if you’re too impatient, try to leave the oats for at least 3-4 hours to allow optimal absorption of the liquid.
When you are ready to eat breakfast, you can grab your jar and skedaddle out the door! Or, if you have time to sit down, try serving the overnight oats with more sliced strawberries, coconut yogurt, coconut shreds, and strawberry jam on top.
You can also heat up your overnight oats if you prefer. We love them straight out of the fridge, especially on summer mornings. But, if you can’t go without hot oats, just put them in the microwave for about 30-60 seconds, stirring frequently. You can also heat them on low-medium in a pot on the stove for a few minutes.
🌡️ Storage
This recipe will store well in the fridge for up to 4-5 days, which is what makes it so great for meal prepping ahead of time. You’ll have breakfast covered for your whole workweek! We don’t recommend freezing overnight oats.
💭 Budget tips
We think everyone should be able to eat better for less, so here are a few tricks to make this recipe even more affordable:
- Make sure you make your own yogurt
- Swap out the maple syrup for agave nectar
- Don’t add all the extra toppings
- Use water instead of plant milk
🍴 Tasting notes
These overnight oats are one of our favorite breakfasts to meal prep for a busy week ahead. They’re:
- Sweet
- Juicy
- Creamy
- Filling
If you try this oatmeal, please rate it and leave us a comment below! Want to stay up-to-date with new recipes? Subscribe to our newsletter or connect with Broke Bank Vegan on social media. Happy eating!
Strawberries & Cream Overnight Oats
Equipment
- 3 Mason jars
Ingredients
- 2 cups rolled oats ($0.38)
- 1 ½ cups soy or coconut milk ($0.42)
- ½ cup vanilla coconut yogurt ($0.58)
- 2 tbsp chia seeds ($0.13)
- 1 tbsp maple syrup ($0.15)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract ($0.21)
- 1 cup frozen or fresh strawberries, sliced ($0.68)
Garnishes optional
- More sliced strawberries
- More coconut yogurt
- Coconut shreds
- Strawberry jam
Instructions
- Simply combine all ingredients in a bowl or container, except the garnishes.
- Stir thoroughly to make sure the chia seeds are evenly dispersed.
- Divide oat mixture evenly between 3 mason jars or containers with lids. Let the jars sit in your fridge overnight, or for a minimum of 3-4 hours to thicken up.
- When you are ready to eat, serve the overnight oats with more fresh strawberries, coconut yogurt, coconut shreds, or strawberry jam on top.
- Store in the fridge for quick and delicious breakfasts all week!
Notes
- Optional ingredients are not reflected in the price of the recipe.
- If you’d prefer these oats less sweet, swap out the vanilla yogurt for plain, unsweetened, and don’t include the maple syrup.
Nutrition
♻️ Similar recipes
For more tasty dish ideas, check out our:
- Blueberry pie oatmeal for your morning breakfast that tastes like dessert.
- Vegan buttermilk pancakes for a dairy-free version that tastes better than the original.
- Chocolate chip banana oat waffles if you want to be a little extra when you wake up next.
- Creamy green smoothie if you want to cool off and get your daily dose of vitamins and nutrients.
- High-protein overnight oats for a hearty, filling, and nutritious morning meal.
💬 FAQ
We haven’t made this recipe with steel cut oats before, but we have heard some people have success using them. However, the texture won’t be quite as creamy, and you will need to use more liquid.
This recipe will work with quick oats, but the texture will be more mushy. We definitely recommend using rolled (old-fashioned) oats for the best consistency.
You can absolutely make overnight oats with water if you’re in a pinch, or want to save on calories. We just prefer the creamier texture of plant milk in this recipe.
While the chia seeds aren’t completely necessary for these overnight oats, they help create a thicker, more pudding-like texture. But, you can leave them out if that’s not your thing. We’d recommend using slightly less liquid if that’s the case.
