Peanut Butter Overnight Oats are the perfect make-ahead breakfast that you can grab straight from the fridge. This easy recipe takes just 5 minutes to assemble for a fast morning!
What are Overnight Oats?
Overnight oats are rolled oats that have been soaked overnight in liquid, to help soften them. The next morning, the oats will be ready to eat straight from the fridge– no cooking required!
They make a convenient and filling breakfast for people who need a fast, affordable breakfast. And they taste amazing!
How to Make Them
To make overnight oats, you’ll just follow 3 simple steps.
- Combine the first 4 ingredients. Stir together the milk (I use almond milk), peanut butter, ground flax seed, and maple syrup. It won’t be perfectly smooth, but that makes for nice swirls of peanut butter in the oats later.
- Add in the oats. Stir well, and make sure the oats are fully submerged in the liquid. If they’re not, add 1 to 2 more tablespoons of milk to help cover them.
- Soak overnight in the fridge! They will be ready to eat in the morning, and you can add an extra splash of milk or maple syrup, as desired, before eating them.
Peanut Butter Overnight Oats are:
- Gluten-free
- Dairy-free
- Vegan
- Fast to make
- Affordable
- and super delicious!
Frequently Asked Questions
Are overnight oats healthy? Yes! Did you know that uncooked oats have more resistant starch than cooked oats? Soaking oats in liquid also helps to reduce their phytic acid content, which in turn may boost iron absorption.
Can you eat overnight oats hot? Yes! You can warm up overnight oats by pouring them into a saucepan over medium-high heat, and stirring well until heated through. I usually add a 1/4 cup of extra liquid in this case, since the oats will thicken up even more when heated. If you would rather microwave the oats, I recommend transferring the overnight oats to a different container, as a cold glass container may shatter if the temperature of the oats changes too quickly.
Are raw oats safe to eat? Old-fashioned rolled oats are not technically raw, so yes they are safe to eat without cooking them. Oat groats are steamed before they are rolled.
Are oats gluten-free? Regular oats may experience cross-contamination with wheat during processing, so it’s important to shop for certified gluten-free oats, if you need a gluten-free breakfast. There is some controversy that even certified gluten-free oats might cause digestive troubles for certain individuals, so I will leave this up to your personal experience.
Can you use quick oats? Yes, you can use quick oats with this recipe. The results will just be softer, so keep that in mind if you don’t want a more mushy texture.
Can you use steel cut oats? I don’t recommend using steel cut oats for this recipe, unless you don’t mind a chewy consistency. They won’t soften up the way old-fashioned rolled oats do.
Topping Ideas
You can add variety to your peanut butter overnight oats by adding different toppings each day!
Here are some of my favorite topping ideas:
- Sliced banana
- Fresh strawberries or raspberries
- Spoonful of chia seed jam (for a PB&J flavor!)
- Mini chocolate chips
How Long Do They Last?
You can make overnight oats up to 3-4 days in advance, so feel free to double or triple the recipe below if you want to have several days of breakfast ready to go in your fridge.
Peanut Butter Overnight Oats
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon ground flax seed
- 2 tablespoons peanut butter
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- 1/2 cup almond milk
- 1/2 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
Instructions
- In a 12-ounce or larger glass jar, combine the flax, peanut butter, maple syrup, and milk. Stir well to combine, but it's okay if it's not perfectly smooth.
- Add in the rolled oats, and mix again, until all of the oats are submerged in liquid. If there are any oats that aren't fully submerged, add another tablespoon or two of milk, until they are covered. Secure a lid on the jar, then place it in the fridge to chill overnight.
- In the morning, take the lid off the oats, and give them a stir. I like to add an extra splash of milk at this point, to help loosen up the texture, and you can add extra maple syrup or peanut butter, to taste. Top with sliced banana or any other fruit you like, for extra fiber and nutrients!
Video
Notes
Nutrition
If you try these Peanut Butter Overnight Oats, please leave a comment below letting me know how you like them. And if you make any modifications, I’d love to hear about those, too!
–
Reader Feedback: What’s your favorite fast breakfast?
This is good! I used almond butter cause I like it better. Added oat milk, banana and hemp seed, so good!
Amazing! Loved them. Just shared the recipe with my kids! I made 4 times the recipe but only used 3 tablespoons of maple syrup (which was the perfect sweetness for me).
So fast, simple and delicious.
These oats are so delicious! My new favorite breakfast!
This is absolutely delicious and filling! I wasn’t hungry until lunch which never happens. My daughter even loved them ❤️
These Peanut Butter Overnight Oats are fantastic!. They can be quickly made after dinner and are easy to heat up in morning. I make mine with Oat milk
Sounds wonderful. My nutritionist has recommended to try to get more warm meals into my body Can this be heated in the morning for breakfast? Thanks!
Yes, you can definitely heat it up in the morning. I’d add an extra splash of liquid, as needed, since it will probably thicken up a bit.
I made the peanut butter oats. They were so good!
These oats are so so good!! Will make them again for sure. My 21 month old couldn’t get enough! Thanks!
Another great recipe. Simple to make, simple ingredients and delicious.
This peanut butter oatmeal look so yummy and healthy.
I made these in the winter, and liked them, but decided to eat regular heated oatmeal for my warm breakfast. Now that it’s summer, these are my go-to breakfast! Since I am making them just for me, I decided to decrease the peanut butter to a generous tablespoon. I love the taste of 2 tablespoons, but don’t want to have that many calories. To compensate for the flavor loss, , I toss in a sprinkle of cinnamon. Then eat them with banana slices or blueberries. It’s very satisfying and satiating. I rarely get hungry until lunch time when I eat these for breakfast. Thanks so much for this recipe!
amazing recipee I love this
This was delicious! I doubled the recipe for me and my partner, used some hemp hearts as well as some chocolate pea protein powder. My picky partner said he could eat this everyday for breakfast! Topped wit fresh strawberries in the morning, so delish! Thank you! 🙂