My current go-to healthy breakfast has got to be this delicious Greek yogurt overnight oats recipe. Until recently, I had been skeptical of overnight oats – I didn’t love the texture, and the flavor was bland. It wasn’t until I had the most delicious bowl of overnight oats with yogurt and blueberries while on vacation that I was finally ready to jump on the overnight oats bandwagon. I was inspired to create my own version!
Easy Overnight Oats Recipe with Greek Yogurt
Using Greek yogurt as the base in my overnight oats recipe has been a game-changer. The texture becomes more akin to a parfait and has a beautiful creamy quality, lovely flavor, and a nice dose of protein. My absolute favorite yogurt is the Greek Gods Honey Vanilla Greek Yogurt. The flavor is so delicious and smooth.
I like things a bit on the sweet side, so I add raw honey and vanilla extract to my recipe. But those who want less sweetness could leave out the honey or choose plain Greek yogurt instead. The recipe also calls for milk for added moisture. I don’t have any dairy sensitivities and love using 2% milk for my preferred texture, but you could substitute almond milk or other dairy-free alternatives if you like.
It's All In the Oats
I’m a firm believer that the key to tasty overnight oats is the texture. I like to use a combination of old-fashioned oats (or rolled oats), quick oats, and steel-cut oats for the perfect composition and structure. The quick oats soften quickly and add creaminess, the rolled oats are pleasantly chewy, and the steel-cut oats keep their firmness even after several days in the fridge.
Rolled Oats Vs Quick Oats: What's the Difference?
A quick look at the picture above helps to illustrate the difference between the various types of oats. Rolled oats (sometimes called old-fashioned oats) are steamed and lightly flattened between rollers, then kiln-dried to preserve freshness. Quick oats (sometimes called instant oats) are soaked a little longer and rolled a little thinner, making them cook faster. Often instant oats are also cut into smaller pieces. In this overnight oat recipe, both rolled oats and quick oats play their roles beautifully!
What are steel cut oats?
Steel cut oats (sometimes called Irish oats) are minimally processed oats that don’t go through the steaming, rolling, or drying process like rolled or quick oats. Instead, they are usually simply cut into pieces. One important thing to note is that because steel cut oats are not dried like rolled or quick oats, they don’t have the same long shelf life and can go rancid fairly quickly. It’s no surprise that you’ll usually find steel cut oats in smaller containers. I can find steel cut oats readily at my local grocery store, but I have also bought them from Amazon. I like to add steel cut oats to my overnight oats recipe because they stay pretty firm even if the overnight oats stay in the fridge for a few days.
Chia Seeds & Flaxseeds
Adding chia seeds and/or flaxseeds is optional, but I think they are a fantastic addition to the texture and are quite nutritious. Both chia seeds and flaxseeds are packed with fiber, protein, and antioxidants! My favorite thing about adding chia seeds to overnight oats is the way they plump up and add a unique texture to the oats. Flaxseeds keep their crunch much longer but do eventually soften a bit. It’s a super easy way to pump up the nutritional value of your overnight oats even more.
How to Make Overnight Oats
Overnight Oats are simple to make. The hardest part for me is remembering to make them in advance (at least 6- 8 hours or more before you intend to eat). I like to prep a big batch and eat it for several days. The texture continues to get better after the second or third day, especially when using rolled and steel-cut oats.
Making overnight oats is pretty straightforward, and there’s a ton of room for flexibility. I always start by whisking the honey into the yogurt since honey can become thick and difficult to mix as it comes into contact with cold milk. Next comes the rest of the liquid ingredients and cinnamon. Once the liquids are all combined, it’s time to add in the oats and seeds. Mix everything thoroughly, stick it in the fridge, and you’re done! Don’t worry – it will be very soupy at first. It’s amazing how much liquid the oats and chia seeds absorb!
Feel free to make substitutions and play around with the ratios until you find your perfect combination and texture. Adding more liquid will produce a thinner texture, while more oats and chia seeds will give you a thicker consistency. If you’ve only got one type of oat on hand, no problem! Depending on the kind of oat you are using, you may need to play around with the liquid-to-oat ratio to find your ideal consistency. Steel cut oats will require more liquid and take the most time to be ready. Quick oats will need less liquid and be ready faster, and rolled oats fall somewhere in the middle.
If you plan to use a dairy-free milk alternative with added sugar or flavoring (think vanilla almond milk), you may want to cut back on the honey or vanilla extract.
If you find your overnight oats aren’t quite right after the initial wait time, don’t worry! Simply stir in a little more milk if it’s too thick or a little more quick oats if it’s too thin. This recipe is super forgiving, and part of the fun is finding your ideal consistency, texture, and level of sweetness.
Vanilla Greek Yogurt Overnight Oats
Ingredients
- 1 cup Vanilla Greek Yogurt such as The Greek Gods Honey Vanilla
- 2-4 tbsp Honey
- 1 cup Milk non-dairy alternatives such as almond milk work great
- 1/2 cup Old-fashioned Rolled Oats
- 3/4 cup Quick 1-minute Oats
- 1/4 cup Steel Cut Oats
- pinch of salt
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 2-3 tbsp chia seeds if desired
- 2 tbsp flaxseed
- fresh fruit bananas, strawberries, blueberries, etc.
Instructions
- Whisk honey and Greek yogurt, making sure there are no lumps.
- Add milk, vanilla, and cinnamon and continue whisking until slightly frothy.
- Add dry ingredients and mix well.
- Refrigerate for at least 6 hours. Will last for a week in the fridge.
- Serve with fresh fruit.
Notes
Enjoy! ❤
Resource Links
I am usually able to get everything for this recipe at my local grocery store, but if you have trouble finding any of the ingredients, trusty ol’ Amazon has you covered.
*These resource links are affiliate links meaning that I may receive a commission if you purchase them using the links provided at no additional cost to you.
