Simple Vegan Overnight Oats are the easiest make-ahead breakfast ever! You can prepare several jars at a time and have a nutritious breakfast ready for every day of the week. I’ll show you how! No chia seeds or other hard to find ingredients.
When I first heard about overnight oatmeal, I was SO confused. I didn’t understand if you were supposed to eat it hot, or cold. Some recipes called for so many ingredients, like chia seeds or non-dairy yogurt, and they seemed anything but simple! I know a lot of people love chia seeds, but I am not one of them… They remind me of tapioca pudding, which I’ve also never liked.
My take on overnight oats hardly even qualifies as a recipe, it’s so simple! But if you are like me, and you are on the lookout for a quick, easy and nutritious breakfast in the morning, these simple vegan overnight oats just may be the solution. Whether you are rushing to work, or you are home with small children demanding your early morning attention, it can be difficult to nourish yourself well as the day begins. Let me help you! 🙂
The best containers for overnight oats:
These Ball Mason Pint Sized Jars are inexpensive and widely available. They are just perfect for overnight oats, and they come with lids.
You can also use any kind of small container, or even just a cereal bowl and cover it with plastic wrap overnight. You don’t need anything special to make these!
Here’s the ridiculously easy process to making vegan overnight oats:
Add 1/2 cup rolled oats to a small jar or container.
Pour 1/2 cup non-dairy milk of choice into jar with the oats. I prefer Silk Soy Vanilla Milk, but you can use coconut, almond, cashew, even oat milk if you want. It can be sweetened or unsweetened, depending on your preferences.
Cover the jar (or jars if making a few at a time). Refrigerate overnight.
In the morning, your oats will be tender and will have absorbed most of the liquid. They can be eaten cold or hot, your choice! In the winter, I prefer a warm breakfast, so I simply microwave the oats for about 1 minute, then add my toppings.
Top your vegan overnight oats with whatever you like. My favorite combination is fresh or frozen blueberries, chopped walnuts, dates, and a drizzle of maple syrup.
Other yummy combinations:
- Raisins, walnuts, sprinkle of cinnamon
- Chopped fresh apple, walnuts, sprinkle of cinnamon
- Peanut butter + banana
Meal Prep with Simple Vegan Overnight Oats
You can make several of these jars at a time and have breakfast ready for the whole work week! Simply prep 5 jars on Sunday evening, and grab a jar each morning, along with your toppings of choice.
See how creamy and delicious these are? I hope you enjoy!
Want more vegan breakfast recipes?
Simple Vegan Overnight Oats
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup rolled oats
- 1/2 cup non-dairy milk, I prefer vanilla soy milk
Optional toppings in the morning
- drizzle pure maple syrup
- 1-2 tablespoons natural peanut butter
- fresh or frozen blueberries
- sliced banana
- diced apples
- chopped dates or raisins
- chopped walnuts or almonds
- hemp or ground flaxseeds
- sprinkle of cinnamon
Instructions
- Combine the oats and non-dairy milk in a small container, preferably with a lid. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
- In the morning, you can eat the oats cold, or heat them in the microwave for 1 minute. Top with optional toppings. My favorite combination is with blueberries, chopped walnuts, dates and a drizzle of maple syrup.
- That's it! Enjoy!
Notes
- Make-ahead: You can make several of these oats and have breakfast ready all week long. If you make 5 jars on Sunday evening, they will keep quite well until Friday in the refrigerator.
- Nutritional calculation is for oats and milk only, using Silk Vanilla Soy Milk.
Nutrition
Thank you! I finally tried overnight oats after reading your oh so simple formula and I LOVE them! I don’t keep yogurt in the house, don’t like chia, don’t have many of the add ins people suggest in their recipes, and, quite frankly, all the recipes/formulas I saw before yours were just way to fussy for me. I was intrigued but couldn’t be bothered with the fussing at the end of the day when I am tired. But you? You don’t fuss! It’s a WIN! I’m so grateful =)
You are welcome, Dina! I’m thrilled you loved the overnight oats! I love simple and delicious, and am encouraged that you find those qualities in my recipes! Thanks for taking time to share your awesome review and feedback! Wishing you lots of happy cooking!
It seems like 1/2 c oats and milk is such a small amount. Does it expand overnight? When I added the suggested measurements, it only filled about 1/3 of the jar I used (Talenti gelato container).
Good recipe
Are you using a Bonne Maman 23 ounce preserves jar in these photos?
I’m not sure actually. I think it’s just a small mason jar. It was quite awhile ago that I took the photos for this recipe!
Thanks, so helpful!
Excellent recipe! 5/5
Thank you for sharing your review!
Love the simplicity of this recipe, Nora! I used unsweetened soy milk, made it when I woke up in the morning, and after 5 hours in the refrigerator, it was perfect by lunch! I left mine chilled as that is what I was craving and topped mine with soy yogurt, sliced banana and a handful of my homemade almond granola. It was filling but not overly so and really creamy. This will be on regular rotation. Another Nora Cooks winning recipe. thank you!
Hi Sarah. I appreciate you sharing your review! Your oats sound wonderful! Thank you for using my recipes! Happy cooking!
I have heard of rolled oats on many occasions, but never had the chance to try it out.
But lately, on a shopping spree during the MCO period, out of the blue, I purchased a bag of organic rolled oats. Upon reading the instructions given on the package wrappings, I read in skepticism the weird method of preparing said ingredients, without cooking except with boiling water poured onto the oats and let it soaked overnight and consume it the next morning for breakfast.
Well, it is really delicious, and furthermore with additional toppings, what else to ask for more! After this unusual breakfast, I have been continuing this scrumptious breakfast ever since, except for Sundays, will give self a treat of only tofu for morning breakfast.
Thanks for your simple method in preparing rolled oats, and let’s live a healthy lifestyle. ???
I’m going to go get some jars and make this. For years and years I ate raw oats and soymilk every morning. Delicious, but I can see why it wouldn’t be everyone’s cup of tea. I liked blueberries. peanut butter and raisins on top. I like how you can heat it for a warm breakfast, and it would no doubt be softer and creamier than my old version. Thank you!
You’re welcome!
This recipe has changed my morning routine!
I used half coconut milk, half almond milk then a sprinkle of cinnamon. Creamy and very satisfying.
Thank you, Nora!
You’re welcome!!
Can’t wait to give this a try in the morning. I’ve never had overnight oats before but I’m looking forward to it. Going to go with blueberries and honey for mine.
Thanks for the recipe!
I hope you enjoy this simple breakfast!
Hello! Thank for making this simple and delicious recipe. I have a quick question. Can you put the frozen berries into it over night so you dont have to do more prep work or is that just too much and will make it weird the next day?
I haven’t tried it, but I think it could make the oats a little weird the next day, since they will leak out a lot of liquid. I’m not sure though, it might be okay!
I’ve done it with fresh blueberries, apples, and bananas. It’s perfectly fine! Wouldn’t do frozen because they add a lot of water to the oatmeal.
Love all your recipes Nora!
What a great idea! And thanks for keeping it simple!
What a great recipe and article. I can relate to the “not knowing to eat them cold or hot”.
I’m glad I’m not alone in that! 🙂 Thank you.