With a quick stir-together method, this easy Overnight Oats with yogurt recipe can be ready and waiting come morning. Which means you can serve up a delish breakfast without even having to think about it!
Overnight oats are a perfect ready-to-eat breakfast. They are usually a combination of yogurt and milk that gets combined with oats and sometimes seeds. And then the mixture sits overnight to soften and thicken.
The result? A creamy, pudding-like breakfast that’s grab-and-go ready in the morning.
This recipe is a nutritious toddler breakfast with a nicely balanced mix of protein from the yogurt and seeds, complex carbohydrates from the oats, and vitamins from the fruit. But mostly, I really love the convenience factor—for the kids and for myself!
This recipe is also a great way to serve up one of the 2-3 servings of dairy that the kids need and it provides calcium and vitamin D for strong bones, as well as necessary fat.
TIP: Find my other go-to calcium-rich recipes for kids and my Blended Overnight Oats.
Table of Contents
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Ingredients You Need
To make these overnight oats with yogurt, here are the ingredients that you’ll need:
- Whole milk plain yogurt: This is a creamy yogurt with plenty of healthy fats to help us stay full. You can use regular style or Greek yogurt here.
- Milk: Adding a small amount of milk helps create a creamy final texture that thickens as it sits in the fridge.
- Instant oats: I prefer the texture of overnight oats to be smoother, so I use instant oats here. You can use rolled oats, or you can grind rolled oats briefly in a food processor or blender.
- Chia, hemp, or ground flaxseeds: like to add these seeds for healthy fats and more protein, but they are optional.
- Pure vanilla extract: This adds flavor that works really well with the fruit and the yogurt.
- Fruit: I like to add blueberries or diced strawberries to this. You can also thaw frozen fruit and use that here.
- Optional sweetener: You can sweeten the yogurt mixture to taste with maple syrup or honey as you like.
TIP: You can make this dairy-free by using nondairy yogurt and nondairy milk.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Here’s a look at the simple process of making this overnight oats with yogurt recipe. Scroll down to the bottom of the post for the full information.
Step 1. Add the ingredients (except the berries) to a medium bowl.
Step 2. Stir well to combine and create an even mixture.
Step 3. Portion into containers.
Step 4. Add fruit and refrigerate.
TIP: These are meant to be served and eaten cold and the oats soften and the mixture thickens as it sits in the fridge.
Frequently Asked Questions
I like the texture of quick oats (or raw oats ground quickly in the blender or food processor) for little ones and myself in overnight oatmeal since they create a creamier and less chunky final texture. If you don’t mind or think your kids won’t mind, you can use old fashioned Quaker oats right out of the container.
You eat them chilled right out of the fridge. Think of it like a yogurt parfait.
You can absolutely use a favorite nondairy yogurt if you need to avoid dairy. Just pick one that you or your child likes, use a nondairy milk, and otherwise follow the recipe.
So I know that there are recipes out there for overnight steel cut oats, but I wouldn’t substitute them directly in this because I tried it and they don’t soften enough. You could try instant steel cut oats since they are ground a little but the final texture will be chewier than using the oats I call for below.
You can use regular or Greek yogurt in this overnight oats recipe. Greek yogurt will make it thicker—but it will also have more protein which is always nice. I like to double the recipe to make a serving for myself, and to vary the ingredients to keep things interesting.
Overnight Oats for Babies
This recipe has a very subtle texture so it’s a nice step up from straight pureed baby foods and can be a good Stage 2 baby food combination.Skip the added sweetener if serving to babies. And know that if you blend the ingredients together using raspberries, strawberries, bananas, or mango, this is a great recipe to put into a reusable pouch.
TIP: Don’t blend this recipe with blueberries as they will cause some separation to occur with the yogurt. But they are great left whole or cut in half!
How to Store
This recipe will keep for 3-5 days when stored in airtight containers in the fridge. Know that the mixture will thicken as it sits overnight in the fridge.
Best Tips for Success
- Use ground raw oats or quick oats for a smoother final texture that the kids might prefer.
- Know that chia seeds may thicken the mixture more than hemp seeds.
- If you find the texture too thick, you can always stir in an extra tablespoon or two of milk.
- You can blend the fruit right into the yogurt mixture for a smoother overall texture. This works well with strawberries and mango. Just put everything into a food process or blender and process until smooth.
- You may also like Mango Overnight Oats, Strawberry Overnight Oats, Apple Overnight Oats, and Applesauce Overnight Oats.
Related Recipes
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Overnight Blueberry Baked Oatmeal
I’d love to hear what you think of this recipe, so please comment below with feedback!
Overnight Oats with Yogurt
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup whole plain yogurt
- 2 tablespoons milk (dairy or nondairy)
- 2 tablespoons rolled oats, ground in a blender or food processor (or quick or instant oats)
- 1-2 teaspoons hemp seeds, chia seeds, and/or shredded unsweetened coconut
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/8 teaspoon cinnamon (optional)
- 1-2 teaspoons maple syrup or honey (optional)
- 1/4-1/2 cup fresh or frozen blueberries, or raspberries, blackberries strawberries, mashed banana, or mango
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients except optional sweetener and berries in a small bowl and stir gently.
- Taste and adjust sweetness if desired.
- Divide mixture into small storage containers.
- Top with berries. Store in the fridge at least 4 hours or overnight. (The mixture will thicken as it sits overnight in the fridge.) Serve cold.
Equipment
Notes
- This recipe will keep for 3-5 days when stored in airtight containers in the fridge.
- Use ground raw oats or quick oats for a smoother final texture that the kids might prefer.
- Try blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, diced mango, or mashed banana as the fruit.
- Try chia seeds, hemp seeds, or ground flaxseeds to add fiber, protein and healthy fats. (Chia seeds may thicken the mixture more than hemp seeds.)
- If you find the texture too thick, you can always stir in an extra tablespoon or two of milk.
- You can blend the fruit right into the yogurt mixture for a smoother overall texture. This works well with strawberries and mango. Just put everything into a food process or blender and process until smooth.
- Dairy-free: Use nondairy yogurt and milk.
Nutrition
This post was originally published June 2018.
SO great for a working mama! Can this be frozen?
I haven’t ever frozen them but I bet that would work fine. The liquid from the yogurt may separate a little when you thaw it, but just stir it up and you’ll be good.
My toddler and i both loved it!
This is such a great easy quick way to add something different to our breakfast rotation. Hands down my favorite overnight oats for our toddler AND us to enjoy!
Delicious! We’ve been in a breakfast rut so this was a welcome change – definitely one of my new go to’s now. Thanks!
I’m so glad to hear that!
I tried it this morning it was so yum, can’t wait for my girl to try it too
This is my go-to for overnight oats. I get stuck in a rut with meal ideas and this is a welcome addition to the rotation! I make a double batch so I have some to eat as well as my little one!
So easy and my toddler loves this!
Love this recipe and my baby girl loves it too! So simple and delicious! I have included it on my blog (warm beer, cold coffee) to help other parents find simple and easy ways to feed their littles. Thank you for sharing!
Hello,
Great Recipe!
Can I make this only with milk ? Is there a reason we add yogurt to overnight oats?
Yes, you can make this just with milk. The yogurt just makes it creamier, which is nice (but not mandatory!)
How long is this good for in the fridge?
In the 3-4 day range usually!
My 16 month old licks the bowl. Great recipe, thank you!
I’m so glad!
Can I use Greek yogurt?
Sure, it will just be a little thicker. You can add a little milk if it seems too thick to you once it sits in the fridge.
Hi if using frozen fruits, do you put ithe frozen fruits overnight and mash in morning?
Yes!
What can you use in place of milk? My 9mo old isnt drinking milk yet- just formula….but eating all foods!
You can use nondairy unsweetened milk or just add a little extra yogurt!
Can this be warmed up? X
They are best cold since you don’t really want to warm up yogurt.
Do you recommend making this every night? Or can several batches be made on Sunday night for the week ahead? Thanks, have a 13 month old and love your site!
Hi! You can make a few at once. They will be fine in the fridge. If any water separates out of the yogurt, simply stir it up before serving it. Let me know if you have any other questions!
Is the recipe supposed to look soupy?
It will thicken as it sits overnight.
When do we add honey or maple syrup to this?
In step 1. Taste it and add sweetness to your liking.
My 14-month-old ate one serving of this then demanded more! Great recipe, thank you ?
I’m so glad to hear that!
This recipe is easy and delicious. It is especially helpful when you have to get out early in the morning.
Thanks!
674233 755097Its hard to search out knowledgeable individuals on this subject, but you sound like you realize what youre speaking about! Thanks 745424