Overnight Oats With Chia Seeds (Printable)

Creamy make-ahead oats with chia seeds, Greek yogurt, and honey. Ready to grab from the fridge.

# What You'll Need:

→ Base

01 - 1 cup rolled oats
02 - 1 cup unsweetened milk, dairy or plant-based
03 - ½ cup Greek yogurt
04 - 2 tablespoons chia seeds
05 - 1 to 2 tablespoons honey or maple syrup
06 - ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract

→ Toppings

07 - ½ cup fresh berries, blueberries, strawberries, or raspberries
08 - 1 small banana, sliced
09 - 2 tablespoons chopped nuts, almonds, walnuts, or pecans
10 - 1 tablespoon nut butter, peanut, almond, or cashew

# Preparation Steps:

01 - In a medium bowl or large jar, combine oats, milk, Greek yogurt, chia seeds, honey or maple syrup, and vanilla extract. Stir well to blend thoroughly.
02 - Cover and refrigerate overnight for at least 8 hours, allowing oats and chia seeds to absorb the liquid and soften.
03 - In the morning, stir the mixture thoroughly. If too thick, add a splash of milk to reach desired consistency.
04 - Top with fresh berries, banana slices, chopped nuts, or nut butter as desired. Serve chilled immediately.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • You actually get to sleep in those extra minutes because breakfast is already made and waiting like a little gift to yourself.
  • It's thick, creamy, and satisfying in a way that feels indulgent but keeps you full until lunch without the sugar crash.
  • The chia seeds do this magical thing where they plump up and create this almost pudding-like texture that honestly tastes better than it sounds.
02 -
  • Chia seeds expand as they sit, so the texture will change overnight—what looks like a reasonable amount of liquid becomes absorbed, and that's exactly what should happen, not a mistake.
  • If you skip the chia seeds or use too few, you'll end up with something that tastes good but feels more like soggy cereal; the chia creates that pudding quality that makes this different from just eating oats with yogurt.
03 -
  • Don't skip the vanilla extract—that half teaspoon is doing more heavy lifting than you'd think, transforming this from functional breakfast into something that actually tastes good.
  • If you're making these for a crowd, double the batch and store individual jars; people are more likely to actually eat breakfast if it requires zero decision-making in the morning.
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