Cinnamon Overnight Oats

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You will fall in love with the warm, sweet flavors of this cinnamon overnight oats recipe. It’s an effortless breakfast recipe that you can make ahead of time and enjoy throughout the week. It only takes a few minutes to make this healthy grab-and-go breakfast meal prep.

I love the warm, cozy flavors of cinnamon, so why not start the day with it? This overnight oats with cinnamon recipe is the perfect breakfast meal prep. All you need are a few simple ingredients to make this. It’s almost like having a cinnamon roll for breakfast in the form of overnight oats! You can even call this cinnamon roll overnight oats!

Three jars of cinnamon overnight oats with one in the center.

Why You’ll Love This Overnight Oats Recipe

This is a budget-friendly breakfast or snack. Rolled oats are pretty budget-friendly, especially if you buy them in bulk, making for a tasty but cost-friendly breakfast.
Made with wholesome ingredients, this cinnamon overnight oats recipe is a pretty healthy way to start off the day.
It literally takes minutes to throw together! Add everything to a bowl, mix it together, then let it set in the fridge overnight. And just like that, breakfast is ready in the morning!

Ingredients You’ll Need

rolled oats — I highly recommend you use old-fashioned rolled oats. Instant oats and quick oats do not hold up as well, so I do not prefer the texture.
milk — you can use any water or milk of your choice, from cow’s milk to non-dairy milk. If you don’t have milk, you can make it with water, like my overnight oats with water recipe.
yogurt — to help with the creaminess of the overnight oats, the yogurt works with the chia seeds to give the overnight oats a creamy texture. If you don’t have yogurt, you can use applesauce or mashed bananas. I like vanilla bean yogurt, but you can use your favorite flavor.
chia seeds — you can find black or white chia seeds at the store. There is no difference in nutritional content between the two. Chia seeds are an excellent source of plant-based protein, and when they absorb the milk, it helps thicken the overnight oats.
cinnamon — you definitely need ground cinnamon to make this overnight oats recipe! Make sure your cinnamon is not stale. The untouched years-old bottle of ground cinnamon hiding in the back of your cupboard will not lead to flavorful overnight oats!
brown sugar — brown sugar pairs so wonderfully with the flavors of cinnamon. You can use light, regular, or dark brown sugar.
vanilla extract — I always recommend using real vanilla extract and not artificial extract. Don’t have any? Skip it! No biggie.
salt — just a pinch to help enhance the flavors in the overnight oats.

How to Make Cinnamon Overnight Oats

Set of two photos showing cinnamon overnight oats ingredients added into a bowl.

Add the rolled oats, milk, yogurt, chia seeds, cinnamon, brown sugar, vanilla extract, and salt in a bowl.

Set of two photos showing before and after the cinnamon overnight oats setting in a bowl.

Stir until well combined.
Cover with a lid or plastic and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight.
When ready to enjoy, top with your toppings of choice.

Three jars of cinnamon overnight oats with cinnamon sticks inserted.

Recipe Tips and Notes

For an on-to-go meal, mason jars are great. 16-ounce wide-mouth mason jars are great if you plan on adding toppings, so you don’t spill anything. I also LOVE a good weck jar. They’re so pretty.
Siggi has a vanilla cinnamon yogurt which would make for a delicious addition to this overnight oats recipe if you can find it.
Add a little maple syrup drizzle on top with an extra pinch of cinnamon before serving if you’d like.

Make Ahead Tips

Meal prep: store the overnight oats without any toppings in an airtight container for up to 5 days in the fridge.
Freezer: to freeze overnight oats, portion out the oats in small containers, then freeze! Thaw the overnight oats in the fridge for 6-8 hours/overnight before you’d like to eat them. You can store the overnight oats in the freezer for up to 2 months.

Two jars of cinnamon overnight oats with cinnamon sticks on top on a wooden serving board.

What are overnight oats?

Overnight oats are a no-cook method of making oatmeal! It’s made by soaking rolled oats in some liquid overnight, so they become soft and digestible.

Do you eat overnight oats hot or cold?

If you’re not a fan of a cold breakfast, no biggie! You can microwave the overnight oats until warmed through before enjoying them for breakfast.

Are overnight oats healthy?

I would consider this overnight oats recipe to be healthy as the ingredients are rich in fiber, protein, and antioxidants. They also contain a wide range of vitamins and minerals!

Can you use steel-cut oats for overnight oats?

While you can use steel-cut oats, keep in mind that steel-cut oats will need to be soaked longer, and the texture will be dense and chewy in comparison.

What are chia seeds?

Chia seeds are tiny seeds from the plant Salvia hispanica. You may recognize them from those cute little chia pet commercials from way back when but other than a cute terra-cotta pet, the seeds are packed with healthy goodness. Despite being tiny little seeds, an one-ounce (28 grams) serving of chia seeds contains 11 grams of fiber, 4 grams of protein, and 9 grams of fat (5 of which are omega-3s).

Two glasses of overnight oats with frozen fruit on a white board with another jar in the background.

Want another overnight oats recipe? Try my overnight oats with frozen fruit recipe!