Coconut Overnight Oats

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Who doesn’t love a hearty and healthy breakfast you can easily prep the night before? This coconut overnight oats recipe comes together so quickly and easily that you’ll want to make it again and again. You’ll love the coconut flavors from this recipe and how sweet, creamy, and delicious these overnight oats are.

You know what would be great right now? A tropical vacation! But since that’s not on the books for me right now, this coconut overnight oats recipe is the next best thing. Let the coconut flavors and some tropical fruit on top transport me to a tropical vacation!

A glass of coconut overnight oats topped with shredded coconut and kiwi.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

I love how this coconut overnight oats recipes me of coconut cream pie! Making the overnight oats with coconut milk and coconut yogurt adds so much coconut flavor! You’ll fall in love with the flavors.
Made with wholesome ingredients, this coconut overnight oats recipe is a pretty healthy way to start off the day.
You’ll love how easy it is to make overnight oats. Just stir and pop it in the fridge until ready to eat.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Overhead view of ingredients needed to make coconut overnight oats.

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.
coconut — this recipe uses light coconut milk, coconut yogurt, and unsweetened coconut flakes to build the incredible coconut flavors of the overnight oats.
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 coconut milk, it helps thicken the overnight oats.
maple syrup — you can also use honey if you prefer. Make sure you are using real maple syrup and not pancake syrup.
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 Coconut Overnight Oats

Set of two photos showing coconut overnight oats ingredients added to a bowl.

Set of two photos showing ingredients needed to make coconut overnight oats in a bowl.

Combine all of the rolled oats, coconut milk, chia seeds, unsweetened coconut flakes, maple syrup, vanilla extract, and salt in a bowl and stir until well combined.

Set of two photos showing coconut overnight oats set in a bowl and placed in a jar.

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.

Recipe Tips and Notes

Add some sliced bananas (or caramelized sliced bananas) to make this into an easy coconut banana overnight oats.
You can portion out the coconut overnight oats into jars the night before and let them set up in them, so you get an easy grab-and-go breakfast.
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.
The longer the coconut overnight oats sit in the fridge, the creamier the oats.

Topping Ideas

Jam: I love the added sweetness of stirring some jam into the overnight oats.
Fruit: what’s not to love about some fruit? Raspberries, strawberries, blueberries, mango, kiwi, and bananas make for a great topping options for overnight oats.
Granola, nuts, or seeds: granola, chopped nuts (like pecans or walnuts), or seeds (like sunflower seeds or pumpkin seeds) add a great crunch to your overnight oats. Try my homemade lemon poppyseed granola!

A glass of coconut overnight oats with a spoon leaning against it.

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.

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).

A glass of coconut overnight oats with kiwi and coconut on top with a spoon inside.

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!