Kefir Overnight Oats

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Thick, creamy, and full of wholesome ingredients, these kefir overnight oats are a wonderful way to start off your day. Full of fiber, protein, and more, these overnight oats with kefir only require four ingredients!

If you want an easy breakfast that doesn’t require a ton of ingredients, you need to make this kefir overnight oats recipe. I am absolutely obsessed with them and once you’ve tried them, you’ll understand why.

Two jars of kefir overnight oats topped with a mini strawberry.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Kefir is a great replacement for milk and yogurt in overnight oats. Thanks to its texture, it makes the overnight oats delightfully thick and creamy.
It’s so easy to make! Simply mix four ingredients in a bowl and pop it into the fridge.
It’s the perfect base recipe. You can customize it and add as many mix-ins as you’d like.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Ingredients needed to make kefir overnight oats.

rolled oats — make sure you are using old-fashioned rolled oats. Instant oats and quick oats do not hold up as well, so I do not prefer the texture compared to rolled oats. Oats are a great source of complex carbohydrates and are high in fiber, giving you energy. You can read more about the benefits of oats here.
chia seeds — chia seeds come in both black and white seeds, but there is no difference in nutritional content. They’re also an excellent source of plant-based protein and are high in omega-3 fatty acids and fiber! When they absorb the kefir, it helps thicken the overnight oats.
maple syrup – make sure you sweeten the kefir overnight oats with maple syrup and not pancake syrup. Maple syrup comes straight from trees, whereas pancake syrup is usually made with corn syrup.
kefir — kefir is a yogurt-like fermented drink, traditionally made with cow’s milk or goat’s milk. It’s high in nutrients and probiotics, as well as being a rich source of calcium, protein, and B vitamins. Kefir has a tart and tangy flavor. I’m using plain kefir but you can also get vanilla kefir or go a little wild and get mango, strawberry, and other fun flavored kefir!

How to Make Kefir Overnight Oats

Set of two photos showing ingredients added to a bowl.

Add rolled oats, chia seeds, maple syrup, and kefir to a bowl.

Set of two photos showing mixture mixed together in the bowl and then set in the fridge.

Mix well to combine.
Cover with a lid or plastic and refrigerate for at least 3 hours or overnight.
When ready to eat, serve with toppings of choice, such as jam, berries, and nuts.

A jar of kefir overnight oats with a small strawberry on top.

Recipe Tips and Notes

Toppings are a great way to add extra healthy goodness to your overnight oats. A handful of fruit or nuts really helps boost nutritional value.
For an on-to-go meal, I like to store the protein overnight oats in mason jars. 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.
Make sure to stir the overnight oats well as chia seeds can clump up. You can give it a second stir after the overnight oats sit for a while in the fridge.

Topping Ideas

Jam: I love the added sweetness of stirring some jam into the overnight oats.
Nut butter: a drizzle of nut butter is a great way to add healthy fats. Try cashew butter, almond butter, peanut butter, and more!
Fruit: what’s not to love about some fruit? Raspberries, strawberries, blueberries, mango, kiwi, and bananas make for a great topping.
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!
Savory options: you can make this a more savory breakfast by adding an egg, avocado, cooked mushrooms, bacon, and more.

A jar of kefir overnight oats with a strawberry on top with another jar in the background out of focus along with a jar of chia seeds and rolled oats.

Make Ahead Tips

Meal prep: store the kefir overnight oats without any toppings in an airtight container for up to 5 days in the fridge.

Can I also use water kefir in this recipe?

I’ve never tried making this overnight oats recipe with water kefir, so I cannot say if you can or not, but I highly recommend sticking to milk kefir for both flavor and consistency.

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 more dense and chewy in comparison to using rolled oats. This kefir overnight oats recipe, in particular, uses rolled oats, so I recommend following the recipe if this is your first time making overnight oats.