Lemon Poppy Seed Overnight Oats

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Brighten up your morning with a serving of these lemon poppy seed overnight oats! They’re rich, hearty, zesty, and refreshing! Made with pantry staples, this citrusy breakfast is full of protein and fiber, making for a wholesome breakfast that’ll leave you feeling full and satisfied.

These lemon poppy seed overnight oats are so delightful. They’ll remind you of your favorite lemon poppy seed muffin! I love how bright and citrusy these overnight oats are and you’ll definitely want to make these on repeat.

Jars of lemon poppy seed overnight oats topped with blueberries, lemon slices, and lemon zest.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

This overnight oats recipe is a budget-friendly breakfast. Old fashioned rolled oats and chia seeds are ingredients that are pantry staples and keep for a good while. They’re perfect for buying in bulk to save money as well.
Thanks to the rolled oats, yogurt, and chia seeds, this overnight oats is full of protein, fiber, and just general wholesome goodness, making it a wonderful way to start off your day.
Overnight oats are the easiest breakfast to make. There’s no cooking required and all you have to do is mix everything in a bowl and let it set in the fridge.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Ingredients needed to make lemon poppy seed 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 of the oats after they’ve been soaked.
milk — you can use any milk of your choice, from cow’s milk to non-dairy milk such as almond milk or oat milk. If you don’t have milk, you can make it with water, like my overnight oats with water recipe.
yogurt — a thick and creamy yogurt works with the chia seeds to give the overnight oats a creamy texture. Using Greek yogurt will add a boost of extra protein. If you don’t have yogurt, you can use applesauce or mashed bananas. I highly recommend using lemon-flavored Greek yogurt for the best tangy flavor.
chia seeds — chia seeds come in both black and white seeds, but there is no difference in nutritional content, so take your pick. They’re an excellent source of plant-based protein! When they absorb the milk, it helps thicken the overnight oats.
maple syrup — you can use maple syrup or honey to sweeten the overnight oats. Make sure you use real maple syrup and not pancake syrup. You can also use honey.
vanilla extract — just a splash of vanilla extract is all you need.
salt — a pinch of salt helps bring the flavors together.
lemon zest — it’s important to use lemon zest and not lemon juice. The lemon zest will provide the zesty flavor whereas the lemon juice will react with the dairy and curdle.
poppy seeds — I love the texture the poppy seeds add and the slight crunch. The poppy seeds add a subtle nutty flavor as well.

How to Make Lemon Poppy Seed Overnight Oats

Set of two photos showing milk, rolled oats, and chia seeds added to a bowl.

Set of two photos showing yogurt, poppy seed, lemon zest, salt, maple syrup, and vanilla extract added to the bowl.

Combine the rolled oats, milk, Greek yogurt, chia seeds, maple syrup, vanilla extract, salt, lemon zest, and poppy seeds in a bowl.

Set of two photos showing overnight oats mixed and then set overnight.

Cover with a lid or plastic and refrigerate for at least 3 hours or overnight.

Set of two photos showing overnight oats added to a jar and toppings placed on top.

When ready to enjoy, give it a stir before serving, and add in your favorite toppings. You can also transfer the overnight oats into jars for easy grab and go breakfasts.

A spoonful of lemon poppy seed overnight oats.

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.
You can add a scoop of protein powder to the overnight oats to add extra protein.
I like to add a bit of crushed biscoff cookies to these poppy seed overnight oats as well!
I like to top them with a dollop of yogurt or whipped cream and some mini chocolate chips or cacao nib to make these oats more decadent. The chocolate chips remind me of chocolate chip lemon poppy seed muffins!
for even more lemon flavor, add a dollop of lemon curd!

A jar of lemon poppy seed overnight oats topped with sliced lemons, lemon zest, and cut blueberries with more jars off to the side and poppy seeds and blueberries in bowls.

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 lemon poppy seed 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.

Are overnight oats healthy?

I would consider this blueberry 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!

Do you eat overnight oats hot or cold?

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