Overnight Oats with Water

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No need to panic if you’ve run out of milk! Creamy, flavorful, and the perfect meal prep for breakfast, this overnight oats with water recipe comes together in just a couple of minutes. While overnight oats are typically made with milk, you can easily make them with water!

If you’ve run out of milk, no biggie! Between morning lattes and london fogs, it feels like I’m always running out of milk. Luckily, you can still meal prep your overnight oats with water instead. Worried it won’t be as flavorful? Don’t be! It’ll be just as delicious.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

This overnight oats recipe is a time and money saver. You simply take a couple of minutes to mix everything together, and rolled oats are a great budget-friendly ingredient.
It’s a healthy and nutritious way to start off the day! Between the rolled oats and chia seeds, you’ll have a nutrient-packed breakfast!
They’re a versatile meal prep! Since the base is pretty neutral in flavor, you can add all kinds of toppings to the overnight oats, from fresh to frozen fruit, nuts, seeds, jams, and more!

Ingredients You’ll Need

Ingredients needed to make overnight oats with water.

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.
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! When they absorb the water, it helps thicken the overnight oats.
water — instead of milk, this overnight oats recipe uses water. Make sure to use filtered water.
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.
yogurt — to help with the creaminess, the yogurt works together with the chia seeds to give the overnight oats a creamy texture. If you don’t have yogurt, applesauce or mashed bananas can help with giving the oats their creamy texture. I like using flavored yogurt, such as vanilla, to add some extra flavor to the overnight oats. You can use regular or plant-based yogurt.
vanilla — I recommend using real vanilla extract instead of artificial extract.
salt — just a pinch to help enhance the flavors in the overnight oats.
toppings — top these overnight oats with all your favorite toppings! I like to cook down some blueberries to stir them in and top it off with more! You can also add some chopped nuts and seeds or granola for a nice crunch.

How to Make Overnight Oats with Water

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

Add rolled oats and chia seeds to a large bowl.

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

Add the yogurt, maple syrup, vanilla extract, and salt to the bowl.

Set of two photos showing overnight oats with water mixed together in a bowl.

Add the water to the bowl and whisk until well combined.
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 overnight oats with water with a layer of cooked blueberries mixed into the bottom and fresh blueberries on top.

Recipe Tips and Notes

Due to water not being as flavorful as milk, the rest of the ingredients will do the heavy-lifting when building flavor. Chia seeds are also neutral in flavor. Make sure you are using a flavorful yogurt, good quality vanilla extract, and real maple syrup to flavor the overnight oats.
You can add a couple of spoonfuls of nut butter to the overnight oats to add extra protein and flavor.
I add a layer of cooked and mashed blueberries to my overnight oats with water, but you can also stir in some pre-made jam into the oats before serving.
Make sure you don’t add your toppings too early. I like to add the toppings right as I’m about to serve.

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 water-based overnight oats in the freezer for up to 2 months.

A jar of overnight oats with water mixed with cooked blueberries with fresh blueberries on top.

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.

Can overnight oats be heated?

Not a fan of cold overnight oats? No biggie! You can microwave the overnight oats until warmed through before enjoying it for breakfast.

Are overnight oats healthy?

I would consider overnight oats to be healthy as they’re rich in fiber, protein, and antioxidants. They also contain a wide range of vitamins and minerals!

How do I make the blueberry layer?

Place 2 cups of fresh or frozen blueberries and 2 tablespoons of maple syrup in a small saucepan. Cook over medium heat for 1 minute until blueberries just begin to soften and release juices. Mash lightly if desired. Let cool and store in the fridge until ready to use with the overnight oats.

Can you use steel-cut oats for overnight oats?

While you can use steel-cut oats, keep in mind that they will need to be soaked longer and will be dense and chewy in comparison. This recipe, in particular, uses rolled oats, so I recommend following the recipe if this is your first time making overnight oats.

What jars should I use?

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.

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