Overnight Oats without Chia Seeds

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Overnight oats tend to be made with chia seeds as they absorb the milk, leading to thick overnight oats. But what if you don’t have any? No problem! Here’s how to make overnight oats without chia seeds! They’ll still be creamy, thick, and delicious!

If you’re not a fan of chia seeds or don’t have any available, no biggie! You can easily make creamy overnight oats without chia seeds! The secret? Flaxseed. It’s just as healthy and will thicken your overnight oats without needing chia seeds.

A jar of overnight oats without chia seeds with dollops of jam in the jar and topped with raspberries.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

It’s a healthy way to start off the day. Rolled oats, ground flax seed, milk, and yogurt are all good for you ingredients that come together to create a delicious breakfast.
It’s so easy to make. Just stir everything together in a big bowl and then let it set up in the fridge. You can even portion it all out in individual jars and shake to combine!
You can serve it any way you want! Serve it with your favorite nut butter, jam, fruits, nuts, and more!

Ingredients You’ll Need

Ingredients needed to make overnight oats without chia seeds.

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.
milk — you can use any milk of your choice, from dairy 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 gives the overnight oats a creamy texture. If you don’t have yogurt, you can use applesauce or mashed bananas. You can use regular or plant-based yogurt. You can use flavored yogurt as well.
ground flaxseed — this overnight oats recipe uses ground flax is added instead of chia seeds. Flaxseed is high in fiber and omega-3 fatty acids. Make sure you get ground flaxseed and not whole flaxseed.
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 Overnight Oats with Chia Seeds

Set of two photos showing rolled oats added to milk in a bowl and yogurt, flax seed, and maple syrup added to a bowl.

Combine the rolled oats, milk, yogurt, ground flaxseed, maple syrup, vanilla extract, and salt in a large bowl.

Set of two photos showing before and after the mixture setting in the fridge.

Mix well to combine.
Cover with a lid or plastic and refrigerate for at least 3 to 4 hours or overnight.

Set of two photos showing jam and overnight oats without chia seeds added to a glass.

When ready to enjoy, enjoy as is or add a tablespoon or two of jam or nut butter to the bottom of your jar or bowl, add the overnight oats on top, and top with some chopped fruit or berries.

A slightly angled view of a jar of overnight oats with flax seed topped with three raspberries with a spoon tucked into the jar.

Recipe Tips and Notes

You can add a couple of spoonfuls of nut butter to the overnight oats to add extra protein and flavor.
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.
You can use Greek yogurt to make the overnight oats even more creamy and add more protein.

Topping Ideas

Jam: I love the added sweetness of stirring some jam into the overnight oats.
Nut butter: a drizzle of almond butter, peanut butter, or cashew butter is a great way to add extra healthy fats.
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 poppy seed granola!

A spoonful of overnight oats without chia seeds in front of a jar of overnight oats topped with raspberries.

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 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, making them soft and digestible.

How does flaxseed taste?

Flaxseed has a slightly mild, nutty flavor. There is brown and golden flaxseed. Brown flaxseeds have a more robust flavor than golden seeds.

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 oats are rich in fiber, protein, and antioxidants. They also contain a wide range of vitamins and minerals! Flaxseed’s health benefits include being high in fiber and omega-3 fatty acids.

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. This overnight oats recipe, in particular, uses rolled oats, so I recommend following the recipe if this is your first time making overnight oats.

A jar of overnight oats without chia seeds with dollops of jam and topped with raspberries.

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!