Overnight Oats without Yogurt

Not a fan of yogurt? No problem! You can still make creamy and high-protein overnight oats without yogurt. You only need a handful of simple ingredients and you can make this nourishing and wholesome breakfast. It’s creamy, chewy, and flavorful!

 

I’m a huge fan of using Greek yogurt to add protein and create a creamy texture in my overnight oats. However, I don’t always have yogurt on hand and I’m sure you’ve opened your fridge ready to make overnight oats and you realize you’re all out of yogurt. Or, you may simple just not be a fan of yogurt. Well, not to worry, you can still make a creamy and protein-packed overnight oats without yogurt. (BTW, if you’re not a fan of yogurt, you might like my creamy smoothie without yogurt recipe!)

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Overnight oats are always my go-to meal prep recipes as they come together so quickly and easily by simply mixing together ingredients in a bowl. The fridge does the rest and in the morning, you’ve got a delicious grab and go breakfast!
• Even though we are not using yogurt, this is still a protein-packed breakfast! That means it’ll keep you feeling full and satisfied until your next meal. There are 22 grams of protein per serving!
• Most of these ingredients are easy to find and budget-friendly, making for a budget-friendly meal for the week. Rolled oats and chia seeds are pantry staples that you can buy in bulk and keep on hand for a while, so I always stock up when I see a sale.

Ingredients You’ll Need

• rolled oats — I highly recommend using old-fashioned rolled oats. Instant oats and quick oats do not hold up as well after they’re soaked for a few hours, so I do not prefer the texture of the oats after soaking.
• milk — you can use any water of your choice, from cow’s milk to non-dairy milk such as cashew milk or almond milk. You can even get high protein milk where you can get 18 grams of protein per cup.
• chia seeds — chia seeds are also an excellent source of plant-based protein and are high in omega-3 fatty acids and fiber! When they absorb the milk, it helps thicken the overnight oats.
• vanilla extract — I recommend using real vanilla extract and not artificial extract for the best flavor. You can also use vanilla bean paste.
• maple syrup — I use maple syrup, but you can also use honey.
• salt — a pinch of salt helps bring out the flavor.
• vanilla protein powder — I highly recommend using a protein powder that you truly enjoy and is good quality. If the protein powder is unpleasant, the overnight oats can’t mask the flavor. You also want to make sure you use protein powder that doesn’t have filler ingredients.
• peanut butter — full of heart-healthy, monounsaturated fats, micronutrients, and a source of plant-based protein, peanut butter makes for a great addition to overnight oats. A natural runny peanut butter is easier to mix into the overnight oats.

How to Make Overnight Oats without Yogurt

• Add the rolled oats, chia seeds, milk, vanilla extract, salt, maple syrup, vanilla protein powder, and peanut butter in a bowl.

• Mix until well combined. Cover and put the mixture into the fridge (or individual containers) for at least 4 hours, but preferably overnight.
• When ready to eat, you can top it with some granola, chopped fruit or berries, etc, and enjoy!

Recipe Tips and Notes

• You can use a bit of kefir in place of the milk for some extra probiotics.
• 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 in the fridge for a while.
• If you prefer a thinner consistency to your overnight oats, add more milk.

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 so they become soft and digestible.

Can I heat up overnight oats?

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

Are overnight oats healthy?

I would consider overnight oats to be healthy! Overnight oats are rich in fiber, protein, and antioxidants. Overnight oats also contain a wide range of vitamins and minerals! Chia seeds especially are rich in nutrients such as antioxidants, fiber, and omega-3 fatty acids.

Can I use steel-cut oats?

While you can use steel-cut oats for overnight oats, due to how they’re processed, 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.

Topping Ideas

• Jam: I love the added sweetness of stirring some jam into the overnight oats. Jam also pairs delightfully with nut butter.
• 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!

More Overnight Oats Recipes You’ll Love

• Cinnamon Overnight Oats
• Almond Butter Overnight Oats
• Vanilla Overnight Oats
• Blueberry Overnight Oats
• High Protein Overnight Oats

Want 21 of my tried and true overnight oats recipes all in one place? Check out my ebook, where you can have them all downloaded to your devices!

Click here for the ebook!

Other places to connect with me
@carmyshungry on Instagram
Facebook
Shop my Amazon faves
Email: [email protected]