Strawberry Shortcake Overnight Oats (Strawberry Overnight Oats)

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All you need are a handful of simple ingredients to make this delicious strawberry shortcake overnight oats recipe! These creamy strawberry overnight oats are a breakfast meal-prep staple as they come together in a few quick steps! Stir everything together the night before and have this hearty and satisfying breakfast waiting for you in the morning.

If you’re looking for something that tastes like dessert for breakfast, then this strawberry shortcake overnight oats is just what you need. It’s creamy, sweet, and delicious! You can’t go wrong with this breakfast meal prep!

A jar of strawberry shortcake overnight oats with strawberries on top.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Full of protein, fiber, and just general wholesome goodness, this strawberry overnight oats recipe is a wonderful way to start off your day.
This is a budget-friendly breakfast or snack. You can use frozen strawberries, and rolled oats are also pretty budget-friendly in general. So this makes for a tasty but cost-friendly breakfast.
It’s so easy to make! You literally just stir everything together and place it in the fridge. No cooking required.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Ingredients needed to make strawberry shortcake overnight oats.

rolled oats — make sure you are using old-fashioned rolled oats to make this strawberry overnight oats recipe. 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.
milk — you can use any water or milk of your choice, from cow’s milk to non-dairy milk. If you don’t have milk, you can make it with water, like my overnight oats with water recipe. For more strawberry flavor, you can use strawberry milk!
yogurt — to mimic the creaminess of strawberry shortcake, I suggest getting a thick and creamy yogurt! The yogurt works with the chia seeds to give the overnight oats a creamy texture. If you don’t have yogurt, you can use applesauce or mashed bananas. Strawberry-flavored yogurt is a great addition as well!
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 milk, it helps thicken the overnight oats.
strawberries — you can use fresh or frozen strawberries. I prefer fresh strawberries when they’re in season. You can save some extra strawberries for topping the overnight oats. I also love adding some extra strawberry jam as a topping for extra strawberry flavor.
maple syrup — maple syrup is my preferred sweetener, but you can use your favorite one.
vanilla extract — just a splash of vanilla extract is all you need.
salt — a pinch of salt helps bring the flavors together.

How to Make Strawberry Overnight Oats

Set of two photos showing ingredients for strawberry overnight oats added to a bowl.

Add the rolled oats, chia seeds, yogurt, milk, vanilla extract, salt, chopped strawberries, and maple syrup in a bowl and stir until well combined.
Mix until well combined. Cover and put the mixture into the fridge (or individual containers) for at least 4 hours but preferably overnight.

Set of two photos showing set overnight oats and it added to a jar.

When ready to enjoy, stir well and add any desired toppings, such as additional strawberries, strawberry jam, granola, and nut butter.

Overhead view of three jars of strawberry shortcake overnight oats.

Recipe Tips and Notes

Add some crushed graham crackers or whole graham crackers to the overnight oats before serving to make this strawberry overnight oats recipe tastes more like strawberry shortcakes!
If you use frozen strawberries, you can decrease your milk by a bit or add a bit of extra chia seeds to account for the liquid released by frozen strawberries. However, it’s no biggie if there’s a bit of extra liquid.
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.
If you would like more protein, you can add vanilla protein powder! You can also get specific high protein milk to use instead of regular milk. This high protein milk has 13 grams of protein per cup.

Make Ahead Tips

Meal prep: store the strawberry 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 the overnight oats in the freezer for up to 2 months. If you use frozen strawberries, I don’t suggest refreezing. Do not add toppings if you are going to freeze the overnight oats!

A spoonful of strawberry shortcake overnight oats.

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.

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 strawberry shortcake 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!

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 frozen fruit 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 creamy strawberry overnight oats.

Topping Ideas

Want more toppings than just strawberries? Try these overnight oats topping ideas!

Jam: I love the added sweetness of stirring some jam into the overnight oats. Especially strawberry jam to go with the strawberry shortcake flavors of this overnight oats. Not a fan of jam? Try applesauce!
Nut butter: peanut butter, cashew butter, and almond butter adds a bit of extra protein to the overnight oats.
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 or berry granola! Hemp hearts are great as well!