Get your breakfast ready the night before and you'll be in for a treat in the morning! These Strawberry Banana Overnight Oats are my go-to Basic Overnight Oats Recipe. Naturally sweetened with banana, and gut-friendly with yoghurt and a long soak to ferment the oats, this make-ahead breakfast is creamy, dreamy, and packed with good nutrition.
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If your weekdays are anything like mine, you want something healthy, tasty, and filling, but also something super speedy. And you really can't beat a meal prep breakfast that's already waiting for you when you wake up.
I love hot oatmeal as much as the next guy, but for a ready-made meal, these Strawberry Banana Overnight Oats are my go-to. This Basic Overnight Oats recipe is the perfect template for whatever you want to add to it, but berries (fresh or frozen) is my favourite way to top them.
They've got an incredible creamy texture and have a great flavor from banana and a splash of vanilla along with oat milk and tangy yogurt.
If you're not into banana (my big kid isn't a banana fan) then give these Apple Cinnamon Overnight Oats a try instead. Or these Pumpkin Overnight Oats for a seasonal taste.
If you're looking for other ideas, be sure to check out our list of 16 Vegetarian Breakfast Recipes You Can Make Ahead.
Ingredients
Here's my Banana Overnight Oats ingredients lineup:
- Oats! --> Rolled oats, please and thank you.
- Banana --> Can't make Banana Overnight Oats without banana!
- Yogurt --> I prefer to use a runnier yogurt in this recipe as opposed to something like these Fruit On The Bottom Yogurt Cups where greek yogurt works best.
- Plant-based milk --> Oat milk is my jam these days, but you do you.
- Chia seeds --> These little babies add omega-3's, dietary fiber, and help thicken things up.
- Vanilla extract --> Optional, but delicious. Related: Homemade Vanilla Extract.
- Berries and diced banana --> Toppings central!
Equipment:
Nothing fancy required here. All you need is a jar or bowl to mix up your oats and store them overnight in the fridge. I like to use these Weck jars, but any glass jar with a lid will do. A mason jar works great, or even an empty yogurt container with a lid.
Can I make overnight oats in advance?
I tend to mix up a jar of overnight oats every evening, as it takes only a few minutes to mash, mix, swirl, and throw the jar into the fridge. However, I've also experimented with making a big batch in bulk and those turn out just fine as well.
I find that a batch will last 3-4 days happily in the fridge, so if you'd rather not have to make oats every day, that's a good option for you.
Do I have to use yogurt?
I like to make my overnight oats with a liquid mixture of plain yogurt and plant-based milk. I just prefer the flavour this way, but there's no reason you can't skip the yogurt or use a dairy-free yogurt instead if you want vegan overnight oats.
I like to use yogurt because it kickstarts a little fermentation as the oats soak overnight, making the oats easier to digest and nutrients more bioavailable than without.
What kind of toppings work best?
These days I'm topping my banana overnight oats recipe with the fresh berries that have just come into season, but throughout the winter months I use frozen berries, which I add on top of the oats before they go into the fridge for the night. In the morning they're melted and juicy and perfect for swirling through your oats.
You can also add a handful of nuts or hemp seeds for extra protein (how about some Oven Roasted Almonds?), some granola for crunch (try this homemade Coconut Banana Granola) or a scoop of nut butter (this Vanilla Almond Butter would be incredible!) if you please.
You could also add a pinch of salt (flaky sea salt is my favourite) and some cinnamon to the top if you like. Yum!
Tips for optimizing your basic overnight oats recipe:
- Prefer your breakfast on the go? No problem! Just make your overnight oats in a jar with a lid that fits tightly, and you can toss them into your bag and take them along with you.
- Don't like banana? Lots of people feel this way. You can leave the banana out and add a splash of maple syrup for sweetness instead. I use about ¼ of a banana per serving, and I find that it makes them perfectly sweet but not too sweet without tasting overwhelmingly banana-y.
- Want to make vegan oats? No problemo. Either you can replace the yoghurt with coconut yoghurt, or leave it out and replace with extra plant-based milk.
- Sensitive to gluten? Be sure to seek out oats that are labelled gluten-free, as oats are often processed in the same factories as gluten-containing grains.
- Prefer a warm breakfast? It's totally fine to gently heat your overnight oats in the morning.
- Forgot to make your oats the night before? Not to worry, a quick soak of 2 hours will do the trick.
Are oats healthy?
You bet they are! Oats are a good source of dietary fiber, including soluble fiber, which absorbs water as it moves through your digestive tract and help regulate the pace of digestion. This in turn allows more time for nutrient absorption and digestion.
Oats are also a good food source for the friendly bacteria in your lower intestine, where they are fermented and provide energy for our intestinal cells. They're rich in indigestible carbohydrates called beta-glutens which help to lower blood cholesterol levels, and are also host to a number of phenolic compounds which have antioxidant properties.
Due to the high levels of those beta-glucans, oats are also helpful in stabilizing blood sugar. In fact, eating oats in the morning may help keep your blood sugar stable throughout the entire day. Oats are great source of manganese and molybdenum, and a good source of copper, biotin, vitamin B1, magnesium, dietary fiber, and are a decent source of protein.
So let's get at these creamy, dreamy Strawberry Banana Overnight Oats. I hope that you love them as much as I do!
Other make-ahead breakfasts you might enjoy:
Super Simple Chia Pudding
Apple Cinnamon Overnight Oats
Fruit on the Bottom Yogurt Cups
Vegan Banana Flax Freezer Waffles
Pumpkin Overnight Oats
Spelt Flour Pancakes
Banana Overnight Oats
Ingredients
- ½ cup rolled oats
- 1 Tablespoon chia seeds
- ¼ a very ripe banana mashed
- ½ cup unsweetened oat milk or other milk of choice
- ½ cup plain yogurt
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ cup ripe berries sliced
- ½ cup diced banana optional
Instructions
- Place ¼ of a ripe banana into the bottom of a glass jar, and mash well using a fork.¼ a very ripe banana
- Add the oats, chia seeds, yoghurt, milk, and vanilla extract. Stir well.½ cup rolled oats, 1 Tablespoon chia seeds, ½ cup unsweetened oat milk, ½ cup plain yogurt, ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- Add the diced banana chunks (if using) and stir through the oats. Add the sliced strawberries to the top (do not stir through).½ cup diced banana, ½ cup ripe berries
- Place a lid on the container, and place into the fridge to soak for at least 2 hours, but up to overnight.
- Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
This recipe was originally published July 24, 2014. It was last edited and updated May 5, 2022.
Snezhana says
Hi Katie!!
I am new to your blog, but boy am I EXCITED that I stumbled upon it!!!! I LOVE baking and cooking from scratch, and recently got into making homemade nut butters (YUMMMM!) I am a big fan of pumpkin seeds, and thought to myself: "Surely, one can make pumpkin seed butter??" But just to be sure, I went to the internet to put in a quick search. And voila! Your recipe was one of the first to pop up and after I clicked on it.....well, let's just say I have spent HOURS perusing your recipes!!!! I am a Doctor of Wholistic Physical Therapy, an Herbalist, and a Lifestyle coach, so it's pretty safe to say that I am VERY passionate about nourishing foods and drinks! 😉 Although I do eat meat (VERY specific about how it is raised and processed), I also am very passionate about consuming a diverse range of fruits, vegetables, and beans. So I have been LOVING your vast array of vegetarian and bean recipes!!
I've been a fan of overnight oats for about 2 years now, and although I have my personal favorite go-to recipe that I have nurtured and created over the past couple of years, I ALSO love trying new recipes and variations. We had several bananas that needed tending to, and had just recently purchased fresh strawberries from the store, and so this recipe was absolutely PERFECT for the timing. I made a batch for my husband and myself, and we are both fans of it!! I enjoyed the consistency, and I very much enjoyed the balance of flavors between the banana and strawberries. At first, I was worried that maybe the banana would make this too sweet for my personal preferences, but that was not the case at all! To me, it was absolutely delightful -- not too sweet! I can see myself enjoying this as a dessert as well, if there's a day where I want something sweet, but don't want added sugar. I know, what a WILD dessert. 😉
Anyways, thank you SO much for creating this blog! Thank you SO much for putting in the effort, time, and energy into so many lovely recipes! I WILL absolutely be trying more. I have also tried your banana and cardamom shake/smoothie -- YUM!
Katie Trant says
Hi Snezhana! Thanks for the kind words! I'm so glad you enjoyed the overnight oats as much as we do 🙂
Christelle says
Amazingly simple and tasty!
alice k mynett says
Katie, thank you for this reminder about overnight oats. I have all the ingredients on hand. This link came at just the right time, as switching my breakfast from hot oatmeal to overnight oats comes as the season changes from winter to spring. Which it just has!! I'm not a morning person, but with overnight oats in the fridge, I shall actually face mornings with a better attitude! Thank you.
Emmeline says
This has become my go-to breakfast for the week. I find 1 serving is a bit much for me so I make 3 servings for 5 breakfasts and top it with whatever I have - lately apples!
Katie Trant says
One serving is definitely on the big side! I usually make a double batch and share it with my kids. Glad you enjoy this as much as we do!
Kimberly Walterscheid says
I love these yogurt cups! I make them most week nights for myself and my husband to take to work in the morning. I use coconut milk and 2% greek plain yogurt. I've tried non-fat greek plain but it's a little too chalky for me. I also skip on the vanilla extract. It's very good with it, I'm just cheap lol.
Kimberly Adkison says
Katie, you're the one that first introduced me to overnight oats way back and they've been on my weekly breakfast/lunch menu since. I think the half ripe banana and 2 oz of greek yogurt is what makes your version so much better than anything else I've tried. I change things up with the additions but I always use the basic recipe. One of my favorite variations is to shred a 1/4 of a small Granny smith apple and add either frozen berries or berry compote. I also always add a tablespoon of chopped walnuts right before eating. Delicious!
A says
Looks delicious. Would be great with blueberries.
For a tropical twist: mango, passionfruit, papaya, pineapple, etc.
For additional protein & texture add some some hemp seeds + LSA (ground Linseed + Sunflower Seeds + Almonds)
Katie Trant says
Love the sound of LSA, I must try that out!
francoise says
Hi thanks I love overnight preps too! Regarding oats, do you think their properties are different if usind rolled or jumbo or whole? I find whole oat porridge more satisfying and nourishing. Do you have data on the different nutritional value of each? Thanks.
Katie Trant says
By whole oats do you mean steel cut oats or whole flattened oats? As a rule, the more intact the grain the higher nutritional value, more fiber, etc, so if you like whole oats then go for them in your overnight oats!
Gingerbread Jenn says
This looks so yummy. I love overnight oats but the whole berry thing is very fit for summer. Definitely be trying this sometime soon 🙂
Shikha la mode says
I love doing overnight oats - an easy way to get ready in the morning!
Fitness and Health Spot says
yummy, overnight oats are the best summer breakfast !
themuffinmyth says
Right??? I'm pretty sure I could eat them at any time of year, but especially in the summer.