Overnight Oats Without Milk

DIET: Gluten Free, Vegan, Vegetarian

Making creamy overnight oats without milk couldn't be easier! Grab your favorite mason jar, old fashioned rolled oats, and a few simple ingredients to make this healthy oatmeal breakfast. Great for meal prep, college students, or dairy free diets.

Overnight oats without water in a glass bowl with strawberries and drizzled peanut butter on top

Why You'll Love This Recipe

Quick and easy. I love making Easy Chocolate Banana Protein Muffins or Easy Pumpkin Protein Muffins for a quick grab and go breakfast, but sometimes I need something a little more filling to keep me satisfied until lunch. Making overnight oats is my go to! I can make it at home in just a few minutes with ingredients from the pantry.
Vegan friendly. Since these oats are made without milk, they are naturally vegan friendly and filled with health benefits. Great recipe to try if you are looking for cholesterol free, fiber rich breakfasts.
Easy to customize! See the recipe card down below for 8 flavor variation ideas you can try.

Ingredient Notes

Ingredients for overnight oats all in separate glasses labeled accordingly

oats - Make sure to use old fashioned rolled oats for the best texture. Steel cut oats are too tough and difficult to soften overnight. Instant oats or quick oats on the other hand are very soft and are likely to get too soggy, especially if made a few days in advance.
chia seeds - Chia seeds are not only a great source of omega 3s, but they are also a great source of fiber and help absorb the liquid in these overnight oats to make them the perfect texture. If needed, you can substitute the chia seeds with ground flaxseeds.
nut butter - Any nut butter like almond butter, cashew butter, peanut butter, macadamia nut butter, Biscoff cookie butter or even nutella will work here. If you choose a nut butter that contains added sugar, reduce the amount of maple syrup called for so your overnight oats are not overly sweetened.
water - If you have no milk or are looking to make overnight oats without milk, water is an excellent, easy choice. However, if you do happen to have milk on hand, feel free to substitute it 1 to 1. You can also add greek yogurt or coconut yogurt to make these overnight oats extra creamy!

Step by Step Instructions

Add overnight oats ingredients to a jar. Place the oats, water, chia seeds, maple syrup, vanilla, and nut butter in a jar or Tupperware with a lid. If you'd like to prep the toppings ahead of time, chop them and store them in a separate sealable container.
Mix well! This will help the oats soak and absorb the liquid, creating the perfect creamy texture overnight.
Refrigerate overnight. Seal the jar or Tupperware with the lid and refrigerate overnight, or for a minimum of 8 hours.
Add your favorite toppings. The next morning, remove from the refrigerator and stir well. The cold oatmeal should be thick and creamy. Add your favorite oatmeal toppings like additional nut butter, fruits like strawberries, bananas, or blueberries.

Process shots showing how the overnight oats are made. The first picture in the collage is all the ingredients in a glass jar, and the second is the oats mixed in the same glass jar

Process photo collage of the oats being made. The first picture is the oats after sitting overnight for 24 hours and the second is the overnight in a glass jar with strawberry and peanut butter drizzle

Variation Ideas

There are tons of ways to customize the flavor of your overnight oats. Here are a few topping ideas to inspire you, but feel free to make your own combinations!

Cinnamon Apple - add chopped apples, cinnamon, nutmeg, chopped walnuts, raisins.
Chocolate Peanut Butter - add peanut butter, crushed peanuts, and chocolate chips.
Biscoff Cookie - add biscoff cookie butter, brown sugar and crushed up Biscoff Butter Cookies.
Strawberries and Cream - add quartered strawberries, vanilla, maple syrup, and yogurt or coconut whip.
Peanut Butter Banana - add banana slices, chopped walnuts, and peanut butter.
Chocolate Coconut - add chocolate chips, shredded coconut, maple syrup, and almonds.
Blueberry Pie - add blueberries, maple syrup, vanilla, cinnamon, and yogurt or coconut whip.
Chocolate Pecan Cherry - add pitted cherries, cocoa powder, cocoa nibs, maple syrup, and pecans.

FAQs

Are overnight oats gluten free?

They can be. Although oats are generally gluten free, they can be cross contaminated. If you are gluten sensitive or are avoiding gluten, make your overnight oats with gluten free certified oats. Check the bag for a gluten free certification symbol.

Can overnight oats be heated?

Although overnight oats are typically enjoyed cold out of the refrigerator, you can heat them up if preferred. Microwave your overnight oats in 30 second bursts before adding the toppings until warmed through.

How long do overnight oats last?

Overnight oats will last for up to 4 days in the refrigerator if sealed properly. Make a few servings at the start of the week for meal prep and an easy grab and go breakfast.

Do overnight oats have to be overnight?

Nope! You can still eat them after a couple of hours of soaking in the fridge, but they will be more soft and creamy if you allow them to soak for the full 8 hours.

Expert Tips

Store in mason jars. Mason jars can be easily sealed with an airtight lid, are affordable, dishwasher safe and easy to take with you on the go.
Don't skimp on the toppings! The toppings are what make overnight oats delicious. Load your oats up with your favorites.
Use rolled oats. Old fashioned rolled oats are really the best oats to use for overnight oats.

overnight oats with strawberries on top with drizzled peanut butter on top of a cutting board

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