These 5-minute Banana Bread Overnight Oats are the perfect way to wake up in the mornings with breakfast ready in the fridge - you'll never go back to boring old oatmeal again after trying this!
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
If you're a fan of banana bread like I am, you're going to love these overnight oats.
- Easy to meal prep - ready in 5 minutes, these overnight oats are the perfect way to meal prep breakfast ahead of time, saving you time in the mornings with breakfast ready-to-go when you wake up.
- Nutritious and customizable - packed with natural and nutritious ingredients, you can customize this easily with your favourite nuts, seeds, and nutritional boosts.
- Kid-friendly - if you've got kids who struggle with eating breakfast in the mornings, these overnight oats will change their minds about breakfast in no time.
- Delicious - the mouth-watering flavours in this recipe will have you excited to wake up for breakfast every morning.
What are Overnight Oats?
Overnight Oats are a method of slowly softening old-fashioned rolled oats by soaking it in liquid (most commonly milk) in the refrigerator overnight. Unlike regular oatmeal, no cooking or heating up is required for this recipe. This makes it incredibly easy to meal prep ahead of time, and the best part is you can prepare the mixture in under 5 minutes.
Soaking the oats in liquid also allows you to add in tasty and nutritious ingredients to really enhance the flavour of the oats. By slowly soaking the ingredients together overnight, it allows the oats to absorb the flavours which creates depth of flavour. You can then top it off with crunchy toppings such as nuts or seeds for added texture and a nutritional boost. Overnight oats are extremely customizable and super easy to make!
Ingredients
Please scroll down to the recipe card below for exact quantities and measurements.
- Rolled oats - old-fashioned rolled oats are key to this recipe. Steel cut oats, quick oats, or instant oats don't absorb liquid as well so I'd recommend not using those.
- Unsweetened almond milk - you can also use coconut milk for a more tropical flavour, or any other milk of your choice.
- Greek yogurt - yogurt adds extra creaminess to overnight oats, so I always make sure to include it in mine. I prefer Greek yogurt, but you can use other types of yogurt instead.
- Chia seeds - one of my favourite superfoods, they expand and gelatinize when soaked in water - adding a delicious, thick texture to the overnight oats!
- Maple syrup - any kind of sweetener works, but I prefer maple syrup. Honey and agave nectar are commonly used here as well.
- Banana - use a ripe banana for more sweetness. The more spotted and brown, the sweeter it'll be!
- Ground cinnamon - cinnamon is a must for a classic banana bread flavour.
- Pure vanilla extract - for a splash of flavour.
- Crushed walnuts - you can use whatever nuts or seeds you like (pecans and almonds work great); they add crunch and texture to the recipe.
- Pinch of salt - this is optional but it helps bring out the flavours.
Instructions
STEP 1: Mash a ripe banana with a fork on a plate.
STEP 2: In a mason jar (or sealable container), mix together oats, milk, yogurt, chia seeds, maple syrup, mashed banana, vanilla extract, and ground cinnamon. Snap on a lid and refrigerate overnight (or 2-3 hours minimum).
STEP 3: When it's ready, take it out of the refrigerator and add in your toppings (banana slices, crushed walnuts, and more sweetener if you like. Enjoy!
Storage
You can typically store overnight oats away in an air-tight container (such as a 16-ounce wide-mouth mason jar) for up to 5 days in the refrigerator. However, for this recipe, I would recommend storing it for up to 2-3 days if you pre-mix the mashed banana with the overnight oats. Otherwise, you can prepare and refrigerate the base oats first, and then add your banana and other toppings in right before you're ready to eat them. This will help ensure maximum freshness.
Toasty's Tips
- Use a ripe banana for sweetness - the more spotted and browned the banana is, the sweeter it will taste. You may wish to reduce the amount of sweetener you use if your banana is fairly ripe, and then adjust to your tastes.
- For a nutritional boost, add ground flaxmeal for added fibre, or hemp hearts for healthy fats.
- Add protein powder for more protein. Just make sure to add a bit of extra milk to offset the dryness of the added powder. I find unflavoured and unsweetened protein works best for this recipe, so that it doesn't clash with the other flavours.
- Go nuts! I love chopped walnuts, but mix it up with whatever nuts or seeds you like. It's totally up to you - they add great texture to balance out the soft creaminess of the overnight oats.
FAQ
Can I modify this recipe to suit my dietary restrictions?
Absolutely! A great thing about overnight oats is how easily customizable they are to accommodate different dietary restrictions. For example, for a vegan recipe you can use plant-based milk and yogurt, or for a gluten-free recipe you can use gluten-free oats.
Can I mix-in the mashed banana right before I enjoy them, instead of before refrigerating?
Yes you can certainly do that! Mixing them in directly before refrigerating allows the oats and mashed banana flavour to soak together for a deeper flavour. However, you can certainly prepare and refrigerate the base oats first before adding in the banana. I actually recommend this if you're planning to store the overnight oats in the refrigerator for longer than 2-3 days, for maximum freshness.
Can I warm these up before eating?
While overnight oats are typically meant to be enjoyed straight out of the fridge, you can certainly warm them up in the microwave for 30-40 seconds before eating if you prefer. Just make sure to use a microwave-safe container while doing so. This is a great way to enjoy them during the colder fall and winter months, especially with cozy fall flavours like banana bread.
Other Overnight Oats Flavours to Try
📖 Recipe
Banana Bread Overnight Oats
Suggested Equipment
Ingredients
Oats Base
- ½ cup rolled oats
- 1 tablespoon chia seeds
- ½ cup unsweetened almond milk
- ¼ cup Greek yogurt
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- ¾ banana - mashed
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Toppings
- ¼ banana - sliced
- 1 teaspoon walnuts - chopped
- maple syrup - drizzle (optional)
Instructions
- Mash ¾ of a ripe banana with a fork on a plate.
- In a mason jar (or sealable container), mix together oats, milk, yogurt, chia seeds, maple syrup, mashed banana, vanilla extract, and ground cinnamon. Snap on a lid and refrigerate overnight (or 2-3 hours minimum).
- When it's ready, take it out of the refrigerator and add in your toppings (banana slices, crushed walnuts, and more sweetener if you like. Enjoy!
Notes
- Video: Watch the step-by-step video tutorial here.
- Storage: Store them in an air-tight container for up to 5 days in the fridge. I like to use Mason jars (16-oz), with a large opening that makes it easier to clean and stir ingredients in.
- Use a ripe banana for sweetness - the more spotted and browned the banana is, the sweeter it will taste. You may wish to reduce the amount of sweetener you use if your banana is fairly ripe, and then adjust to your tastes.
- For a nutritional boost, add ground flaxmeal for added fibre, or hemp hearts for healthy fats.
- Add protein powder for more protein. Just make sure to add a bit of extra milk to offset the dryness of the added powder. I find unflavoured and unsweetened protein works best for this recipe, so that it doesn't clash with the other flavours.
- Go nuts! I love chopped walnuts, but mix it up with whatever nuts or seeds you like. It's totally up to you - they add great texture to balance out the soft creaminess of the overnight oats.
STEP-BY-STEP VIDEO
You can find step-by-step video tutorials for all of my recipes on my YouTube Channel. There you'll find many more tips and tricks to help you along!
Nutrition
Note: Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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