Strawberry overnight oats are an easy, make-ahead breakfast with no cooking involved. Creamy oatmeal is filled with extra strawberry flavor thanks to the addition of freeze-dried strawberries. A hearty grab-and-go breakfast!
Overnight oats are a fantastic fuss-free breakfast. Pumpkin pie overnight oats and blueberry overnight oats are a few of my favorites. You're going to love this strawberry variation in those warmer spring and summer months!
Strawberry overnight oats are creamy, filling, and packed with strawberry flavor. They're made with old fashioned oats, vanilla Greek yogurt, and whole milk, along with freeze-dried strawberry powder and fresh strawberries for extra berry flavor.
Enjoy your strawberry overnight oats cold, just like a bowl of cereal, topped with sliced fresh strawberries. They make a quick, make-ahead breakfast that's filling and nutritious!
Ingredients and substitutions
- Oats - Old fashioned oats have the best texture for overnight oats. Instant oats are too thin and powdery, getting mushy when allowed to sit overnight. Steel cut oats can work but need additional liquid and turn out a bit chewier.
- Milk - Any type of milk works with this recipe, like whole milk, skim milk, or almond milk.
- Yogurt - I used plain Greek yogurt for this recipe, but vanilla yogurt would also work.
- Strawberries - You'll need a few fresh strawberries as well as some freeze-dried strawberry powder for this recipe. Freeze-dried strawberries can be found in the produce section of your local grocery store.
Tips and tricks
Use a tightly sealing container - For easy transportation on the go, use a small reusable container or glass jar with a tightly sealing lid. I recommend a 16 ounce wide-mouth mason jar (like shown above), which allows extra space for toppings like fresh fruit.
Use old fashioned oats for best texture - Instant oats are too thin and turn out mushy. Steel cut oats turn out chewier and will need about ¼ cup of extra milk.
Add extras - Fresh fruit, nuts, flaxseed, sunflower seeds, and shredded coconut add flavor, texture, and heartiness to your overnight oats.
Make ahead - For best texture, allow your oats to refrigerate for at least 8 hours.
Frequently asked questions
The reason I use freeze-dried strawberries in this recipe is because they add a much more intense strawberry flavor. Freeze-drying removes 98% of the water, which leaves behind the most flavorful parts of the strawberry. Fresh strawberries make a great topping, but since they're mainly water, it's hard to add enough strawberries to flavor your oats overnight. Don't have freeze-dried strawberries on hand? Try adding a spoonful of strawberry jam. Jam is made by cooking out some of the moisture, so it has a more concentrated fruit flavor.
Old fashioned oats are the best option for overnight oats. Instant oats are thin and powdery in texture compared to old fashioned oats. They get too soft and mushy when soaked overnight. Steel-cut oats can work, but you'll need to add a bit more liquid (about ¼ cup of milk), and they'll be much more chewy. I find that steel-cut oats do not soften enough overnight, which is why I recommend old fashioned oats.
Overnight oats require no cooking and can be eaten cold. The ingredients are mixed together the night before, stored in the refrigerator, and can be enjoyed straight from the fridge in the morning.
Yes, overnight oats can be warmed up just like traditional oatmeal. Microwave in 30 second bursts, stirring frequently, until warmed to your desired temperature, or warm up on the stovetop over medium heat.
Yes, overnight oats will keep for about 5 days in the refrigerator, but the texture is best within the first 2 to 3 days.
Recommended
📖 Recipe
Strawberry Overnight Oats
Ingredients
- ½ cup (45 g) old fashioned oats
- ½ cup (114 g) milk
- ⅓ cup (76 g) vanilla Greek yogurt
- 2 teaspoons freeze-dried strawberries
- 4 fresh strawberries, sliced
Instructions
- In a 16 ounce mason jar or other container with a lid, add oats, milk, yogurt, and freeze-dried strawberries. Stir until combined. Seal with a lid and refrigerate at least 8 hours, or overnight.
- Just before serving, top oats with fresh sliced strawberries and any other desired toppings. Oats can be enjoyed cold or microwaved until warmed through.
Equipment Recommendations
Notes
- Storage: Overnight oats will keep for up to 5 days in the refrigerator, but the texture is best within the first 2-3 days.
- Oats: Old fashioned oats are best for making overnight oats. Steel cut oats will remain very chewy and instant oats will get soggy.
- Optional additions: collagen peptides, protein powder, ground flaxseed, chia seeds, walnuts, pecans, fresh fruits.
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