Name: Easy Overnight Oats Recipe (Kid and Adult Friendly!)
Prep time: 10 min
Ingredients: ½ cup Rolled oats (- quick or regular); ¾ Almond milk; 1-2 tsp Maple syrup or raw honey; ½ organic mashed banana OR ½ cup of unsweetened organic applesauce OR ½ cup yogurt

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Last updated on March 12, 2026 by Jessica Healey
Originally published on October 5, 2015

The hardest part of my #LifeFromScratch journey is always being prepared — especially when it comes to mealtime. I’m a working mom of two and while I do my best to be organized, it doesn’t always happen that way. Sometimes I find myself with not a lot of time and hungry bellies to fill.

Rather than reach for convenience foods which are usually loaded with preservatives and artificial everything, I try to always have some healthy options on hand in my pantry and in my freezer–things I can throw together at the last minute and still have something to nourish my kids without added toxic chemicals.

When it comes to breakfast, this easy overnight oats recipe is by far my favorite quick and nutritious go-to meal…and it’s both kid and adult friendly!

When I’ve started to realize we need to make a trip to the grocery store or farmer’s market, but I still need something to give the kids for breakfast, I can always throw together oats, milk, spices, and whatever fruit we have on hand to make a delicious and nutritious meal. I love that I can prepare them at night, making the mornings easier and less stressful because breakfast is already taken care of.

Overnight oats are easy to personalize, which my kids and me love.

I make different flavor combinations for everyone in the house. My kids love bananas in their overnight oats, but never chia seeds. My husband and I both love the crunch and added protein from chia seeds, but we don’t like too much maple syrup. Because overnight oats are so easy to make — I can prep four servings of overnight oats in about 5-10 minutes — taking all these special requests into consideration is easy. In the morning everyone is happy and everyone feels special because I prepared something just for them.

And we can’t forget about all the nutrition! The oats are packed with fiber so you and the kids will stay fuller for longer. Set out some healthy toppings and let your kids add some extra nutrition to their oats! Try fresh fruit, dried fruit, nuts, unsweetened coconut flakes, chia seeds, or granola…maybe even a dollop of homemade whipped cream…the sky’s the limit with this easy overnight oats recipe!

So, how do you “make” overnight oats? It’s super simple. See below for the ratio of oats to liquid. Add a little sweetener if you’d like. And if you’re feeling really wild, add in some mashed or pureed fruit.

…eight hours later (while you sleep!) and you’ll wake to enjoy them!

Easy Overnight Oats Recipe (Kid and Adult Friendly!)

Krista Quinn

4.80 from 5 votes

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Prep Time 10

Course Breakfast

Cuisine American

Ingredients

½ cup Rolled oats - quick or regular
¾ Almond milk - or your milk of choice (learn how to make almond milk)
1-2 tsp Maple syrup or raw honey

Optional

½ organic mashed banana OR ½ cup of unsweetened organic applesauce OR ½ cup yogurt - make our easy crockpot applesauce

Instructions

Place oats, milk, and sweetener of choice in an airtight container (like a glass mason jar).
If you are adding chia seeds or frozen fruit, I add them before refrigerating.
Stir to fully combine.
Refrigerate for about 8 hours.
Top with your favorite fruit, nuts, &/or seeds & enjoy!