These strawberry overnight oats are gluten-free, dairy-free, and super tasty! Simply mix some fresh strawberries, almonds, and chia seeds into your overnight oats for a satisfying and simple breakfast that’s equally delicious hot or cold.
Am I late to the overnight oat craze? It seriously feels like you’ve all been keeping a secret from me! I’ve been cooking up hot oatmeal my whole life, and I never even realized that cold oats were a thing.
Not only are they definitely a thing, but they’re super quick, convenient, and only require a few ingredients to whip up. Just mix everything together in a container before you head to sleep, then wake up to breakfast that’s immediately ready to eat. I’m never going back to traditional oatmeal!
Armed with this incredible new knowledge, I’ve devised this wonderful recipe for strawberry overnight oats. It’s so delicious, that it almost tastes like a dessert! These oats are thick, comforting, nutritious, and oh-so-decadent. Strawberry, vanilla, and maple syrup combine to satisfy even the strongest sweet tooth. And the topping of almonds and chia seeds? Well, it ties everything together perfectly.
Breakfast bowls like this one are always excellent, well-rounded picks that’ll keep your whole family happy and healthy. And that’s because there’s tons of protein, slow-burning complex carbs for energy, and a good helping of fiber in each bite.
Enjoy with a spoonful of my Strawberry Chia Seed Jam or Raspberry Chia Seed Jam, and start your day the right way. Oh, and somebody tell me next time they invent a new breakfast!
Ingredients for Strawberry Overnight Oats
Here’s everything you’ll need to whip up the most glorious strawberry overnight oats. Just prepare yourself though, as this one’s full of bold, natural flavors! There are a bunch of customizations and substitutions below if you can’t find some of the trickier ingredients.
Old-Fashioned Oats: Rolled oats are the ideal choice for overnight oats for a couple of reasons. To start with, they absorb liquid well without becoming mushy. So, they’ll hold their texture after a night in the fridge.
Secondly, they retain a bunch more nutrients and fiber than more processed varieties. Score! Be sure to use certified gluten-free oats if you follow a gluten-free diet. I use gluten-free sprouted oats.
Chia Seeds: Superfood alert! Chia seeds are stacked with nutrients like fiber, protein, omega-3, and magnesium. They’re also high in antioxidants!
Pure Maple Syrup: There’s no sweetener quite like pure maple syrup. Not only is it all-natural and free from nasty chemicals, but it also has a nutty, earthy, caramel sweetness that other options can’t match!
Coconut Milk: Full-fat coconut milk adds a decadent richness and a luscious, creamy texture to our strawberry overnight oats. Like I said earlier, it’s almost dessert-like!
Unsweetened Almond Milk: If coconut milk brings creaminess, almond milk does the legwork in this recipe. The gentle almond flavor sits nicely with the vanilla and almonds, and the milk itself is the backbone of these overnight oats.
Pure Vanilla Extract: Even more dessert-like flavorings! It’s optional, but I find a dash of pure vanilla extract pairs so well with the strawberries and maple syrup. It’s like an ice cream sundae, but good for you!
Sea Salt: Using a small amount of sea salt balances out the sweeter ingredients and enhances all of the natural flavors in this recipe.
Fresh Strawberries: The red pops beautifully against the creamy oats. And honestly, that bright, juicy flavor is what I get out of bed for!
Slivered Almonds: Almonds are high in healthy fats, protein, and fiber, and they add a satisfying crunch to this healthy breakfast.
Topping Ideas:
- Add regular plain Greek yogurt or non-dairy yogurt to your overnight oat recipes for a boost of protein.
- Toss in some chopped pecans, walnuts, pumpkin seeds, hemp seeds, or sunflower seeds for more healthy fats, fiber, and micronutrients.
- A dollop of almond butter, peanut butter, or cashew butter is delicious for serving, as is additional milk.
Recipe Customizations
- To keep this recipe on the lighter side, eliminate the full-fat coconut milk and double down on the almond milk. Oat milk, cashew milk, and soy milk all work too.
- Use more or less maple syrup, depending on how sweet you like it!
- Need to get more protein in? Mix in some almond butter, protein powder, or collagen peptides for an extra boost! I like adding about 2 tablespoons of protein powder per serving of strawberry oats.
- Honey or coconut palm nectar are good substitutes for pure maple syrup.
How to Make Strawberry Overnight Oats
Place your rolled oats in a suitably sized, sealable container. I like to use a large glass jar!
Then, add the milks, maple syrup, vanilla extract, and chia seeds. Place the lid on tightly and shake until everything is well mixed.
Place the airtight container into the refrigerator, and leave the oat mixture to soak overnight.
In the morning, give everything a big stir. Transfer your oats to a bowl and serve with chopped strawberries and a handful of slivered almonds.
If you’d like, divide the overnight oats recipe among several small mason jars to create individual portions for a grab-and-go breakfast.
It’s that easy!
Tips to Make the Best Strawberry Overnight Oats
- Don’t be limited by the recipe! If you want to start your day with more fruit, add a banana or some other berries. The sky’s the limit with chopped nuts and seeds, too. Go crazy!
- This recipe is delicious hot or cold! Check out the recipe card for full instructions on the hot version.
- Focus on maintaining a 1:1 volume ratio between rolled oats and liquid. Balancing the two gives you that perfect creamy texture every time!
- If you don’t have the patience to wait overnight (or your schedule is tricky!), these oats will soften in as little as 4 hours. I recommend overnight for the best consistency, though!
What Does It Taste Like?
You already know what I’m going to say! These overnight oats taste like having dessert for breakfast.
The sweet maple syrup and strawberry paired with the decadent vanilla just screams ice cream.
Pair this with the hearty rolled oats, chia seeds, and almonds, and you’ve got a filling meal that’s both delicious and wholesome. Toss in some chocolate chips if you’re into it!
These irresistible strawberry overnight oats will have you skipping sleep to get to breakfast. An easy make-ahead breakfast to make the most of strawberry season, you’ll love the taste and health benefits of this easy breakfast.
Obsessed with overnight oats? Here are five more variations for you to try.
More Overnight Oats Recipes
- Peaches and Cream Overnight Oats
- Carrot Cake Overnight Oats
- Banana Bread Overnight Oatmeal
- Vanilla Chai Overnight Oats
- Cottage Cheese Overnight Oats
- Overnight Steel Cut Oats
Love them as much as I do? Let me know in the comments!
Strawberry Overnight Oats Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cups gluten-free rolled oats
- 2 Tbsp chia seeds
- 1/4 cup protein powder of choice optional
- 1/4 cup pure maple syrup to taste
- 1 (14-oz) can full-fat coconut milk, see note*
- 1 cup unsweetened almond milk
- 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 1 pinch sea salt
For Serving:
- fresh strawberries
- coconut milk or almond milk
- slivered almonds
Instructions
Cold (Overnight Oat) Option:
- Add all ingredients to a large container with an airtight lid and stir well. Seal and place in the refrigerator overnight (or at least 8 hours). Taste oatmeal for flavor and add more pure maple syrup to taste. Serve with fresh strawberries, a drizzle of coconut milk or almond milk, and slivered almonds.
Hot Option:
- Add the oats, chia seeds, coconut, maple syrup, coconut milk, and almond milk to a medium-sized pot. Bring to a full boil over medium-high heat, then reduce heat and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until oatmeal has thickened and the liquid has been absorbed. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla extract. Divide between four bowls and top with strawberries, almonds, and nuts, along with additional almond and/or coconut milk, if desired.
This is the perfect summer meal with fresh berries. Lovey photos.
I made the warm version of this oatmeal today. Oh my, is it delicious.
Woop woop!! So happy to hear it! It’s really tough to beet a huge comforting bowl of steamy oatmeal! xoxo
Hello and thank you for a wonderful blog! Question for you: your Strawberry Overnight Oats, do you have some sort of a calorie breakdown on it? I am on Weight Watchers and wondering what the Points Plus would be for one serving of this, do you know? Thank you:)
If you’re the last, to try this, then I’m the next to last. Always sounded too mushy, but since I’m not losing weight “my way”, I’m going to try something else and oats are filling.
Thanks to Pinterest I found your blog! Our son is getting married in October. He and fiancee live in Columbia, SC. We are having the rehearsal dinner at a nursery called CITY ROOTS and they also have a radish in their logo. Love it!
…and overnight I had this “aha” moment and think the logos are maybe red beets NOT radishes?…makes more sense! Love both, either way! Still so happy I found your blog and yummy food ideas!
I had overnight oats once, a long time ago, and didn;t fall in love, but i wasn’t very into chia seeds then and now I’m obsessed with them. so…thinking it’s time to give them another go!
I can see why overnight oats aren’t for everyone. Truth: I like the idea of making overnight oats and then turning them into regular hot oatmeal by just heating them up right quick in the morning. Enjoy!
Stephie taught me about these a couple of years ago. So simple, but I forget about them. That’s how us old folks are…stuck in our ways. I do have that big ass bag of chia seeds, so maybe I need to make this up for Jer and me one morning soon. Now, to just think about that before I go to bed.
Ohhh that Stephie! I could totally see her loving all up on the overnight oat. Now that it’s warm, I’m boycotting the stove altogether, so I’m enjoying the cold overnight oat. Yes, you gots-ta use them chia seeds! 😀
Is it weird that I kinda like to heat up my overnight oats the next morning? Does that make me a weirdo?
Like it’s the ONLY thing that would make me weird……..
hahahaha! We should start the Crazy Blogger Women Federation 😉 Uhhhh…not gonna lie, if it’s chilly in the morning, I’m nuking them oats in the microwave 😉
You know what. You are NOT THE LAST PERSON TO MAKE OVERNIGHT OATS…I AM! I seriously can never get it together with all the FOOD TRENDZ.
I’m too busy with lame food holidays 😉
Also, I haven’t tried chia seeds.
Point proven.
This is GORG!!! Pinned!
I’ll make it sometime when it’s national mint and peanut butter brownie day.
And, I hope that’s not a thing.
Food rebels, unite! Perhaps we should get the Official List of Food Trends and hope that it coincides with national food holidays 😉 Not gonna lie, when I read “mint peanut butter brownie,” my mouth watered a little bit. 😉
Ok I think now I* am officially the last person not to try overnight oats – but I’d like to invite myself to this fiesta!
Seems dessert breakfast is trending 🙂
Dessert for breakfast is probably the most brilliant idea ever. Why wait until the end of the day when you can start it off with a big bowl of happy? You’d LOVE overnight oats, lady! Hope you try them 🙂
I LOVE overnight oats! So easy, and so healthy (I think…depending on what you put in them). I usually use a recipe that calls for greek yogurt and then I stir some peanut butter or almond butter into it in the morning. So yummy — and great for summer!
mmmm yogurt and nut butter sounds amazing! Glad you’re on board with the overnight oats! I’ll have to try your version soon.
Can this be made with steel cut oats somehow? I no likey regular oats that much.
Ooooooh, that’s a good question! I’m actually not too sure. I’d say it’s worth a shot, but I bet you’d have to soak the steel cut oats for quite a long time (24 hours?) Dunno. Anyhoo, I’m glad you like the idea of overnight oats and I’ll let you know if I try the steel cut version!!
You’re not the last person to try overnight oats. I have yet to because I’m afraid I won’t like it cold. But it makes perfect sense with this warm weather and I can’t think of a better way to try them then with strawberries and creamy coconut milk. Yum!
Understandable. I think it can be hard to eat something cold when you’re so accustomed to eating the thing warm. I bet you could always throw the overnight oats in a saucepan and heat them up right quick. But that would probably defeat the purpose, ha! Meh. Overnight oats aren’t for everyone 😉 xoxo
That sounds great with the coconut milk. I’m not coeliac but I have Crohn’s and I wonder if it could help. Anyone any knowledge of this.
This recipe looks absolutely delicious! I’ve never made overnight oats, but I absolutely love my quinoa flake oatmeal (I have celiac and still can’t eat even gluten free oats). Putting some kind of nut butter in it and chia seeds makes it the absolute best! 🙂
http://caseythecollegeceliac.blogspot.com/2014/03/my-top-3-baked-breakfast-goodies.html
I must try this quinoa flake oatmeal! That sounds tasty and a great change-up from the oats since quinoa is jam-packed with nutrients. Loving what I’m hearing – must find quinoa flakes!
Overnight oats are the best!!!! This big ‘ol bowl is calling my name!
Yeeeeeah, you’d love it, Kelli!