Easy Blueberry Overnight Oats
~ This wonderfully easy Blueberry Overnight Oats recipe is a delightful make-ahead, power breakfast – loaded with keep-you-full fiber and protein, and yummy, antioxidant-packed berries! Incredibly nutritious, and sooooo delicious! Plus, we’ve also got alternate, quick oats instructions so you can whip up these cold oats in the morning, right before serving. ~
This Recipe Is: • Ready in 30 Minutes or Less • Make Ahead • Vegetarian • Gluten Free •
I used to think oatmeal was just a cozy, steaming-hot, wintertime breakfast. Silly me.
That was before I met overnight oats – the creamy, cool, refreshing creation that is truly summer’s version of breakfast comfort food.
And once I tasted Gretchen’s Overnight Oats with Apples, Cranberries and Cinnamon … well, I was crave-crazy, head-over-heels in love with the idea.
I took her recipe and ran with it. I ran and ran (we’re practically talking an overnight oats marathon here, I ran so much with the idea) … making up my own variations based on whatever I had in the fridge.
This blueberry-almond version was, hands-down, one of my family’s favorites (Praline-Peach was another).
Trust me – once you try this, you’ll know exactly why!
Why You’ll Adore These Blueberry Overnight Oats
Overnight, cold oatmeal is deeply satisfying (just like its steaming hot, winter-y hot oatmeal cousin), but it’s also so very refreshingly cool and light.
It’s got the keep-you-filled-up-and-going-strong combination of fiber and protein, but it won’t weigh you down. You’ll be out the door in a flash – fueled up and ready for the day’s adventures!
• This blueberry version features crunchy almonds, a bit of tropical coconut, and irresistibly plump berries. Mmmmm … plus a tiny hit of almond extract to play up the nutty sweetness. (Pssst … if you love this flavor combo as much as I do, be sure to check out my super easy No-Bake Blueberry Almond Oatmeal Bars, too!)
• Creamy vanilla Greek yogurt is stirred into the milk to make these overnight oats feel much richer and more decadent than recipes made with milk alone. And of course, Greek yogurt boasts probiotics and a nice little bump of protein.
• Just a hint of cinnamon and some warm, caramel-y brown sugar notes round it all out – so this isn’t just a healthy overnight oats recipe … it’s an undeniably scrumptious one, too!
Light but filling. Quick but delicious. Easy but satisfying. Yup. Gotta love overnight oats!
But wait. Maybe you’re new to the whole concept of overnight oatmeal, just like I was. Maybe we need to jump back to the beginning, because you’re wondering …
What Are Overnight Oats?
I’m glad you asked!
Basically, overnight oats are made by soaking oats in a liquid (usually some sort of milk) to soften them and thicken the mixture until it’s about the consistency of traditional, hot oatmeal.
Various recipes add flavorings (like vanilla or almond extract), spices, fruits, or nuts. And some recipes (like this one) lean into the wonderfully creamy and nutritious addition of yogurt.
Overnight oats recipes are terrific for busy families and for meal prepping, since they’re made ahead of time (ahem … that’s the overnight part of the equation!). They wait patiently in the fridge, for whenever you’re ready to grab your power breakfast and kick your day into gear!
Overnight, cold oatmeal is very similar to overnight chia seed pudding, if you’ve ever tried that. And if you haven’t tried chia pudding, well then you’ve absolutely gotta give it a shot, too – maybe starting with our basic Overnight Chia Pudding recipe, our delightful “copycat” Chia Pudding with Coconut Milk, or maybe our decadent “Candy Bar” Chocolate Chia Seed Pudding.
But I digress … for now, stick with the overnight oatmeal thing we’ve got going on here … you can foray into the joys of Chia Pudding next week! 😉
How to Make Blueberry Overnight Oatmeal … in Truly Just Minutes!
This is so ridiculously quick and easy that if you blink you might miss it. Ready? (Prop those peepers open with toothpicks if you have too …)
Step #1
Mix together all the “wet” ingredients in a medium bowl.
Step #2
Then, stir in your oats, almonds and coconut.
Step #3
Once it’s all thoroughly combined, gently stir in your blueberries, being very careful not to smash them.
That’s it! Done and done!
Cover that bowl (or portion it out into single-serve containers), stash it in the fridge, and forget about it until the next morning. (You know, the next morning: when you’re rushing around, wishing your breakfast was already made, and then you remember … oh wait! … it IS already made! Yep, you’re already winning and the day’s hardly even begun!)
How to Transform This Into an Instant “Quick Oats” Recipe
If you’re like me, overnight oatmeal is an ideal … that sometimes just doesn’t quite happen.
I’m honestly pretty terrible at remembering to make breakfast the night before (so it’s all nice and ready to go in the morning). I looooove the idea. But somehow, the day gets away from me, and I don’t always quiiiiite get it done.
My answer? I figured out a couple simple tweaks so I could actually make overnight oats quick oats in just minutes!
Two easy changes, and your Blueberry Overnight Oats become instant, “it’s-morning-and-mommy-didn’t-plan-ahead-and-we-need-a-quick-breakfast” oats.
Works perfectly, I promise!
All you have to do is mix up the recipe in exactly the same way (those three, easy, blink-and-you’ll-miss-them steps) … BUT … make two tiny adjustments:
Change #1
Use just 1/2 cup milk, instead of 2/3 cup.
Change #2
In addition, use quick oats instead of old-fashioned, rolled oats (in the same amount of 1 cup).
Let your quick oats mixture sit for a minute or two, if needed, so the oats soften and your mixture thickens a little.
Then … PRESTO! Breakfast is ready!
(And even though you didn’t plan ahead the night before, you look like a total kitchen wizard, and the whole family gets an awesome, nutritious breakfast with practically no effort at all. Aha … you’re winning the day again, without even pre-planning a thing!)
The Best Oats for Making Overnight Oatmeal
Which type of oats you use truly does make a difference.
Notice that, to make this Blueberry Overnight Oats recipe, I specifically call for old-fashioned oats (aka rolled oats).
BUT … for making that “instant” cold oatmeal version (above), I tell you to use quick oats.
There’s a reason for that!
After all our testing, I 100% recommend that you use old-fashioned, rolled oats if you’re making overnight oatmeal.
That’s because old-fashioned oats need that overnight soak to achieve a perfect (dare I say …) “oatmeal-y” texture by morning.
Quick oats, on the other hand, are rolled thinner during processing, so they soften much faster than old-fashioned oats do. They are literally ready to eat quickly (hence the name!), after just a couple of minutes of soaking in our creamy, milk and yogurt base.
If you try to use quick oats to make an overnight oats recipe, I feel like they just get too broken-down and unappetizingly gummy by morning. Quick oats simply aren’t hearty enough to withstand overnight soaking and still be at their best.
Oh – and are ya worried about which type of oat is healthiest? Don’t be concerned!
As Quaker Oats explains (and they’re really kind of the original oatmeal experts, right??), there’s not a major difference in nutrition between old-fashioned and quick oats. The main differences are in how you use the oats, and how you want a specific recipe to turn out texturally.
So, all things considered here, old-fashioned, rolled oats are the slam dunk choice for making overnight oats … and quick oats are the perfect thing for making a last-minute, “instant” version.
Yep … You’ve Got Options
All you pre-planners out there can make this delicious concoction of cool and creamy Blueberry Oats as a make-ahead, overnight breakfast recipe. (Meal-prep masters, rejoice!)
And, all you last-minute-non-planners can just whip this up in about 5 minutes, in the morning.
Yay! You’ve got options! And no matter what you choose, it’ll be delicious … and your day will already be off to a beautiful start!
Easy Blueberry Overnight Oats
This super-easy Blueberry Overnight Oats recipe is a delicious make-ahead breakfast! (With alternate, quick oats instructions for "instant" cold oats.)
• Ready in 30 Minutes or Less • Make Ahead • Vegetarian • Gluten Free •
Ingredients
- 1 cup nonfat vanilla Greek yogurt
- 2/3 cup nonfat milk (see note for amount, if making "instant" quick oats version)
- 2 - 2 1/2 tablespoons packed brown sugar (see note)
- 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
- 1/8 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup old fashioned, rolled oats (see note regarding oats, if making "instant" quick oats version)
- 1/3 cup sliced, unsalted, "raw" almonds
- 1/4 cup coconut (preferably sweetened, flaked coconut which is typically moister than unsweetened or toasted)
- 1 pint (about 2 cups) fresh blueberries
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, combine yogurt, milk, brown sugar, almond extract, cinnamon, and salt, stirring with a whisk to combine thoroughly.
- Add oats, almonds, and coconut, stirring again to combine.
- Gently stir in blueberries.
- Cover and refrigerate at least a couple hours, or overnight.
- (See note below for modified directions, if making "instant" quick oats version.)
Notes
Directions for "Instant" Quick Oats version: If you'd like to make this recipe just before serving (instead of making it the night before), decrease the amount of milk to 1/2 cup. Also, be sure to use quick oats instead of old fashioned, rolled oats. Quick oats aren't hearty enough to withstand overnight refrigeration, and they become a bit too thick and gummy to use when making overnight oats – but they're perfect for making "instant" cold oatmeal because they soften much more quickly. Allow your "instant" cold oatmeal mixture to sit for a minute or two before serving, if needed, to allow the oats to soften and the mixture to thicken to your liking.
Brown sugar: Different brands of vanilla Greek yogurt vary significantly in the amount of sugar they contain and how sweet or tart they taste, which can cause variances in how much brown sugar you’ll want to add to this recipe. We recommend starting with 2 tablespoons of brown sugar, and adding an extra 1/2 tablespoon of sugar only if needed.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 5 servings Serving Size: about 3/4 cupAmount Per Serving: Calories: 209Total Fat: 6gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 2mgSodium: 94mgCarbohydrates: 31gFiber: 5gSugar: 15gProtein: 9g
Nutrition information should be considered an estimate only, and may vary depending on your choice of ingredients or preparation. No guarantees are made regarding allergies or dietary needs. Always consult a physician or dietician for specific advice and questions.
Blueberry-almond is such a great brekkie mix! A perfect way to start the week 🙂
Julie & Alesah
Gourmet Getaways xx
Can’t wait to try this recipe!
Looks exactly like my sort of cereal with lots of interesting flavors and textures!
What kind of coconut do you use for this recipe ? Shredded, sweetened, Unsweetened, toasted ? Thanks 🙂
Hi, Ava! We generally use regular-old, flaked, sweetened coconut in this overnight oats recipe, which is also what we typically keep on hand for making most of our Snack Bite recipes and No-Bake Bars – I’ll update the recipe card to reflect that, which will hopefully help other readers, too! (I typically keep Baker’s Angel Flake brand in my pantry, since it seems to be moister than some other store brands I’ve seen in my local grocery). They’re great for adding to the moisture level in recipes. If you’d rather use unsweetened coconut, you may just need to go with the slightly higher 2 1/2 tablespoons of brown sugar to account for the loss of sweetness from the coconut, and you might possibly need to add just a little more milk for moisture. Toasted coconut would also be delicious, I’m sure, but again might slightly affect the moisture levels of the final recipe. Hope all that helps, and thanks so much for your great question! Have a fabulous week! 😀 ~Shelley
This sounds delicious! I’d love to make it, but I don’t like yogurt. Could I substitute extra milk?
Hi, Sue! That’s a really good question, and I’ll be totally honest in telling you that, although I’ve tested this recipe numerous times with various amounts and ingredients, I’ve never tried it without yogurt. We love the creamy texture and big, keep-you-full protein boost of Greek yogurt, plus all the great probiotics. You may find that the yogurt doesn’t bother you in this recipe, especially if it’s the tanginess that you don’t normally like – because we use vanilla Greek yogurt and layer it with lots of other flavors, there isn’t that tell-tale tang you might get if using plain Greek yogurt. Having said that, though, if yogurt just really isn’t your thing, I definitely think you can (and should!) try this oatmeal recipe in a way that works better for you. It’s just waaaaaay to good not to give it a shot!
You’ll definitely need to make some adjustments, though – for example, you’ll need to account for the fact that you’ll be missing some of the sweetness and vanilla flavor that the vanilla Greek yogurt gives, and, without testing this personally, I also can’t tell you exactly how much milk you’ll need in order to yield a similarly lovely, creamy texture.
I did some Googling this morning and have some ideas that might help if you’d like to give it a try. For example, Tammy of Organize Yourself Skinny says that, when making overnight oats without yogurt, she likes to use the proportion of 1/2 cup rolled oats to 1/2 cup liquid. So, for our Blueberry-Almond Oats recipe, which calls for 1 cup of oats, you might try starting with 1 cup of milk.
You might also take a peek at Skinnytaste’s Skinny Overnight Oats in a Jar recipe – besides the fact that she doesn’t use yogurt in this overnight oats recipe, Gina includes chia seeds, which gel a bit and may help you get a pudding-like, creamy texture. Grace of Double Thyme uses this technique, too, allowing the chia to plump and soften overnight in her Blueberry Chia Overnight Oats. Chia Pudding is really popular right now, and it might be fun to try that as part of your strategy for adapting this overnight oats recipe!
I hope all these ideas help! And whatever you decide, I’m so glad we inspired you, and I can’t wait to hear what works for you! Have a fantastic week! 😀 ~ Shelley