Prep Oats Overnight for Easy Grab-&-Go Breakfasts All Week

Many of us are guilty of sacrificing a delicious breakfast for a few extra minutes of sleep in the morning during the busy work week. Grab-and-go breakfasts are definitely timesavers, but granola bars and other packaged items often lack the fresh breakfast feel that makes the first meal of the day so great.

However, overnight oats are the perfect way to start your morning with a fresh, grab-and-go meal... while still enjoying a little bit of extra sleep.

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What You Need

Overnight oats are very simple to make and can be prepared the night before. To save even more time, you can make multiple jars of overnight oats that will last you all week.

Ingredients:

• a wide-mouthed jar with a lid
• rolled oats (aka old-fashioned oats)
• milk of choice
• plain or Greek yogurt (optional)
• sugar, to taste
• mix-ins (fresh fruit, nuts, seeds, etc.)

The amounts listed in the steps below are for individual servings, but feel free to create a larger serving if you find that ½ cup of oats is not enough. Just make sure you keep the ratio of milk to oats even.

Add ½ Cup Oats to a Jar

It is important to only use rolled oats when making overnight oats. Steel cut oats will not absorb liquid without added heat and instant oats are cut too small and will turn to mush. Rolled oats will absorb liquid perfectly while maintaining a desirable texture.

Add ½ Cup Milk

Any kind of milk will work; I like to use almond milk, but cow's milk or any other alternative is suitable.

Add ¼ Cup Yogurt (Optional)

Yogurt will make for a creamier oatmeal texture. Additionally, it will make for a filling breakfast that will keep you energized (perfect for those long days).

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Add a Sugar of Your Choice

I like to add a liquid sugar such as agave, honey, or maple syrup because they will dissolve into the milk more easily (and they're natural sweeteners), but granulated sugars are suitable as well.

Add Mix-Ins (Fresh Fruit, Nuts, Seeds, Etc.)

This is the fun part. A few of my favorite mix-ins include:

• blueberries, chia seeds, and vanilla
• mangoes and coconut
• figs, almonds, and honey

Get creative by adding spices, nut butters, or even dark chocolate to the mix. The combinations are endless! If you are in need of some inspiration, Eat This has a creative list of 50 overnight oats recipes including carrot cake protein, cocoa nib and pomegranate, and peach streusel.

Stir It Up

Stirring your overnight oats before refrigerating is crucial. Many recipes skip this step in an effort to make the process even quicker; however, stirring will combine the ingredients together to ensure that the oats absorbing an even amount of liquid and flavor from the mix-ins.

Cover & Refrigerate Overnight

Seal the jars tight and refrigerate for a minimum of 6 hours.

Wake Up, Add Fresh Toppings, & Enjoy

If you have time in the morning, you may want to top your oats with additional fresh toppings to add a crunch factor or a fresh burst of flavor.

Overnight oats may be eaten cold or microwaved for 30-60 seconds to add warmth to a chilly morning.

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Overnight oats are an extremely quick, easy, and tasty way to create a grab-and-go meal made from scratch the night before. Now you can hit the snooze button while knowing you've got a delicious, nutritious meal in your future.

More Ingenious Breakfast Hacks:

• A Coffee-Only Breakfast Can Make You Fatter, but Doesn't Have To
• How to Make a Full Breakfast—Without a Skillet
• Hack Your Morning Pancakes for a Less Sticky Breakfast
• Upgrade Your Boring French Toast with These Flavor Hacks
• The Clever Trick That Makes Stuffed Pancakes a Cinch

Photos by Jessica Bose/Food Hacks