Make a week's worth of overnight oats in just a few minutes with this easy Mason Jar meal prep.
Meal prepping friends - I know you're out there, and I know you've got your act together way more than I do. I'm looking for inspiration as I try to jump back on the meal prep bandwagon. You already know that I love a good dinner prep, but my breakfast and lunch game needs a boost. When things get busy or we're eating lots of meals out, the thing that helps me to stay on track is to have easy meals ready in the fridge. I'm more likely to choose something healthy and satisfying if all the work is done ahead of time. And nothing makes me as happy as seeing prepped meals all lined up in mason jars.
These are hit or miss with the kids (some days they love them and some days not), but I like the texture better than classic oatmeal (rolled oats cooked in boiling water).
Plus overnight oats are best served chilled - great for warmer days ahead. Making these is as easy as 1...2...3.
Step 1: Fill Jars with Dry Ingredients
These are endlessly customizable, but I almost always stack my overnight oats with almond butter + chia seeds + rolled oats.
Step 2: Pour Liquid over Top
Any type of liquid will do, but usually I use milk of some sort. See below for options.
Step 3: Finish with Fruit and Refrigerate
Add fruit on top if you'd like. Fresh fruit is great, but I usually just use a frozen mix of berries (they defrost by the time I eat these). Put the lid on the jars and transfer to the fridge. Refrigerate for at least 12 hours and up to 5 days.
Ingredients for Overnight Oats
- Nut Butter - A base of nut butter is a nice surprise at the bottom of the jar. Use your favorite type. Almond butter is always a hit at our house.
- Chia Seeds - Totally optional, but these soak up liquid and turn into a layer that is both creamy and has a bit of crunch.
- Rolled or "Old-Fashioned" Oats - Be sure to get rolled or "old-fashioned" oats. Quick cook or instant oats will soften too much.
- Liquid - Milk gives these a creamy texture - skim, 2%, almond, coconut...any type will work.
- Berries and Honey - Optional toppings, but I love the color and additional flavor of these on top. Frozen berries work great and defrost by the time you eat them.
Tools for Overnight Oats Meal Prep
8 oz Mason Jars - I use these jars for everything, from meal prep to storing leftovers, but they are just the right size for these portions of overnight oats. I also use these reusable lids (instead of the metal lids that come with the jars) because they are so easy to wash and store. If you need a heartier breakfast, increase the portion size and use 16 oz Mason Jars. (I use the larger size for lunch meal prep.)
Do you do meal prep for breakfasts and lunch? What's your favorite thing to prep ahead. Send your ideas my way here or share them over on Instagram!
More Breakfast Ideas
- Homemade Instant Oatmeal
- Light and Fluffy Whole Wheat Pancakes
- Light and Fluffy Whole Wheat Waffles
- Apple Cider Donut Mini Muffins
- Slow Cooker Granola
- Overnight Yeasted Whole Wheat Waffles
- Make-Ahead Breakfast Burritos
- Homemade Bagels
- 1-Hour Cinnamon Rolls
Favorite Tools
Mason Jar Overnight Oats {Meal Prep}
Equipment
- Mason Jars 8 oz or 16 oz
Ingredients
- 5 tablespoon Almond Butter
- 5 teaspoon Chia Seeds (optional)
- 2 ½ cups Rolled or Old-Fashioned Oats
- 2 ½ cups Milk (use any type of milk you like - skim, 2%, almond, coconut, etc.)
- 10 oz Frozen berries (any type or a mix)
- Honey (optional)
Instructions
- Set out five mason jars (I use 8 oz but they are packed all the way to the top as in the photos; 16 oz will give you more room to stir and add toppings; or use any other similar-sized container). Fill each jar with almond butter (1 tablespoon / jar), chia seeds (1 teaspoon / jar), and oats (½ cup / jar).
- Slowly pour milk over top, giving it time to fill in the spaces between the oats. (Note: Be sure that the oats are just barely covered with milk. You may need a little more or less than the amount listed.)
- Top oats with frozen berries and a drizzle of honey (if you'd like).
- Put lids on the jars and transfer to the fridge. Refrigerate overnight and up to five nights.
- When you're ready to eat the oats, just pull them out of the fridge and dive in. These are best served chilled.
Notes
Be sure to get rolled or "old-fashioned" oats. Quick cook or instant oats will soften too much if left overnight to soak in liquid.
If you need these to be gluten-free, be sure to choose rolled oats that are certified gluten-free (not all are).
These are portioned to be a fairly modest breakfast. I also often take them to work as a morning or afternoon snack. If you want a heartier option, you can easily double the amounts listed and use 16 oz Mason Jars.
Nutrition information was calculated using skim milk.
Nutrition
Joy
I just prepped these tonight! I’m excited to try one tomorrow. Thanks for sharing another wonderful recipe.
Jess
Yay! Hope you guys like them!
Neeraj Soni
Hii,
i have read many of your recepies , and they were amazing …. the best part of ur recepies are they are working for me ….
thanks for sharing such a delicious list with us….
keep posting
cheers……
Kayla
Have you ever made these with water instead of milk?
Jess
I haven’t but I’m sure it would work!
Leira
Many thanks for your recipes !
I've tried this one, but didn't read it until the end (I'm incorrigible) so I didn't put the "right" oats and it was very fluid this morning… 🙁 But I warm it up in the microwave for 2 mn and it was perfect ! (>> you can mention it 😉
Delicious !
The only thing I do declare it that it was really less nice than your picture ! ;P
Tell me the truth, on your picture there is no milk inside, right ? ;D
Have a nice day in this hard period of confinement because of Covid-19.
All the best
Jess
Hi Leira - this note made me smile! I just made a batch of these for us to use this week and they definitely don't always look quite as photo-worthy as when I make them to photograph them for the blog. I bet if you use the rolled oats, yours will look very similar though. GREAT idea to warm them in the microwave! Perfect for these sometimes chilly spring mornings. Hope you are taking care and making it through this strange lockdown time.
Tammy
Hi! Where did you get those jars?
Jess Smith
Hi Tammy - I buy them from Amazon or Target. A link to them on Amazon is in the bottom of the post under - "tools" and there's also a link to these plastic reusable lids I use to cover them. Hope that helps!
Wanda
I make this with Mango Nectar, a little bit of milk and the frosen tropical fruit blend offered at my local grocer. They are awesome. I never get tired of them and if I do I just change up the nectar and fruit. Chia seeds are a must though. TY for getting ne started on overnight oats. Besides being good they are good for you. My gastroenterologist is thrilled.
Jess Smith
Oh those flavors sound great! I'll have to try it!
Heather
Hi there! I see the ingredients and calories are for 1 tablespoon of almond butter but the directions say to do 2 tbl almond butter per jar?
Thanks!
Lori
Hi what size mason jars do you use. Thank you
Jess Smith
If you use 8 oz mason jars they'll be filled all the way to the top as in the photos (and may even spill over into a 6th jar). 16 oz will give you much more room. But either will work.
Ina
Hi I’m thinking about making this recipe, if i put bananas can i still prep for 5 days?
Jess Smith
Yes! The bananas will be just fine though as you can imagine, they'll soften and turn slightly brown as they sit in the fridge. You'll have the best luck if you add them at the bottom of the containers and they are well covered by the other ingredients - being surrounded by liquids will help minimize browning.
Jessica
instead of the almond butter can we use yogurt?
Jess Smith
Yes! that would be delicious
Kristen
I am usually the person who makes 19 changes to a recipe before I try it, but since I’ve never had overnight oats before I followed your recipe exactly. OH MY GOODNESS it is sooooo good. I just had my first jar and now I can’t wait for tomorrow!!!
Mpho
Can we also add flax seeds?
Jess Smith
Absolutely! It's great with added flax seeds. No need to adjust the recipe. Whole flax seeds won't throw off the liquid amounts.