All through high school, instant oatmeal was my go-to breakfast. I'd wake up, tear open a Quaker Oats Maple and Brown Sugar packet, pour it into a bowl, microwave it with some almond milk, and call it a morning. Over quarantine though, everything changed when I discovered a far superior breakfast: overnight oats.
Don't get me wrong, instant oatmeal will always have a place in my heart. I still enjoy some nice warm instant oats with a drizzle of peanut butter and fresh berries from time to time. But in my ranking of oatmeal-based breakfasts, overnight oats undoubtedly hold the number one spot (besides, of course, oatmeal chocolate chip cookies... if you count that as an oatmeal breakfast).
Not only is oatmeal packed with energy and nutrients to get you through your morning, but the quality of overnight oats is particularly incredible. Because they're stored in the fridge overnight, the oats have time to absorb all the flavor from your add-ins, consequently making them even tastier and creamier.
And if you weren't already sold, eating overnight oats actually ends up saving you time in the morning. Their make-ahead nature means that you can literally grab them from the fridge in the morning, and go. As long as you remember to make them the night before, overnight oats will be well worth the effort.
Now for what we're all here for: my easy, dorm-friendly, delicious, and arguably best-breakfast-of-all-time, overnight oatmeal recipe. Here we go...
Easy and Delicious Overnight Oats
- Prep Time:5 mins
- Cook Time:0
- Total Time:5 mins
- Servings:1
- Easy
- 1/2 cup old fashioned rolled oats
- 2/3 cup almond milk or your preferred milk choice
- 1 tablespoon peanut butter
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- 1 overripe banana
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon optional
Ingredients
In a small bowl or mug, peel your banana and mash using a fork until an apple-sauce like consistency is achieved. Add oats, milk, peanut butter, maple syrup, and optional cinnamon to the bowl/mug. Mix until all the ingredients are evenly combined.Cover the bowl/mug with a clean kitchen towel, aluminum foil, or plastic wrap. Place in fridge for at least 3 hours or overnight. After letting set in fridge, uncover and dig in!
Even though I'm giving you this recipe, you can really use it as a jumping off point to explore and find your favorite overnight oats. I've tried adding chocolate chips, brown sugar, strawberries, cocoa powder, and even sprinkles to my oats. The sky's really the limit when it comes to how creative you can be with this recipe.
Find what works for you, and enjoy! 😊