Overnight Steel Cut Oats are a delicious, healthy, make-ahead breakfast. This recipe combines steel-cut oats and almond milk along with other goodies like fresh fruit, nuts, and seeds. This nutritional breakfast can be prepped quickly and packed in mason jars for an easy, take-along, healthy breakfast.
Do you like oatmeal? I have loved oatmeal since I was a little girl, so this recipe was right up my alley. Not fond of steel-cut oats? No worries, you can make these with old-fashioned rolled oats as well. It is so easy to personalize these with your favorite goodies. This is the perfect breakfast for health-conscious families that are always on the go. You can pack them in mason jars or Tupperware-style containers for little ones.
I have a whole house full of oatmeal fans. If you like oatmeal as much as we do, try my oatmeal muffins, oatmeal pancakes, oatmeal raisin cookies, and oatmeal bars.
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
See the complete list of ingredients on the recipe card below.
- Steel Cut Oats: Steel-cut oats, also known as pinhead oats or Irish oats, are coarser than other types of oats and have a chewier texture. The cooking and softening time for steel-cut oats is longer than for old-fashioned rolled oats. They absorb more liquid and take longer to soak.
- Milk: I used almond milk, but use your favorite milk.
- Maple Syrup: This can be substituted for honey or agave at a 1:1 ratio. Other substitutions include date syrup, golden syrup, and caramel syrup.
- Vanilla Extract: You can use almond extract, vanilla bean paste, or vanilla yogurt.
How to Make Overnight Steel Cut Oats
This is a summary version; for the complete list of ingredients and instructions, please refer to the recipe card below.
- Grab an airtight container. Add oats, almond milk, maple syrup, vanilla, and salt. Stir to combine, cover, and refrigerate overnight.
- On the second day, add ¼ cup of fruit, nuts, or seeds to a mason jar. Spoon in an equal amount of the overnight oats mixture and top with more fruit and a drizzle of honey. Cover the jars with the lids and refrigerate.
Flavor Variations
- Banana Nut: ½ banana, 2 tablespoons of peanut butter, almond butter, or any nut butter, and 1 tablespoon of chopped pecans or walnuts.
- Pina Colada: ⅓ cup chopped pineapple, 1 tablespoon toasted coconut.
- Almond Blueberry: ¼ cup blueberries, 1 tablespoon flax seeds or hemp seeds, 2 tablespoons sliced almonds.
- Mixed berry: A few blackberries, a few raspberries, ¼ cup chopped strawberries.
- Apple: ⅓ cup chopped apple, a couple of pinches of cinnamon, ½ tablespoon chia seeds.
Do You Have to Use Steel-Cut Oats for Overnight Oats?
If you prefer rolled oats in your oatmeal, mix them in place of the steel-cut oats. Jump to the second day when you fill the mason jars with fruit, nuts, seeds, and mixed oats. Cover and refrigerate for one night.
Feel free to mix or match any of these or try some new interesting combos that work for you and what you have on hand. These oats are a delicious, healthy breakfast that travels well when you are running late.
More Oatmeal Recipes
Overnight Steel Cut Oats Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup steel cut oats
- 1½ cups almond milk or your milk of choice
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Banana Nut
- ½ banana
- 2 tablespoons of peanut butter
- 1 tablespoon of chopped pecan
Pina Colada
- ⅓ cup chopped pineapple
- 1 tablespoons toasted coconut
Almond Blueberry
- ¼ cup blueberries
- 1 tablespoon flax seed
- 2 tablespoons sliced almonds
Mixed Berry
- ¼ cup blackberries
- ¼ cup raspberries
Instructions
- In an airtight container, add the oats, almond milk, maple syrup, vanilla, and salt. Stir to combine, cover, and refrigerate overnight, stirring a couple of times.
- On the second day, add about ¼ cup of fruit, nuts, or seeds to a mason jar. Spoon in a ¼ cup of overnight oats and top with more fruit. Cover the jars with the lids and refrigerate them one more night.
Notes
- If you prefer rolled oats in your oatmeal, mix them in place of the steel-cut oats. Jump to the second day when you fill the mason jars with fruit, nuts, seeds, and the mixed oats. Cover and refrigerate for one night.
- The nutritional information is just for the overnight oats.
Nutrition
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Katherine
I made the pina colada flavor, and it was amazing!!
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Katherine! So glad that you enjoyed the overnight oats!
Elizabeth
I like the convenience of making these oats in mason jars for a grab-and-go breakfast option! Using maple syrup for some sweet flavor is definitely healthier than using the typical brown sugar.
Stephanie
Thanks for this recipe! My kids love it! I shared this recipe on my blog. God bless!
KKenai
How many days can you store the oats mixed with just the almond milk in the refrigerator?
Beth Pierce
Up to five days.
Jessica
When do I add the peanut butter for the banana nut oats?
Beth Pierce
Sorry about the delay. At the same time as the fruits, nuts, and seeds.
Renee
This recipe looks fantastic. I have not tried any recipes for overnight oats before. Could you substitute unsweetened coconut milk for the almond milk?
Beth Pierce
Yes you sure can. Enjoy!
Kathy
A friend gave me steel cut oats when she didn’t like them. Found this recipe and it is the best! The banana nut is my favorite one so far.
Kathy Ven
This is my new go to breakfast. Love it!
The banana nut is my favorite.
Beth Pierce
Thanks Kathy! So glad that you enjoyed it.
Adriana Reyna
These are delicious! I’m new to learning how to prepare steel cut oats in this way and I love the overnight, wake up and go factor! How long do these keep for…say if I don’t finish the whole mason jar, only half.. would it keep for the next day?
Beth Pierce
Yes it would keep for the next day. After that though the fruit might start to decay.
Alejandro
I just need to clarify this, yo add oats to the airtight container with the milk when they are still “uncooked” ?
You never have to boil them or do anything else, just add them uncooked with the milk ?
Beth Pierce
Yes that is correct! Enjoy!