Banana Overnight Oats with Chia Seeds

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These banana overnight oats with chia seeds are the perfect healthy breakfast for busy days. Packed with protein and fibers, these chia seed overnight oats taste like banana bread in a jar!

Banana bread overnight oats for breakfast?

If you have no time for a healthy breakfast, overnight oats are all you need. Make them ahead and in the morning you will have a delicious meal ready to enjoy. Packed with nutrients and dietary fibers, this banana overnight porridge will give you energy for the entire day and keep you full for hours.

Why are overnight oats so good?
Ingredients for banana overnight oats
Protein powder banana oats
How to make banana overnight oats with chia seeds
How to store overnight oats
FAQ – Frequently asked questions
Recipe tips and tricks
More healthy oat breakfasts
Banana Overnight Oats Recipe

Why are overnight oats so good?

Overnight oats are an incredibly popular no-cook method of making oatmeal. Instead of cooking, you soak the oats overnight with milk. The result is a ready-to-eat creamy oatmeal that is rich in taste and nutrients.

Easy, healthy and so delicious… No wonder that people love overnight oats so much! Every day, they save the breakfast of busy people who want to eat healthy. Healthy, because oats have many benefits:

Oats are a great source of nutrients and vitamins.
They are rich in fibers and so are highly satiating.
Oats are complex carbs that give you energy without blood sugar spikes

Ingredients for banana overnight oats

These banana overnight oats with chia seeds come together with just a handful of simple ingredients. So simple that you probably already have everything in your pantry.

Here is everything this healthy banana overnight oats recipe calls for:

Banana: Ripe bananas are sweeter and will mix better with the oats. The best are those with brownish spots all over their skin. Try to stay aware from green bananas.
Rolled oats: Also known as old fashioned oats, these are my preferred option for making banana overnight oats. They ensure that your porridge gets a great taste and texture.
Chia seeds: Rich in fibers, antioxidants, nutrients and protein, chia seeds are perfect for making healthy overnight oats.
Maple syrup: I suggest maple syrup to sweeten overnight oats naturally. As an alternative, you can opt for honey, agave syrup, date syrup, coconut sugar or any granular sweetener of your choice. Also calorie-free options such as erythritol or xylitol are great.
Nut butter: Peanut butter, almond butter, cashew butter or walnut butter are great picks. I recommend almond butter but you are free to choose the one you prefer depending on personal preferences.
Greek yogurt: Perfect for a creamy oatmeal, Greek yogurt is also an excellent source of protein. In case of a dairy intolerance or allergies, replace with plant based alternatives such as soy yogurt or coconut yogurt.
Milk of choice: You can use any type of milk you like, either dairy or nondairy. For more protein and fewer calories, select semi-skimmed milk, soy milk or other dairy-free milks such as unsweetened almond milk.
Spices and flavors Ground cinnamon, vanilla extract and a pinch of salt are a must for making the best banana bread overnight oats!

Protein powder banana oats

For high protein banana overnight oats, prepare this recipe with a blend of oats and protein powder. Here you have two options: either replace 15 grams (2 tbsp) of the oats with protein or add it as an extra. In this case, your banana bread overnight oats may require some additional milk.

Make protein porridge with whey, vegan protein powder or casein. All can be used, but they will give you a slightly different result in terms of taste and texture. With regards to flavor, pick and choose your favorite. For this recipe my recommendations are vanilla, cinnamon, peanut butter or unflavored protein powder.

How to make banana overnight oats with chia seeds

Making banana oats overnight is incredibly quick and simple. They come together in a bowl or jar in less than 2 minutes!

Step 1: Make banana oats. Start by mashing the banana. When you are done, combine with all other ingredients in a mason jar or bowl. Stir well until all is well mixed, then cover the jar or bowl with a lid or plastic wrap.

Step 2: refrigerate overnight. After mixing, refrigerate the banana oats overnight or for at least 2 hours. Keep stored in the fridge for a maximum of 4 days.

How to store overnight oats

Make these chia seed banana oats overnight and store in the fridge. If refrigerated in a mason jar or bowl, these oats will last for up to 4 days. You can serve the oatmeal as it is or with sliced banana, nuts and nut butter on top.

In case you need, here are a few additional tips on how to best store banana oatmeal overnight to preserve taste, texture and all the nutrients.

Use a proper container. Choose an airtight container or jar with a lid that seals tightly. Mason jars in glass are the best option for the purpose.
Keep in the fridge. First of all, seal the jar or container with an airtight lid to prevent the oats from going bad and odors from entering. Once sealed, place in the refrigerator and store for up to 3 to 4 days.
Store for a maximum of 4 days. Although some people prepare overnight oats for the whole week, I strongly recommend consuming the meal maximum 4 days after making.
Mix well before serving. When you’re ready to eat, give the oats a good stir to combine all ingredients and restore the original consistency. As the oatmeal may have soaked part of the liquid, you may need to fix the texture with an additional splash of milk.
Add toppings before serving. It’s best to add fresh fruit, nut butter and toppings only before eating. This helps maintain their freshness, taste and crunchiness in case of nuts and seeds.

FAQ – Frequently asked questions

How to make vegan banana overnight oats?

To make vegan overnight oats all you should do is using nondairy milk and replacing Greek yogurt with a plant based yogurt of your choice. Preferably, try to select yogurts with a firm consistency such as coconut yogurt or Greek-style soy yogurt.

How to make gluten-free overnight oats with chia seeds?

Making gluten-free banana oats overnight is very simple. All you need to do is using certified gluten-free rolled oats.

How to make high protein oats overnight?

For high protein overnight oatmeal with banana, replace part of the oats with protein powder (find more details in the blog post up here). As different protein powders absorb liquids differently, you may need to fix the texture of your oatmeal with more milk in case it gets too thick.

How to make nut-free banana bread oats?

If you have a nut allergy, my recommendation is to replace the nut butter with tahini or sunflower seed butter. Do not omit this ingredient because it helps the porridge get richer and creamier.

Can I use quick oats?

Whenever it comes to making overnight oatmeal, I highly recommend rolled oats. Nevertheless, also quick oats can be used. The only difference is that the texture of your breakfast won’t be the same.

Which nut butter is best for banana bread overnight oats?

First of all let me say that you are free to pick the nut butter you like the most. Classic peanut butter, almond butter or cashew butter, they are all great. This being said, I absolutely love making my banana porridge with almond butter. It adds such a rich and delicate aroma that you won’t be able to resist it.

Recipe tips and tricks

Here are some tips and tricks for making the best banana oatmeal overnight.

Mash and use half a ripe banana. Ripe bananas are sweeter and will mix better with the oats. The best picks are those with brownish spots all over their skin.
Don’t forget a pinch of salt. It’s just a pinch, but it will make the difference. In oat recipes, the role of salt is to enhance flavors and balance the sweetness level.
Mix wet ingredients aside. I highly encourage you to stir mashed banana, Greek yogurt, nut butter and maple syrup on the side before adding to the oats. This process will ensure that all flavors mix well and your make-ahead breakfast comes out creamier and tastier.
Experiment with extra mix-ins. Whether crushed walnuts or chocolate chips, feel free to stir in some additional ingredients. As you may have noticed from the picture, I like crunchy pieces of walnuts or pecans!
Pour in a splash of milk. After storing, overnight oats tend to absorb part of the liquid and get thicker. When ready to eat, make sure you stir in a splash of your favorite milk to restore their creamy texture.