Greek yogurt overnight oats are a creamy, high-protein breakfast you can prepare in minutes and enjoy all week.
For more easy breakfast recipes, check out our Greek yogurt chia pudding, high-fiber muffins, healthy oil-free granola, and banana oatmeal muffins (oil-free).
A Simple Make-Ahead Breakfast for Calm Mornings
Greek yogurt overnight oats are one of those recipes that quietly make everyday life easier. You mix a few simple ingredients, let them rest overnight, and wake up to a breakfast that feels ready when you are 🥣. It’s a calm, no-rush way to start the day, especially if mornings feel busy or slow in equal measure.
This recipe fits beautifully into a balanced, Mediterranean-style eating pattern. It’s protein-rich, thanks to Greek yogurt, and naturally fiber-rich from the oats. Together, they help create a breakfast that feels steady and satisfying, without being heavy. It’s also an example of overnight oats with milk and yogurt done simply, using ingredients many people already have at home 🍯.
Louise and I often make these easy overnight oats at the start of the week and keep them in the fridge for a quick, reliable breakfast. They’re creamy, lightly sweet, and easy to adjust with fruit or nuts, depending on the season.
If you’re looking for a make ahead breakfast that feels nourishing, simple, and comforting, this is a small habit that can make mornings feel better 🫐.
Ingredients
Full ingredients and substitutions are in the recipe box below.
- Rolled oats: classic old-fashioned oats give the best creamy texture after resting. You can swap quick oats for a softer bite, or use certified gluten-free oats if needed. This is the base of many high protein overnight oats recipes.
- Greek yogurt: plain Greek yogurt makes the oats thick and satisfying. For even more protein, use low-fat Greek yogurt or Skyr. Dairy-free yogurt works too, but the texture will be lighter. This ingredient defines overnight oats with Greek yogurt so I wouldn’t replace it.
- Milk: regular milk keeps things creamy and balanced. Almond, soy, or oat milk all work well and turn this into a non-dairy no cook breakfast.
- Honey: adds gentle sweetness without overpowering the oats. Maple syrup or date syrup are great alternatives.
- Vanilla extract or lemon zest: both optional. Vanilla adds warmth, while lemon zest makes the oats taste fresh and bright. Orange zest is another nice option.
- Toppings: fresh fruit, berries, nuts, or seeds add texture and color. If you like overnight oats in a jar, layer them on top just before serving for the best bite.
How to Make Greek Yogurt Overnight Oats
Step 1: Choose Your Container and Mix the Base
If you’re making just one portion, mix everything directly in a jar for an easy grab-and-go breakfast. For multiple servings, use a large bowl, which makes mixing faster, less messy, and easier to portion later.
Add the Greek yogurt, milk, honey, and optional vanilla extract to a bowl or jar. Stir until smooth and creamy.
Step 2: Stir in the Oats
Add the rolled oats and stir until fully combined. Make sure the oats are evenly mixed so they can soften properly overnight.
Step 3: Chill Overnight
Cover the bowl or close the jar and place it in the fridge. Let the oats rest overnight, or for at least 6 hours, until soft and creamy.
Step 4: Stir and Serve
In the morning, give the oats a quick stir. Add fresh fruit, nuts, or seeds if you like, and enjoy straight from the fridge.
Tips
- Stir well before chilling: make sure the oats are fully mixed into the yogurt and milk so they soften evenly overnight.
- Adjust sweetness in the morning: start light with honey, then taste after chilling. Cold oats taste less sweet, so it’s easier to fine-tune before serving.
- Use a bowl if making more than one portion: it’s faster, cleaner, and gives you flexibility when portioning later. We find this works best for a relaxed make ahead breakfast routine.
- Add fruit just before eating: fresh fruit keeps its texture and flavor better when added in the morning, especially berries or sliced apples.
- Loosen if needed: if the oats feel too thick after chilling, stir in a splash of milk to get the texture you like.
- Keep toppings simple: nuts, seeds, or a spoon of fruit are often enough. Simple toppings help keep this a calm, no cook breakfast that feels good to eat.
Frequently Asked Questions
At least 6 hours is best. Overnight gives the oats time to fully soften and absorb the liquid.
Yes. Use a plant-based yogurt and non-dairy milk. The oats will still soften, though the texture will be a bit lighter.
Very much so. Many readers like portioning it into jars for the week, especially if they enjoy overnight oats in a jar for grab-and-go mornings.
Keep them covered in the fridge for up to 3 days. Stir before serving and add toppings just before eating.
Absolutely. Vanilla, citrus zest, cinnamon, or fruit all work well and keep the recipe feeling fresh without extra effort.
More Easy Breakfast Recipes
- Apple cinnamon overnight oats
- Protein apple muffins
- Greek scrambled eggs (Strapatsada)
- Healthy banana cookies (soft and oil-free)
- Apple chia pudding
- Sweet potato oatmeal muffins
- Oil-free carrot cake muffins
- Protein banana bread
If you try this Greek yogurt overnight oats recipe please leave a 🌟 star rating and let us know how it turned out in the comments—we love hearing from you.
Greek Yogurt Overnight Oats (Easy High-Protein Breakfast)
Video
Ingredients
- 1 cup rolled oats
- 1 cup Greek yogurt
- 1 cup milk any
- 2 teaspoons honey or maple syrup – you can add more when serving
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract optional – sub 1 teaspoon lemon zest
Instructions
- Mix the Base: To a bowl, add 1 cup Greek yogurt, 1 cup milk, 2 teaspoons honey, and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (if using). Whisk until smooth and creamy.Note: If you’re making just one portion, mix everything directly in a jar for an easy grab-and-go breakfast. For multiple servings, a big bowl makes it faster and easier.
- Add the Oats: Pour in 1 cup rolled oats and stir well. Make sure all the oats are covered so they soften properly.
- Chill: Cover the jar or bowl and place it in the fridge for at least 6 hours or overnight.
- Stir & Eat: In the morning, give it a quick stir. Add fruit, nuts, or seeds if you like, and enjoy cold straight from the fridge.
Notes
- Rolled oats → Quick oats (softer texture) or certified gluten-free oats
- Greek yogurt → Low-fat Greek yogurt or Skyr (higher protein); dairy-free yogurt works but will be less thick
- Milk → Almond milk, soy milk, or oat milk
- Honey → Maple syrup or date syrup
- Vanilla extract or lemon zest → Orange zest or leave it out
- Toppings → Any fresh fruit, berries, nuts, or seeds you likec
- Stir really well before chilling → Make sure all the oats are mixed in so they soften evenly
- Adjust sweetness in the morning → Cold oats taste less sweet, so add more honey after chilling if needed
- Use a bowl for multiple servings → Faster, less messy, and easier to portion later
- Add fruit just before eating → Keeps fruit fresh, juicy, and not mushy
- Loosen if it’s too thick → Stir in a splash of milk until it looks right
- Keep toppings simple → A few nuts, seeds, or fruit are plenty
- Storage → Covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, or freeze individual portions for longer storage and thaw overnight in the fridge before eating.
Nutrition
Hi! We are Nico & Louise
We’re here to share delicious, easy, and healthy plant-based recipes (vegetarian & vegan) 🌿✨.
Welcome to our blog, we are glad you are here.
I have had great success with this your rolled oats overnight receipt.
However I have just acquired, for the first time, steel cut oats even after a 12 hour overnight soak the oats are still quite lumpy by breakfast time, I find giving them a 1 minute 50 seconds burst with the milk in the microwave prior to leaving them over night helps soften them and makes them more digestible.
When it comes to the slow release of sugars, does cooking the steel cut oats mean that they have lost some of their advantages over rolled oats which do lend themselves very well left uncooked overnight and are quite palatable for breakfast next day?
Great question, and thanks for sharing what worked for you.
So, lightly cooking steel-cut oats does not remove their benefits—they should still digest more slowly than rolled oats and retain their fiber and nutritional value.
A short pre-cook like you’re doing can actually improve digestibility while keeping the slow-release energy steel-cut oats are known for.
I hope this helps. All the best,
Louise
Perfect and easy, thx
I’m so happy you like it, Lindie – YAY!
Can this be heated in microwave the next day?
Yes, absolutely, Anne. You can heat it in the microwave the next day—just warm it gently and add a splash of milk if it looks thick.
Overnight Rolled Oats with Greek Yogurt and Almond Milk is my best Recipe.
Can l serve this warm in the morning?
Thank you
Hi Donna, yes you can!
Just heat it gently in the morning (stovetop or in the microwave until bubbly) and adding a little milk if needed. Enjoy 🙂
easy to prepare and healthy to eat
Hi Ada,
Thanks so much for your feedback. Happy you found it both easy and healthy — that’s the best combo 🙂
All the best, Louise