Strawberry Banana Overnight Oats (Print version)

Creamy oats soaked overnight with strawberries, banana, chia seeds, and a hint of vanilla for a nutritious start.

# Required ingredients:

→ Grains

01 - 1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats, certified gluten-free

→ Dairy and Alternatives

02 - 1 cup milk, dairy or plant-based such as almond or oat milk
03 - 1/2 cup Greek yogurt or dairy-free yogurt

→ Fruits

04 - 1 cup strawberries, hulled and diced
05 - 1 medium ripe banana, sliced

→ Seeds and Sweeteners

06 - 2 tablespoons chia seeds
07 - 1 to 2 tablespoons maple syrup or honey, to taste

→ Flavorings

08 - 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
09 - Pinch of salt

# How to make it:

01 - In a medium mixing bowl or large jar, combine oats, chia seeds, milk, Greek yogurt, maple syrup or honey, vanilla extract, and salt. Mix thoroughly until well combined.
02 - Gently fold in half of the diced strawberries and half of the banana slices into the oat mixture.
03 - Divide the mixture evenly between two jars or containers for individual servings.
04 - Top each serving with the remaining strawberry pieces and banana slices.
05 - Cover containers and refrigerate for a minimum of 8 hours to allow oats and chia seeds to fully absorb the liquid and reach optimal texture.
06 - In the morning, stir gently. Add additional milk if desired to achieve preferred consistency. Serve chilled.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It's genuinely hands-off once mixed, so you gain back actual morning minutes without sacrificing nutrition.
  • The natural sweetness from ripe banana means you barely need any added sugar, but it doesn't feel like you're missing out.
  • Chia seeds do something almost magical as they absorb liquid overnight, creating this creamy texture that feels indulgent but is actually wholesome.
02 -
  • Don't use instant oats thinking they'll save time—they'll turn into a mushy, disappointing paste, and you'll wish you'd waited for real oats.
  • The banana will brown slightly overnight, which is completely normal and doesn't mean anything went wrong; it actually adds a subtle caramel sweetness.
03 -
  • Make these in actual mason jars and you'll eat them more often because there's something satisfying about the ritual of pulling a finished meal from the fridge and eating straight from the container.
  • If your banana is more brown than yellow when you prep, that's actually ideal because it's sweeter and you might need less added sweetener.
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