Protein Overnight Oats
on Mar 11, 2025
Protein Overnight Oats are one of the best easy make ahead breakfasts. Start your day off right with this protein packed recipe!
These are the best overnight oats!
When I was testing this recipe, I made three different versions of overnight oats to see which one was best.
One was a clear winner and that is the recipe that I am so excited to share with you today!
“Whoa. This recipe is UN-REAL. I rely heavily on internet bloggers for recipes and have stumbled across some delightful ones, but I’ve never a comment. This was SO good, I had to come back and drop a note. Thank you for publishing this amazing concoction!! It will be staple in our house going forward. Simple, convenient, nutritious, satisfying, delicious!” -Jessie
Overnight oats are a classic, but have you ever tried adding protein powder to your oats?
Not only is this recipe delicious, but one (huge!) serving packs around 30 grams of protein!
These can also easily be made vegan, gluten free, and you can prep it in just 5 minutes.
Have I convinced you to try protein powder in your overnight oats yet?
Ingredients to make protein overnight oats
Here are the ingredients that you will need to make overnight oats, as well as a few substitutions you can use.
- Banana – mashed banana is perfect in overnight oats and adds a nice sweetness. I tested two versions of this recipe without banana, and the one with banana was the best tasting, so I do not suggest skipping it.
- Protein powder – you can use any protein powder you like. I used a vanilla one, but chocolate would also be a good choice!
- Oats – old fashioned oats, also known as rolled oats. You can substitute quick oats if you need to.
- Unsweetened almond milk – you can use any milk that you have on hand.
- Peanut butter – you can use any variety you want.
- Maple syrup – the real stuff. This is the best natural sweetener for oats.
- Vanilla extract
- Chia seeds
How to make overnight oats
Step 1: Mash up the banana with a fork and place it in the jar you plan to use for your overnight oats.
Step 2: Add the remaining ingredients – protein powder, milk, oats, maple syrup, peanut butter, vanilla extract, and chia seeds.
Joy’s Note
This recipe calls for vanilla protein powder, but I have also used chocolate and it is delicious!
I have made this recipe with both plant based and whey protein and both tasted great.
Stir it all up to combine.
Step 3: If you have a jar with lid, this is the best way to store overnight oats. Just screw the lid on the jar of oats and refrigerate overnight, or at least 4 hours.
The longer the oats sit, the softer they will be. If you do not have a jar with a lid, just cover the oats with cling wrap.
The oats will thicken up a lot in the fridge, and all the flavors will really combine.
We love making oats for a homemade breakfast that we can prep ahead for busy mornings.
What to put on overnight oats
The topping possibilities are endless! Here are some of our favorite overnight oat toppings.
- raspberries
- blueberries
- blackberries
- strawberries
- sliced banana
- slivered almonds
- walnuts
Of all of the overnight oat recipes I have tried, this one was by far my favorite! The flavors are rich and they are so filling and satisfying.
My boys love this recipe too, even though I can’t get them to eat regular oatmeal.
They love the sweetness and even asked to eat this as a snack too! This would be a great addition to your weekly meal prep.
Storing
Overnight oats will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Do not add the toppings until you are ready to eat them.
More Protein Packed Recipes
Protein Overnight Oats
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup rolled oats, old fashioned oats
- 2 tablespoons vanilla protein powder
- 1/2 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk
- 1/2 banana, mashed
- 1 tablespoon creamy peanut butter
- 1 teaspoon chia seeds
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
Instructions
- Mash the banana well and place it in a jar. Add the remaining ingredients: rolled oats, vanilla protein powder, almond milk, peanut butter, chia seeds, vanilla extract, and maple syrup and stir to combine.
- Screw the lid on the jar and place in the fridge overnight, or at least 4 hours.
- Once you are ready to eat the overnight oats, serve with your favorite toppings. We love fresh berries and slivered almonds!
Whoa. This recipe is UN-REAL. I rely heavily on internet bloggers for recipes and have stumbled across some delightful ones, but I’ve never a comment. This was SO good, I had to come back and drop a note. Thank you for publishing this amazing concoction!! It will be staple in our house going forward. Simple, convenient, nutritious, satisfying, delicious!
Note: I made a few slight adaptations for food sensitivities (sunflower butter vs. peanut butter, and plain pumpkin protein powder vs. vanilla protein powder) and reduced the maple syrup to 1 tbsp. My husband made it more closely to spec but used chocolate protein powder and also reduced the maple syrup to 1 tbsp. We were both shocked at how good it was!!
Thank you so much!!
I’m so glad you enjoyed the recipe Jessie! thanks so much for leaving a comment 🙂
Do you heat the oats up in the morning or eat them cold?
You eat them cold 🙂