Peanut Butter Banana Overnight Oatmeal

These Peanut Butter Banana Overnight Oats are a total fan favorite for breakfast! They're creamy, slightly sweet (without needing added sugar if your bananas are nice and ripe), and give you that cozy peanut butter banana toast vibe, but with way more staying power. We're talking 10g of protein and fiber each, plus healthy fats to keep you full until lunch.

I usually prep 2 or 3 jars at a time and mix up the toppings later, depending on what we have. My kids love it with a few chocolate chips sprinkled in. I love it because it takes five minutes the night before. Win-win.

Want more make-ahead oatmeal ideas? Try this Apple Cinnamon Overnight Oatmeal, Carrot Cake Overnight Oats, or Strawberry Chia Overnight Oats next!

Before You Get Started

Here are a few quick tips to help you make the best overnight oats:

• Use ripe bananas: The riper, the better! This cuts down the need for added sugar.
• Choose the right oats: Old-fashioned rolled oats give the best texture. Quick oats work too, just softer.
• Chill long enough: Let the oats sit at least 4 hours, ideally overnight, so they absorb all the liquid and flavors.

How to Make Overnight Oats

Overnight oats are seriously the easiest breakfast ever. Here’s how to make them:

1. Make the Base

After lots of experimenting, I have found what I consider to be the perfect combination for making overnight oats that are thick, creamy, and delicious. For a single serving, start with 1/2 cup of old-fashioned oats, 1/2 cup milk of your choice (I used almond milk), and 2 teaspoons chia seeds. The chia seeds add a thickness that makes the oats really delicious, plus they are packed with nutritional benefits.

2. Customize

Now let's talk about ways to customize this recipe since you will definitely want to add some flavor to your oats. Always start by mixing any liquid or liquid-like ingredients (nut butter, yogurt, mashed fruit, vanilla extract, sweetener) together so that they combine and the flavor will be distributed throughout the oats. You can also add any spices during this step.

3. Add the Oats

Next, add in the oats and give them a really good stir. Again, you want to make sure everything is well combined so that you get an even flavor and texture throughout the oats. In terms of oats, old-fashioned rolled oats work best, but instant or quick cooking oats also work. The texture will just be much softer.

4. Refrigerate

Then refrigerate the oats for at least 4 hours, ideally overnight, so that the liquid can naturally soften the oats. Then it's time to eat! Overnight oatmeal can be eaten cold, at room temperature, or warmed in the microwave.

Recipe Ideas and Variations

Want to change things up? Here are some easy swaps and flavor variations to make this recipe your own:

• Milk type: Use chocolate almond or soy milk to create a chocolate version of this recipe. You could also use cocoa powder or add some chocolate chips.
• Nut butter: Swap in a different nut butter for a slightly different flavor. It's delicious with almond butter, cashew butter, or sunflower butter, and I even like it with tahini for a fancy option.
• Make it sweeter: Make it sweeter by adding a dash of maple syrup or honey to the oats. Add as much or as little as you like!
• Add fruit: Finish the dish in the morning with some extra fresh fruit like berries, apples, pears, or dried fruit.
• Texture: Add crunch with some sliced or chopped nuts. You could also add seeds, hemp hearts, or any other add-ins you like.
• Gluten-free: For a truly gluten-free version, make sure to use certified gluten-free oats.
• Make it thicker: For a thicker overnight oat mixture, add some extra chia seeds or use less milk. For a thinner, more porridge-like consistency, use a little extra milk.
• Add protein: Add more protein with a scoop of protein powder! Unflavored, vanilla, or chocolate protein powder would be great here.
• Make it creamy: Make it creamier and boost the protein with a scoop of plain Greek yogurt!