This healthy protein overnight oats recipe is protein-packed with peanut butter and protein powder for a quick and easy breakfast!
I love opening the fridge and having breakfast all ready to go. There’s nothing worse than being in a rush in the morning and having to think through what you’re going to eat.
Overnight oats are one of the easiest breakfasts you can make. They really are the perfect breakfast on the go, and you can eat them warm or cold. Toddlers love overnight oats, too!
They’re so versatile and healthy, I honestly don’t know how I’ve made it this far without creating a protein overnight oats recipe for you!
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What does it taste like?
This easy overnight oats recipe is smooth, creamy, and thick. It’s flavored with peanut butter, banana, cinnamon, and vanilla, and is one of the most filling breakfasts here on The Oregon Dietitian.
I personally like to make them as stated in the recipe, then add a little more almond milk and heat them up in the morning. It makes them a little more milky, cozy, and just all around comforting.
Ingredients
Old fashioned rolled oats – These are the best type of oats to use for overnight oats, because they get soft but not mushy, and have a great texture, too! Don’t use instant oats or they will get really mushy. Use certified gluten-free rolled oats if you need to.
Unsweetened almond milk – I like to use the unsweetened vanilla flavor, but you can use any milk you’d like to! Regular dairy milk, soy milk, cashew milk, oat milk, and rice milk would all work great in this protein-packed breakfast recipe.
Chia seeds – I like to add chia seeds to most of my breakfasts, simply because they add a ton of fiber and are a great source of omega-3 fatty acids. They aren’t required for this recipe.
Peanut butter – I’m a fan of creamy peanut butter, but you can use any nut or seed butter you want to. Almond butter or sunflower butter would also work great.
Vanilla extract – Just a little more flavor in this breakfast recipe. Make sure to use pure vanilla extract instead of the imitation flavoring. Imitation vanilla is just really fake and definitely not good for your health.
Maple syrup – The main sweetener in this recipe. It adds some sweetness without overpowering the other flavors. Just like the vanilla extract, make sure to use the pure maple syrup!
Cinnamon – I love adding cinnamon to this recipe. It makes the oats taste a little sweeter without more added sugar.
Vanilla protein powder – Use a high-quality protein powder that isn’t chalky and that doesn’t have a weird aftertaste, like Designer Whey. It’s my favorite go-to protein powder, and I use it in all kinds of recipes like protein coffee, protein donuts, and all of my morning smoothies.
Banana – The last ingredient, sliced bananas on top of your overnight oats gives them texture and another delicious flavor!
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients except the banana in a medium glass jar or container.
- Stir until well combined, then refrigerate for at least 6 hours.
- Top with sliced bananas. Add a little more almond milk or peanut butter on top, if desired. Serve warm or cold!
Tips & FAQ
Protein overnight oats have a lot more fiber and protein than regular oatmeal, making them a healthy and filling breakfast any day of the week! The fiber and protein keep you full, and also helps improve your gut health, too!
Yes, you can! I’ve found that adding protein powder to hot oatmeal doesn’t always turn out great, and can often be dry and chalky. However, by adding protein powder to cold oats and refrigerating overnight, you avoid that dry, chalky oatmeal.
In general, these protein overnight oats are really great for keeping your GI tract healthy and keeping you full. If you’re trying to limit your carbohydrate intake, overnight oats may not be the best option for you.
Yes! In fact, my 2 year old loves overnight oats. I make my toddler her own jar at the same time I make mine, just without protein powder. Most toddlers and children don’t need extra protein supplements, so I keep her oats as simple as possible.
Dried fruits, nuts, seeds, pureed pumpkin, chocolate chips, cocoa nibs, berries, cocoa powder, nutmeg, dry ginger, or other flavors of protein powder would all work great in this oats recipe!
Nutritional Info
This overnight oats recipe is a high-protein, complete breakfast that’s made with all-natural, whole-food ingredients.
Oats, maple syrup, and banana are all naturally high in carbs, which is why this recipe seems to be pretty carb-heavy. The high protein and high fiber content help to balance that out though. These make for a filling, healthy breakfast on the go.
Total nutritional content per serving is:
- Calories: 445 calories
- Protein: 22 grams
- Total Fat: 18 grams
- Sodium: 225 mg
- Carbohydrates: 62 grams
- Fiber: 14 grams
*This nutritional information is an estimate and calculated based on the ingredients used to create the recipe. The nutritional value of your ingredients may differ slightly. Furthermore, this food is not intended to prevent, diagnose, cure, or treat any disease.
Looking for another easy way to add protein to your morning? Try making protein coffee at home!
Pricing Info
Here is what I personally paid to make this recipe:
- 1/2 cup rolled oats (in bulk): $.08
- 3/4 cup unsweetened almond milk: $.41
- 1 tbsp chia seeds (in bulk): $.10
- 1 tbsp peanut butter: $.05
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract: $.25
- 1 tbsp pure maple syrup: $.19
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon: $.02
- 1/4 cup sliced banana: $.05
- 2 tbsp Designer Whey Protein Powder: $.45
Total for this recipe, which is 1 serving, comes out to be $1.60!
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Recipe
Easy Protein Overnight Oats
Ingredients
- ½ cup old fashioned rolled oats
- ¾ cup unsweetened almond milk
- 1 tbsp chia seeds
- 1 tbsp peanut butter
- 1 tbsp pure maple syrup
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- ½ tsp cinnamon
- 2 tbsp vanilla protein powder
- ¼ cup banana sliced
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients except the banana in a medium glass jar or container. Stir until well combined, then refrigerate for at least 6 hours.
- Top with sliced bananas. Add a little more almond milk or peanut butter on top, if desired. Make these up to 3 days ahead of time. Serve warm or cold!
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Nutrition
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These protein-packed overnight oats are the perfect make-ahead breakfast for you and your whole family! Keep your morning healthy and productive with this high protein breakfast recipe!
xoxo Megan
Looks yummy!!
I try to eat 3 meals p/day but the amount of carbs in almost all the overnight oats is high… can I use other fruit or any other substitute??
Regards
Jenny
Hmm, the amount of carbs is typically high in overnight oats because oats are so high in carbs! If you’re looking for something similar that is lower in carbs, you should try chia pudding! I have a recipe here: Peanut Butter Banana Chia Pudding
It’s excellent…curious if you know the fat amount? Tracking macros can’t figure this one out! Thank I’m advance!
Hi there! It has 18 grams fat per serving. This is mostly from the peanut butter and the chia seeds. Hope that helps! 🙂
I made it tonight 💜
I hope you loved it 🙂
Happy to have found this recipe. I finished up my bananas so added some grated apple in their place! I think I’ll try it next with pistachio butter and maybe some chocolate protein or add coconut. I see lots of possibilities, thank you for sharing!
Oh yum!!!! Pistachio butter?! I’d love to try that sometime, too!
Evonbradley I can’t have milk can I substitute can I buy instant oatmeal please reply back
You can use water instead! I would not use instant oatmeal in this recipe, it will be too mushy.
Omg, I absolutely love this recipe! I followed the instructions except also added shredded coconut. So good, thank you!
I’m so glad you loved it Kristin! 🙂
This recipe looks amazing!!! I’m going to try it out tonight, I bet my little one will love it!
Let me know what you think! 🙂
Oh my gosh I’ve had it the last two mornings! It’s soooo good!!! I haven’t even tried it warmed up yet because it’s so yummy cold. I added raisins yesterday and the overnight oats tasted like a peanut butter oatmeal raisin cookie. Thanks for the awesome breakfast recipe!!!
I’m so glad they were a hit! I love them too 🙂