These creamy Banana Cinnamon Overnight Oats are a delicious breakfast reminiscent of banana bread! Greek Yogurt & Chia Seeds add protein and healthy fats, while ripe bananas add natural sweetness and fiber. An easy healthy breakfast you can meal prep in advance for busy mornings.
As a dietitian, I am a big fan of overnight oats because they're so easy to customize, taste great, and are an easy way to start the day with plenty of dietary fiber to keep you satisfied. Honestly, sometimes I eat them as a snack!
These Banana Cinnamon Overnight oats are one of my favorites because the combination of ground cinnamon and bananas reminds me of eating banana toast as a kid!
If you're looking for more healthy recipes to start the day with, try my Strawberries & Cream Overnight Oats, Blueberry Cheesecake Oats, or a simple Egg Bake with Cottage Cheese for a high protein option.
Curious to learn more about the benefits of breakfast and want more breakfast options? Here are 7 Health Benefits of Breakfast and Ideas for Hormone Balancing Breakfasts.
Jump to:
Key Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
This Cinnamon Banana Overnight Oats Recipe is made with simple ingredients. Below are some ingredient notes. Check the recipe card at the bottom for measurements.
- Rolled Oats - if you ask me, the best oats for overnight oats are old-fashioned oats, also known as rolled oats, because they absorb the milk and become super creamy. I don't recommend using quick-cooking oats or instant oats because they get mushy. I don't recommend using steel cut oats because they will not become as soft. Look for the label that either says "rolled oats" or "old-fashioned oats". I love these from Bob's Red Mill. If you are gluten-free, be sure to look for certified gluten-free oats.
- Milk - I usually use almond milk for overnight oats because I like the consistency, but use your milk of your choice. Cow's milk, oat milk, soy milk, coconut milk or cashew milk are all good options.
- Chia Seeds - chia seeds add to the texture of overnight oats. They also add healthy fats, fiber, and protein. Plus, they have been shown to provide benefits for your skin, brain, and gut! Learn more about the health benefits of chia seeds. You can use flax seeds or even hemp seeds instead if you prefer.
- Yogurt - plain Greek Yogurt or Skyr (Icelandic Yogurt) are both great options to add protein and probiotics to help support gut health. If you are vegan, use your favorite dairy-free yogurt. Coconut milk yogurt, almond milk yogurt, or cashew milk yogurt are all options!
- Sweetener - I use honey for this recipe, but you could easily replace the honey with a different sweetener like pure maple syrup, agave, or date syrup.
- Vanilla Extract - just a small dash of vanilla extract adds a smooth and rich flavor. Feel free to substitute with almond extract if you prefer.
- Bananas - use a ripe banana with some brown spots for maximum sweetness!
- Cinnamon & Sea Salt- just a pinch of salt and cinnamon brings out the other flavors.
How to Make Banana Cinnamon Overnight Oats
Below are the step-by-step instructions for how to make these easy overnight oats with process shots that I hope are helpful! Don't forget to check out the recipe card at the bottom for the full recipe.
Step 1 - On a plate or small bowl, mash half a banana with a fork.
Step 2 - In a mason jar or other small container, mix the rolled oatmeal, cinnamon, salt, and chia seeds.
Step 3 - Then add the wet ingredients including the mashed banana, vanilla extract, honey, milk, and yogurt. Give it a good stir until everything is well combined. Cover and refrigerate overnight or at least for 4 hours to let the oats soak.
Step 4 - When ready to serve, add your favorite toppings.
Hint: I like to top mine with caramelized banana slices by adding a bit of olive oil to a skillet with the additional sliced banana, a little cinnamon and a squeeze of honey until warmed.
Dietitian Tip
These banana cinnamon overnight oats are nutrient-rich and can help you meet your daily needs! Oats contain dietary fiber and several micronutrients including thiamine, magnesium, and zinc! Whole grains like oats also contain plenty of antioxidants which are important for overall health. This recipe also provides healthy fatty acids and protein from the chia seeds, and potassium + vitamin C from the bananas.
Variations
There are so many ways to customize these Banana Cinnamon Overnight Oats! Feel free to get creative with your toppings and add-ins, too.
- Sweeter - if you like things on the sweeter side, double up on the honey or use vanilla-flavored milk or vanilla yogurt instead of plain!
- Vegan - make this recipe vegan by using plant-based milk and yogurt.
- High Protein - add a lot of protein with a scoop of protein powder. You may need to adjust the consistency by adding more milk.
- Pumpkin - in the fall, add pumpkin pie spice - a great way to enhance the sweetness of the banana.
Ideas for Toppings for Overnight Oats
- Fruit - add extra fruit on top. Blueberries or strawberries pair nicely with bananas.
- Dark Chocolate Chips - top these creamy oats with dark chocolate chips or chunks of your favorite dark chocolate bar!
- Nuts - add walnuts, sliced almonds, or chopped cashews on top for crunch and even more flavor.
- Nut butter - add a tablespoon of your favorite nut or seed butter. Peanut butter, cashew butter, or almond butter work great. For an allergy-friendly nut-free option, use sunflower seed butter.
Best Containers for Overnight Oats
Here are some options for containers to use for overnight oats:
- Wide Mouth Mason Jars, 16 oz works perfectly
- These Overnight Oat Jars come with a spoon and a marker so you can mark the flavors or date you meal-prepped them. I like the colors of the tops on these!
- Overnight Oats Containers with Lids and Spoon
- These Vintage Coffee Mugs with bamboo lids and spoons are great if you're looking for a pretty glass to serve overnight oats.
Storage for Overnight Oats
- Refrigerator - store overnight oats in an airtight container. You can keep overnight oats in the fridge for up to 3-4 days. I typically make them the night before and let them soak overnight, but you could meal prep multiple jars to have them ready for you throughout the whole week.
Expert Tips
- Use Rolled Oats (also called Old-Fashioned Oats) for best texture when soaked.
- For thicker oatmeal, add a bit less milk to the oat mixture.
- Use a wide-mouth mason jar or even an empty peanut butter or almond butter jar to make your overnight oats. Don't use a container with a narrow mouth because it will be harder to mix.
- If you like your overnight oats a bit thinner, add an extra splash of milk.
- Use a ripe banana! A banana that is a little over-ripened is even better.
FAQ
While healthy eating means something different to everyone, overnight oats are a nourishing option that can help you meet your daily dietary needs! Oatmeal is high in soluble fiber, chia seeds provide healthy fatty acids, Greek yogurt adds protein, and banana provides dietary fiber, antioxidants, and potassium.
The best oats for overnight oats are rolled oats, also called old-fashioned oats. I love these from Bob's Red Mill. Quick oats and instant oats are smaller pieces and cook faster so they tend to get too mushy for overnight oats. Steel-cut oats are not steamed or rolled as rolled oats are. Because of that, they take much longer to cook or soften and don't work so great for overnight oats.
As it is with all things that have to do with nutrition, the answer is not so simple but I would say that oatmeal can certainly help with weight loss. The soluble fiber found in oats can help you stay full for longer making it less likely that you will overeat at your next meal or snack. A recent study in the Physiological Research Journal showed that fiber, starch, and other phytochemicals in oatmeal can have an anti-obesity effect and can also help to promote healthy gut bacteria.
Yes! Normally overnight oats are eaten right out of the fridge. But if you preper a warm bowl of oatmeal and want to heat them up, you absolutely can.
Related
Looking for other dietitian recipes like this? Try these:
Perfect for Pairing
These are my favorite dishes to serve with Banana Cinnamon Overnight Oats:
I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I do! I would love to hear from you! If you made this recipe, please leave me a review below or tag me in a photo or story on Instagram. Your reviews help support me and make it possible for me to continue to create the recipes you know and love. 🙂 IG: @mallorythedietitian
📖 Recipe
Easy Banana Cinnamon Overnight Oats Recipe (Meal Prep)
Equipment
- Mason Jar with Lid 16 oz
Ingredients
- ½ a ripe banana, mashed
- ½ cup rolled oats
- ½ tablespoon chia seeds
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ cup almond milk, unsweetened (or milk of choice)
- ⅓ cup Greek yogurt (plain or vanilla)
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ tablespoon honey (or sweetener of choice)
- pinch sea salt
Instructions
- On a plate or small bowl, mash half a banana with a fork.
- In a mason jar or other small container, mix the rolled oatmeal, cinnamon, salt, and chia seeds. Then add the wet ingredients including the mashed banana, vanilla extract, honey, milk, and yogurt. Give it a good stir until everything is well combined.
- Cover and refrigerate overnight or at least for 4 hours to let the oats soak.
- When ready to serve, add your favorite toppings.
- Optional: top mine with caramelized banana slices by adding a bit of olive oil to a skillet with the additional sliced banana, a little cinnamon and a squeeze of honey until warmed.
Notes
- Use Rolled Oats (also called Old-Fashioned Oats) for best texture.
- A ripe banana with some brown spots will be sweeter than a banana that hasn't yet ripened.
- For thicker oatmeal, add a bit less milk to the oat mixture.
- If you like your overnight oats thinner, add a little extra milk.
- Refrigerator - store overnight oats in an airtight container. You can keep overnight oats in the fridge for up to 3-4 days. I typically make them the night before and let them soak overnight, but you could meal prep multiple jars to have them ready for you throughout the whole week,
Comments
No Comments