Strawberry Banana Overnight Oats (Print Version)

Creamy oats with fresh strawberries, ripe banana, and chia seeds, chilled for a nutritious morning boost.

# What You'll Need:

→ 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 Steps:

01 - In a medium bowl or jar, combine oats, chia seeds, milk, Greek yogurt, maple syrup or honey, vanilla extract, and salt. Mix thoroughly until well incorporated.
02 - Gently fold in half the diced strawberries and half the banana slices into the oat mixture.
03 - Divide the mixture evenly between two jars or containers, ensuring equal distribution.
04 - Top each serving with the remaining strawberries and banana slices.
05 - Cover and refrigerate for at least 8 hours to allow oats and chia seeds to fully soak and soften.
06 - In the morning, stir gently. Add an extra splash of milk if desired for a looser consistency. Serve chilled.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • You genuinely make this once and have two breakfasts waiting, which feels like winning at meal prep without actually trying.
  • The strawberries and banana do all the sweetening work, so you're not dumping in sugar and pretending it's healthy.
  • Zero cooking required means you can make this in your pajamas while half-asleep and still feel accomplished.
02 -
  • Don't use instant oats or oat flour because they'll turn to mush and disappear—old-fashioned rolled oats are worth the trip to find them, and they make all the difference between creamy and sad.
  • The banana has to be ripe, and I mean actually ripe with brown spots, because that's when all the natural sugars wake up and you won't need to add much syrup at all.
03 -
  • Always use ripe bananas with brown spots because that's where the natural sweetness lives, and it means you can use less added syrup while tasting just as good.
  • Keep the pretty strawberries for the top layer where you'll actually see them—the ones you fold in can be imperfect because they're doing flavor work, not visual work.
Go Back