These banana bread overnight oats are cozy, customizable, and perfect for busy mornings—packed with banana bread flavor you love.
Love breakfast that’s both delicious and nourishing? Try my Protein Chia Pudding, Oat Bran Muffins, or Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie.
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I’m all about meal prep—it’s my not-so-secret weapon to make sure there’s always something good (and nourishing) ready to grab. And overnight banana bread–overnight oats make mornings so much easier.
They’ve got all the flavor of banana bread—just like my Vegan Chocolate Chip Banana Bread—but in grab-and-go form.
It’s kind of like making my bed in the morning—it’s less about the action itself and more about starting the day with a little win. Something simple. Something steady. That’s exactly what these oats do. They’re easy, cozy, and give you that warm banana-bread energy without needing to turn on the oven.
Why you’ll love this Banana Bread Overnight Oats recipe
- Breakfast Shortcut: No cooking required—just mix and chill your oats overnight!
- Endless Flavor Possibilities: From fruity, nutty, or even chocolatey—there are SO many ways to make these banana overnight oats your own.
- Delicious Hot or Cold: Enjoy them chilled straight from the fridge or warm them up for a cozy, comforting breakfast bowl.
- Budget-Friendly: Oats are an inexpensive pantry staple, and you can use those ripe bananas for this healthy banana bread recipe!
How to make Banana Bread Overnight Oats
Find the complete recipe with measurements in the recipe card below.
Start by adding old fashioned rolled oats to a glass or mixing bowl.
Note: You can also prepare this overnight oats recipe in a mixing bowl to add banana layers.
Add the rest of your ingredients—unsweetened almond milk, dairy free vanilla yogurt, mashed banana, maple syrup, chia seeds, vanilla extract, cinnamon, salt, and any optional toppings if using.
Give it all a good stir, cover, and let it sit in the fridge for at least 4 hours, or ideally, overnight.
After refrigerating, top with extra banana slices, walnuts, or even a dash of nutmeg. Enjoy your yummy banana overnight oats!
In the kitchen tips
- Timing: Give your banana bread overnight oats at least 4 hours to soak up all the goodness. The longer they sit, the creamier they get, so overnight is ideal, but not a must.
- Adjust the liquid: Start with a 1:1 milk-to-oats ratio, adjusting based on your preferred consistency. More almond milk makes for creamier oats; less for thicker.
- Top it off: Add nuts, seeds, or granola just before serving to keep them crunchy.
- Mason jars: Perfect for prepping single servings of your overnight oats.
- Chia seeds: They bring omega-3s and fiber, plus they give your oats a pudding-like texture.
- Leftovers: Don’t let extra berries or half a banana go to waste—toss them into your oats or use them in Spiced Banana Crunch.
- Choose your milk: Unsweetened vanilla almond milk adds a lovely hint of flavor to your banana oats.
- Adjust the sweetness: If you like it sweeter, add a bit more maple syrup.
Banana Bread Overnight Oats FAQs
Absolutely! They’re packed with nutrients like fiber, protein, essential vitamins, and minerals.
Yes! Steel-cut oats take longer to soften than rolled oats, so you’ll need to soak them for at least 8 hours or overnight.
You can, but milk (dairy or non-dairy) gives a creamier texture and adds protein to keep you satisfied.
They stay fresh for up to 2-3 days in an airtight container.
Yes! While they’re delicious cold, you can also warm them up on the stovetop or in the microwave for a cozy breakfast bowl.
📖 Recipe
Banana Bread Overnight Oats
Ingredients
- ½ cup rolled oats, if needed, certified gluten-free
- ½ cup unsweetened dairy-free milk, I use silk
- ¼ cup unsweetened, dairy-free vanilla yogurt
- 1 ripe banana, mashed (the riper, the sweeter!)
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup, optional, or adjust to taste
- ½ tablespoon chia seeds
- ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- ⅛ teaspoon cinnamon
- Pinch sea salt
Instructions
- In a jar or container, combine the oats, milk, yogurt, mashed banana, maple syrup (if using), chia seeds, vanilla, cinnamon, salt, and optional toppings if using.
- Stir everything together until well combined. Make sure the banana is mixed in well.
- If you’re feeling like it, add a layer of peanut butter or almond butter, followed by sliced bananas. Top with a drizzle of nut butter before sealing the jar (walnuts or pecans once it’s finished).
- If using add the optional toppings now and mix again.
- Cover the jar and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, or ideally, overnight. The longer the oats soak, the creamier they’ll become.
- You can eat it cold straight from the jar, warm it up in the microwave, or on the stovetop with a splash of milk.
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Julie Gaeta is a plant-based recipe creator, certified Integrative Nutrition Health Coach, and mom of nine who's been plant-based for over 20 years. She's cooked approximately 4,382 pots of beans and can't vacation without her juicer and pasta pot. Her work has been featured in HuffPost, Yahoo, YourTango, and other major outlets. She helps others simplify wellness and feel good again through her blog, coaching, and weekly newsletter.
Julie Gaeta says
Delicious flavors and such an easy, feel-good breakfast. As someone who loves to meal prep, I’m all about recipes like this that make mornings easier.