Chocolate Overnight Oats
Our healthy Chocolate Overnight Oats recipe is the perfect make-ahead breakfast to make mornings easy. So quick and easy, it takes 5 minutes and only 5 ingredients!
Weekday mornings in our house are busy. Three kids. Two different schools and bell schedules. Three different needs and preferences.
And honestly, I’m not the best morning person, so cooking first thing in the morning is not my fav. I will make egg scrambles, breakfast sandwiches, and maybe some frozen waffles in the toaster. 😂
But my jam is making things ahead of time (like the night before when I make dinner) so that we can just grab and eat (or go!).
Some of my favorite make-ahead breakfast ideas are:
- Stuffed Breakfast Biscuits (AKA Breakfast Bombs)
- Pumpkin Baked Oatmeal: A Breakfast Must-Have
- Delicious and Hearty Baked Oatmeal Recipe With Fruit
- Bacon, Spinach & Potato Frittata Muffins
And now I have a new one for you! After the way my kids devoured my Apple Cinnamon Overnight Oats, I thought it was time to expand the palette a little.
Say hello to Chocolate Overnight Oats! This recipe is absolutely genius. And who doesn’t enjoy chocolate anytime (but especially at breakfast)?
But the BEST part of Chocolate Overnight Oats is that they’re healthy, loaded with fiber, and will keep you full until lunch.
If you want more hearty breakfast recipes, try my Easy Gluten-Free Pumpkin Pancakes (Paleo Approved) and Irresistible Almond Blueberry Granola.
Ingredients Needed For Chocolate Overnight Oats
- Old-Fashioned Oats
- Milk – whole or 2%
- Brown Sugar – light or dark
- Cocoa Powder
- Semi-sweet Chocolate Chips – for garnish
How To Make Chocolate Overnight Oats
This recipe is SO easy!
Step 1 – Layer The Ingredients
In a mason jar with a lid, add the ingredients in this exact order:
Milk, oats, brown sugar, and cocoa powder last.
Step 2 – Mix Them Up
Next, give the mixture a quick stir with a spoon to incorporate the ingredients.
Step 3 – Seal The Jar
Seal the jar with the lid and shake for at least 30 seconds.
Step 4 – Let Them Sit Overnight
Place the jar in the refrigerator for at least 8 hours or overnight.
Step 5 – Serve Them Up!
When you are ready to eat and serve, remove your chocolate overnight oats from the refrigerator and microwave on high for 30 seconds.
Do not microwave if you prefer it cold for a warm summer morning. 🙂
Step 6 – Add Toppings (Optional)
Top with a few extra chocolate chips for a little extra boost of chocolatey goodness.
Step 7
ENJOY!!!
Chocolate Overnight Oats Recipe Notes And Tips
- When filling the jars, make sure you leave room at the top for the shaking process and also for the expansion of the oats as they soak up the milk and get warmed up the next morning.
- After you take the oats out of the fridge, give them one quick stir before eating or heating. This will ensure that all the fantastic flavors are well-combined into every bite.
- A good tip to remember when preparing your overnight oats is to make sure the jar has a wide enough opening to make it easy to prep and eat the oats from the same container. I prefer wide-mouth mason jars 😉
- If the oat mixture is a little too thick after sitting overnight, you can add a teaspoon or so of additional milk before stirring and heating to thin it out just a little.
Variations Chocolate Overnight Oats To Try
- Top with some sliced bananas or shredded coconut. Or add them all to the warm overnight oats. YUMMY!
- Add some raspberries or blueberries to the top of the warm or cold oats before serving.
- Drizzle a little warm peanut butter on top just before serving for an added boost of flavor and protein.
- Stir in some chia seeds or top with some mixed, chopped nuts.
- Drizzle a little honey or maple syrup on the top for a little extra sweetness. 😉
FAQs
Here are a few common questions I see readers ask about making this recipe. If you have a question but don’t see it answered below, please leave it for me in the comments!
I find that the old-fashioned rolled oats are the best to use for overnight oats. They will soften up more quickly but still have plenty of texture, so the mixture isn’t too soft and mushy.
Instant oats have little to no texture after they have soaked, so they would not be the best choice for this recipe.
Steel-cut oats require a much longer soak time and will need extra liquid, so also not the best choice for this recipe.
These overnight oats will keep in the fridge for up to 4 days.
I usually mix up 3 – 4 jars at the same time, so I have enough for each of my kids for one day or my breakfast meal for a few days.
No, unfortunately, this overnight oats recipe is not freezer friendly.
That’s totally up to you! 😁 Some people prefer to eat them cold directly out of the fridge.
However, many people prefer to warm up overnight oats, which is completely acceptable. Try them both ways and see which you prefer most.
No, you do not! You can use any glass container of your choice or one that you have on hand. I would recommend that it is an air-tight, glass container with a lid.
More Hearty and Delicious Recipes To Try
- The Best Chili Mac Recipe
- Blueberry Muffin Mix Pancakes
- Easy Three Bean Slow Cooker Chili
- Healthy, Delicious, Nutritious Turkey Rice Soup
- Best Beef Stroganoff
Chocolate Overnight Oats
Our healthy Chocolate Overnight Oats recipe is the perfect make-ahead breakfast to make mornings easy. So quick and easy, it takes 5 minutes and only 5 ingredients!
Ingredients
- 1 cup old-fashioned oats
- 1 1/2 cups milk plus some additional milk to put on top when serving (optional)
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon cocoa powder
- Semi-sweet chocolate chips for garnish
Instructions
In a jar that can seal, add in the following order:
- Milk
- Oats
- Brown sugar
- Cocoa powder
Using a spoon, stir the mixture to get it started
Seal with the lid and give it a good 30-second shake.
Place in the refrigerator overnight or for 8 hours.
Remove and microwave for 30 seconds for a warm serving or leave cold for those hot summer mornings. Top with chocolate chips for that extra boost of sweet caffeine!
