Description
Make this easy, make-ahead chocolate overnight oats recipe for a decadent, healthy breakfast that tastes like brownie batter. It is perfect for busy mornings and meal prep.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1/2 cup rolled oats
- 1 tablespoon chia seeds
- 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder or cacao powder
- 1 scoop (about 20g) chocolate or vanilla protein powder (optional, for high protein oats)
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup or honey (adjust to taste)
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
- 3/4 cup milk (dairy, almond, or oat milk for dairy free overnight oats)
- 1/4 cup Greek yogurt (or dairy-free yogurt alternative)
- 1 tablespoon mini chocolate chips (optional)
Instructions
- In a jar or container with a lid, combine the rolled oats, chia seeds, cocoa powder, protein powder (if using), maple syrup, vanilla extract, and salt. Mix these dry ingredients well.
- Pour in the milk and add the Greek yogurt. Stir everything together until the cocoa powder is fully incorporated and there are no dry clumps remaining.
- If you are using chocolate chips, stir them in now.
- Seal the container tightly and shake well, or stir vigorously one last time to ensure the chia seeds are distributed.
- Place the container in the refrigerator and let it chill for at least 4 hours, but preferably overnight. This allows the oats to soften and the mixture to thicken into creamy overnight oats.
- In the morning, check the consistency. If it is too thick, stir in a splash more milk.
- Enjoy this quick grab and go meal cold, straight from the fridge. Top with fresh berries or a sprinkle of nuts if desired.
Notes
- For a richer, brownie batter oats flavor, increase the cocoa powder to 3 tablespoons and add 1/2 teaspoon of instant coffee granules (this deepens the chocolate flavor without tasting like coffee).
- If you skip the protein powder, you may need slightly less milk to reach your preferred thickness.
- This recipe is naturally vegetarian. To make it vegan chocolate breakfast, use plant-based milk and ensure your sweetener is maple syrup (not honey).
- This recipe yields one serving. You can easily double or triple the ingredients for meal prep oatmeal.
- Prep Time: 5 min
- Cook Time: 0 min
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: No Cook/Refrigeration
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 jar
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 15
- Sodium: 150
- Fat: 8
- Saturated Fat: 2
- Unsaturated Fat: 6
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 55
- Fiber: 10
- Protein: 18
- Cholesterol: 10