Sweet juicy strawberries with anything creamy is a natural match, so it’s no wonder that these strawberry overnight oats are such a delicious breakfast. Plus, all you need is 10 minutes to mix up a few simple ingredients for a make-ahead morning meal!

strawberry overnight oats in mason jars with strawberries on top for a garnish

Why We Love Strawberry Overnight Oats

If you are looking for a healthy breakfast idea, or if you have an abundance of fresh strawberries then you’ll want to save this Strawberry Overnights Oats recipe for later. Or, put down what you’re doing and get into the kitchen right now because it only takes about 10 minutes to make this recipe.

  • Great for meal prep- each serving is prepped in its own resealable container or jar so they are ideal for a portion-controlled grab-and-go breakfast!
  • Can be doubled, or tripled depending on how many servings you want. Or you can cut it in half to make a single serving!
  • These overnight oats with strawberries are naturally sweetened with honey
  • Can be made with dairy-free milk and yogurt
  • High in Vitamin C and a good source of calcium.
  • Customizable ingredients

Why Are Overnight Oats Left Overnight?

Overnight oats are a popular meal prep breakfast for a few reasons:

  1. Oats are easier to digest when they are soaked overnight. In particular, when they are soaked in slightly acidic liquid (like yogurt or with fruit) they have less phytic acid.
  2. Unlike oats cooked in water, overnight oats are high in protein because they are made with milk and Greek yogurt. Protein helps keep you full all morning long and may help you snack less later in the evening!
  3. Prepping them is a hands-off process. While they soak in the refrigerator overnight the oats become thick and creamy. So there is no need to spend time cooking them!

Key Ingredients for Overnight Oats with Strawberries

bowls full of oats, chia seeds, honey, greek yogurt, strawberries, milk, and flax seeds to make overnight oats
  • Strawberries: During strawberry season you’ll want to try this recipe with fresh berries, but if you are making this at another time of year, you can use frozen berries instead. Reserve some strawberries for garnish on top of your oats. 
  • Honey: Feel free to add more or less to your preference. If your berries are particularly sweet, you may need a little less. Substitute in maple syrup, if desired. 
  • Rolled Oats: We recommend using old-fashioned rolled oats for this recipe because they create the perfect smooth and chewy texture. If all you have are quick oats, you can use them to be enjoyed the next day – otherwise, they’ll get too mushy. Be sure to avoid steel cut, as the texture will be too dense. 
  • Greek Yogurt: We use plain Greek yogurt. If you’re making your oats dairy-free, use non-dairy yogurt. 
  • Milk: Unsweetened plant-based milk works well or if you like dairy milk, choose whatever you typically buy. You can use almond milk, coconut milk (although it will have a stronger flavor), oat milk, or any other favorite plant-based milk. Low fat or fat-free like can be used if desired. Keep in mind that nutritional information will change depending on any ingredient changes you make. We analyzed this with skim milk.  
  • Chia Seeds and Ground Flax Seeds (optional): Chia and flax add fiber and essential fatty acids to the dish and thicken the texture of the overnight oats. You can omit them or use one or the other.

During strawberry season, your berries may be sweet enough on their own that they require less honey. If you’re not sure, taste them! If they are quite sweet, feel free to use a little less honey.

Step By Step Instructions To Make This Recipe

coat strawberries with honey and then combine the oat mixture

Step 1: Coat Strawberries with Honey

Stir the chopped strawberries and honey together in a small bowl and then divide them among two pint-sized jars. 

Step 2: Combine Oat Mixture

In a separate bowl, mix together the oats, milk, yogurt, and seeds.

assemble the mason jars with strawberries on the bottom and oat mixture spooned on top, then add strawberries on top for garnish

Step 3: Assemble Jars

Spoon the oat mixture into the jars over the strawberries. Cover and refrigerate for 12 to 24 hours (or up to 4 days).

Step 4: Stir and Serve

Stir the cold oats into the berries before serving and add additional sliced fresh strawberries if desired. 

two mason jars full of strawberry overnight oats, with two small blue crates of strawberries in the background, and a strawberry and some oats scattered on the wooden table in the foreground

FAQs and Expert tips for Overnight Oatmeal

Should I eat overnight oats hot or cold? 

They’re meant to be eaten cold, but you can heat them up if you prefer. Soaking your oats overnight will give them a soft and creamy texture so they don’t need to be heated. However, if you prefer them to be warmer, just transfer them to a microwave-safe bowl and heat them in the microwave for about 30 seconds at a time until they reach your desired temperature. 

How do I meal prep and store overnight oats? 

Overnight oats can be made in any container but we like to use jars for individual servings. Keep them covered (whether in a jar or an airtight container) and keep them refrigerated up to 4 days. For best results, make sure to use berries that are free of any sign of rot and wash them well before slicing.

Can I use water instead of milk in overnight oats? 

The milk in this recipe makes the oats creamy and delicious! If you don’t like milk or you’re dairy-free, we’d recommend using plant-based milk so you can retain that creaminess. If you’d like to use water, you can, but the flavor and texture won’t be quite the same. 

Can I use frozen strawberries?

Yes! Mix the frozen berries with the honey while still frozen. Layer on the oats and milk mixture and let them defrost overnight. They will become ultra juicy!

Can I use quick-cooking oats for overnight oats?

Yes quick cook oats or instant oats can be used instead of old fashioned or rolled oats.

Can I use steel cut oats instead of old-fashioned oats?

No, you cannot make overnight oats with steel cut oats. They require cooking to soften.

Are overnight oats gluten-free?

No, not all overnight oats are gluten-free. While oats are naturally gluten-free, most commercially available oats are cross-contaminated with gluten from their manufacturing process. If you follow a gluten-free diet, make sure to look for gluten-free oats. They are available in large supermarkets and health food stores.

Variations To Try

Think of our formula as a jumping-off point to get creative and customize your breakfast! Sub out our basic ingredients for one of these alternatives:

  • Use 1 tablespoon honey plus 1 tablespoon strawberry jam to sweeten these strawberry oats
  • Add a scoop of protein powder to the oat mixture in place of the Greek yogurt (just add a generous splash of milk to compensate)
  • Whisk a little almond butter or peanut butter with the honey
  • Increase the chia seeds or flax seeds for more EFAs and fiber- just make sure to add a little extra milk so it doesn’t get too thick.
  • Add in chopped nuts or coconut flakes (add to the strawberry overnight oatmeal before serving or mix into the combination of oats.)

More Meal Prep Breakfast Recipes to Try

a focus on one mason jar full of overnight oats garnished with strawberries, with a gold spoon and strawberry in the foreground, and another mason jar of oats and some blue crates of strawberries in the background

Thanks so much for reading! If you are new here, you may want to sign up for my email newsletter to get a free weekly menu plan and the latest recipes right to your inbox. If you make this recipe, please come back and leave a star rating and review. I would love to hear what you thought!

Happy Cooking! ~Katie

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two mason jars full of strawberry overnight oats on a wooden surface

Strawberry Overnight Oats


5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

5 from 5 reviews

  • Author: Katie Webster
  • Total Time: 12 hours, 10 mins
  • Yield: 2 servings 1x

Description

If you are looking for a healthy breakfast idea, or if you have an abundance of fresh strawberries then you’ll want to make these creamy overnight oats with sweet juicy strawberries. This delicious breakfast only requires a few minutes to prep, plus it is healthy and high in protein! 


Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup sliced strawberries, plus more for garnish
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • 1 cup rolled oats
  • 1 cup milk, unsweetened plant based or dairy, fat-free if desired
  • 1/2 cup plain Greek Yogurt
  • 1 tsp each chia seeds and ground flax seeds (optional)

Instructions

  1. Stir strawberries and honey in a small bowl. Divide among two pint sized jars.
  2. Stir the oats, milk, yogurt and seeds in the bowl.  
  3. Spoon oat mixture into the jars over the strawberries. Cover and refrigerate for 12 to 24 hours (or up to 4 days.)
  4. Stir before serving and add on additional sliced fresh strawberries if desired.

Notes

Make Ahead & Storage: You can slice the strawberries a day or two ahead of time. Assemble the jars and store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 12 hours at least, and four days at most.

  • Prep Time: 10 mins
  • Active Time: 10 mins
  • Cook Time: N/A
  • Category: Breakfast
  • Method: N/A
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 1/2 cup
  • Calories: 334
  • Sugar: 29 g
  • Fat: 4 g
  • Carbohydrates: 60 g
  • Fiber: 7 g
  • Protein: 16 g