I tend to be one of those people that has a tiny sweet tooth in the mornings. I want something just a little sweet, but you’ll almost never see me reaching for a donut in the A.M. It’s just a bit too rich for my blood that early (hit me up later though)!
That’s why I love the balanced richness of these Chocolate Chip Banana Overnight Oats. A little bit fruity, a little bit chocolatey—they are my favorite way to get a nourishing and satisfying breakfast fast! Welcome to the magic that is that is overnight oats!
Table of Contents
What are overnight oats?
You make overnight oats by mixing rolled oats with liquid and other mix-ins, and let it rest in the fridge for at least two hours, or preferably overnight (hence the name!). In the morning, you can grab it straight out of the fridge and eat it like a pudding—no cooking required. Or you can heat it up if you prefer. If you’re new to making overnight oatmeal and want a full primer (plus lots of other easy-to-make recipes), check out our Overnight Oats 101 post.
What makes overnight oatmeal so great?
Overnight oatmeal has been part of my weekly food prep routinefor almost a decade now. Here is why it’s such a staple in our house:
You can make them your own. Make them vegan, gluten-free, or in whatever flavor combo strikes your fancy! It’s all doable because overnight oats are completely customizable. We’re covering Chocolate Chip Banana Overnight Oats in this post (which is a great, simple recipe to start with), but once you get the idea of overnight oats down, you can go wild making your own creations!
They can be as nourishing as you want them to be. You are in complete control of how healthy or decadent (or both!) these oats become. Reduce the added sweeteners, mix in some protein powder or collagen peptides, add in some superfoods like hemp seeds or chia seeds. The possibilities are endless!
They taste decadent and delicious! The oats soften up in the fridge to make a thick and sweet pudding that is totally yummy with a creamy texture.
Overnight oats are the perfect prep-ahead breakfast. Spend just a few minutes in the evening, and you’ll have a grab-and-go breakfast in the morning!
Overnight oats are easy to make in bulk. They are a staple of many meal prep menus for good reason—you can mix up an entire week’s worth of breakfast in just a few minutes.
How long do banana overnight oats last?
For the best texture, flavor, and color, we recommend eating these banana overnight oats within 3 days.
When do you add the banana to overnight oats?
Add sliced or mashed banana to these overnight oats when you are mixing together all the other ingredients. Overnight, the banana will lend its natural sweetness and flavor to the overall mixture.
Can you make substitutions to this recipe?
Yes! Once you get the hang of making overnight oats, use your imagination and substitute away! Easily make these overnight oats vegan, gluten-free, low- or no-sugar by changing one or two ingredients. We cover all the substitutions you can make in our in-depth overnight oats post. Here are some specific swap ideas for these banana overnight oats:
Make it vegan or dairy-free: Use plant-based milk (we love this one with almond milk!), plant-based yogurt, and maple syrup for sweetener.
Make it sugar-free: Drop the sweetener, make sure to use unsweetened peanut butter, and add 1/2 mashed ripe banana. Or use stevia or monk fruit sweetener in place of the maple syrup or honey, if you prefer.
Yes, you can absolutely warm up these chocolate chip banana overnight oats. Just heat them in the microwave for 30-60 seconds, stirring frequently or in a small saucepan on the stove until heated to your liking.
Where can you find more overnight oatmeal recipes?
We’ve got you covered when it comes to simple and easy overnight oats recipes! Here are some of the most well-loved recipes on Wholefully.
If you’re still skeptical, promise me you’ll at least try one batch before making judgment—it’s not an exaggeration to say that people have told me overnight oats have changed their life!
How to Make Overnight Oats (Plus 15 Easy and Delicious Overnight Oatmeal Recipes)
How to Make Healthy Tropical Coconut Overnight Oats
How to Make Healthy Strawberry Cheesecake Overnight Oats
How to Make Healthy Coconut Chocolate Overnight Oats
Chocolate Chip Banana Overnight Oats Recipe
Yield: 1 large serving or 2 small
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Whip up these healthy Banana Chocolate Chip Overnight Oats for a speedy and nourishing breakfast—they are a little bit sweet, and a little bit decadent!
Ingredients
1/3 cup plain Greek yogurt
1/2 cup (heaping) rolled oats
2/3 cup unsweetened milk of choice
1 tablespoon chia seeds or ground flax meal
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Pinch of salt
0–2 tablespoons honey or maple syrup
1/2 ripe banana, chopped or mashed
2 tablespoons chocolate chips
Instructions
Stir together all ingredients in a medium-sized mixing bowl. Spoon into a jar with a tight-fitting lid.
Close and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, but preferably overnight before eating.
At Wholefully, we believe that good nutrition is about much more than just the numbers on the nutrition facts panel. Please use the above information as only a small part of what helps you decide what foods are nourishing for you.
While overnight oats are a nutritious, convenient, and substantial breakfast alternative, they can also aid in weight loss. When you eat oats, you won't overeat because they have beta-glucan, which makes you feel full.
As Best points out, "some of the worst ingredients that are mistakenly added to healthy overnight oat recipes include chocolate sauce, sugar, syrup, and dried fruit."
Old-fashioned rolled oats are the best choice for overnight oats. They soak up the liquid overnight, leaving you with a creamy (but not mushy) texture. Save steel-cut and quick-cooking oats for another time. Milk: You can make overnight oats with any kind of milk — dairy or non-dairy.
Whether you prefer whole milk, rice milk or coconut milk, you can use it. Just make sure to add twice as much milk as oats. Note: You can also use whey, buttermilk or thinned yogurt for a tangier flavor.
Oats have a low glycemic index, meaning they cause a slower and more gradual rise in blood sugar levels compared to refined carbohydrates. This slow release of glucose into the bloodstream helps prevent spikes in blood sugar, promoting stable glycemic control.
Are Overnight Oats Keto-Friendly? No, the classic overnight oats recipe is made of oats, a wholesome natural grain but very high in carbs. In fact, oats contain about 56 grams of net carbs per 100 grams. As a result, they spike blood sugar levels and are not approved on a keto diet.
You see, all grains contain something called “phytic acid”—or phytates—in the outer layer or bran, and oats contain more phytates than almost any other grain. So, if this phytic acid is untreated, it will combine with important minerals in our body and block their absorption.
There is no particular time to eat oats. You can consume the oats at lunch and dinner too. This cereal, however, is consumed in breakfast mostly. It contains fiber, magnesium, complex carbohydrates, etc, which help in keeping your tummy full for a longer time, thus, reducing overeating.
Overnight oats are perfectly safe to be eaten every day. You may even eat them every morning if you like. However, some say that they feel oats give them digestive issues; overnight oats are not unsafe for those without medical conditions that affect digestion.
Milk Options for Overnight Oats: Dairy and non-dairy milks work well for overnight oats. Coconut, soy and oat milk yield thicker mixtures, which you can thin with more milk before serving if you'd like. If you use sweetened non-dairy milk, taste the soaked oats before adding more sweetener.
In a large glass jar, combine the oats, milk, yogurt, maple syrup or honey, chia seeds, vanilla cinnamon, and sea salt. Stir well to make sure all the ingredients are combined. Cover with a lid and place in the refrigerator overnight. In the morning, remove from the refrigerator and stir.
No, yogurt adds a creamy texture but it isn't mandatory. You can use nut butter, banana, applesauce, or coconut milk instead. Can I make overnight oats without chia seeds? Chia seeds add a nice thick and creamy texture.
Whatever you do, steer clear of the worst offenders: dried fruit with added sugars, like Craisins or dried pineapple. "These are almost always made with added sugar, if not also an artificial sweetener, says Pennsylvania-based RD Gina Consalvo. "Always choose a fresh fruit instead." Need hard proof?
You can definitely make overnight oats in a plastic container. Plastic jars tend to be more durable than glass, especially when dropped, making them a popular choice for families. They're also lightweight and inexpensive.
You only need two ingredients to make overnight oats, which are, of course, milk and oats. But it probably won't taste very good, and by adding in Greek yogurt, chia seeds, and a drizzle of your favorite sweetener, you're really creating a well-rounded breakfast.
There are countless health benefits of overnight oats, especially when it comes to your weight loss goals. It can keep you fuller for longer. For starters, oats can help keep you full, and in turn, can help reduce mindless snacking and excess calorie intake between meals.
There is no particular time to eat oats. You can consume the oats at lunch and dinner too. This cereal, however, is consumed in breakfast mostly. It contains fiber, magnesium, complex carbohydrates, etc, which help in keeping your tummy full for a longer time, thus, reducing overeating.
When oats soak overnight, it's almost like you're cooking them without the heat, which helps the starches break down. Once broken down, the levels of phytic acid in the oats decreases, allowing your body to better absorb the nutrients and digest them more efficiently.
Overnight oats are a great source of many nutrients. One prepared cup (240 ml) of the basic recipe made with 2% cow's milk and without the optional ingredients provides the following ( 1 ): Calories: 215 calories.
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