Name: Peanut Butter Overnight Oats | Vegan and Gluten-Free
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 365 min
Ingredients: 1/2 cup rolled oats (gluten-free); 1 cup unsweetened almond milk (plain); 2 tbsp creamy peanut butter; 1 tbsp ground flax seeds; 1 tsp chia seeds; 1/2 tsp vanilla extract; 2 tsp maple syrup (optional)

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Creamy nutty peanut butter overnight oats is the solution to your busy morning breakfast dilemma. It’s an easy, healthy, hearty, delicious, grab and go breakfast!

close up peanut butter overnight oats in mason jar with spoon topped with peanut butter, and chia seeds

It’s the first day of the New Year, and last night my husband turned to me and said, “Now, don’t get too excited, but I’ve decided to go vegan for the month of January.”

Cue internal fireworks and complete shock! But I kept my cool.

“Really?” I said. “What made you come to that decision?” He proceeded to tell me that he wanted to make some healthy changes and figured eating plant-based for the month would be a good start!

My response was,”Ok, that’s great! How can I help?”

He told me that having healthy plant-based breakfast ideas that would keep him feeling full until lunch would be helpful.

He’s used to having a bagel and cream cheese, or meeting a colleague for breakfast and ordering an omelette.

That’s when I suggested overnight oats. It’s healthy, filling, and the kind of breakfast you can grab and take to the office if you’re in a rush to get out the door.

Peanut butter is also one of my husband’s favorite things on Earth, so mixing in some peanut butter not only makes it taste creamy and decadent, but also adds some protein, and healthy fats.

I made this Vegan Peanut Butter Overnight Oats for him to start the New Year, and he loved it!

Not only did he love it, but it also kept him full all the way to lunch. My husband is 6’2, so he’s got a big appetite, and these overnight oats hit the spot!

peanut butter overnight oats in mason jar

Why you’ll love Peanut Butter Overnight Oats…

Whole Food Plant-Based Ingredients
Vegan
Healthy and Filling
Full of Omega-3s
High in protein
Holds you over until lunch
Grab and Go Breakfast
Creamy and nutty

Ingredients

Tools You’ll Need

How to Make Peanut Butter Overnight Oats – Step by Step

Step 1: Mix oats, almond milk, flax, chia seeds, peanut butter, vanilla extract (optional), and maple syrup (optional) in mason jar.

Step 2: Stir to combine. Cover with top. Store in the refrigerator overnight.

oats, almond milk, and flax in mason jar before it goes into the refrigerator to chill

Step 3: The next morning give it a stir. Optional: Top with a small dollop of peanut butter and a sprinkle of chia sees. If you like it warm microwave with lid off for 30-45 seconds, or eat cold.

Tips for Making Peanut Butter Overnight Oats

Use organic oats and certified gluten-free oats if you’re gluten-free
Maple syrup is optional. I think the peanut butter gives it a bit of sweetness without the need for added sugar, but my husband likes it a little sweeter.
If you don’t like cold oats you can microwave it anywhere from 30-60 seconds. Make sure you take off the metal top!!

Are Peanut Butter Overnight Oats healthy?

Natural Plant-Based Ingredients-Whole food plant-based vegan ingredients for a naturally healthy breakfast without added preservatives or processed ingredients.
Rich in Omega-3 Fatty Acids-Flax seeds and chia seeds are an excellent plant-based source for omega-3 fatty acids which are important for brain function and also help to prevent heart disease and lower blood pressure.
High in Fiber-Thanks to the oats, flax, and chia seeds these overnight oats are packed with 37% of your daily recommended fiber.
High in Protein-This recipe is packed with plant-based protein at 16.4 grams!

creamy oats topped with peanut butter and chia seeds in a mason jar with a spoon

Do you eat overnight oats hot or cold?

You can eat overnight oats both hot or cold. It’s a preference. I like everything hot, so I microwave my overnight oats.

My husband likes things cold, so he enjoys these overnight oats right out of the refrigerator.

How to Heat Overnight Oats:

Remove metal lid.
Give oats a stir.
Microwave on high for 30-60 seconds.

How do you customize your overnight oats?

To create your own version of overnight oats follow this formula.

½ cup oats + 1 cup dairy free milk + ½ teaspoon vanilla + 2 teaspoon maple syrup (optional)

Then add 2 tablespoons of anything you like to customize the flavor. Mix and match to create something spectacular. Here are a few ideas…

Shredded carrot
Raisins
Dried Cranberries or Cherries
Sliced Banana
Blueberries
Strawberries
Slivered Almonds
Coconut
Vegan Chocolate Chips
Diced Apples
Sliced Peaches

What kind of oats are best for overnight oats?

rolled oats and steel cut oats in a bowl

Old fashioned rolled oats are the best to use for overnight oats. That’s because they absorb the liquid, but don’t break down and lose their texture completely. Oats come in different varieties. Here is a breakdown of the types of oats you can buy.

Old Fashioned Rolled Oats-These oats are steamed, rolled to flatten and then flaked off when processed.

They are great for overnight oats, regular oatmeal recipes, cookies, and other baked goods. They have more texture than quick or instant oats, but not as chewy as steel cut oats.

Quick Cooking Oats-These oats are first cooked, then dried, cut and rolled to flatten. Since they are pre-cooked they do not take as long to cook.

They are even thinner than old fashioned oats. Good for oatmeal, but not the best for overnight oats since they breakdown and lose texture overnight.

Instant Oats-These oats are cooked, dried, cut, and rolled thinner than quick oats. They are meant to cook even more quickly than quick oats.

These oats are perfect for mornings when you want to make your own oatmeal on the stove FAST! Sometimes these oats have added salt, sugar, and other ingredients making them less healthy than the other types of oats.

Be sure to read the label before purchasing. The only ingredient you want to see on the ingredient label is oats. These oats are also not ideal for overnight oats since they break down and lose their texture. You end up with a soupy consistency.

Steel Cut Oats-These oats are not rolled like the previous three. Instead, they are cut by steel blades to resemble short coarse grains.

Steel cut oats are sometimes called Irish or Scottish Oats. They take longer to cook than rolled oats, and are less processed.

These oats have more of a chewy texture than rolled oats. They taste great in oatmeal recipes, and can even be added to soups or stews. They’re not the best for overnight oats since they do not absorb as much liquid as rolled oats and can have a denser chewier texture.

creamy oats topped with peanut butter in a mason jar

Check-Out These Other Healthy Vegan Breakfast Recipes!

If you’ve tried my Peanut Butter Overnight Oats, please rate the recipe and let me know how it turned out. You can also follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest for more plant-based family recipes your whole family will enjoy!