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!


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!

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

- Rolled oats
- Unsweetened almond milk
- Creamy peanut butter
- Flax seed
- Chia seeds
- Vanilla extract (optional)
- Maple syrup (optional)
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.

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!

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?

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.

Check-Out These Other Healthy Vegan Breakfast Recipes!
- Banana Overnight Oats
- Protein Overnight Oats
- Vegan French Toast Casserole
- Dairy-Free Banana Bread
- Vegan Whole Wheat Pancakes
- Sugar Free Granola
- Hidden Veggie Spinach Blueberry Smoothie
- Tofu Breakfast Scramble Shane and Simple
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!

Peanut Butter Overnight Oats | Vegan and Gluten-Free
Ingredients
- ½ cup rolled oats gluten-free
- 1 cup unsweetened almond milk plain
- 2 tablespoon creamy peanut butter
- 1 tablespoon ground flax seeds
- 1 teaspoon chia seeds
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 teaspoon maple syrup optional
Instructions
- Mix oats, almond milk, flax, chia seeds, peanut butter, vanilla extract, and maple syrup (optional) in mason jar.
- Stir to combine. Cover with top. Store in the refrigerator overnight.
- The next morning give it a stir. Optional: Top with a small dollop of peanut butter, and a sprinkle of chia seeds. If you like it warm microwave with lid off for 30-45 seconds, or eat cold.
Video
Notes
- Use organic oats and certified gluten-free oats if needed.
- Maple syrup is optional. I think the peanut butter gives it a bit of sweetness without the need for added sugar, but others prefer a sweeter taste.
- If you don’t like cold oats you can microwave it anywhere from 30-60 seconds. Make sure you take off the metal top!!
Donna
I usually add a scoop of collagen peptides to my overnight oats for a bit of extra protein.
Celestina
I am an avid meal prepper, so I like to make everything on Sundays for the week ahead. Is this something that I could prep jars for the week or do I need to always make it the night before? I guess my question will be what is the storage time for this?
Alison Corey
Hi Celestina! The typical rule of thumb when it comes to overnight oats is that it will last for 5 days in the fridge. So you could prep 5 days worth, and have breakfast ready for every weekday!
Rene’
I mix several batches of the dry ingredients maybe once a week, so all I have to do each night is dump the little baggie into my mason jar, add the liquid & pb, stir, and stick in the fridge! I also keep my ready to go dry ingredients in my fridge.
Alison Corey
Hi RenĂ©! I’m so glad to hear that you use this recipe regularly. Thanks for the tips on how to back it in batches!
Ellen Fay-Itzkowitz
These overnight oats are delicious! They pack a powerful caloric punch but I do find they keep me satisfied until lunch.
Alison Corey
Thank you for the kind review! I’m glad you enjoy the overnight oats. Although they are high in calories, they are full of protein and nutrients!
Cindy
Can you use powder peanut butter with this recipe?
Alison Corey
Yes! You can use powder peanut butter!
Dave
You forgot the chia seeds in the instructions.
Alison Corey
Thank you for catching that! It’s now been updated!
Dorothea
Thank you so very much. This is this first time trying overnight oats and I loved it. I made it without the vanilla extract because I had vanilla almond milk on hand. I heated it up in the morning and it was delicious. Awesome taste.
Melanie
Usually I do 1 cup oats to 1 cup almond milk. Is this more liquidy since less oats?
Alison Corey
I don’t find it to bee too liquid. Perhaps it’s because the peanut butter, chia seeds, and flax add some thickness.
Matt B
Same here. I’m used to using one cup of oats and one cup of milk. I followed this recipe and, like some others, it came out almost like a soup (after sitting in the fridge for about 11 hours). It tasted good (I LOVE peanut butter) but the consistency was way off.
Alison Corey
Hi Matt,
I’m sorry to hear the texture wasn’t quite right for you. Depending on the type of oats you use and your preference the texture can be a bit different. I’m going to test this one out again, and see if an adjustment needs to be made. Thanks for your review!
Sydney
Hi Alison!
I love the flavor of the oats but they came out super liquidy. I didn’t have flax seeds so I added extra chia and oats. Did I do the right thing for this issue? Thanks!!
Alison Corey
Hi Sydney! Did you allow the oats to soak up the ingredients overnight? It shouldn’t be too soupy if it has enough time to soak up the wet ingredients.
Ellen
Hi Allison!
Thanks for the recipe!
I had a little trouble though with combing all the ingredients into the 8 oz jars. I had extra and it was overflowing. Did I do something wrong?
Thanks!
Alison Corey
Hi Ellen,
I don’t think you did anything wrong! It can be a tight fit in an 8 oz jar. Especially before the ingredients have time to sit. I often use a bigger jar. I’ll make a note in the recipe. Thank your for bringing it to my attention!
Dannii
Overnight oats are such a time saver. We love them!
Maike
These overnight oats look so good. And it seems like I have all the ingredients at home. I’ll definitely try this overnight peanut oat recipe over the next couple of days.
SHANIKA
I love how easy overnight oats are! This PB version looks so creamy and delicious! I so need to make this soon!
Irina
I love this breakfast option. This peanut butter overnight oats sound healthy and delicious! Easy to make, too! What could be better?!
Anita
What an easy, simple, and healthy breakfast. And we love peanut butter too, so this is our perfect overnight oats. đŸ™‚