Banana Chia Overnight Oats
A creamy, naturally sweet breakfast made with banana, chia seeds, oats, and almond milk. It’s filling, easy to prepare ahead, and needs no cooking.Servings: 1 large or 2 small
Prep time: 5 minutes
Chill time: 4 hours or overnight
Ingredients
- 1 ripe banana
- ½ cup rolled oats
- 1 tablespoon chia seeds
- ¾ cup unsweetened almond milk
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract, optional
- Pinch of salt
Optional toppings
- Sliced banana
- Chopped almonds
- Walnuts
- Peanut or almond butter
- Unsweetened coconut
- Fresh berries
- A sprinkle of cinnamon
Instructions
1. Mash the banana
Place the banana in a bowl or jar.
Mash it thoroughly with a fork until mostly smooth.
Leave a few small pieces if you like extra banana texture.
2. Add the remaining ingredients
Add the oats, chia seeds, almond milk, cinnamon, vanilla, and salt.
Stir very well.
Make sure the chia seeds are distributed throughout rather than sitting in clumps.
3. Refrigerate
Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, preferably overnight.
The oats and chia seeds will absorb the almond milk and create a thick, creamy consistency.
4. Stir and adjust
In the morning, stir thoroughly.
If it’s too thick, add a splash of almond milk.
If you’d like it sweeter, add a little more mashed banana or a small drizzle of honey or maple syrup.
5. Add toppings
Top with sliced banana, chopped almonds, and a spoonful of nut butter.
A little cinnamon on top makes it taste like banana bread.
Banana Bread Version
Add:
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
- 1 tablespoon chopped walnuts
- ½ teaspoon vanilla
Top with extra walnuts and banana slices.
Chocolate Banana Version
Add:
- 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 tablespoon peanut butter
Mix thoroughly before refrigerating.
Top with banana slices and a few chopped peanuts.
Higher-Protein Version
Add ½ cup Greek yogurt or 1 scoop vanilla protein powder.
If using protein powder, add another 2–3 tablespoons almond milk if needed.
Warm Version
If you prefer cooked oats:
- Mash the banana in a saucepan.
- Add oats, chia seeds, almond milk, cinnamon, and salt.
- Cook over medium-low heat for 5–7 minutes, stirring frequently.
- Remove from the heat and let stand for 2 minutes.
- Add toppings and serve warm.
Storage
Keep refrigerated in a covered container for up to 3 days.
The oats become thicker as they sit, so add a splash of almond milk before eating if necessary.
Best ratio
For a creamy but not overly thick consistency, use ½ cup oats + 1 tablespoon chia seeds + ¾ cup almond milk + 1 ripe banana.
