Hot Overnight Oatmeal
This post may contain affiliate links. See my disclosure policy.
My hot overnight oatmeal has the same warm, cakey texture as baked oats, just made in a fraction of the time using my overnight oats method. They’re SO easy to make!
Why I love this warm overnight oats recipe
Whenever I’m craving baked oats but don’t have the time to wait for the oven, I make this warm overnight oatmeal instead. It has the same cozy flavors and creamy texture, but with almost all the prep done the night before.
I love waking up knowing breakfast is practically ready to go and a quick microwave is all it takes. Here’s why I love it:
- Perfect for meal prep. I usually make a few bowls on Sunday so breakfast is sorted for the next several mornings.
- Easy to customize. Add your favorite fruit, nuts, spices, or nut butter to make it your own.
- Ready in minutes. Skip preheating the oven and enjoy a warm breakfast in just a few minutes.
- Oven option included. If I’m making multiple servings at once or for my partner too, I like to bake them instead.
Table of Contents
Key Ingredients
Here’s what you’ll need, along with my kitchen notes. Full measurements are in the recipe card below.
- Rolled oats. I prefer using old-fashioned oats rather than quick-cooking or steel-cut oats, which don’t produce the best texture. Use gluten-free oats if necessary.
- Chia seeds. For texture and a fiber boost.
- Sugar. I went with brown sugar, but white sugar, sweetener, or maple syrup are good options for adding sweetness.
- Sea salt. To taste.
- Protein powder. Optional, but good for flavor and a protein boost.
- Nut butter. I added peanut butter, but any nut or seed butter will do. It adds richness and healthy fats.
- Milk. I used unsweetened almond milk, but oat milk, coconut milk, or dairy milk all work.
How to make warm overnight oatmeal
Step 1- Assemble. The night before (or at least one hour) before you want them, combine the oats, chia seeds, sweetener, salt, and protein powder in a mason jar or bowl.
Step 2- Add nut butter. Melt the nut butter and stir it into the dry ingredients. Add the milk and chocolate chips and refrigerate.
Step 3- Microwave. Microwave the oats for up to one minute or until warm.
How to make this in the oven
If you’d rather use your oven, prepare the oats as instructed and refrigerate. In the morning, pour the oats into oven-safe ramekins and broil for 5-7 minutes or until golden.
Arman’s recipe tips
- Add a splash of milk before reheating. I don’t always do this, but if the oats have thickened overnight, a little milk loosens them up and makes them extra creamy.
- Make them even creamier. Swap some (or all) of the milk for heavy cream or Greek yogurt for a richer, creamier bowl of oats.
- Microwave in short bursts. Everyone’s microwave is different, so yours may take more or less time to cook. To prevent bubbling over, microwave the oats for one minute, then at 30-second intervals (stirring between each) until they’re done.
- Have fun with toppings. I usually finish mine with chocolate chips and/or fresh berries, but sliced bananas, chopped nuts, and nut butter are great.
Storage instructions
To store: Let the oats cool completely, then cover or transfer them to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 5 days.
To freeze: Transfer the cooled oats to freezer-safe containers and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
To reheat: Microwave in 20-second intervals, stirring between each, until warm. If the oats have thickened in the fridge, stir in a splash of milk before reheating to loosen them up.
Warm Overnight Oatmeal
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup rolled oats
- 1/2 tablespoon chia seeds
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 cup protein powder Optional
- 1 tablespoons peanut butter
- 1/4 cup milk
Instructions
- The night before or at least an hour before consumption, place the oats, chia seeds, sweetener, sea salt and protein powder and mix well.
- Melt your nut butter and pour into the dry mixture and mix well. Add your dairy free milk and optional chocolate chips and refrigerate overnight.
- The next morning, microwave for up to 1 minute.
You know the cheapest oats are in Lidl? I buy them so much really. But I sctually never made overnight oats. Is for winter better baled oats or overnight?
Either! I’m glad you shared the photos on Instagram of this recipe- it looked so good!
Looks different than the one oatmeal I make. I actually never made overnight oatmeal. I could try!
Thank you so much. I really didnt know you can bake it. Now I will eat only baked oats as I have seen on videos it is much better.
I just threw this together and used latte protein powder. Mixed it all up but simply could not resist trying the “raw” batter.
ohhhmyyyygoodnesssss!!!! This shot to the top of my favorites list, and it hasn’t even “cooked” yet!!!
This looks amazing, definitely going to give it a try! Are you able to make more than one at a time to put in the fridge (making them for a few days in advance) or would it become too soggy?
Hi Sara! I don’t think you’d have the issue to be too soggy- Because you zap it in the microwave, it will warm up and still be delicious and fluffy!
Awesome idea…one that is kinda like, ‘duh’ but I never would have thought of!
Haha nooooo. 🙂
If you use the microwave method, is it still baked?
It gives it the baked oatmeal texture, so yep!
Legit genius idea! I literally never make baked oatmeal because ain’t nobody got time for that. But this makes it so doable. LOVE it.
Cheers Chelsea K!
I really liked this recipe. Seriously I had lunch at 2 pm and wasn’t even hungry then. And the texture! Also it’s a great oatmeal hack in general.
But now why did I make it look so ugly and yours looks so beautiful???
😀 YES!!!! Yours looked beautiful- We can thank editing for this hahaha!
I love, love, love oatmeal!! It’s always a treat getting stovetop oatmeal at my Gramma’s house. I’ve tried your cinnamon bun baked oatmeal and it was fab. Overnight oats I enjoy too, especially when I know I’m going to be short on time in the mornings!! But I prefer my oats warm as opposed to cold, so I’ll be trying this recipe out for sure!
Thanks so much, Jillian- Oh nice- I wish my grandma made me oatmeal haha! 🙂
Huge oatmeal lover here! I’m always in a rush to get out the door in the morning so this is going to be perfect (:
🙂 Thanks so much, Olivia!
Ooooo I can only imagine the delicious texture that will result from overnight-basking to oven-baking. NOM.
Baked oatmeal is something that’s so much harder for me to make because I have to make multiple servings at once! However, it’s a superb way to cook oats! The protein powder would taste incredible in the oatmeal as well–especially chocolate!!
🙂 I can’t wait to give you some protein powder samples! 🙂
I go through phases with oatmeal. Either I will eat eggs every day until I die or I will eat oats. Right now I’m in my eggs stage, but I’ve been there for awhile. Anything that only takes me one minute is alright in my book!
OH I wish I could be satisfied with eggs- They leave me hungry for more!
Genius – anything that takes one minute to transform completely is very worth it!
😀 Thanks, Michele!
Sometimes I do this because I am too hungry to wait in the morning! Warm oats are superior IMO.
OOOOO, You’ll need to try my cake batter oats- Eating it cold = pudding. Seriously!
I love making bread and muffin things in the microwave. They are much more moist then their baked counterparts, but I like the gooeyness more. It’s like I’d rather eat cookie dough than actual cookies. My favorite way to eat oatmeal is probably as granola…I know that sounds like a complete switch, baked oats are crunchy but I love gooey things…but if you top gooey things with crunchy things, it works!
Thanks! Most of my cakes and muffins can be done that way!
Ahhh I do this with my sons oatmeal to make it a bit less messy… hadn’t occurred to me to do it to my own to make it “baked”. Nice tip Arman!!
You are so welcome, Emma! 🙂
What a great idea. I’m cuckoo for oats too. Thanks for all your experimenting to make this awesome wonderful dish!!!
You are so welcome 🙂
Okay, you’ve finally got an 11 for all of your bonus points of creativity and rank #1 in the world!
I hope so- I also hope you better be scoring me using the OLD system, not the new one where 11 would be really bad!!!!
Never thought to make the night before. Brilliant idea!
Serious breakfast hack right here!
You know I love my oatmeal! I eat something similar to this every single day after my run. Ugh, so good! Sometimes I eat it cold, sometimes I heat it. Definitey my most favorite meal of the day, especially after a tough run. I don’t understand people who don’t eat oatmeal!
Right? It’s so comforting! I’m stoked that there is this hack so we can have all the texture of baked oatmeal but in none of the time!