Just like banana bread straight from the oven, but with barely any effort, these Banana Overnight Oats are breakfast you can wake up to--literally, because they are waiting for you in the morning!
~Same recipe from 2015, photos updated July 2020~
Every time I post an Overnight Oats recipe here, I swear I say it is my absolute favorite. Well, this time I won't say that, but I will say this is definitely my favorite today!
Ha, see how I got around that one! I love my oats. Anyway I can play around with them and create a little something new it brings my taste buds much joy.
This Overnight Oatmeal Recipe is the BEST.
I don't like messing around in the morning but I also want a good hearty breakfast. These Banana Bread Overnight Oats are the answer. I take about 15 minutes on Sunday or Monday and prepare an entire week's worth of single serving jars.
In the morning, I pop them in the microwave and they are good to go.
Overnight oats are my very favorite breakfast of all time for many reasons.
- They are so so so easy to whip up.
- You can make enough for about one week at a time.
- The options and varieties are literally endless.
- Breakfast is ready for your when you get up.
- And of course, they taste amazing!
These banana overnight oats are like a warm bowl of banana bread--one of my favorite comfort foods. But you don't have to do any of the baking or much work at all for this big bowl of goodness!
If you are new to Overnight Oatmeal, check out this post here for a great place to start!
What you will need:
- Oats: That obvious?? But what kind of oats is the question. I use rolled oats. I have also made these, adjusting the milk slightly to taste, with quick oats and have found they work really great when I want the same recipe but right now.
- Really ripe bananas. This makes them super Mashable and sweet.
- Fun add-ins: flax meal for a bit more fiber, chia seeds, a dollop of yogurt when serving, and hey, more bananas! Some coconut might be great as well.
How to make this recipe:
- Mash the banana in a small bowl or jar that can be sealed later.
- Add in all other ingredients with the banana.
- Stir up the banana overnight oats, cover and chill for at least 4 hours.
That is it--literally as easy as 1, 2, 3!
Notes:
- Sweeten these banana bread overnight oats to your liking. The banana already adds a decent amount of sweet. I go back and forth on the maple--sometimes I just add a drizzle in the morning when serving.
- I find that overnight oats with banana are best if eaten within 3 days. If you want to make these for the week, add the mashed banana in just before serving for any servings that won't be eaten until day 4 or 5.
- This recipe is easily made vegan by using dairy free milk.
One last thing, I get a LOT of questions about what containers I use to make my overnight oats. I typically use wide mouth Ball Jars. They only end up filled about half way for a serving. The wide mouth makes it much easier for prepping as well as spooning out--win, win, right?
I am prone to dropping many an oat on the ground so the wider the mouth the better.
Check out these other overnight oatmeal recipes:
- Peanut Butter Greek Yogurt Overnight Oats
- Apple Pie Overnight Oatmeal
- Strawberry Cheesecake Overnight Oats
- Pumpkin Pie Overnight Oatmeal
- Triple Chocolate Overnight Oats
- Blueberry Lemon Overnight Oats
- Vanilla Cold Brew Oatmeal
- Chocolate Peanut Butter
Banana Bread Overnight Oats
Ingredients
- 1/2 mashed ripe banana
- 1/2 cup rolled oats regular or gluten free
- 1/2 cup milk of choice
- 2 T chopped pecans or walnuts
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- Dash of sea salt
- 1 T ground flax (optional)
- 2 tsp 100% pure maple syrup
Instructions
- Mash the banana in the bottom of a bowl or jar that can be sealed. Combine all other ingredients and stir well to combine.
- Refrigerate overnight or at least about 4 hours. Serve hot or cold.
- Garnish with some sliced banana or more nuts if desired.
Notes
- Sweeten these banana bread overnight oats to your liking. The banana already adds a decent amount of sweet. I go back and forth on the maple--sometimes I just add a drizzle in the morning when serving.
- I find that overnight oats with banana are best if eaten within 3 days. If you want to make these for the week, add the mashed banana in just before serving for any servings that won't be eaten until day 4 or 5.
I plugged the ingredients into a calorie counter. Not sure if you aware but it's over 400 calories...of course the type of milk used will affect the count a little but for me a diabetic it's a lot of calories for this breakfast
Always make any modifications based on your own needs for sure!
I just made a double batch. I can't wait to try this in the morning. I used to eat a lot of overnight oats but got out of it, so this is perfect for moi! Thanks for the great recipe!
Hope you love these Yolanda!! They are my FAVE!
Who doesn't love banana bread!? This is so much easier and less time consuming too compared to baking a loaf of bread in the morning there is no excuse someone couldn't make this!
Agree!
You had me at. banana! I need to share this with my mom, she is the queen of everything banana!
My sis hates bananas. I don’t get it!!! ?
Overnight oat recipes are super popular lately and these flavors sound like absolute perfection!!
They are seriously the most popular on my site. This flavor especially!
You are the QUEEN of delicious overnight oats - these were so yummy!!
You are so sweet ?
This is the one I come back too time after time! It's very adaptable. I sometimes use a whole smallish banana, almond milk, I sub chia seed for the flax sometimes, honey for the syrup. Walnuts would be great! I like mine heated. It is great for mornings when I'm on the run!
Yay! I love hearing my fave is someone else’s as well!!!!! ??
I just have to say that love this recipe. I have made other overnight oatmeal and it's always been bland and gross to me but this is perfect. I will probably use a little less milk because I like mine thicker but I definitely love the taste in this.
Kari! Thanks so so much for literally making my day!!!
Has anyone ever tried freezing overnight oats? I am a teacher and looking for some ideas that I can prepare now, when I am on holiday, so I just need to pull them out fo the freezer either the night before or in the morning and heat up in the term time...mostly for me, but maybe the kids could be prepared too.
This is a great question!I read up on it and found a few forums where people have said they have frozen them with no issue. I may try this soon to see and report back!
This is my favorite overnight oat recipe! Thank you for a delicious and nutritious breakfast. My daughter and I love it 🙂 We follow the recipe and add the flax.
Yay!!! Thanks so much for sharing—this one is my absolute favorite overnight oats recipe of all!!! ❤️
By far my most favorite overnight oats I have had!
Thanks so much Stephanie! This is my absolute favorite so that means so much!
My family and I love this!! Thank you for sharing such an awesome recipe!
So so glad to hear this Manikka! This is my FAVORITE recipe ever! Thanks so much ❤️
So delicious! Thank you for this great recipe!
Thanks so so much Mary! Glad you love it as much as we do!
This was my first time trying overnight oats, and it was so good!! I added milk to it in the morning because that’s my personal preference but it was amazing!
Thanks so much for sharing Kelsey! These are hands down my very favorite and have been for years!
Can you use steel cut oats?
Hi! You can. They will be much harder and chewier but if you like that texture then it’s ok!
I have tried so many overnight oats recipes over the years (honestly lost hope I'd ever find one I really liked) and none compare to this! This recipe is soooo yummy! My partner and I tried last night & plan to use our last ripe banana for this same breakfast again tomorrow. Thanks so much for the wonderful recipe! Tastes just like banana bread mmm =) I know we'll come back to this again and again. I like mine cold, he likes his hot.
This may help someone else in the same situation: we didn't have vanilla extract, so we used vanilla flavored coffee creamer in equal amounts. Turned out perfectly!
Thanks so so much for sharing Ellie!! This is hands down my very favorite overnight oats of all time! Oh, and now I am going to be using a splash of my vanilla coffee creamer as well, so thanks!!
I'm definitely gonna make this but I neeeed to know where you got those jars. I've been hunting and I cant find them. Lol
Hi!!! These are my favorite jars! A touch on the small side but so cute. I got them from World Market but this is the actual jar: https://weckjars.com/product/762-jelly-jar/