Peanut Butter Banana Overnight Oats

Peanut Butter Banana Overnight Oats only takes a few minutes to prep the night before. You have a delicious, filling, convenient and healthy breakfast ready for busy mornings!

Some things just go together, like cookies and milk and peanut butter and bananas. You thought I would say peanut butter and jelly, didn’t you??! Peanut butter and bananas are a classic combo in many dishes and snacks, and in this healthy make-ahead breakfast recipe, it’s the perfect pair and the perfect breakfast.

Made with simple basic ingredients, pantry staples and sliced bananas, prepped in under 5 minutes and made the night before, these healthy and delicious overnight oats will make your mornings brighter. This oatmeal recipe is perfect for back-to-school busy mornings. 

These peanut butter banana overnight oats are made with simple ingredients like, old-fashioned oats, peanut butter, bananas, flax seeds, honey, vanilla, Greek yogurt and milk. Put all these ingredients in a mason jar (or an airtight container), give a good stir and you’ve got yourself a healthy breakfast for the next morning.

What Are Overnight Oats?

Overnight oats are a quickly prepped, and easy healthy breakfast or snack made ahead of time. Instead of boiling overnight oats on the stovetop, old-fashioned rolled oats are soaked in milk, Greek yogurt and a handful of other simple ingredients in an airtight container overnight. Overnight oatmeal is the perfect meal prep recipe because it requires minimal steps and they are ready to go for the following day. It's a delicious way to start your morning and start healthy eating with this simple breakfast recipe!

In addition, because overnight oats aren’t cooked with heat, the oats are easier to digest and aren’t as gummy as traditional oatmeal recipes. Plus, the creaminess of all the ingredients soaking overnight makes for a simple, delicious and healthy way to have breakfast.

What makes overnight oatmeal so great?

Overnight oats recipes require minimal prep for a hearty, healthy and delicious breakfast. They also need no cooking and are easy to make in bulk batches. You can mix up an entire week’s worth of delicious breakfasts in a matter of a few minutes. Then you have an easy grab-and-go breakfast that is delicious and nutritious for the entire week.

The best part is that these easy recipes are highly versatile? Toss in whatever fruit you have on hand, honey or pure maple syrup to naturally sweeten it if you prefer. I also like to add nut butter and spices to enhance the nutritional profile and flavor of these simple make-ahead overnight oats. See below for overnight oats recipe variation suggestions.

Oats are incredibly nutritious and easy on the wallet. This easy breakfast recipe is made with only a few simple healthy and nutrient-dense ingredients typically found in your pantry.

How to Make Overnight Oats in 4 Simple Steps

The night before, put everything (except for the sliced bananas) into a mason jar and stir. Top oats mixture with sliced bananas and screw on the mason jar lid.

Next, refrigerate overnight. Go to sleep knowing you kicked your day off to a good start with a tasty, healthy breakfast.

Wake up, give those ingredients one more good stir and eat away. Or, if you prefer your overnight oats warm like I do, pop in the microwave for 90 seconds or so. 

Next, conquer the day because you just ate a hearty breakfast with flavorful and important nutrients. You go, girl!

How Long Do Overnight Oats Need to Soak?

Ideally, your overnight oats would soak overnight (8 or so hours). This time frame allows the oats to soften and the flavors to deepen, creating creamy and delicious overnight oats. You can let them soak for 2-4 hours and dive in. With a quick soak, the oats are not as soft as an overnight soak and they tend to have a little more liquid and chewy texture versus a creamy texture.

How Long Do Overnight Oats Last in the Refrigerator?  

Since overnight oats are good for up to five days in the refrigerator, you can meal prep these on a Sunday night and have your breakfast ready for the whole week. I always include an overnight oat recipe in my weekly meal plans. 

Can I Eat Overnight Oats Warm?

Most people eat their overnight oats cold, but I prefer mine heated up. I make my easy overnight oats recipes in resealable containers, like mason jars. I pop the lid off, put them in the microwave for about 90 seconds, and boom, breakfast is served!

Overnight Oat Ingredient Substitutions

I think the best version of this recipe is the one I’m posting below. However, you might have dietary preferences or restrictions, like gluten sensitivity. Below are some common substitutions that would work well for this recipe:

Make it vegan overnight oats: Use non-dairy milk like unsweetened almond milk or coconut milk; use plant-based yogurts like Siggi’s or Oatly brands; and use pure maple syrup or date syrup or coconut sugar for a sweetener.

Make it gluten-free overnight oats: Use certified gluten-free oats such as Bob’s Red Mill Gluten-Free Old Fashioned Rolled Oats.

Make it sugar-free overnight oats: exclude the sweetener completely or use mashed or pureed fruit (such as bananas, berries, unsweetened applesauce) or nut butter or seed butter in the base recipe.

Don’t like Chia Seeds? I make these healthy peanut butter overnight oats without chia seeds. My personal preference is to use flax seed, which has a nutty taste and provides a great texture.

Have a peanut allergy? Use a seed butter.

Can You Use Quick Oats?

I prefer to use old-fashioned rolled oats, but you can use quick oats – they will be softer because the oat grains in quick oats are broken down more.

Can You Use Steel Cut Oats?

I haven’t tried using steal cut oats for this recipe, but I suspect they would require more liquid, more soaking time, and be more chewy and harder to digest.

Can I Freeze Overnight Oats?

You can freeze overnight oats for up to 3 months in individual servings in freezer-safe containers—thaw by placing in the refrigerator overnight.

Peanut Butter Banana Overnight Oats Recipe Variations 

Did I mention that this recipe is highly versatile? Customize this easy recipe however you like. Here are some overnight oats recipe combination ideas:

• Add in mini chocolate chips or cacao nibs.

• Add a tablespoon of Nutella.

• Use almond butter or sun butter instead of peanut butter.

• Add in strawberries and nuts.

• Add in low or no-sugar jelly.

More Make-Ahead Breakfast Recipes

I hope you enjoy this healthy and easy breakfast recipe with great flavor with only minutes of prep! If you give this recipe a try, please leave a comment below, rate the recipe, and don’t forget to tag me @homesweetfarmhome on Instagram and use the hashtag #homesweetfarmhome. I’d love to see what you come up with and share with my followers. Cheers!

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