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    Home » Recipes » Breakfast & Brunch

    Vanilla Chia Overnight Oats (dairy-free)

    Published: Nov 12, 2018 · Last Updated: Mar 17, 2022 · Leave a Comment

    Jump to Recipe

    Overnight oats without yogurt: make them simple or make them fancy, either way you have a grab-and-go, easy, healthy breakfast. Overnight oatmeal is great to meal prep too. I make a week's worth at a time. If eating a healthy breakfast is a challenge due to your schedule, try these chia overnight oats. They're a great solution with no cooking required, dairy-free and vegan, made with almond milk.

    vanilla chia overnight oats | afoodcentriclife.com

    How to Make Overnight Oats

    Overnight oats is handy and healthy because you can make enough for a few days at a time, saving time during busy mornings. Overnight oats with chia seeds has nice texture because the seeds gel, making for a thicker consistency.

    Make your preferred variations with this basic recipe for chia overnight oats and check out topping ideas at the end. I experimented with ratios of rolled oats, milk, chia seeds and vanilla but make any adjustments you prefer.

    vanilla chia overnight oats | afoodcentriclife.com

    Healthy Overnight Oats Ingredient Tips

    • Oats - Buy gluten-free, organic old fashioned rolled oats
    • Almond milk - Almond milk keeps this dairy-free, and homemade is the best. Homemade, unstrained almond milk is creamier that store bought. It's super easy to make. See the easy recipe here. You'll never go back store bought again. Make any personal adjustments (more or less milk) for texture with the next batch.
    • Chia seeds - Chia seeds make the overnight oats set up nicely and add a little healthy fat and fiber. I prefer the white chia seeds versus the black for overnight oats but either work.
    • Sweetener - Try raw agave syrup, maple syrup, date syrup, yacon or raw honey. You can mix it in as the oats set up overnight, or use a little of what you prefer in the morning over the top. For sugar-free, try the liquid stevia drops in vanilla or monk fruit.
    • Vanilla - I like the strength of vanilla paste and the little flecks of vanilla bean but vanilla extract works too - regular, double, or alcohol-free. If you love vanilla try the paste.

    Best Containers for Overnight Oats

    I like the Weck quarter liter (1 cup) jars with clamps. They stack easily in the refrigerator and for storage. The lids fit tight so when you shake to mix, no leakage. Another alternative is the 8 ounce wide-mouth ball jars or glass canning jars.

    vanilla chia overnight oats | afoodcentriclife.com

    How to Personalize Overnight Oats

    Top overnight oats with raspberries, strawberries, blueberries or blackberries, chopped walnuts, or try my Spiced Apple Compote. Warmed up, it tastes like apple pie for breakfast.

    spiced apple compote | afoodcentriclife.com

    More Tasty Upgrades for Overnight Oats

    To spice things up, add a little cinnamon or nutmeg. To increase the protein level, stir in some protein powder or hemp seeds.  Raw cacao nibs add nice crunch and fiber, and unsweetened shredded coconut are tasty adds, along with a dollop of creamy cashew better (or almond butter). Another option, use a little canned coconut milk for creaminess and healthy fat.

    vanilla chia overnight oats | afoodcentriclife.com
    vanilla chia overnight oats | afoodcentriclife.com

    Vanilla Chia Overnight Oats

    A healthy dairy-free and gluten-free breakfast is easy each morning when you make overnight oats the night ahead. Soaking rolled oats and chia seeds in almond milk makes them soft and creamy. Meal prep them in individual sized containers to grab-and-go on busy mornings. This recipes scales easily for more servings.
    Print Recipe Rate Recipe
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    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Total Time: 5 minutes
    Course: Breakfast
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: chia, Dairy-free, Gluten-free, oatmeal, overnight oats
    Calories: 295kcal

    Ingredients

    • ½ cup traditional rolled oats gluten-free if desired
    • 1 tablespoon white chia seeds
    • 1 cup unsweetened almond milk preferably homemade
    • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract or vanilla paste
    • 2 teaspoons raw honey, agave, maple, date or yacon syrup optional

    Instructions

    • Into a glass container add rolled oats and chia seeds. Add the almond milk, sweetener if using, and vanilla. Stir well or cap tightly and shake well to combine. Place in the refrigerator overnight to set up. Stir in the morning and serve, adding whatever toppings you prefer.

    Notes

    Recipe Notes: Homemade almond milk makes the best overnight oats, so make a batch of that the day prior. See the easy recipe link here. If you use store bought almond milk and find the overnight oats are not thick enough in the morning, reduce the milk quantity by ¼ cup. Homemade almond milk, unstrained, is thicker and creamier.
    It's your choice to sweeten or not. Raw agave syrup, maple syrup, date syrup, yacon or raw honey all work. You can mix it in as the oats set to up overnight, or just use a little of what you prefer added in the morning. For sugar-free, try the liquid stevia drops in plain or vanilla.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 295kcal | Carbohydrates: 45g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.02g | Sodium: 330mg | Potassium: 206mg | Fiber: 9g | Sugar: 12g | Vitamin A: 6IU | Vitamin C: 0.3mg | Calcium: 398mg | Iron: 3mg
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
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    Hi!, I'm Sally, a professionally trained chef and health coach. Join me in living and cooking gluten-free for your best life ever!

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