Nutella Overnight Oats

These Nutella Overnight Oats are a delicious and healthy way to have dessert for breakfast. They are packed with protein, fibre and healthy fats, while the Nutella spread takes the flavour to the next level.

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Why I love these Nutella Overnight Oats

I have been making overnight oats for breakfast for years now and they are the perfect way to start a busy day. They require minimal prep and save you time and energy in the morning. The nutrient-packed ingredients support your health and keep you full and satisfied. 

They are a modern twist on a classic bowl of oatmeal and they take less than 5 minutes to make the night before. Once they chill overnight you’re all set to go in the morning. They also make an easy meal prep option. Just double or triple the recipe to prepare a few in advance so you don’t have to make them every night!

This Nutella Overnight Oats recipe is super impressive while still being simple to make. It’s a delicious mash up between a Ferrero Rocher and oatmeal and can keep you energized for hours. If needed, you can also make a variety of adjustments and substitutions, depending on your preferences. 

 

Ingredients needed

Here’s what you need to make these easy overnight oats:

• Oats
  • I prefer using large flake oats for overnight oats because they hold the texture better.
  • See alternative oat options below.
• Chia seeds
  • These gel up when they are mixed with liquid and they add some volume and extra nutrients to the recipe.
• Plain or vanilla Greek yogurt
  • I recommend using Greek yogurt because it’s thicker and provides significantly more protein compared to regular yogurt.
• Milk
  • Milk makes this meal creamy and offers additional protein, fats, calcium and other nutrients.
  • Use your preferred choice of milk or plant-based beverage.
• Nutella
  • Add as little or as much as you would like to meet your chocolate hazelnut spread needs!
• Sliced banana
  • This adds some extra nutrients and pairs so well with the Nutella.
• Chopped hazelnuts
  • These are used for topping and add an element of crunch.
• Cocoa powder
  • A dusting of cocoa powder on top makes this breakfast extra decadent!

 

Optional ingredients

You might not be a fan of some of the recommended ingredients in this recipe. Or maybe you don’t have access to them. Perhaps you just want to add your own personal twist to it! Here are some suggested alternatives:

• Quick oats or old fashioned rolled oats
  • If you don’t have large flake oats you can substitute quick or rolled oats instead. I recommend reducing the milk by 1-2 tbsp so that it’s not too liquidy or mushy.
• Flavoured Greek yogurt
  • If you prefer a flavoured Greek yogurt, you can use this in place of the plain Greek yogurt in this recipe. I recommend vanilla or coconut flavoured yogurt.
• Regular yogurt
  • Instead of Greek yogurt, you can use regular yogurt. However, this tends to be more liquidy than Greek yogurt so I recommend reducing the milk by 1-2 tbsp.
• Alternative milks
  • If you are looking for a higher protein option, I recommend using dairy milk or soy milk. Other plant-based beverages like oat milk or almond milk will still work in this recipe but provide much less protein.
• Strawberries, blueberries or blackberries
  • You can use a variety of berries in this recipe if you prefer them to bananas.
• Seed butters
  • If you’re trying to manage a nut allergy, opt for a seed butter or disregard altogether.
• Protein powder
  • If you want to add an extra boost of protein to overnight oats, you can use protein powder. I recommend adding a small amount to start with to make sure you enjoy the taste and texture. 
  • If you need help choosing the best protein powder for you, check out my blog posts on this topic here and here.
• Maple syrup, honey, vanilla extract or chocolate chips
  • Add any of these ingredients to increase the sweetness of this breakfast.

Why add chia seeds to overnight oats?

Adding chia seeds to the oat mixture helps with the texture and the nutrient profile of this breakfast. When chia seeds are combined with liquid, they soak it up quite easily. This creates a gel-like texture that pairs really well with oatmeal and prevents the final product from being too liquidy.

Chia seeds are also incredibly nutrient-dense. They provide an excellent source of omega 3 fatty acids, fibre and plant-based protein. Don’t forget to add these to your overnight oats!

 

How to make Nutella Overnight Oats

All you have to do to prepare these Nutella Overnight Oats is:

1. In a sealable jar or container, mix the oats, chia seeds, Greek yogurt and milk together. Stir well.
2. Place the mixture in the fridge for at least 1 hour, ideally overnight.
3. When you’re ready to eat, add the nutella, banana, chopped hazelnuts and a sprinkle of cocoa powder on top. Enjoy!

 

Tip: My favourite containers to store overnight oats in are mason jars or other glass jars with a tight lid. I have reused empty nut butter and salsa jars for this recipe. You just have to make sure to give them a good wash beforehand (especially the salsa jar)!

 

How much time do overnight oats need to soak?

You only need 5 minutes to prepare these breakfast meal prep overnight oats. To achieve the best texture of overnight oats, it is recommended to allow for enough time for the oats and chia seeds to soak up all of the liquid. This takes at least 1 hour in the fridge but ideally the mixture is left overnight (for at least 6 hours). 

 

What is the texture of overnight oats?

The final texture of overnight oats should be thick and creamy. If the mixture is really runny or liquidy then you have added too much milk. You can add extra oats or chia seeds to help soak up the excess liquid.

Overnight oats nutrition

Not only is this breakfast quick and easy but it’s also absolutely packed with nutrients!! I have broken down the nutrition information for each base ingredient.

• Large flake oats: Per 1/3 cup, there are 3 grams of fibre, 4 grams of protein and 8% of daily value of iron.
• Chia seeds: Per 1 tbsp, there are 3.5 grams of fibre, 2 grams of protein, over 100% of daily omega 3s and a variety of minerals.
• Greek yogurt: Per 1/3 cup, there are 7 grams of protein and 7% of daily calcium.
• Milk (dairy or soy): Per 2/3 cup of 2% dairy milk, there are 5 grams of protein, 15% of daily calcium, and significant amounts of vitamin B2, B12 and K.

As you can see, the base recipe of overnight oats is extremely nutrient dense. By adding the toppings (banana, Nutella and hazelnuts), we increase the nutrient profile even more! They add extra fibre, protein, fats and vitamins. 

If you would like to add an extra boost to the protein content, you can always add in 1-2 tbsp of unflavoured, vanilla or chocolate protein powder to make protein overnight oats!

 

Dietary considerations

Here are some ways to accommodate a variety of dietary restrictions with this recipe:

• To make this recipe gluten free, make sure you opt for gluten free oats!
• To make it nut free, opt for a seed butter instead of Nutella. For example, tahini or sunflower seed butter. However, this will drastically alter the taste of the final result.
• To make it vegan, choose plant-based yogurt and milk like soy, almond or oat milk instead of dairy milk. You will also have to substitute another seed butter for Nutella because it contains skim milk powder so is not vegan.

 

How long do overnight oats last for?

As long as you store the overnight oats in an airtight container or jar in the fridge, they can last up to 3-4 days without any changes in the taste or texture.

 

Additional ways to use Nutella for breakfast

If you have a jar of Nutella lying around and want to use it up, here are some suggested ways to incorporate it into your breakfast:

• Make nutella oatmeal by adding a dollop of Nutella to a warm bowl of cooked oats.
• Add 1 tablespoon Nutella to a Banana Chocolate Smoothie.
• To toast, spread some Nutella and a drizzle of peanut butter on top. Sprinkle on some cinnamon for extra flavour!
• Add some Nutella to this Chocolate Banana Chia Pudding.

 

More overnight oats recipes

If you’re looking for more overnight oats recipes, you need to check these out!

• Banana Chia Overnight Oats
• Raspberry Overnight Oats
• Tiramisu Overnight Oats
• Biscoff Overnight Oats
• Pumpkin Pie Overnight Oats
• Mango Lime Overnight Oats
• Lemon Blueberry Overnight Oats
• Apple Pie Overnight Oats

I hope you love these Nutella Overnight Oats. If you make them, I would love to see your comment and rating below. It also makes my day seeing your creations of my recipes on Instagram- don’t forget to tag @allnutrition.rd!