Creamy Peanut Butter Overnight Oats Recipe for Quick Breakfast

Maple, peanut butter and granola make these peanut butter overnight oats a quick and delicious breakfast. This recipe is vegan and gluten free.

Peanut butter and oats are a favorite combination, so it makes perfect sense to combine them for an easy breakfast. If my morning meal doesn’t include peanut butter, I often feel like something’s missing. Overnight oats are simply old-fashioned oats mixed with a liquid and flavorings, then refrigerated overnight so they’re ready to eat the next morning.

I discovered peanut butter overnight oats years ago before a marathon when my uncle picked up ready-to-eat packets at the race packet pickup. I mixed almond milk and peanut butter into one of those packets, refrigerated it, and from then on I was hooked.

This base is versatile: add Greek yogurt for more protein, sprinkle in chia seeds, fold in banana, chocolate or fresh fruit — the variations are endless, which makes overnight oats a fast, satisfying breakfast option.

Ingredients for this Overnight Oats recipe:

For a basic overnight oats bowl you only need old-fashioned oats and a liquid, but a few extras turn it into something special.

• Old fashioned oats
• Unsweetened almond milk
• Maple syrup
• Granola (I used Purely Elizabeth)
• Peanut butter

How to make overnight oats:

1. Choose a container: small ceramic bowls, mason jars, or a mug all work. Mason jars are convenient for grab-and-go breakfasts.
2. Combine the old-fashioned oats and almond milk in your chosen vessel.
3. Stir in maple syrup until evenly distributed.
4. Add peanut butter and granola, stirring just enough to combine — leaving small pockets of peanut butter gives a nicer texture.
5. Make sure the oats are submerged in the liquid, then cover with a lid or plastic wrap.
6. Refrigerate overnight and enjoy the next morning. Top with extra peanut butter and granola if desired.

Oatmeal toppings and variations:

A simple, delicious overnight oats bowl usually has four components:

1. Oats
2. Liquid
3. A modest sweetener
4. Mix-ins and toppings

I prefer unsweetened almond milk for a lighter, plant-based option, but any milk will do — regular milk, coconut milk, or even chocolate milk if you want a sweeter treat. The typical oat-to-liquid ratio is 1:1 (for example, ½ cup oats to ½ cup or 4 oz. liquid). For thicker oats, reduce the liquid slightly.

Because granola adds sweetness and texture, I keep the maple syrup amount modest. If you want alternatives, try:

• Honey
• Agave
• Coconut sugar
• Date sugar
• Brown sugar
• Banana (add fresh slices in the morning for best texture)

Some tasty variations:

• Chocolate Peanut Butter Overnight Oats — add cocoa powder, extra peanut butter, milk of choice and a drizzle of honey or maple.
• Strawberry Overnight Oats — mix in chopped strawberries, a spoonful of strawberry yogurt or vanilla yogurt and a touch of honey.
• Peanut Butter Banana Overnight Oats — combine peanut butter, maple syrup and sliced banana (add banana in the morning).
• Low Calorie Overnight Oats — use unsweetened almond milk, a calorie-free sweetener like stevia and a pinch of cinnamon.

Is this Overnight Oats Recipe Gluten Free?

Yes, if you choose oats and granola that are certified gluten free. Oats can be processed on shared equipment with wheat, so look for a gluten-free label if you need to avoid gluten. The recipe is vegan when you use vegan granola and plant-based milk; I used Purely Elizabeth Vanilla Almond Butter granola, which is both gluten free and vegan.