Mixed Berry Protein Overnight Oats

 
This past spring, my dad decided to start eating healthier. He already packed wholesome lunches and snacks with plenty of fresh fruit and veggies to bring to work (he can’t live without his apples, carrots, and broccoli!), so he mainly wanted to change his breakfast and dinner habits.  

When he received my banana bread protein overnight oats recipe in his email inbox (have you signed up for my recipe newsletter here? you’ll receive all of my new recipes straight to your inbox — for free!), he mentioned that it sounded really good. With an overly spotty banana sitting on my counter, I offered it to him so he could make the recipe that evening.

The next morning, I received a text from him, reporting that the oats tasted amazing! He loved the texture and the little hint of cinnamon, and he actually stopped by the store just to buy a big ol’ bunch of bananas on his way home from work that evening so he could continue making and eating those same overnight oats for the rest of the week.
 

 
After that, Dad became my official “overnight oat taste tester” for all of the fun versions you’ve seen here on Amy’s Healthy Baking! Whenever I created a new recipe, I wrote him a note, and he shared his thoughts with me the following day. Nearly every time, he started with, “They’re not my favorite…” (that badge of honor has always gone to those original banana bread protein overnight oats!) “BUT they still taste great!”

When he sampled this particular recipe (it’s only available here on Instagram!), he provided the same exact feedback, but he added on a second line. “Could we do a version that includes blueberries too?”
 

 
So here is Dad’s special recipe request… These mixed berry protein overnight oats! Full of sweet, juicy fruit and packed with 16g+ of protein, they’re the perfect healthy way to start the day. They’re really quick and easy to make too — you only need 5 minutes!

And the next day, my dad reported back… Proclaiming that they just might be tied for first place with the banana bread version!
 

KEY INGREDIENTS TO MAKE MIXED BERRY PROTEIN OVERNIGHT OATS

Let’s briefly talk about the most important ingredients you’ll use to make these healthy berry overnight oats. Because they’re fairly common, there’s a really good chance that you have everything you need!

To start, you’ll need… You guessed it — oats! Both old-fashioned rolled oats and instant oats (also called “quick cooking” or “one-minute” oats) will work. However, I don’t recommend steel-cut oats. Those do not soften enough, and they’ll remain dry and crunchy.

Tip: To make these mixed berry protein overnight oats gluten-free, use certified gluten-free oats (either old-fashioned rolled or instant). They work perfectly!

For the protein source, you’ll use one of my favorite ingredients in healthier baking. If you’ve been around my blog for a while, you already know what it is… Greek yogurt! Greek yogurt contains around 21g of protein per cup (compared to regular yogurt that offers only around 10g of protein), so it’s a super easy way to sneak in extra protein. I often buy the huge tubs, rather than the single-serving cups, because I use it so much!

To boost the sweetness in these mixed berry protein overnight oats, you’ll use liquid stevia. Stevia is a plant-based, no-calorie sweetener that’s clean eating friendly. It’s very concentrated, so a little goes a long way. You only need ¼ teaspoons for these overnight oats! This is the kind that I buy because I love its warm flavor and don’t notice any strange aftertaste, like with some other products. You can find it any many health-oriented grocery stores, but I’ve often found the best prices online. (And you’ll use it in all of these recipes of mine too!)

And of course, the fruit! Please, please, please use fresh strawberries and blueberries if you can because they taste so much better in this particular recipe than frozen. I promise they’re worth it!
 

HOW TO MAKE MIXED BERRY PROTEIN OVERNIGHT OATS

If you’re unfamiliar with overnight oats, they’re incredibly easy to make! You simply mix together the ingredients in a mason jar or airtight container, seal the lid on top, and refrigerate them overnight (or at least 8 hours). That’s all there is to it!

Note: I know the jar in my very first photo looks rather neat and pretty with its distinct layers… But do not leave your jar looking like that overnight! Unless the oats are fully stirred into the yogurt mixture, they won’t soak up the moisture and soften properly.

And yes, overnight oats are meant to be eaten cold! By letting the oats soak up the liquid from the recipe for that many hours, the oats soften as much as if you had cooked them the traditional way on the stove or in the microwave. This makes them great for quick grab-and-go breakfasts for busy mornings!
 

 
Time for breakfast! And when you make your own, would you mind leaving a comment and rating the recipe? (You can also snap a picture and share it with me on Facebook!) I’d love to hear what you think of these mixed berry protein overnight oats!

Mixed Berry Protein Overnight Oats

© Amy's Healthy Baking

Yields: 1 bowl

These overnight oats are beautifully thick and creamy! They're perfect for busy mornings, meal prepping, and quick grab-and-go breakfasts. The recipe is easily doubled or tripled to make more, and they’ll keep for at least 4 days if stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

5 from 4 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Ingredients 

• ¼ cup (25g) old-fashioned rolled oats (gluten-free if necessary)
• ½ cup (120g) plain nonfat Greek yogurt
• ¼ cup (60mL) nonfat milk
• ¼ teaspoon liquid stevia (or adjusted to taste – and see Notes!)
• ¼ cup (35g) strawberries, diced
• ¼ cup (35g) blueberries

Instructions

• Add all of the ingredients to a glass jar or airtight container with a tight-fitting lid, and stir until fully combined. Cover and refrigerate overnight or for at least 8 hours.

Notes

IMPORTANT MIXING + SERVING NOTES – READ BEFORE BEGINNING: You must mix everything together the night before. Do not leave the ingredients in your jar layered (like in the very first photo of my blog post)! In order for them to soften properly, the oats must be mixed into the milk and yogurt and allowed to absorb their moisture for 8+ hours.

 

Overnight oats are meant to be eaten cold, straight from the refrigerator! No need to heat them up.

 

JAR NOTE: I use 12-ounce jars. Mine are no longer sold in stores, but these jars are really similar.

 

OATS ALTERNATIVE: Instant oats (aka "quick cooking" or "one minute" oats – and gluten-free, if needed!) may be substituted for the old-fashioned rolled oats. Do not substitute steel-cut oats; they do not soften the same way.

 

YOGURT ALTERNATIVES: Other types of Greek yogurt (ie low fat, full fat, flavored, etc) may be substituted for the plain nonfat Greek yogurt. Regular non-Greek yogurt and dairy-free yogurt may also be substituted. These latter two aren’t quite as thick, but you can easily decrease the milk by a touch to help compensate. (And your overnight oats will still taste the same!)

 

MILK ALTERNATIVES: Any milk may be substituted for the nonfat milk.

 

STEVIA NOTE + ALTERNATIVES: Many stevia brands and products have different sweetness levels, so they're not necessarily 1-for-1 substitutes for each other. For the best flavor results, I highly recommend using the same one that I do. I buy it online here (and you can use it to make all of these recipes of mine too!). If using a different stevia product, you may need to adjust the amount.

 

Many other sweetener options will work! Those include pure maple syrup, honey, agave, coconut sugar, monk fruit, erythritol, and more. (Liquid sweeteners tend to be a bit easier to incorporate, but granular ones still work too.) Feel free to use whatever sweetener you're most comfortable with! You’ll want your sweetener's equivalent of about 3-4 teaspoons of granulated sugar (or adjusted to suit your tastes).

 

BERRY NOTE: For the best taste, use fresh strawberries and blueberries! I recommend dicing the strawberries so they're no larger than the blueberries.

 

GLUTEN-FREE OPTION: Use certified gluten-free old-fashioned rolled oats or certified gluten-free instant oats.

 

DAIRY-FREE + VEGAN OPTION: Substitute your preferred dairy-free milk and yogurt (ie soy- or almond-based) for the nonfat milk and Greek yogurt. Non-dairy yogurts aren’t quite as thick, but you can easily decrease the milk by a touch to help compensate. (And your overnight oats will still taste the same!)

 

HOW TO STORE: Store these overnight oats in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They should keep for at least four days, if not closer to a week.

 

MORE FLAVOR IDEAS: I’ve shared 15+ different flavor variations, if you'd like to try more versions!

 

{gluten-free, egg-free, clean eating, low fat, high protein, nut-free, dairy-free option, vegan option}

DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE?I'd love to hear what you think of it in a comment below! If you take a picture, tag @amys.healthy.baking on Instagram or use the hashtag #amyshealthybaking.

View Nutrition Information + Weight Watchers Points
 
 
You may also like Amy’s other recipes…
♡  Maple Mixed Berry Muffins
♡  Mixed Berry Banana Bread
♡  Mixed Berry Shortcakes with Whipped Cream
♡  Mixed Berry Fruit Crisp
♡  Blueberry Oatmeal Breakfast Cookies
♡  The Ultimate Healthy Blueberry Oatmeal Muffins
♡  …and the rest of Amy’s high protein overnight oats recipes!