Overnight Oats with Banana (Printer-Friendly)

Creamy oats soaked overnight, topped with banana slices and dark chocolate chunks.

# What You Need:

→ Oats Base

01 - 1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
02 - 1 cup milk (dairy or plant-based)
03 - 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt or plant-based yogurt
04 - 1 tablespoon chia seeds
05 - 1 tablespoon maple syrup or honey
06 - 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

→ Toppings

07 - 1 large ripe banana, sliced
08 - 1 ounce dark chocolate, chopped or in chips
09 - 2 tablespoons chopped nuts such as walnuts or almonds (optional)
10 - Pinch of sea salt (optional)

# Directions:

01 - In a medium bowl or large jar, combine oats, milk, yogurt, chia seeds, maple syrup, and vanilla. Stir well until fully mixed.
02 - Cover and refrigerate overnight or at least 6 hours to allow the oats to soften and flavors to meld.
03 - In the morning, give the oats a good stir. If the mixture is too thick, add a splash of milk to reach your desired consistency.
04 - Divide the oats between two bowls or jars.
05 - Top each portion with sliced banana, chopped dark chocolate, and nuts if using. Sprinkle with a pinch of sea salt for extra flavor if desired.
06 - Serve chilled.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • Zero morning cooking means you can actually enjoy breakfast instead of rushing out the door with a granola bar.
  • The dark chocolate and banana combination feels indulgent enough that you won't miss a typical sweet breakfast.
  • It's naturally flexible—swap ingredients based on what's in your fridge without changing the formula.
02 -
  • The consistency will thicken as the oats continue absorbing liquid, so if you make this and it seems too thin the night before, don't panic—add milk in the morning rather than being heavy-handed initially.
  • Banana slices oxidize and brown quickly, so slice them right before eating rather than prepping them the night before, or toss them with a tiny bit of lemon juice to slow the browning.
03 -
  • Use truly ripe bananas for natural sweetness—this means you can actually reduce the maple syrup if you want, letting the fruit do the work instead.
  • The chocolate tastes better when it's chopped or in chips rather than shredded, because the pieces maintain texture instead of melting completely into the oats.
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