These creamy banana chia overnight oats are almost like banana cream pie in a jar. But with 23g of protein, they help to keep you full all morning! Make them ahead for a quick, delicious and healthy breakfast.
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Breakfast at a Glance
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Planning Ahead: It needs to be prepped the at least the night before and up to 3 days ahead.
- Morning Effort: Zero- just grab and eat!
- Protein: 23g per serving
- Fiber: 10g per serving
Nessy's Note
I’ve made countless versions of overnight oats over the years (like these cinnamon overnight oats) and this banana chia version is one of my favorites.
It reminds me of banana cream pie for breakfast- sweet, creamy and satisfying- but with no cooking in the morning required. And if you’re a peanut butter lover like me, a drizzle on top takes it to the next level!
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
- Rolled Oats- Also called old-fashioned oats or large flake oats, these create the best texture when making overnight oats (and they're also what I like best in PB and J baked oat cups).
- Substitution: Instant or quick oats work as well if you don't mind a less chewy texture.
- Banana- This naturally sweetens the oats and adds the banana flavor. For best results (like in chocolate banana overnight oats), use a ripe (yellow and slightly spotty) banana.
- Substitution: You could swap with unsweetened applesauce but you would then be making apple flavored oats.
- Greek Yogurt- Just like in my yogurt overnight oats, this is the key to making this banana chia overnight oatmeal high protein without the need for protein powder.
- Substitution: Use any plain yogurt but note that protein content will vary.
- Chia Seeds- These help to thicken the oats and add fiber, omega-3s and a bit of protein.
- Substitution: Ground flaxseeds also work or they can be left out altogether.
- Sea Salt – Enhances the flavors and balances sweetness.
- Substitution: Kosher or table salt will also work or it can be left out.
- Vanilla Extract– Adds warmth and depth of flavor that gives these oats an almost banana pudding type flavor. You can leave it out if needed.
Notes for the Best Banana Overnight Oats
- Meal prep for the week. These banana overnight oats last up to 3 days in the fridge (the banana starts to brown so I don't like to make it more than 3 days ahead), so you can prep for a few days ahead.
- Make it extra delicious. Top with extra sliced banana and a drizzle of peanut butter for even more flavor and texture.
- For troubleshooting, more tips and flavor customizations check out my ultimate guide to yogurt overnight oats!
Yes, they’re ready to eat straight from the fridge. If you prefer them warm, microwave in 20-second intervals, stirring between each, until heated to your desired temperature. Or, if you like warm oatmeal, try out this banana cream oatmeal which is made on the stovetop!
Yes but the texture will be softer and less chewy than with rolled oats.
More Overnight Oats...
- Berry Chia Overnight Oats
- Almond Butter Overnight Oats
- Cinnamon Overnight Oats
- Peanut Butter Overnight Oats
If you give this recipe a try, be sure to let me know what you thought in the comments below!
Banana Chia Overnight Oats
Equipment
- 1 jar or container with lid (at least 10 oz/300mL in size)
Ingredients
- 1 medium banana (ripe with a few brown spots)
- ¾ cup plain Greek yogurt (I prefer 2% for a creamier texture but any type will work)
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ⅛ teaspoon fine sea salt
- ⅓ cup old-fashioned rolled oats (large flake)
- 1 tablespoon chia seeds (or ground flaxseed)
Optional:
- 1 tablespoon peanut butter for topping
Instructions
- In a bowl (or your jar or container, if it is big enough), mash the banana until mostly smooth.1 medium banana
- Add the Greek yogurt, vanilla extract and sea salt and stir well until fully combined.¾ cup plain Greek yogurt, ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract, ⅛ teaspoon fine sea salt
- Stir in the rolled oats and chia seeds until evenly mixed.⅓ cup old-fashioned rolled oats, 1 tablespoon chia seeds
- Transfer to your container if you mixed in a bowl and cover. Let the oatmeal sit in the fridge for at least 4 hours (overnight is best for optimal texture).
- In the morning, enjoy your delicious breakfast (that almost taste like banana bread!) as you get all ready for your busy day. Drizzle with peanut butter if you'd like.If the oats are thicker than you would like, you can stir in a couple of tablespoons of milk or water before eating.1 tablespoon peanut butter
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition Note: Nutritional information is estimated using an online calculator and accuracy is not guaranteed. Remember food is more than numbers and this info is intended as a support.
Marie says
I prepped these last night for breakfast this morning and they were fantastic! I’m going to make them again tonight for tomorrow.