Chocolate Banana Strawberry Overnight Oats

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Cooking With Anadi

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Overnight Oats Any Time!

I’ve truly become a sucker for overnight oats. What can I say? They’re so convenient and delicious! I have to admit sometimes I even make them for dessert just because they’re so much fun to make and have a sweet treat just waiting for you in the fridge! I hear that people like to heat their overnight oats in the morning, but to me overnight oats are simply meant to be cold! What are your thoughts? Let me know in the comments! But because I love overnight oats so much, that I’ve got plenty of overnight oats recipes on my site! Whatever you’re craving, fruits, chocolate, or cookies n creme, I’ve got you covered!

• Chocolate Chip Overnight Oats with Mango Puree
• Chocolate Espresso Cheesecake Overnight Oats
• M&M Cookies n Creme Overnight Oats

Crazy for Cocoa!

This recipe is absolutely perfect if you're a major chocoholic while still trying to get in your favorite fruits to start off your morning! Not to mention that no matter what overnight oats recipe you make, they're perfect for those busy weekday mornings where you can prepare these oats in just a few steps! I made these almost a full day in advance and boy were they good with all the time they've had to thicken up! Enjoy with a nice cup of coffee if you drink it:)

These overnight oats have cocoa powder mixed in to add some richness. Because I’m just putting cocoa powder, I’m going to offset the tartness of the cocoa powder with some honey. I do like my oats fairly sweet so honey always does the trick! But you won’t need to add too much because there will be the banana and strawberries will add lots of natural sweetness.

Bananas for Bananas!

Bananas are one of my favorite fruits, so I tend to use them a lot in my overnight oats recipes, such as this one! Bananas are extremely sweet, and they add extra creaminess to oats, both hot and cold. In this recipe, I’ve added half of the bananas in the mixture, and topped it off in the morning with additional sliced bananas. That helps the flavors distribute and soak up overnight, and of course you get that nice banana taste when you’re ready to eat! The fruitiness is truly there in every bite!

Sweet as a Strawberry!

When I was at the grocery store, I saw some fresh strawberries that I simply could not resist picking them up! I love how perfectly plump strawberries are, and I remember these ones were such a vibrant red. Who can say no? You know they’re just packed with juiciness and loads of health benefits, such as antioxidants, polyphenols, and fiber!

As I did with the bananas, I added half of the strawberries to the oatmeal mixture, and let that settle overnight. In the morning, I topped the oats off with more sliced strawberries. I like having every bite be epic, so this is a must for me!

That’s it! These chocolate strawberry overnight oats are great to get in some sweetness and chocolatey flavor - the best of both worlds to start off your morning with minimal effort! I love this recipe and I'm sure you will want to try these overnight oats over and over again for a great on-the-go breakfast option!

Frequently Asked Questions

Tools Needed

• Mixing bowl
• Spoon
• Measuring cups
• Measuring spoons
• Paring knife

Which Oats to Use - and Which Ones Ruin It

Overnight oats live or die on texture, and the oat you choose decides it. This recipe uses 2/3 cup of rolled oats, also sold as old-fashioned oats. They soften in the liquid overnight without collapsing, which is exactly what you want.

Steel cut oats do not work here. They are cut rather than rolled, so they never fully hydrate cold and stay unpleasantly chewy no matter how long they sit. Quick oats and instant oats fail in the other direction: they are pre-cooked and rolled thinner, so they turn to porridge in the jar. If rolled oats are what you keep in the cupboard, you are already set.

Two teaspoons of chia seeds do the thickening. They swell as they sit and bind the whole thing together, and they bring omega-3 fatty acids along with them. Ground flaxseed swaps in at the same ratio with a similar gel and similar nutrition, and basil seeds - sold as sabja - behave the same way.

If you are eating gluten-free, note that oats are naturally gluten-free but are very often processed alongside wheat, so check that the packet says certified gluten-free.

Milk, Sweetener and Every Swap That Works

The type of milk barely matters here, which makes this an easy recipe to adapt. Two-thirds of a cup of dairy milk is the default, but almond milk, oat milk and soy milk all work at the same quantity - any non-dairy milk or plant-based milk will do, and oat milk gives the creamiest result of the three. If the mix looks stiff in the morning, loosen it with a splash of milk and stir.

The quarter cup of Greek yogurt is what makes it thick and lifts the protein. Sour cream works at the same ratio if that is what is open, a little tangier; plain whole-milk yogurt works too, but strain it first or the oats come out loose.

Sweetener is down to your preference: 1 tablespoon of honey is the default and maple syrup swaps in at an equal amount for a slightly thinner result. Two tablespoons of unsweetened cocoa powder carry the chocolate; cacao powder does the same job with a sharper edge, and Dutch-process cocoa is richer and less acidic. Half a teaspoon of vanilla extract rounds it out, and a pinch of salt - not in the ingredient list, but worth adding - makes the cocoa taste noticeably more chocolatey.

For substitutions that change the character rather than just the brand: a spoonful of peanut butter stirred through, a scoop of protein powder, or chocolate chips and cacao nibs scattered on at the end. Overripe bananas are the best kind to use here - mash a quarter of one with a fork into the mix rather than only slicing it on top, and the whole jar tastes far more of banana.

Make It a Meal-Prep Batch

This is a genuinely good meal prep recipe because nothing about it degrades. Mix everything in a bowl, divide into mason jars, and they keep in the refrigerator for up to five days. Making the whole batch on a Sunday means a delicious breakfast on five busy mornings with no effort at all.

Assemble the oats, milk, yogurt, vanilla, chia and cocoa the night before and leave the toppings off until you eat - the strawberries and banana go on at the last minute so they stay bright rather than weeping into the jar. Four to six hours is the minimum; overnight is better.