Tomorroats (Overnight Oatmeal)

The part I hate about making a pot of oatmeal on the stovetop every morning is: making a pot of oatmeal on the stovetop every morning.

This type of oatmeal, known as ‘overnight oats,’ is uncooked. It’s a recipe idea I’ve seen on blogs for quite some time now, but for some unreasonably unreasonable reason, I’ve resisted making it and loving it.

Here’s the deal: Dry rolled oats are soaked overnight in a mixture of yogurt and milk or water. By morning, the oats have absorbed most of the liquid, leaving you with a bowl of creamy, doughy oatmeal. All the taste, all the volume, none of the hassle. (I’m calling my overnight oats ‘tomorroats’ for the plain and simple reason that the name sounds cuter. If you’re an oatmeal lover, let me know what you think!

 

Tomorroats (Overnight Oatmeal)

Dry rolled oats are soaked overnight in a mixture of yogurt and milk or water. By morning, the oats have absorbed most of the liquid, leaving you with a bowl of creamy, doughy oatmeal. All the taste, all the volume, none of the hassle.
Prep Time5 minutes
Total Time5 minutes
Course: Breakfast
Cuisine: American
Keyword: easy breakfast recipes, oatmeal recipes, overnight oatmeal, overnight oats
Servings: 1 serving
Calories: 200kcal

Ingredients

  • ½ cup dry old fashioned rolled oats
  • .5 c plain nonfat yogurt
  • .25 c water or milk

Instructions

  • In a small bowl, combine all ingredients. Cover and refrigerate overnight. In the morning, stir and serve with your favorite toppings- fruit, nuts, peanut butter, honey, etc.

Nutrition

Calories: 200kcal | Carbohydrates: 37g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 2mg | Sodium: 100mg | Potassium: 459mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin C: 1.1mg | Calcium: 265mg | Iron: 1.7mg
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86 thoughts on “Tomorroats (Overnight Oatmeal)

  1. Rose

    I’m curious to try this with a banana and fluff – which I’ve been eating for weeks thanks to your previous post with that recipe. Yum :)

    Reply
  2. CB

    Thank you! I share your sentiments about loving the oats in the morning, but tiring of the preparation and that pan in the sink! I’m trying this. It could change my life.

    Reply
  3. Lindsey Renee

    For the last two years I’ve been tossing dry oatmeal into my yogurt in the morning instead of using granola. It started just because I was out of granola and wanted some the added texture. Now I love it but hadn’t thought about leaving it in overnight. Though I’ve been seeing this all over pinterest it didn’t strike me until tonight that it’s basically the same thing I’ve been doing just with more time for the oats to puff up.

    Thanks for the post! :)

    Reply
  4. candace

    I too am a big fan of the oatmeal. I have seen this a few times in other blogs, but turned my nose up at it. After reading your post I walked directly into my kitchen and put together my tomorroats for the morning. If it’s good enough for you I am sure I will love it!

    Reply
  5. kristen @ verbs and vignettes

    UGH. i love overnight oats. i guess there’s a reason fads are all actually fads.

    i usually go for 1/3 cup: oats, milk, + yogurt. but i’m about to go mix up your version exactly, with my plain fage 2% yogurt. the strawberries peaking at me in the corner sealed the deal, because i have half a pint that i CANNOT risk spoiling before my enjoyment.

    Reply
  6. Violet

    Oh, my. Old-fashioned oats going on the shopping list!

    I suppose you could gently warm this in the microwave before eating, right?

    Reply
  7. Jae

    So, this intrigues me. But I have two questions about it. One, and as a woman this has gotten me kicked out of many circles, I do not like yogurt. It’s really both a taste and a texture thing. So, question one- does this co-mingling result in yogurt-flavored oatmeal? Also, I have recently been eating steel cut oats, which I feel have a nuttier taste and ultimately creamier texture- do you think that this would work on the steel cut as well? Thanks in advance :)

    Reply
    1. B

      I’ve done this with steel cut oats, and it worked fine. I do remember that I heated them on the stove just a bit before eating. If you try it and they’re still a bit crunchy right out of the fridge, just zap it in the microwave or heat them for a couple of minutes on the stove.

      Reply
    2. Christi

      Jae, thank you for reading my mind! I, too, am an abomination to my gender in that I hate yogurt. I don’t mind to cook with it, but I hate to eat it. I also have a bunch of steel cut oats. So basically, we are now BFFs. ;)

      Reply
      1. Jae

        Yay! We can form our own little club with a sign outside that says “No yogurt Allowed!” It’s gonna be awesome!

        Reply
    3. Abby

      I’m not a fan of yogurt in my overnight oats, so I do a version with just milk and it turns out delicious!

      Reply
  8. Miranda

    That’s actually the proper, old fashioned way of preparing them! The only difference being (and most nutritous) soaking steel cut (not rolled) in water and buttermilk overnight, then in the morning add a bit more water and heat on the stove for about 5 minutes! I like to add banana while it’s on the stovetop, then finish with a dollop of raw local honey and cinnamon!

    Reply
  9. erika

    Thanks for posting this. I am looking for new ideas for breakfast and this may just be what I need to spruce things up! I love your blog!

    Reply
  10. Laura

    I actually (horrors) struggle to enjoy the texture of “regular” oatmeal, but I love “overnight oats”.

    When I was a very young child my Mom made something like this called “Swiss Oats” – mix oats, Bulgarian yogurt, canned peaches and honey and soak overnight.

    Then as a teenager we would just soak the oats overnight in milk and add fresh fruit, nuts and seeds, and a dollop of yogurt when we served them.

    I prefer the second method (more chewy less gummy) – and Jae, I like the second method without yogurt if I have lots of fruit and nuts….

    Reply
  11. Fran

    I do this with almond milk for a vegan version. I often add in a TBSP of chia seeds as well – it helps firm up the oatmeal mixture.

    Reply
  12. maryj

    This all sounds nice but what I love is plain old oatmeal, 1 banana, and some icy cold creamy milk poured over, no cooking at all but dive straight in and yummy yum. And now I’m adding dried cranberries to the mix and it looks great too which is half the joy of eating. When I don’t have milk then I mix up dried coconut milk with filtered water and pour this over and it creates another taste sensation. I resisted Oats and banana for a long time thinking that it couldn’t be great if it’s uncooked but now its like dessert for breakfast it’s so creamy and delish.

    Reply
  13. Rachael

    Love the new name, tomorroats sounds much tastier :)

    I love mixing in a tablespoon of PB2 and a large dollop of jam if I don’t have fresh fruit available. Another good mix is flaked coconut, mini chocolate chips and sliced almonds. And I love that you eat them cold, perfect for summer mornings on the deck!

    Reply
  14. Kate

    Andie,
    You always make me smile! The truth of the stink-eye pot in the sink is undeniable. It ruins the enjoyment. I was happily shocked to when I too gave in to the idea after resisting (cold oatmeal…REALLY?) and LOVE doing this. How fun is it to stir it up, go to bed and return in the morning to the perfect bowl of yum?

    THANK YOU

    Reply
  15. Kenni

    LOVE overnight oats…oops, I mean tomorroats! I make some with applesauce and vanilla yogurt that end up tasting like an apple pie custard. Oh, so yummy. Guess I know what I’ll be having for breakfast tomorrow. :-D

    Reply
  16. Lori E.

    And not only is making them on the stove a pain, but cleaning the pan afterwards is worse!

    Do you know if you can do it in larger quantities? That would make breakfast with the kiddos so much easier…

    Reply
      1. Abby

        This is the recipe base I use, and I love it. I don’t love the yogurt in my oatmeal, so I like Gina’s version with just milk, and the banana and blueberries are awesome in it. I don’t use the chia seeds, since I don’t have them, and if I want to mix up the fruit I can, and if I’m craving something a little sweeter I add a tablespoon of homemade jam, usually strawberry. I can even make it when I get up in the morning, then grab the jar on my way out the door and when I get to work they’re just right to eat!

        Reply
  17. Lauren

    I just tried overnight oats myself this past week and I’m in love! I also added a little bit of applesauce and cinnamon to mine for an extra bit of flavor, so good :)

    Reply
  18. Christen

    Thank you so much for this recipe! I too am a lover of oats, but often find myself debating over weather to make a pot of oats on the stove, if only for me… usually the answer ends up being “it’s just not worth the hassle.” Preparing my breakfast before bed seems much more sensible than trying to do anything in the morning pre-coffee!

    Reply
  19. Jessica McKnight

    I’ve been making these for a few months now. One of my favorite combos is 1/4c rolled oats, 1/4c nonfat plain greek yogurt, 1/3c milk, 2t maple syrup, 1.5t chia seeds and a ton of fresh blueberries. So good! I also like to switch out the syrup/blueberries for 2T strawberry jam and fresh strawberries. I was nervous about cold oatmeal at first, but now I can’t get enough :)

    Reply
  20. Weezie

    I rely exclusively on overnight oats for weekday breakfasts. To make two days worth of two servings, I combine a cup of rolled oats, a cup of nonfat plain greek yogurt, a cup of unsweetened vanilla almond milk, one thinly-sliced ripe banana, a heaping handful of blueberries, a Tablespoon or two of chia seeds, a few shakes of cinnamon and a few grinds of salt. Top with more banana slices, blueberries (or peaches!), granola, nut butter, and a glug of maple syrup. Unreal.

    Reply
    1. Weezie

      I should clarify- those toppings are added each morning before serving, not to the oats directly. Silly me.

      Reply
      1. Liz

        I have the exact same overnight oats recipe and I add all (blueberries, banana, etc) to the oats and milk and let sit overnight! So good!

        Reply
  21. jg

    Overnight oats are the best. Here’s my favorite recipe:
    1/4 cup steel cut oats
    1/2 cup coconut milk
    tbsp unsweetened coconut
    1/4 cup fresh or frozen raspberries
    tsp cinnamon
    tsp chia seeds
    stevia to-taste

    The combinations are endless. If I’m feeling extra ravenous one particular morning I’ll add a tbsp or two of almond butter.

    Reply
  22. Cadi

    I just did a ditty about this on my blog, too! I put in a TBSP of cocoa powder, some maple syrup, milk (no yogurt as I was out), chia seeds and some raspberries. Dessert for breakfast is SO something I can get behind!

    Tried your recipe with the yogurt and water instead, and added a drizzle of honey and cinnamon. So yummy! And oatmeal for breakfast keeps me full much longer than anything else. There’s no way to get tired of this recipe, either, with all of the yummy bits and bobs you can stir in!

    Reply
  23. Jessica Zigenis

    Girl, high fives all around for finally discovering the goodness that is overnight oatmeal. If you’re ever feeling extra fancy, try adding a scoop of plain applesauce and some cinnamon to the mix the night before. Is it apple pie? Is it a healthy breakfast? Is it a party in my mouth? Answer: D. All of the above.

    Reply
  24. Sarah

    I hate to brag, but I have been doing this for years! My sister glamorously married a scandanavian man and he introduced us to this method nearly 15 years ago. They are a favorite in our house for sure. Try them with fresh peaches, you might die.

    Reply
    1. Tamara

      Yes, muesli, it’s very European, isn’t it?

      As I posted on my blog, I’ve been making them with nectarines all week. Can’t get enough!

      Reply
  25. Amanda

    When I *finally* tried overnight oats after hearing about them for forever and ever and ever, it was life changing. I now eat them every.single.morning. usually with a handful of raspberries and just a bit of honey on top. Perfect start to any day!

    Reply
  26. Jennie

    My husband and I eat oatmeal every day, but do it a bit differently. I bring 4 cups of water and pinch of salt to a boil, add 1 cup of steel cut oats and let it simmer for 1 minute. Then I turn off the heat, cover the pot and let it sit overnight. I make big batches and keep it in the frig. In in the morning, we reheat in the microwave and season according to our preference for the day. My husband likes his oats more loose, so he adds a bit of water to his bowl before microwaving.

    And while this will probably freak some people out, we prefer our oats savory, so we top it with some combination of salsa, hot sauce, leftover sauteed veggies, cheese and eggs. It totally satisfies my preference for a hot, savory breakfast.

    Reply
  27. Liv

    Oh, oh – I’ve done this! I’ve heard it called “davosgröt” (davos porridge). Anyway – I like adding gingerbread spices and frozen, sliced strawberries and/or blueberries. Mm, heaven in a cup. Such a gorgeous way to start off a day!

    Reply
  28. Tricia Berryhill

    I recently discovered “Tomorroats” as well and LOVE them. However, I use a cup of almond milk and about 2tbs. of chia seeds (another recent discover that I am quickly becoming obsessed with). It cuts out the dairy if you are looking to avoid it and the chia seeds thicken it up nicely ;)

    Reply
  29. Christina

    I eat overnight oats everyday and can’t think of not having them. I do think Chia seeds are pretty essential in getting the texture and volume right.

    My recipe is a heaping:

    1/3 c rolled oats
    1/3 c greek yogurt (I use FF)
    1/3 c almond milk
    1-2 tsp Chia Seeds.

    Mix and put in the fridge. The next morning I add more almond milk b/c I prefer my oats kind of runny. Add fruit, voila!!

    My all time fave is to make this concoction in an almost empty nut butter container. Soaking the oats overnight softens whatever peanut butter in the jar. OMG, it’s so so good.

    Reply
  30. Mugs

    I’ve been following you for awhile through google reader, but this is the first time I’ve commented.

    I love oatmeal, I’m one of those that swears by the health benefits, and make it in the crockpot overnight during the winter, but want to try this. The problem is I can’t have dairy. I don’t keep any alternative milks in the house (soy, rice, almond, etc) and don’t know if I want to just for oatmeal. Has anyone tried this with just water, or water and protein powder, to plump up the oats and then adding the mix-ins for flavor?

    Keep up the wonderful blog. I love the story of your weight loss journey. Your an inspiration.

    Reply
    1. Marie-Sophie

      You can do vegan overnight oats! Just add 1 Tablespoon of chia to your mixture – that will help will the plumping up factor! I do that when I don’t have milk or yogurt in the house! oats, protein powder, 1-2 Tablespoons of chia (try 1 first, step up if necessary)) and mix-ins!

      Reply
  31. Sheri

    You are about halfway there to my favorite workday breakfast! On the weekend I try to mix up a big bowl and dig into it over the week.
    I use my old fashioned oats and a mixture of 1/2 milk and yogurt. Then I add:
    sliced/slivered almonds
    raw sunflower seeds
    sliced bananas
    diced apples
    sliced grapes
    dried cranberries
    a big spoonful of honey
    This stuff is amazing, and it is just as good at the end of the week. You just have to give it a try!

    Reply
  32. Tish

    I do this when I fancy oats for breakfast. I usually use vanilla soy milk or chocolate oat milk – which is SO YUMMY – and let them soak overnight. Bit of cinnamon and some fruit added in the morning and a delish, healthy breakfast!

    Reply
  33. Sarah (The Simple Dietitian)

    It’s funny that you posted this, because I just tried this for my first time this past week. I’ve been using kefir and adding in honeydew melon the night before. It’s positively dreamy! And not having to scrub the pot? How ideal. :D

    Reply
  34. R's Mom

    I’ve been seeing recipes for overnight oats pop up around the Internet lately, but had brushed them off as a fad! But seeing you post about them gave them a little bit of validity! I tried it last night/this morning, and it was delicious! I accidentally bought vanilla yogurt instead of plain at the store, but it was fine…I just didn’t need to add a lot to it for flavor! Thanks for the recipe/idea!

    Reply
  35. April

    I’ve seen these all over the net they seemed to be all the “rage” however I’ve never tried them as i can’t get over the fact that they are cold! cold oatmeal? sounds nast! and doesn’t the yogurt add more calories? (I’m happy making oatmeal with just hot water)

    Reply
  36. Meredith

    First off — love your blog. Found it about a month ago. Very inspiring and full of great information too :)

    Secondly, I tried this last night for my breakfast this morning after my workout. IT WAS AMAZING!!!! And the possibilities are really endless.

    Thanks for sharing and for sharing so many things on here :)

    Reply
  37. Linda

    I just started making these and I am in love! I add half a scoop of protein powder, a hit of maple syrup and a tablespoon of cocoa powder to mine.

    Reply
  38. Jennielynn

    When I read this post, immediately after discovering your fantastic blog, I was…skeptical. But we’re in the middle of a heat wave and I needed a no muss, no fuss breakfast option.

    Oh my heaven. Delish! I’ll never doubt you again.

    Reply
  39. lexophilia

    One of my favourite breakfasts in life is an overnight oatmeal made with pureed pumpkin. It goes something like this (I’m admittedly terrible at remembering to measure things):

    8 oz. pureed pumpkin
    1/2 c. almond milk (or soy or regular or whatever)
    1 cup rolled oats (thick-cut is always best)
    1 tsp – 1 TB sugar (you know, some like it sweeter)
    lots of (actual measurement) cinnamon
    a little less nutmeg

    Mix it up, leave it in the refrigerator overnight, and in the morning you will have the most delicious pumpkin-pie-flavoured oatmeal ever. I actually prefer to eat it cold (like my pumpkin pie), but it’s delightful warmed as well.

    Reply
  40. Basia

    Thank you so much for this. I’ve seen so many fridge-oatmeal recipes but yours is the simplest. And you coined the cute name! :-) No need for complication… much appreciated.

    Reply
  41. Nikol

    I found your blog through some pins on Pinterest. Love it! And this recipe kind of changed my life. I love oatmeal, but I really do not have time to cook it in the morning, and instant oatmeal makes me gag. (It’s like it’s pre-chewed! Bleh!) But this! This is how oatmeal should be. Today I stirred some cinnamon and nutmeg into the mix and added peaches. It was like a delicous yogurty peach cobbler. So good.

    Thank you for this post!

    Reply
  42. Megan

    So I know I’m super late in posting this, but I have to thank you Andie. This recipe has sort of changed my life. I am so not a morning person, and I make this recipe at least once a week (and eat it for two days), and i get a high protein, low calorie (unless I dress it up way too much) breakfast that is delicious! Thank you for sharing this!!!

    Reply
  43. Monique

    These are amazing! When I’m lazy I usually just pour hot water or milk over my oats and eat them after they’ve soaked a bit.

    This yogurt-soaked way of making oats was a little more delicious! <3

    Reply
  44. Kristi

    I’m so sad. I really wanted to like these oats but mines just tasted oats soaked in sour cream (I’m sure I used fresh plain yogurt – I double checked). I don’t know how but I must have done something wrong.:(

    Reply
    1. Barbara

      I use vanilla yogurt. And yes, it tastes like oats in yogurt, but I am ok with that! I add spices, too, and maybe dried fruit, nuts, apple butter… Hope that helps! (and yay for squirming babies!) :-)

      Reply
    2. admin

      Oh no. Sorry to hear it, Kristi. These definitely aren’t for everyone. I love that tangy taste, but I can see why you might not. If you choose to make them again, I’d suggest using vanilla yogurt or sweetening the plain yogurt with honey, maple syrup, or sugar.

      Thanks for trying them and again, sorry to have steered you wrong and possibly ruined your breakfast :(

      Andie

      Reply
    1. admin

      Sorry to hear it, Jen. And I hope that your breakfast wasn’t a total bust because of them. I understand why you might not like overnight oats, because their texture and temperature seem to make them one of those love ’em or hate ’em things.

      I do appreciate you trying the recipe and I thank you for your review, even though it wasn’t in my favor.

      Andie

      Reply
  45. Anne

    I am not a lover of oatmeal, but will be willing to try this and hope to enjoy it. It is so good for you. I cannot think that COLD oatmeal would be good, but will try it soon.

    Just wanted you to know that you are a FABULOUS writer! I LOVE to read your blog !!! Everything is stated in such an eloquent way and alluring to draw all of your readers in further. Almost like a dangling carrot ! LOL !!!!!

    Reply
  46. Carol Hansen

    Hey Andie,

    I made these last night with Fage nonfat greek yogurt and almond milk and the oats were soft but it didn’t have the liquid like shown in your pictures. Would you suggest sticking to regular yogurt and mild to get that consistency? Really love this idea of “tomorroats:) Thanks! XOXOXO

    Reply
    1. Andie Mitchell Post author

      Hmm…I think they do get really thick and almost doughy/battery by morning and maybe my picture didn’t do the thickness justice! If you want them a bit “looser,” though, I’d say add another splash more milk (dairy or non-dairy), or even water, in the morning, and give them a good stir! I LOVE THIS RECIPE!! xo

      Reply
  47. Pingback: 7 Ways I Use Greek Yogurt to Make Healthier Meals - Andie Mitchell

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