These mixed berry overnight oats are a no-cook breakfast made with rolled oats, chia seeds, Greek yogurt, milk, mixed berries and cinnamon. They're meal prep friendly because you can make them in jars ahead of time, store them in the fridge for busy mornings, and grab one when you need breakfast without thinking.
Unlike plain overnight oats or store-bought breakfast pots, this version uses frozen mixed berries so the juices melt into the oats overnight and naturally sweeten the mixture. As someone who meal preps breakfast most weeks, I love recipes like this because they take less than 10 minutes to prep but still feel like you've made a proper breakfast.
This particular version of overnight oats (of over 16 that I have) is probably one of my most made breakfast meal prep recipes because I always have a bag of frozen berries in the freezer and you kind of get a slightly different combination of the berries every time. You can also add in some nut butters like I've done in my biscoff raspberry overnight oats or peanut butter and jam overnight oats to make your mornings more versatile!
TL;DR
- Servings: 2 servings (1 serve per jar)
- Prep time: 5 minutes Chill time: 4 hours or overnight
- Meal prep: Perfect for meal prep because the oats soften overnight, the chia seeds and yogurt help thicken the texture, and the frozen berries release juices that flavour the whole jar.
- Fridge storage: 4-5 days in airtight jars or containers. Add a splash of milk if the oats thicken too much.
- Freezer storage: Not usually recommended for yogurt-based overnight oats, but can be frozen for up to 2 months if needed.
- Reheating: Best eaten cold, but you can microwave in 30-second bursts, stirring between each, until warmed through. Add extra milk if they become too thick.
- Customise: Use different berries, swap the milk or yogurt, add maple syrup or honey if your berries are tart, or change the toppings before eating.
Jump to:
Why you'll love this recipe
No cook. Just like other my mango passionfruit, there's no cooking required!
Berries. Frozen mixed berries add natural sweetness and juicy bursts of flavour while melting into the oats overnight. It's also more affordable so you can have these oats and my blueberry lemon oatmeal more affordably!
Customizable. Like my other 16+ overnight oatmeal recipes, you can switch up the ingredients to suit your taste and dietary needs.
Ingredients
Rolled Oats. I prefer the texture of rolled oats mixed overnight with the liquids as it provides a creamier texture, similar to stovetop oats.
Steel cut or quick oats can become a little bit too mushy, turning the oatmeal into baby food rather than something that is more textually appealing - plus they absorb liquid differently so you'd need to adjust this recipe.
Chia seeds and yogurt. These ingredients help give the overnight oats a better texture. You can omit if you choose, but you could be unhappy with the texture, but they also have the added benefit of keeping you fuller for longer and making the overnight oats a lot more satisfying!
Mixed Berries. To keep costs down, I prefer frozen berries. They're also available all year around which is perfect for consistently. They also have the added benefit of seeping into the oatmeal overnight making the breakfast slightly sweeter.
Cinnamon. Cinnamon can help bring out the sweetness from the berries. Omit if you don't have (but I highly recommend). Zak in particular loves a good dose of cinnamon in his overnight oats!
Protein powder. I recommend a neutral, vanilla or a strawberry/berry variety. I use a whey protein for my overnight oats which is what the milk amount is based off, but if you're using a different type, you may have to adjust depending on your thickness preferences.
Please check the recipe card for the full list of ingredients and quantities. See below for substitutions and variations.
What if it's not sweet enough?
If your berries are tart, add maple syrup, honey or your preferred sweetener. You can also use vanilla yogurt for a slightly sweeter version without adding a separate sweetener.
Substitutions and variations
Greek yogurt. You can swap Greek yogurt for regular yogurt, vanilla yogurt, coconut yogurt or a dairy-free alternative. Just keep in mind that thinner yogurts will make the oats looser, so you may need to reduce the milk slightly or add extra chia seeds.
Milk. Any milk will work in these mixed berry overnight oats, including dairy-free options like soy, almond or oat milk. Creamier milks will give you a thicker, richer texture, while lighter milks may make the oats softer and thinner.
Chia seeds. You can swap chia seeds for ground flaxseed if that's what you have. The texture will be slightly different, but it still helps thicken the oats and adds extra fibre.
How to make mixed berry overnight oats
Step 1: Add oats, chia seeds, protein powder and yogurt to a container or individual jars.
Step 2: Cover with milk and mix or shake until combined. You can add the frozen mixed berries now so they seep through the oatmeal as they thaw. If using fresh berries, I prefer adding them on the day because they can go soggy in the liquid.
Step 3: Let sit in the fridge for 4 hours or overnight. It will thicken as it chills, and you can add more liquid before eating if you prefer it runnier.
Step 4: Eat, which is the most important step.
Lauren's Top Tips
Stir really well. Chia seeds love clumping together, so make sure you stir the oats properly before refrigerating. A quick second stir after 5-10 minutes can help if you notice any chia seeds sticking together.
Adjust the milk before eating. Overnight oats continue to thicken as they sit in the fridge, especially with chia seeds and yogurt. Add a splash of milk before eating if you want them looser and creamier.
Recommended Equipment
You don't need much equipment for mixed berry overnight oats, but jars or airtight containers make portioning and storing easier. I like using glass meal prep jars with secure lids because they're easy to stack in the fridge, grab in the morning and eat from without transferring to another bowl.
Meal Prepping mixed berry overnight oats
These mixed berry overnight oats are a great meal prep breakfast because they're made ahead, portioned into jars and ready to eat straight from the fridge. The rolled oats provide carbohydrates, the Greek yogurt adds protein and creaminess, the chia seeds help thicken the mixture, and the mixed berries add colour, flavour and natural sweetness.
Storing
Store mixed berry overnight oats in airtight jars or containers in the fridge for 4-5 days. The longer they sit, the thicker they become, so stir in a splash of milk before eating if needed.
Lauren's Meal Prep Tip
Lauren's meal prep tip: Make 2-4 jars at once so you have breakfast sorted for the first half of the week.
If you get bored eating the same breakfast every day, keep the base the same and change the toppings before eating - granola one day, nut butter the next, extra berries or a raspberry chia jam another day.
Reheating
Overnight oats are designed to be eaten cold, but you can warm them if that's your preference. Microwave in 30-second bursts, stirring between each, until heated through.
I find reheated overnight oats have a similar texture to stovetop oats, especially if you add a splash of milk before heating. The yogurt may make the oats slightly tangier when warm, so taste and adjust with extra cinnamon, berries or a little sweetener if needed.
Freezing
I don't usually recommend freezing yogurt-based overnight oats because the texture can change once thawed. The oats can become softer and the yogurt may separate slightly.
If you do want to freeze them, freeze in airtight containers for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge, stir really well, then add extra milk to loosen the texture before eating.
For better freezer prep, I'd recommend freezing the berries separately or keeping frozen berries on hand so you can quickly assemble fresh jars during the week. It only takes a few minutes and gives a much better texture than freezing the finished oats.
If you want more meal prep information, check out my Meal Prep for Beginners post and my Meal Prep Basics E-Book.
FAQs
Yes, fresh berries work well, but frozen berries release juices as they thaw, naturally sweetening and flavouring the oats. They're also more affordable and easier to get all year round which is why I recommend their use for this.
While overnight gives the best texture, you can eat them after about 4 hours if you're in a rush.
They may need more time to absorb the liquid, or they can be too watery if you don't add chia seeds and/or yogurt.
Use rolled oats instead of quick oats, and don't overdo the liquid-stick to the recommended ratios for a good consistency.
Other breakfast meal prep recipes you'll like
Or, you can have a browse through my easy breakfast recipes for more delicious eats.
Recipe
Frozen Mixed Berry Overnight Oats
Save Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup rolled oats , see Note 1
- 2 tablespoon chia seeds , see Note 2
- 1 ¾ cups milk , see Note 3
- ¼ cup yogurt, of choice, subs Note 4
- ¼ cup protein, optional, natural or vanilla
- 2 teaspoon cinnamon, or to taste
- ½ cup mixed berries, frozen, see Note 5
Instructions
- In a container or 2 jars, combine 1 cup rolled oats , 2 tbsp chia seeds , 1 ¾ cups milk , ¼ cup yogurt, ¼ cup protein, 2 tsp cinnamonMix well.
- Add ½ cup mixed berries on top. Store in fridge for at least 4 hours, preferably overnight.
- Stir well before eating. If they've thickened too much, add some extra milk.
Leave a Reply