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With all the cozy flavors of banana bread, these banana bread overnight oats are a healthy and hearty grab-and-go breakfast that you can whip up ahead of time! So easy to make with a handful of ingredients, these overnight oats are going to be your new favorite nourishing breakfast meal prep!
With 18 grams of protein, these jars of banana bread overnight oats are a filling way to start the day! They taste like a freshly baked banana bread and you can make your busy mornings go more smoothly.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- If you’ve made any of my healthy overnight oats recipes before, then you know just how easy they are to whip up! This banana nut overnight oats can be prepared in couple of minutes and then it sets on its own in the fridge until it’s breakfast time!
- Full of protein, fiber, and healthy fats, this banana overnight oats recipe will keep you feeling full and satisfied until lunch. Keep those mid-morning hunger pangs at bay!
- No need to get fancy to make these overnight oats! Most of these ingredients are kitchen staples and you might already have them on hand! It’s also a great way to use up leftover ingredients like the overripe banana sitting on your kitchen counter! I know I definitely always have a banana or two that is just waiting to be eaten but is forgotten. Oops.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- rolled oats — make sure you are using old-fashioned rolled oats to make this banana bread overnight oats recipe. Instant oats and quick oats do not hold up as well, so I do not prefer the texture compared to rolled oats. Oats are a great source of complex carbohydrates and are high in fiber, giving you energy! You can read more about the benefits of oats here.
- bananas — the spottier they are, the more ripe they are, so the more sweet they are! Make sure you are using ripe to overripe bananas. They’ll also be easier to mash up.
- Greek yogurt — to help with the creaminess of the overnight oats, the yogurt gives the overnight oats a creamy texture. Using Greek yogurt will add some extra protein to the overnight oats compared to regular yogurt. I use vanilla has plain Greek yogurt is a little too tangy to pair with the sweet banana flavor.
- chia seeds — chia seeds come in both black and white seeds, but there is no difference in nutritional content. They’re also an excellent source of plant-based protein and are high in omega-3 fatty acids and fiber! When they absorb the milk and yogurt, it helps thicken the overnight oats.
- vanilla extract — just a splash of vanilla extract is all you need.
- cinnamon — the ground cinnamon pairs wonderfully with the banana bread flavors.
- maple syrup — I sweeten my overnight oats with maple syrup but you can also use honey or brown sugar! Make sure you are buying pure maple syrup and not pancake syrup. Maple syrup comes straight from trees, whereas pancake syrup is usually made with corn syrup.
- salt — just a pinch of kosher salt to balance out the flavors.
- pecans — to go off the vibes of banana bread, I added some chopped pecans to the overnight oats. Hazelnut is great as well. If you want to skip the nuts completely, go for it! Or if you want to only use it as a topping to preserve their crunchy texture, that’s ok as well!
- milk — you can use any milk of your choice, from cow’s milk to non-dairy milk. I personally prefer whole milk, but it’s up to you! You can even get high protein milk where you get 13 grams of protein per cup.
How to Make Banana Bread Overnight Oats
- Add the rolled oats, mashed bananas, yogurt, chia seeds, vanilla extract, cinnamon, salt, maple syrup, chopped nuts, and milk in a bowl. (Tip: make sure you’re using a bowl that has a lid to make things easier or you’ll have to cover the top with plastic.)
- Mix until well combined. Cover and put the mixture into the fridge (or individual containers) for at least 4 hours but preferably overnight.
- When ready to eat, you can top it with some chocolate chips, sliced bananas, and more nuts if desired, and enjoy!
Recipe Tips and Notes
- If you would like more protein, you can add vanilla protein powder!
- For an on-to-go meal, I like to store the protein overnight oats in mason jars. 16-ounce wide-mouth mason jars are great if you plan on adding toppings, so you don’t spill anything. I also LOVE a good weck jar.
- Stir in some cocoa powder to make this into a chocolate banana bread overnight oats!
- Add a drizzle of almond butter or peanut butter on top to add a little extra protein to the overnight oats.
Make Ahead Tips
- Meal prep: store the banana overnight oats without any toppings in an airtight container for 3 to 4 days in the fridge.
- Freezer: to freeze overnight oats, portion out the oats in small containers, then freeze! Thaw the overnight oats in the fridge for 6-8 hours/overnight before you’d like to eat them. You can store the overnight oats in the freezer for up to 2 months.
If you’re not a fan of a cold breakfast, no biggie! You can microwave the overnight oats until warmed through before enjoying them for breakfast. Overnight oats tend to be eaten cold as it’s meant to be a quick grab and go meal prep in the mornings.
I would consider this overnight oats recipe to be healthy as the ingredients are rich in fiber, protein, and antioxidants. They also contain a wide range of vitamins and minerals!
While you can use steel-cut oats, keep in mind that steel-cut oats will need to be soaked longer, and the texture will be dense and chewy in comparison.
Overnight Oats Topping Ideas
Need some more ideas of what to top your banana bread overnight oats with? Try these!
- Granola, nuts, or seeds: granola, chopped nuts (like pecans or walnuts), or seeds (like sunflower seeds or pumpkin seeds) add a great crunch to your overnight oats. Try my homemade lemon poppyseed granola or berry granola! Hemp hearts are great healthy addition as well!
- Jam: I love the added sweetness of stirring some jam into the overnight oats. Try my homemade raspberry chia jam or homemade strawberry chia jam. Not a fan of jam? Try applesauce!
- Nut butter: peanut butter, cashew butter, and almond butter adds a bit of extra protein to the overnight oats.
- Fruit: what’s not to love about some fruit? Raspberries, strawberries, blueberries, mango, kiwi, and blackberries make for a great topping for overnight oats.
Banana Bread Overnight Oats Recipe
With all the cozy flavors of banana bread, these banana bread overnight oats are a healthy and hearty grab-and-go breakfast that you can whip up ahead of time! So easy to make with a handful of ingredients, these overnight oats are going to be your new favorite nourishing breakfast meal prep!
Servings: 4 servings
Instructions
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Add the rolled oats, mashed bananas, yogurt, chia seeds, vanilla extract, cinnamon, salt, maple syrup, chopped nuts, and milk in a bowl.
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Mix until well combined. Cover and put the mixture into the fridge (or individual containers) for at least 4 hours but preferably overnight.
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When ready to eat, you can top it with some chocolate chips, sliced bananas, and more nuts if desired, and enjoy!
Nutrition Per Serving
Calories: 442kcal | Carbohydrates: 62g | Protein: 18g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 0.02g | Cholesterol: 17mg | Sodium: 80mg | Potassium: 712mg | Fiber: 11g | Sugar: 21g | Vitamin A: 249IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 326mg | Iron: 3mg
More Nourishing Overnight Oats Recipes to Try
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