These Overnight Oats with Water are thick, creamy, delicious, and made with absolutely no milk! They require only 5 minutes of prep and are perfect for a healthy breakfast on the go. Enjoy with your favorite toppings!
While usually overnight oats are made with non-dairy milk such as coconut milk, oat milk, or soy milk, you can very well make overnight oats without milk!
They're a delicious breakfast you can prepare the night before, and take on the go with you the next morning.
This is a base recipe, which means you can customize it however you want by adding your favorite spices and toppings.
For more overnight oats recipes, check out my Overnight Oats with Biscoff Spread, Lemon Poppyseed Overnight Oats, Frozen Fruit Overnight Oats, and these Basic Overnight Oats without Yogurt.
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Can I Use Water Instead Of Milk In Oats?
Absolutely! You can make overnight oats with water the same way you make them with milk.
To compensate for the loss of creaminess, I like adding a dollop of Greek yogurt. Not only does it thicken the oats, but it also adds a protein boost.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Great for meal prep and on-the-go breakfasts.
- Nutritious. These oats are packed full of protein, fiber, and healthy fats.
- Only 5 minutes of prep. Just add all of the ingredients to a jar or an airtight container and you're ready.
- Naturally dairy-free and vegan, yet still super creamy and delicious.
Ingredients and Substitutions
- Oats: Make sure to use old-fashioned oats for the best results. They have a great texture and work better than steel-cut oats or instant oats.
- Chia seeds: They help thicken the overnight oats, and also add healthy fats and fiber. No chia seeds? No problem? Use flaxseed meal, aka ground flaxseeds, as I did in my flax overnight oats.
- Maple syrup: You can use any other sweetener, including honey, agave, or brown sugar.
- Vanilla extract: A touch of pure vanilla extract goes a long way here.
- Yogurt: I like to use Greek-style yogurt to help thicken the oats and give them creaminess. Since we're not using any milk, it's important to pick a good quality yogurt that is thick and creamy. You can also use a dairy-free yogurt such as coconut or soy, OR if you want to add more protein, use blended cottage cheese instead.
- Water: Today we're using water instead of milk to soften the oats and make them chewy. Soaking the oats helps with digestion, as well as taste.
- Salt: A tiny pinch of salt helps enhance the flavors of this recipe.
See the recipe card below for the full list of ingredients and exact measurements.
How to Make Overnight Oats with Water
Step 1: To a bowl or an air-tight container, add water, rolled oats, chia seeds, maple syrup, yogurt, salt, and vanilla extract. You can also add the ingredients in a jar if you need to grab it for an on-the-go breakfast in the morning.
Step 2: Using a spoon or a whisk, give everything a good stir. Cover with a lid or paper towel and rest in the fridge for at least 2 hours or overnight.
Step 3: Your overnight oats are ready when the oats have thickened and absorbed the liquid, and the chia seeds have softened.
Step 4: At this point, you can adjust the consistency if needed, adding more water to thin it out. You can also add more maple syrup if you like your oats sweeter. Serve with your favorite toppings and enjoy!
👩🏼🍳 Petra's Tips
- Use rolled oats. I always recommend using old-fashioned rolled oats when making overnight oats. Quick oats will get too soggy and won't provide the same chewy texture, and steel-cut oats won't soften at all. This recipe has the perfect ratio between oats and water so that you're left with soft, chewy, and thick oatmeal.
- Add your favorite toppings. Overnight oats without milk are neutral in taste, that's why it's essential to add good toppings. Not only do you add more flavor, but you can make them more nutritious by adding nuts, seeds, and fresh fruit.
- Prepare it in jars for on-the-go breakfast. If you're a busy person and don't have the time to make breakfast in the morning, this is the perfect recipe for you. You can make the oats in a mason jar and take them on the go with you.
- Make a big batch. The best part of this recipe is that it's great for meal prep, which means you can make a big batch that will last you for a whole week of breakfasts.
- Warm it up! Some people are not a fan of cold oatmeal, and I get it! You can warm your overnight oats in the microwave for 1-2 minutes, or on the stovetop until warmed through.
Recipe FAQs
Yes! Oats are a great source of carbs and are packed with fiber, iron, Zinc, magnesium, selenium, vitamins (such as A, C, D, B1, and B5), and more! They also provide a small amount of plant-based protein and fat. All of which makes them very nutrient-dense.
Overnight oats are naturally slimy, but to prevent it you can use a different ratio of liquid to oats. For a porridge-like consistency, I like to use a 1:2 ratio (meaning 1 part oats and 2 part liquid), but if you want to avoid an overly slimy texture, you can use a 1:1 ratio.
While they're usually eaten cold, if you're not a fan of having cold breakfast, you can always warm them up. Add your overnight oats to a microwave-safe bowl and heat for 1-2 minutes, stirring halfway.
In general, overnight oats are plain and neutral in flavor, but that's especially true when you're making overnight oats without milk. That's why I like to add maple syrup and a splash of vanilla extract to my oats. They add flavor and aroma. Another important thing is the toppings. If you add good toppings you can take an average bowl of oats to a dessert-for-breakfast experience.
No, this is a key step when making this recipe. If you don't give them enough time to absorb the liquid, you'll be left with raw oats with a runny texture.
How To Replace Milk in Overnight Oats
Besides water, you can also replace milk in overnight oats with:
- Coconut water
- Juice like orange juice or cranberry juice
- Yogurt, either Greek or non-dairy
- Mashed banana or applesauce, which will also give sweetness to your oats
- Nut/seed butter like peanut butter or sunflower seed butter
Add-ins
- Protein powder: Add a scoop of your favorite protein powder to make this recipe more satisfying and to help you feel full for longer.
- Cacao powder: If you want to add a chocolaty flavor, you can add 1-2 teaspoons of cacao powder. I recommend using Dutch-processed.
- Apple sauce: If you don't want to use added sugar, I suggest adding a few tablespoons of apple sauce to naturally sweeten your oatmeal, just like I did in my applesauce overnight oats.
- Mashed banana: Use a ripe banana and mash it with a fork, then add to your oatmeal and stir. Again, it will add natural sweetness, as well as flavor.
- Coffee shot: If you love coffee, you have to try adding it to your oatmeal. It adds depth of flavor and a great kick.
- Pumpkin puree: You can make pumpkin pie oatmeal by adding a few tablespoons of pumpkin puree and a dash of pumpkin pie spice.
- Fresh fruits: Just line in my frozen fruit overnight oats, if berries are not in season where you are, you can stir ½ of frozen berries.
Topping Ideas
- Fresh fruit: You can use any fruit you like such as bananas, fresh berries, chopped apples, etc.
- Dried fruit: To add more natural sweetness, you can add raisins or dried cranberries.
- Nut butter: I love adding a tablespoon of peanut butter or almond butter to my overnight oats. It adds healthy fat, protein, and fiber, and keeps me full for longer.
- Chocolate chips: If you want to have some fun with your breakfast, I highly recommend topping your bowl of oats with a handful of chocolate chips or some chopped dark chocolate.
- Nuts and seeds: I love adding freshly roasted air fryer pecans, but sunflower seeds or hemp seeds will also be delicious.
- Coconut flakes: If you're allergic to nuts (or even if you're not), try adding toasted coconut flakes. They're so delicious!
- Granola: I love sprinkling some of my homemade air fryer granola for crunch.
Storage & Freezing
- Fridge: Store in an airtight container or a jar, and in the fridge for 4-5 days.
- Freezer: This recipe is not freezer-friendly.
More Overnight Oat Recipes
If you tried these Overnight Oats with Water or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it goes in the 📝 comments below. Thanks for visiting today!
📖 Recipe
Overnight Oats with Water (No Milk)
Equipment
- Mixing bowl or a mason jar
Ingredients
- ½ cup rolled oats
- 1 tablespoon chia seeds
- ¾ cup water
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup or more to taste
- 3 tablespoon Greek yogurt (use vegan yogurt if needed)
- ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract (optional)
- A tiny pinch of salt (optional)
Instructions
- To a bowl or an air-tight container, add all of the ingredients. You can also add them in a jar if you need to grab it for an on-the-go breakfast in the morning.½ cup rolled oats, 1 tablespoon chia seeds, ¾ cup water, 1 tablespoon maple syrup, ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract, 3 tablespoon Greek yogurt, A tiny pinch of salt
- Using a spoon or a whisk, give everything a good stir. Cover with a lid or paper towel and rest in the fridge for at least 2 hours or overnight.
- Your overnight oats without milk are ready when the oats have thickened and absorbed the liquid, and the chia seeds have softened. At this point, you can adjust the consistency if needed, adding more water to thin it out. You can also add more maple syrup if you like your oats sweeter.
Notes
- Use rolled oats. I always recommend using old-fashioned rolled oats when making this recipe. Quick oats will get too soggy and won't provide the same chewy texture, and steel-cut oats won't soften at all. This recipe has the perfect ratio between oats and water so that you're left with soft, chewy, and thick oatmeal.
- Add your favorite toppings. Overnight oats with water are neutral in taste, that's why it's essential to add good toppings. Not only do you add more flavor, but you can make them more nutritious by adding nuts, seeds, and fresh fruit.
- Prepare it in jars for on-the-go breakfast. If you're a busy person and don't have the time to make breakfast in the morning, this is the perfect recipe for you. You can make the oats in a mason jar and take them on the go with you.
- Make a big batch. The best of this recipe is that it's great for meal prep, which means you can make a big batch that will last you for a whole week of breakfasts.
- Warm it up! Some people are not a fan of cold oatmeal, and I get it! You can warm your overnight oats in the microwave for 1-2 minutes, or on the stovetop until warmed through.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is a rough estimate calculated with third-party calculations without including the optional ingredients.
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