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This banana overnight oats recipe is one of the easiest, most beginner-friendly breakfasts you can make. It uses simple pantry ingredients — rolled oats, almond milk, chia seeds, and a ripe banana — and takes about 5 minutes to prep jars for the week.
The banana naturally sweetens the oats and gives them that cozy banana bread flavor, making this a perfect starting point if you’re new to overnight oats. You can enjoy it just as is, or use it as a base to add nut butter, chocolate, or fruit depending on what you’re craving.
Quick Look at This Recipe
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: None
- Total Time: 5 minutes (+ overnight soak)
- Servings: 1 (easy to scale for meal prep)
- Method: No-cook
- Flavor & Texture: Creamy, naturally sweet, banana bread vibes
The Perfect Starter Overnight Oats
Bananas are something I always have in my kitchen – and they’re one of my favorite ingredients to use in overnight oats. A little banana goes a long way when it comes to adding natural sweetness and flavor, which is why this recipe is such a great place to start if you’re new to overnight oats.
This banana overnight oats recipe is simple, affordable, and forgiving. You don’t need any special ingredients, and it’s hard to mess up. I’ve made this exact recipe more times than I can count — for busy mornings, meal prep weeks, and even as a base to build other flavors.
If you enjoy banana-based oatmeal breakfasts, you’ll also love my Strawberry Banana Overnight Oats and Chocolate Banana Overnight Oats. And if you’re brand new to overnight oats altogether, my Vanilla Overnight Oats recipe is another great beginner option.
Overnight oats like this can also be part of a weight-loss-friendly breakfast routine when built with the right balance of ingredients. I talk more about that in my weight loss overnight oats guide, which is helpful if that’s something you’re working toward.
Enjoy!
Ingredients
You’ll find the full ingredient list in the recipe card below. These notes will help you get the best results from this simple banana overnight oats recipe.
- Rolled oats – Also called old-fashioned oats. These are the best oats for overnight oats because they soften without turning mushy. If you’re gluten-sensitive, be sure to use certified gluten-free oats.
- Unsweetened almond milk – Keeps the recipe light and lets the banana flavor shine. You can also use coconut milk, dairy milk, or any milk you prefer.
- Chia seeds – A small amount goes a long way. Chia seeds help thicken the oats while adding fiber, protein, and healthy fats.
- Banana – Half of a ripe banana naturally sweetens the oats and gives them that cozy banana bread flavor. The riper the banana, the sweeter the oats.
- Ground cinnamon – Adds warmth and enhances the banana bread flavor without overpowering the oats.
- Pure vanilla extract – Just a touch makes the oats taste more bakery-style and brings all the flavors together.
- Nut butter (optional) – Peanut butter, almond butter, or cashew butter all work well. This adds extra creaminess, healthy fats, and protein, making the oats more filling.
- Pure maple syrup – Use only if needed. Depending on how ripe your banana is, you may not need any added sweetener.
For convenience, I’ve rounded up all of the ingredients and supplies I use for overnight oats in my Amazon storefront – including pantry staples, jars, and meal-prep tools I personally recommend.
Expert Tips for the Best Banana Overnight Oats
- Freeze leftover banana. This recipe uses half a banana, so freeze the rest for smoothies or future overnight oats instead of letting it go bad. Here are my freezing banana tips.
- Boost protein easily. Stir in ¼ cup Greek yogurt or cottage cheese, or add 1–2 tablespoons protein powder or collagen. You may need a little extra milk.
- Adjust texture in the morning. Oats thicken overnight. If they’re too thick, stir in 1–2 teaspoons (or more) of milk until creamy.
- Use any container. Mason jars are great for portion control, but you can also make a double or triple batch in a larger container and scoop out servings each morning.
- Switch up add-ins. Fresh or frozen fruit works great here. Banana + blueberry is one of my favorite combos and pairs well with this base. See this blueberry overnight oats for full recipe.
Want to Create Your Own Overnight Oats?
Once you understand the basic formula, overnight oats are incredibly easy to customize. I walk through ratios, swaps, and common mistakes in my How to Make Overnight Oats tutorial so you can confidently create your own flavors.
Make-Ahead & Freezer Tips
For the Week: Prep 3–5 jars on Sunday and store them in the refrigerator. The oats will thicken over time, so add a splash of milk before eating.
For the Freezer: Freeze the dry ingredients and banana together in a freezer-safe bag or jar (no milk). When ready to use, transfer to a jar, add milk, and refrigerate overnight. See my overnight oats meal prep how-to guide.
Banana Overnight Oats (Easy 5-Minute Prep)
This banana overnight oats recipe is one of the easiest, most beginner-friendly meal prep breakfast recipes you can make. It uses simple pantry ingredients — rolled oats, almond milk, chia seeds, and a ripe banana – and takes about 5 minutes to prep jars for the week.The banana naturally sweetens the oats and gives them that cozy banana bread flavor, making this a perfect starting point if you’re new to overnight oats. You can enjoy it just as is, or use it as a base to add nut butter, chocolate, or fruit depending on what you’re craving.
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Course: Breakfast
Cuisine: American
Keyword: banana bread overnight oats, banana overnigh oats, banana overnight oats recipe, overnight oats banana
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 5 hours
Total Time: 5 hours 5 minutes
Servings: 1 person
Calories: 361kcal
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup rolled oats
- 1 teaspoon chia seeds
- 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 cup almond milk or any dairy-free or regular milk
- 1/2 banana
- 1-2 teaspoons pure maple syrup optional, if needed for extra sweetness
- 1 tablespoon nut butter optional but delicious!
Instructions
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Add the dry ingredients. In a 16-ounce mason jar or container with a lid, add the rolled oats, chia seeds, ground cinnamon, and vanilla extract. Stir briefly to evenly distribute.
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Add the wet ingredients. Pour in the unsweetened almond milk and add the banana. You can mash the banana first for a smoother texture or slice it for more banana pieces. If using nut butter, add it here.
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Stir until combined. Stir well until the oats are fully covered in liquid and everything is evenly mixed. Add a splash more milk if needed.
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Refrigerate overnight. Cover with a lid and refrigerate for at least 5 hours or overnight.
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Adjust and enjoy. In the morning, give the oats a good stir. Add pure maple syrup if desired and a splash of milk if the oats are too thick. Enjoy straight from the jar or transfer to a bowl.
Notes
Notes:
- Ripe bananas work best. The riper the banana, the sweeter the oats. You may not need any added sweetener at all.
- Nut butter is optional but makes the oats more filling. Stir in 1 tablespoon of peanut butter, almond butter, or cashew butter for extra creaminess, healthy fats, and protein.
- Oats thicken overnight. If the texture is too thick in the morning, stir in 1–2 teaspoons of milk until creamy.
- This recipe is easy to scale. Make multiple jars at once for the week, or double the recipe in a larger container and scoop out portions.
Nutrition
Serving: 1g | Calories: 361kcal | Carbohydrates: 51g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Sodium: 168mg | Potassium: 511mg | Fiber: 9g | Sugar: 13g | Vitamin A: 41IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 265mg | Iron: 3mg
Did you make this recipe?
If you tried this banana overnight oats recipe, I’d love to hear about it! Leave a comment and a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating below – it helps other readers feel confident trying the recipe and allows me to keep sharing simple, healthy breakfasts with you.
About Tammy Overhoff
Hi, I’m Tammy Overhoff, a busy mom, wife, and entrepreneur. I am the owner, author, and recipe developer here at Organize Yourself Skinny. Since 2011 Organize Yourself Skinny has become a trusted resource for clean eating recipes to meal prep, reviews, and lifestyle hacks to help you fit healthy habits and routines into your busy schedule. Check out my online shop Reset & Flourish for all of my eBooks, Guides, and Bundles!
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