Vegan protein powder and chia seeds add a protein boost to this vegan protein overnight oats recipe. Use a vanilla protein powder and this vegan overnight oat recipe tastes a lot like a yummy sugar cookie!
I love waking up in the morning and not having anything to do but grab my breakfast straight from the fridge. That is why I love these protein overnight oats so much! Since I don’t have much time to make, let alone eat, breakfast in the morning – meal prep friendly options like this recipe are the best! The base recipe is great since you can mix and match it with a bunch of different flavor combinations so you don’t get bored of the same thing.
How to Eat Overnight Oats
Overnight oats are usually eaten cold but if you prefer warm oats, you can pop them into the microwave for a minute or two and serve them hot. The beauty of chilled overnight oats is that you can eat them on the go. I prefer eating them cold as an alternative to a bowl of hot oatmeal in the summer.
Protein Overnight Oats Ingredients
- Old-Fashioned Oats: you’ll want to use old fashioned oats for this recipe rather than quick oats as these get too mushy.
- Milk: I prefer plain, unsweetened soy milk because it has more protein than other plant based milks. However, you can use any type of milk that you like!
- Protein Powder: my favorite is Ritual protein powder (affiliate link).
- Chia Seeds: these are optional, but chia seeds are a great source of healthy fats like omega 3 fatty acids, fiber, and protein.
- Cinnamon & Nutmeg: these are optional, but love that they give these protein overnight oats a cookie-like flavor when paired with the vanilla protein powder.
- Salt: it may seem weird to add salt to oats, but it brings out the flavor of all the other ingredients.
Do I have to soak them overnight?
The short answer is, no! Even though they are called “overnight” oats, you do not have to soak them overnight. The purpose of soaking them is to soften the oats. You can serve these protein overnight oats after soaking them in the fridge for about 2-3 hours. When you soak them for just a couple of hours vs overnight, they will have a chewier texture. The beauty of letting them soak overnight is that you can meal prep them ahead of time to be ready for you in the morning.
What Type of Protein Powder Do You Recommend?
Look for a vegan protein powder if you want to make sure these overnight oats are vegan. Vegan protein powders usually get their protein from peas. You’ll want to avoid protein powders that contain whey protein as this is a milk product so these powders are not vegan. My favorite vegan protein powder is Ritual protein powder (affiliate link) but there are quite a few vegan options available. Just one scoop of protein powder adds an additional 20 grams of protein to this recipe!
Are Overnight Oats Healthy?
Yes! this vegan overnight oats recipe is a healthy breakfast option for busy mornings since it great source of dietary fiber as well as protein and healthy fats. These protein overnight oats can be more filling than other recipes thanks to the extra protein from the protein powder.
How to Store Overnight Oats
Store your overnight oats in an airtight container overnight. You can use any tupperware you like or you could even make it in a mason jar. You can prep 2-3 days worth of overnight oats at once, but storing them for more than 3 days in the fridge they start to get too mushy. If using fresh fruit, I like to add it the morning I plan to eat the oats. Add frozen fruit before you let your oats soak overnight so that they have time to thaw.
Protein Overnight Oat Topping Suggestions
My favorite toppings are fresh berries, coconut, and hemp hearts but here are a few other ideas for you:
- Berries, hemp hearts, and pumpkin seeds (as pictured)
- Mango, coconut, and macadamia nuts
- Chopped apples, cinnamon, almond butter
- Sliced banana, peanut butter, chocolate chips
- Fruit compote (like this yummy peach compote!)
More Delicious Recipes with Oats
- How to Make Vegan Overnight Oats 4 Different Ways
- Strawberry Rhubarb Overnight Oats
- Vegan Banana Bread Baked Oatmeal
- Pumpkin Spice Oatmeal

Protein Overnight Oats
Prep Time: 5 Min
Cook Time: 0 min
Total Time: 5 minutes
Yield: 1
Category: Breakfast, Entree, Snack
Method: Overnight
Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegan
Description
Protein powder and chia seeds add an extra boost of protein to this vegan protein overnight oats recipe. All you need are a handful of ingredients to whip up this healthy meal prep friendly breakfast option!
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup old fashioned oats
- 1 cup plain, unsweetened soy milk
- 1 scoop protein powder
- 2 tablespoons chia seeds
- 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/8 teaspoon fine sea salt
- Dash nutmeg
Instructions
- Add all of the overnight oats ingredients to a bowl and stir well. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
- To serve, add desired toppings like fresh berries, banana, hemp hearts, nuts, etc.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 recipe
- Calories: 280 kcals
- Sugar: 0.5 g
- Sodium: 295 g
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 1.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10.5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 22 g
- Fiber: 9 g
- Protein: 31 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
Love this! I'm a huge chia pudding fan! Yum!
Love overnight oats! Chia seeds only make it better 🙂
I have never used coconut cream before. Is it similar to coconut milk? I'll bet it adds a nice flavor to these breakfast oats!
Good question, Janice! Coconut milk and coconut cream are actually one and the same. I usually buy mine from Whole Foods or Trader Joe's in a can. 🙂 It's definitely worth it for the extra flavor and creaminess!
Looks great – I haven't tried overnight breakfast yet, so this might be the one!www.nutrishus.com
Love this idea. Even for dinner. Toasted coconut shavings are great with this too! Heidi@betterthandormfood
Mmm… I am sure it would be delicious with toasted coconut shavings. I will have to try that!