Kefir overnight oats are a creamy make-ahead breakfast made with rolled oats and vanilla kefir, and topped with fresh berries or other fruit. This quick, single-serve recipe recipe comes together in minutes and chills overnight in the fridge (no cooking required!)

"This is my go-to breakfast and take to work lunch. Quick, easy, filling, healthy, and cheap… not often you can find all these qualities in one dish!"
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Brad, One Happy Dish reader
This simple little recipe is for all of the kefir fans and overnight oats fans out there! And if you're new to both, I absolutely think you'll love it too. 🙂 (You can also try this kefir smoothie with blueberries for another refreshing single-serve breakfast.)
Unlike traditional overnight oats made with milk, the kefir adds a sort of tangy, delightful flavor and extra creaminess to the mix. And since kefir does have a slightly stronger taste than yogurt, I use vanilla kefir along with a little honey to balance out the tartness. Oh, and I always top mine with fresh berries...such a refreshing breakfast.
In case you're wondering, the oats absorb the kefir overnight and turn soft and spoonable without becoming mushy. So it's almost like they're getting "cooked" without actually cooking them. If you do prefer warm overnight oats, you can just pop them in the microwave for 15-20 seconds in the morning to warm them a little.
🌿 Ingredients

Most of the ingredients above are optional but the two key ingredients are old fashioned rolled oats and vanilla kefir (found in the dairy section). I love adding peanut butter to mine and topping with fresh blueberries, but you can absolutely customize these choices with other favorites.
See recipe card below for exact quantities.
📝 Instructions


🍳 Recipe

Kefir Overnight Oats for One (5-Minute Prep)
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Place the oats, spices, seeds and kefir in a small jar and mix to combine (I used a working jar; a pint-sized Mason jar would work too). Mix in the nut butter if using, just enough to create some swirls in your oats.⅓ cup old fashioned rolled oats, ⅛ teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1 dash cardamom, 2 teaspoons chia seeds, ⅔ cup vanilla kefir, 1 tablespoon peanut butter
- Wash and add the fresh berries on top of your oats, place the lid on your jar and refrigerate overnight or up to 2 days.½ cup fresh berries
- Mix the fresh berries in a little, top with honey or maple syrup if desired, and enjoy! (There is no need to cook or warm the oats, unless you'd like to heat them a little on the stove or in the microwave.)2 teaspoons honey
Nutrition
Notes
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Brad
This is my go-to breakfast and take to work lunch. Quick, easy, filling, healthy, and cheap… not often you can find all these qualities in one dish!
Cranberry sauce, sliced apples/cinnamon, random berries, dried apricots/molasses… possibilities are endless and go well with seasonal eating.
Allison
Oooh I love all of your variations Brad! (Making me hungry!) And so true; this is my go-to breakfast as well. 🙂