This kefir overnight oats recipe is packed with flavor, a little peanut butter for extra protein, and fresh berries to top things off. Plus, it takes just five minutes of prep time the night before and it's ready to eat in the morning! (Try this peanut butter overnight oats recipe if you don't have kefir on hand.)
"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
Did you know?
Very similar to its cousin, yogurt, kefir is a fermented food produced by a process known as lacto-fermentation which converts beneficial bacteria from special kefir grains into lactic acid-both preserving the milk as well as giving it its deliciously tangy, sour flavor.
🌿 Ingredients
Most of the ingredients above are optional. Just make sure you grab some old fashioned oats and your favorite kefir (found in the dairy section) and you're good to go.
Note: This recipe is naturally gluten free as written, but If you have celiac disease or gluten sensitivity, make sure to use certified gluten free oats to avoid cross contamination issues.
Here are some additional ingredient notes:
- Oats - old-fashioned oats work best for overnight oats (quick cooking oats tend to be too mushy); you can use steel cut oats if you'd like, but note that the texture will be much chewier
- Kefir - I like using vanilla kefir, but plain works as well and you can adjust the sweetness with extra honey or maple syrup if needed; or, substitute half yogurt and half milk for the kefir
- Blueberries - substitute sliced strawberries, banana, apples or your other favorite fruit (or use more than one!)
- Peanut butter - you can also use almond butter or cashew butter
- Chia seeds (affiliate link) - substitute ground flax seeds or flax meal
- Cinnamon, cardamom, sea salt - feel free to leave any of these out if you don't have them on hand
See recipe card below for exact quantities.
📝 Instructions
Step 1: Place the oats, spices, seeds and milk in a small jar and mix to combine with a spoon.
I used a glass working jar as shown here, but a pint-sized Mason jar would work perfectly too.
Step 2: Mix in the peanut or almond butter if you're using some, just enough to create some swirls in your oats. Then, wash and add some fresh berries on top of your oats, place the lid on your jar and refrigerate overnight or for up to 4 days.
In the morning, mix the fresh berries in a little, top with honey or maple syrup if desired. (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.)
💭 FAQ
Overnight oats is a method of preparing oats without actually cooking them on the stove. They are soaked overnight in milk, kefir or yogurt which softens and breaks down the oats so that they are ready to eat in the morning.
Yes; overnight oats are ready to eat once you take them out of the fridge in the morning, with no cooking required. If you prefer warmer oats, you can lightly heat them in a small pot over low heat just before you eat them.
The average prep time for overnight oats is only about five minutes, followed by chilling time in the fridge overnight.
Overnight oatmeal can last up to four days in the fridge, but is freshest when consumed within the first morning or two after preparing.
🍳 Recipe
Kefir Overnight Oats
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Mix: 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
- Top: 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
- Enjoy: 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
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. 🙂
Noel Kantarian
Thank you!
Darwin Devito
Excellent stuff, just wonderful!