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These Chocolate Overnight Oats are perfect recipe for chocolate lovers! They’re loaded with chocolate flavor, take 10 minutes to prepare and are made with healthy ingredients like oats, chia seeds and cocoa powder. If you prefer your oats warm make sure to try this classic Chocolate Oatmeal or these Chocolate Baked Oats!
We all know oatmeal is one of the ultimate breakfast foods! But when it’s combined with chocolate, it transforms into a breakfast that tastes just like dessert. I love dessert-inspired overnight oat recipes. From Tiramisu Overnight Oats, to Cookie Dough Overnight Oats or Cinnamon Roll Overnight Oats, they make the day a little bit sweeter!
Table of Contents
Enjoy these Chocolate Overnight oats in the morning at home, or meal-prep them in jars to take with you on the go for your busy day.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Easy to make– Overnight oats are prepared the night before and take less than 10 minutes to whip up.
- Perfect for meal prep. Make a batch in the evening, add to individual jars and store in the fridge for easy breakfasts all week long. If you need more meal-prep friendly breakfasts try a batch of this Matcha Chia Pudding next!
- Tastes like chocolate pudding– Who doesn’t love a creamy Vegan Chocolate Pudding or Chocolate Chia Seed Pudding? These Chocolate Overnight Oats taste just like a creamy and chewy chocolate pudding!
Key Ingredients
- Oats: for this recipe, you can use quick oats or rolled oats. I personally like to use rolled oats for a nutty and chewy texture.
- Chia seeds: These help absorb the liquid and give the oats and thick and creamy texture. It’s one of the simplest ways to use chia seeds!
- Cocoa powder: this is the key ingredient to turning this recipe into Chocolate Overnight Oats! Make sure to use good-quality cocoa powder for the best taste. For more ways to use up your cocoa powder try it in a Chocolate Banana Smoothie.
*This is a recipe overview. The full recipe with measurements is below in the recipe card.
Recipe Variations
- High Protein: turn this recipe into chocolate protein oats by substituting the cocoa powder with chocolate protein powder. For more high-protein breakfasts you’ll also love these Protein Powder Pancakes.
- Vegan-friendly: to make this recipe vegan-friendly, use non-dairy yogurt. If you can’t find non-dairy yogurt you can also use some coconut cream. (The creamy part off the top of a can of full-fat coconut milk.)
- Flavour variations: try adding a spoon of peanut butter, some raspberry jam, or mashed banana to mix up the flavour! If you’re looking for just banana oats without chocolate then you’ll love these Banana Bread Overnight Oats!
How To Make Chocolate Overnight Oats
Step 1: Add the oats, chia seeds and cocoa powder to the bowl or jar.
Step 2: Add the yogurt, and vanilla extract and make syrup. (Tip: You could also add any optional mix-ins here such as cacao nibs or chocolate chips!)
Step 3: Add the almond milk and mix everything together until incorporated.
Step 4: Cover the bowl with plastic wrap, or transfer the oats to individual jars and seal them with a lid. Place in the fridge to set overnight.
Topping Ideas
Enjoy your chocolate overnight oats as is or try them with any of these delicious toppings!
- Chocolate Granola
- Peanut Butter Granola
- Nut butters
- Sliced banana
- Berries (raspberries are a personal favorite!)
- Chia seed jam
- Homemade muesli
- Dairy-free Nutella
How To Store
Store Chocolate Overnight oats in the fridge for up to 5 days. (Tip: you may notice after a few days the oats become very thick as they absorb more liquid. If the texture becomes too thick for your taste just add a splash of almond milk and mix.)
Jess’s Tips
- Choose your oats based on texture – Rolled oats give a hearty, chewy bite, while quick oats create a softer, more pudding-like texture. Go with your preference, but rolled oats are my go-to for that perfect chew.
- Give it time to set – Let your oats chill in the fridge for at least 4 hours, but overnight is best. This gives the oats time to fully absorb the liquid and thicken up.
- Get creative with mix-ins – Stir in ingredients like cinnamon (If you’re a cinnamon lover also try this Cinnamon Roll Baked Oatmeal), sliced bananas, berries, fruit jams, or nut butter to customize the flavor and add texture.
- Sweeten to taste – Depending on your cocoa powder and mix-ins, you may want to add a bit more maple syrup or honey in the morning if you prefer your oats slightly sweeter.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Overnight oats are high in fiber and can help curb your hunger leaving you feel full and satiated all morning. This makes them a healthy breakfast option!
Yes, you can freeze these oats in a jar in the freezer for up to 2 months. However the texture will be a little mushier after removing from the freezer, so I personally recommend enjoying this recipe made fresh.
Sure! While they’re typically eaten cold, you can heat them in the microwave for about 30–60 seconds. Just be sure to use a microwave-safe jar or bowl.
More overnight oats recipes to try
If you tried these Chocolate Overnight Oats or any other recipe on the blog let me know how you liked it by leaving a comment/rating below! Be sure to follow along on Pinterest, Instagram and Facebook for even more deliciousness!
Chocolate Overnight Oat
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 2 servings 1x
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Mix
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Chocolate Overnight Oats and a healthy and easy way to enjoy chocolate for breakfast!
Ingredients
- 1 cup oats (rolled or quick oats)
- 1 tbsp chia seeds
- pinch of salt
- 1/4 cup cocoa powder
- 1/3 cup yogurt (I use greek yogurt)
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup almond milk
- 1–2 tbsp maple syrup
Optional mix-ins
- 2 tbsp cacao nibs
- 2 tbsp chocolate chips
Instructions
- Add all the ingredients to a large mixing bowl or jar and mix together to combine.
- Place in the fridge overnight (or for a minimum of 4 hours)
- Remove and enjoy as is or with your favourite toppings.
Notes
- Rolled oats = chewy, quick oats = softer—use your preference.
- Chill for at least 4 hours or overnight is best for texture.
- Add mix-ins like cinnamon, banana, berries, jam, or nut butter.
- Store in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/2 of the recipe
- Calories: 325
- Sugar: 9g
- Fat: 7g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 8g
- Protein: 10g
This totally hit the spot. It felt like having dessert for breakfast, but without any guilt. I made a couple jars ahead of time and they were great to grab in the morning when I didn’t feel like cooking. Really rich and chocolatey, but still felt like a solid, healthy start to the day.