These Chocolate Overnight Oats are perfect recipe for chocolate lovers! They’re loaded with chocolate flavor and filled made with healthy ingredients like oats, chia seeds and cocoa powder. It’s a delicious way to start your morning!

a cup of overnight oats topped with chocolate chips

Overnight oats with chocolate

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.

While you can make chocolate oatmeal as a classic oatmeal recipe, it’s also delicious to add chocolate to overnight oats for a cold, pudding-like breakfast.

Enjoy these Chocolate Overnight oats in the morning at home, or add them to a jar to take with you on the go for your busy day!

Why you’ll love this recipe

  • Easy to make. Too lazy to make breakfast in the morning? This is the recipe for you! Overnight oats are prepared the night before and take less than 10 minutes to whip up.
  • Perfect for meal prep. If you love to meal prep then you need to start meal-prepping overnight oats! Make a big batch, add to individual jars and store in the fridge for easy breakfasts all week long.
  • Tastes like chocolate pudding. Who doesn’t love chocolate pudding? These Chocolate Overnight Oats taste just like a creamy and chewy chocolate pudding!

Chocolate Overnight Oats ingredients

  • Oats: for this recipe, you can use quick oats or rolled oats. Make sure not to substitute with steel-cut oats, otherwise, the recipe won’t turn out properly.
  • Chia seeds: these not only add some great nutrients to the overnight oats, but they help absorb the liquid and give the oats and thick and creamy texture.
  • 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.
  • Yogurt: you can use any type of plain yogurt you love. I use greek yogurt, but dairy-free yogurt would work too.
  • Vanilla extract: just a touch for extra flavour.
  • Almond milk: you can use any type of dairy or plant-based milk.
  • Maple syrup: to sweeten. You can substitute with agave syrup or honey.

How to make Chocolate Overnight Oats

Step 1

Grab a large mixing bowl or a large jar. Add the oats, chia seeds and cocoa powder to the bowl or jar.

oats, chia seeds and cocoa powder in a bowl

Step 2

Next add the yogurt, and vanilla extract and make syrup. You could also add any optional mix-ins here such as cacao nibs or chocolate chips!

oats, cocoa powder, chia seeds and yogurt in a bowl

Step 3

Add the almond milk and mix everything together until incorporated. You may need to mix for a good minute to get the cocoa powder to incorporate into the oats. (If using a jar, you can give it a quick stir, then put the lid on and shake the jar to combine the ingredients.)

oats, cocoa powder and almond milk in a bowl

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.

overnight oats in a clear mixing bowl

Step 5

Remove from the fridge in the morning and enjoy with your favourite toppings. I topped mine with yogurt, cacao nibs, cocoa powder and dark chocolate chips!

two cups of chocolate overnight oats topped with yogurt and chocolate chips

Recipe variations

Make it high protein: turn this recipe into chocolate protein oats by substituting the cocoa powder with chocolate protein powder.

Make it vegan: 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.)

Try different flavour variations: try adding a spoon of peanut butter, some raspberry jam, or mashed banana to mix up the flavour!

How to store

Overnight oats must be stored in the fridge and will last for up to 5 days in the fridge.

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.

Expert tips for overnight oats

  • Rolled oats will give you a chewier texture, while quick oats will give you a softer texture. You can use either depending on your preference! I personally like rolled oats for a chewier texture.
  • Make sure to let the oats sit in the fridge for a minimum of 4 hours to set. It tastes time for the oats to absorb the liquid and become the right texture.
  • Add any mix-ins or flavours you love. You can try adding cinnamon, bananas, berries, jams or nut butter.

Overnight oats FAQ

Are overnight oats good for weight loss?

Overnight oats are high in fibre and protein and are a great addition to a healthy diet. In this way, they can be good for weight loss when enjoyed in moderation.

How long do overnight oats keep?

Overnight oats keep in the fridge for up to 5 days.

What is the secret to good overnight oats?

The secret to good overnight oats is to have the right ratio of oats to liquid. You want to have about equal amounts of oats to liquid. (A 1:1 ratio.)

Can I freeze overnight oats?

Yes, you can freeze these oats in a jar in the freezer for up to 2 months. Just keep in mind the texture will be a little mushier after removing from the freezer, so I personally recommend enjoying this recipe made fresh.

a cup of chocolate overnight oats with a spoon in it

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!

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a cup of chocolate overnight oats with a spoon in it

Chocolate Overnight Oat

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  • Author: Jessica Hoffman
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 0 minutes
  • Total Time: 10 minutes
  • Yield: 2 servings 1x
  • Category: Breakfast
  • Method: Mix
  • Cuisine: American
  • Diet: Vegetarian
Print Recipe

Description

Chocolate Overnight Oats and a healthy and easy way to enjoy chocolate for breakfast!

Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 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

  1. Add all the ingredients to a large mixing bowl or jar and mix together to combine.
  2. Place in the fridge overnight (or for a minimum of 4 hours) 
  3. Remove and enjoy as is or with your favourite toppings.

Notes

to make this recipe dairy-free use dairy-free yogurt. 

Store in mason jars if you want to take this recipe on the go!

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