Looking for more warm oatmeal recipes? Try my cinnamon roll oatmeal, chocolate oatmeal, Instant Pot oatmeal, or apple pie oatmeal next. Craving the warm flavors and doughy texture of baked oats but don’t want to wait? You’ll love my warm overnight oatmeal! With a bit of planning and a very simple hack, you can have warm, nutrient-packed oats for breakfast… or really any time of day.
Why I love this recipe
Perfect for meal prep. Like overnight oats, I love that I can batch a week’s worth of oats on Sunday night and keep them in the fridge until I need them. Easy to customize. Like any good oatmeal recipe, you can add all sorts of fix-ins. Less energy. Why waste time preheating an entire oven when you only need the microwave? Oven option. Okay, okay, I know what I just said, but if I’m making multiple servings of oatmeal at once, I like to use the oven!
Ingredients needed
Rolled oats. I strongly prefer using old-fashioned oats instead of quick-cooking oats or steel-cut oats, which don’t yield the best texture. Use gluten-free oats if necessary. Chia seeds. For texture and a fiber boost. Sugar. I went with brown sugar, but white sugar, sweetener, or maple syrup are good options for adding sweetness. Sea salt. To taste. Protein powder. Optional, but good for flavor and a protein boost. Nut butter. I added peanut butter, but any nut or seed butter will do. Milk. I used unsweetened almond milk, but oat milk, coconut milk, or dairy milk all work. Chocolate chips. Optional, but what’s the harm in a handful of chocolate chips?
How to make hot overnight oatmeal
I’ve included step-by-step photos below to make this recipe easy to follow at home. For the full printable recipe instructions and ingredient quantities, scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of this post. Step 1- Assemble. The night before (or at least one hour), before you want them, combine the oats, chia seeds, sweetener, salt, and protein powder in a mason jar or bowl. Step 2- Add nut butter. Melt the nut butter and stir it into the dry ingredients. Add the milk and chocolate chips and refrigerate. Step 3- Microwave. Microwave the oats for up to one minute or until warm.
Arman’s recipe tips
Add more liquid before microwaving. I don’t always do this step, but sometimes I find adding a splash of milk helps soften the oats and warms them up faster. Swap the milk for heavy cream or Greek yogurt for creamier, richer oats. Heat in intervals. Everyone’s microwave is different, so yours may take more or less time to cook. To prevent bubbling over, microwave the oats for one minute, then at 30-second intervals (stirring between each) until they’re done.
Storage instructions
To store: Leftover oats should be cooled completely, then stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1-2 days. If you’d rather use your oven, prepare the oats as instructed and refrigerate. In the morning, pour the oats into oven-safe ramekins and broil for 5-7 minutes or until golden.
Fruit. Once the oats have been heated, top them with sliced bananas, fresh strawberries, or dried fruit. Crunch. Top with walnuts, pecans, pumpkin seeds, or healthy granola. Spices. The night before, mix in some cinnamon, nutmeg, pumpkin pie spice, or vanilla extract.
To freeze: Transfer the oats to freezer-safe containers and freeze for up to three months. Reheating: Microwave in 20-second intervals until warm.
Frequently asked questions
More cozy oat-based breakfasts
Overnight steel cut oatmeal Oatmeal breakfast bars Tiramisu overnight oats Protein oatmeal Oatmeal breakfast cookies
