Take your morning routine to the next level with these creamy, nutritious kefir overnight oats. This recipe combines the benefits of kefir with the convenience of overnight oats for a delicious breakfast that will help leave you energized for the day ahead.
About This Recipe
This recipe takes traditional overnight oats recipe and swaps out milk for kefir. The result is a creamy, delicious breakfast with some added health benefits.
Here are more reasons why you'll love these overnight oats:
- Convenient: you can make these oats ahead of time and store them in the fridge in individual containers for a quick grab-and-go breakfast
- Energy boost: the slow-releasing carbohydrates from the oats provide a steady supply of energy for your morning
- Gut-friendly: Kefir's probiotics support a healthy gut microbiome, which plays a crucial role in digestion, immunity, gut health, and overall well-being
- Customizable: switch up the toppings and mix-ins to this recipe to match your mood. For example, try toppings like nuts, seeds, or fresh fruit.
Why Kefir?
Kefir is a probiotic-rich fermented milk drink, which means that it's full of gut-healthy bacteria. Historians believe that it originated from the Caucasus region, and has been cherished for centuries for its tangy flavor profile and potential health benefits.
Kefir contains probiotics, which are live microorganisms that are believed to be good for the gut, as well as other nutrients (like Calcium).
The magic behind kefir lies in its unique fermentation process, where milk meets a symbiotic combination of live cultures of bacteria and yeast known as kefir grains.
In this recipe, kefir adds a subtle tanginess that is perfectly balanced with creamy oats and sweet maple syrup.
Kefir Overnight Oats Ingredients
Here's what you'll need to make this recipe. The full recipe and ingredient list can be found at the bottom of the page.
- Plain unsweetened whole milk kefir
- Old fashioned rolled oats
- Chia seeds
- Pure maple syrup
- Vanilla extract
How to Make Kefir Overnight Oats
Here's how to make this easy recipe in 2 simple steps:
- Mix together all of the ingredients in a medium bowl until combined.
- Store in an airtight container in the fridge for at least 4 hours, or overnight. This recipe makes 1 serving, but you can double (or triple, quadruple, etc.) the recipe as needed.
Ingredient Notes
Here's some more information on the ingredients for this recipe:
- Oats: you'll want to use rolled oats for this recipe since they are thicker than instant or quick cook oats and soften better overnight than steel cut oats. I use these 'Old Fashioned' Rolled Oats.
- Kefir: it's recommended to use plain whole milk unsweetened kefir, but you could use any type or flavor. There are also dairy-free versions of kefir (like coconut kefir).
- Chia seeds: you can use any type of chia seeds.
- Maple syrup: use pure maple syrup or swap this out for your preferred sweetener (like honey or agave syrup).
- Vanilla: this isn't necessary but helps elevate the flavors in the recipe.
Popular Variations
This recipe's simplicity and versatility make it perfect for customizing flavors and toppings. Here are a few ideas to get you started:
- Chocolate: add unsweetened cocoa powder or chocolate chips to your oats for a decadent twist.
- Nut butter: swirl a spoonful of your favorite nut butter (like peanut butter or almond butter) into your oats.
- Berries: add frozen or fresh berries to your oats. If you add frozen berries they will defrost as the oats sit overnight.
- Protein Powder: add a scoop of protein powder to your pudding to give this recipe a boost of extra protein.
- Some ideas for favorite toppings include: nuts, seeds, fresh fruit or chocolate. You could also add a drizzle of honey, syrup, or nut butter on top.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, absolutely! You'll need to make this recipe ahead of time so that it can thicken and the oats can soften. It's recommended to make this recipe and then let it sit overnight before serving. You can store it in a mason jar or other small jar for an easy, ready-to-eat breakfast.
This recipe recommends unsweetened whole milk plain kefir, but you can swap this out for other types or flavors of kefir. Plain whole milk kefir will be thickest and creamiest. You can also use flavored kefir (like vanilla or raspberry kefir) are also tasty. You can also use non-dairy kefir (like coconut or almond).
Storage
Store your kefir overnight oats in an airtight container in the fridge. Properly stored, this recipe will stay good for about 5 days in the fridge.
I like to meal prep this recipe by making a big batch (4 servings) and storing it in these mason jars so that I have a serving ready for each morning. This recipe works great as a grab-and-go breakfast or healthy snack.
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Kefir Overnight Oats
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 1 serving 1x
Description
Take your morning routine to the next level with these creamy, nutritious kefir overnight oats. This recipe combines the benefits of kefir with the convenience of overnight oats for a delicious breakfast that will help leave you energized for the day ahead.
Ingredients
- 1 cup plain unsweetened whole milk kefir
- ⅔ cup old-fashioned rolled oats
- 2 tablespoons chia seeds
- 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Mix together all of the ingredients in a medium bowl until combined.
- Store in an airtight container in the fridge for at least 4 hours, or overnight. This recipe makes 1 serving, but you can double (or triple, quadruple, etc.) the recipe as needed.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Breakfast
Keywords: kefir, probiotics, overnight, oats, breakfast, easy, make ahead, meal prep, vanilla, gut, gut health, gut friendly, healthy, jar, strawberry
Juliet
Very easy recipe. I hope it may help with my Crohn’s symptoms.
I was a bit concerned about the amount of maple syrup (sugar).
★★★★