Peanut Butter Chocolate Overnight Oats

There is nothing better than waking up in the morning knowing there is a giant serving of overnight oatmeal waiting in the fridge that combines three of my favorite things - chocolate, peanut butter, and banana. These Peanut Butter Chocolate Overnight Oats are easy to make, super filling, and seriously delicious. 

My obsession with oatmeal runs deep with everything from microwave oatmeal to baked oatmeal and even Oatmeal Smoothies.  I love oatmeal for breakfast or a mid-day snack.

Oats are packed with whole grains and fiber, affordable, and filling. It's truly a breakfast that will keep you full and energized all morning long. 

As things get busy with school starting, having overnight oats ready to go in the fridge is a game-changer. It means that there is no cooking, no prep work, and everyone can serve themselves.

It's the ultimate grab-and-go breakfast in my opinion. Plus you can mix it up and flavor it any way you like. Add fruit, chopped nuts, chocolate chips, and more.

Plus since these overnight oats are sweetened with banana, they are free of refined sugars and a healthier option than premade packets. 

Ingredients and Easy Swaps

Here is everything you need to make this tasty peanut butter and chocolate overnight oatmeal recipe. 

• Rolled oats: Overnight oats work best with old-fashioned rolled oats. Quick cooking or instant oats will get very mushy when soaked overnight. Steel-cut oats will not soften enough to eat. If you need gluten-free oats, make sure they are certified gluten-free since some rolled oats contain trace amounts of gluten.
• Chia seeds: Chia seeds are totally optional but they help with two things in the recipe. First, they help thicken the oats since the chia seeds almost absorb liquid. Plus they are packed with Omega 3's, fiber, and vitamins. Flaxseed meal would also work. 
• Milk: Any type of milk can be used in overnight oats including dairy milk, nut milk, oat milk, and soy milk.
• Bananas: Mashed bananas add natural sweetness to the oats without the need for honey, maple syrup, or sugar. They also taste delicious with peanut butter and chocolate. Use sliced bananas for a different texture or add your sweetener of choice to taste.
• Unsweetened cocoa powder: Cocoa powder adds the chocolate flavor to the oats. For more protein, use chocolate protein powder instead. 
• Peanut butter: Any nut butter can be used in this recipe including almond butter or cashew butter, but peanut butter gives that classic peanut butter cup flavor. Swap in powdered peanut butter for a lower-calorie option.
• Cinnamon and vanilla: Cinnamon and vanilla extract enhance the flavors of the chocolate. This is is also delicious with ground ginger, cardamom, or nutmeg.

How to Make Chocolate Peanut Butter Overnight Oats

Overnight oats are a staple in our house, especially when things get busy. Having them prepped and ready to go in the fridge saves me so much time in the morning. Everyone can eat them how they like with whatever toppings or add-ins they like.

Here is the base recipe I use pretty much every time I make overnight oats. The only change I sometimes make is adding some yogurt for protein, richness, and flavor. 

• 1/2 cup rolled oats
• 2 tsp chia seeds
• 1/4 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/4 tsp cinnamon
• Pinch salt
• 1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk
• Sweetener to taste (or 1/2-1 mashed banana, my favorite option)

Then since these are chocolate peanut butter overnight oats, they also need unsweetened cocoa powder, peanut butter, and mashed bananas.

Mix everything together and then store in the fridge for at least 4 hours for the oats to soften. 

Can these overnight oats be cooked?

If you prefer cooked oatmeal, this recipe will work great on the stove or in the microwave.

• Stovetop: For the stovetop version, simply add everything to a small pan and cook for about 5 minutes or until oats are softened. Add extra milk if needed as it cooks. 
• Microwave: For the microwave, mix everything in a large bowl or mug. Cook for 3-4 minutes until oats have softened.  Microwave oatmeal does sometimes bubble over if not in a large container, so make sure to use a big enough bowl or place some paper towels underneath, just in case.

Best Toppings for Overnight Oatmeal

Like all overnight oatmeal recipes, these are easy to customize with all different add-ins and toppings. 

• Chocolate chips take this to the next level since it really starts to mimic the flavor of a peanut butter cup with bursts of melted chocolate chips. A drizzle of chocolate syrup can also work.
• The same goes for peanut butter chips.
• Fresh berries like strawberries or blueberries make this a mash-up between a peanut butter cup and peanut butter and jelly. So good!
• If you want some texture in your oats, consider adding some sliced or chopped nuts for crunch. 
• When I am low on fresh fruit, I like to add jams, jellies, preserves, or these yummy chia seed jams. 

Storage and Meal Prep

These oats can be prepped in advance and kept in the fridge all week for a grab-and-go breakfast. They can be eaten cold, at room temperature, or warmed up in the microwave or on the stovetop. 

Overnight oats last 4-5 days in the fridge when stored in an airtight container.

When prepping in advance, think about the ingredients you are using. If you are adding things like fresh berries or other delicate fruit, it may be best to add it at the time of serving so it doesn't break down and get mushy. 

This Chocolate Peanut Butter Overnight Oats recipe can be fully prepped in advance and kept in the fridge for 4-5 days.

Best Oats for Overnight Oats

Overnight oats come out best with rolled oats since they maintain a nice texture after soaking in liquid overnight.

With that said, instant oatmeal will work in overnight oats but the texture will be much softer and mushier. In my opinion, if you make your oats this way, they are best warmed up in the morning. 

If you want to use steel-cut oats, you will need to pre-cook the oats since they will not soften in the liquid overnight. Follow the instructions to cook the steel-cut oats first in the water.

Then add the remaining ingredients and let them soak overnight. They will continue to soften and soak up the flavors.

What to use instead of bananas?

If you aren't a big fan of bananas, you can swap in pumpkin puree, applesauce, or butternut squash puree. With all of those options, you may need to add some additional sweeteners since they aren't nearly as sweet as bananas,

Another option is to simply leave out the banana. The banana adds sweetness (without added sugar) and creaminess to the oats. If you don't use it, plan on adding some sweetener otherwise the cocoa will be too bitter.