By: Author Maria Ushakova
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These overnight steel-cut oats are delicious, nutritious, and filling. And the best part is that they don’t require any cooking! You can make them in advance and then just grab and go in the morning.
This overnight oats recipe is very customizable, so you can easily adapt it to your taste and dietary preferences.
Steel-cut oats are one of my favorite dishes to have for breakfast.
Unfortunately, they take a long time to cook.
If you decide to make a fresh bowl of steel-cut oatmeal in the morning, you are looking at about 20 to 30 minutes of cooking time.
Most people don’t have so much time in the morning to make breakfast. We all want something easy and healthy that we can just grab and go.
That’s why overnight oatmeal recipes have become so popular on the internet in the last couple of years.
Anything that helps us to make getting out the door in the morning less stressful is a winner.
Can You Eat Steel-Cut Oats Without Cooking Them?
Raw steel-cut oats are very hard, so you can’t really soak them the way you would do with rolled oats. They just don’t soften enough.
But there is still a way to prepare steel-cut oats without cooking them.
The trick is to soak them first in hot water and then place them in the fridge overnight. The hot water will speed up the process of soaking the oats, significantly reducing the required soaking time.
By the time you get up in the morning, the oats will have a nice chewy texture.
Why You Will Love This Recipe
A nourishing bowl of oats makes a delicious hearty breakfast.
Here are a few reasons to try this easy recipe:
- Overnight steel-cut oatmeal is very easy to make. You don’t have to follow long recipes or learn complicated cooking techniques. Just put the ingredients together, mix them up a bit, and you are done.
- It’s quick. It literally takes just a few minutes to prepare the oats, so you don’t have to spend a long time in the kitchen.
- Overnight steel-cut oats are portable. If you prefer to take your breakfast to work or school, overnight steel-cut oats are perfect for you because you can make them in mason jars or glass containers and then just take them with you in the morning.
- This recipe is very customizable. Once you know how to make the basic recipe, you can tailor it to your taste and dietary preference. For example, you can make them with different types of milk, such as cow’s or your favorite non-dairy milk. You can also experiment with adding your favorite oatmeal toppings (see below for some topping ideas).
- Overnight steel-cut oats make a very healthy breakfast. Steel-cut oats are full of important vitamins, minerals, fiber, protein, and even fat. Adding chia seeds and other healthy topping makes them a breakfast of champions.
Ingredient Notes
Here is a brief overview of the ingredients you’ll need to make a batch of overnight steel-cut oats:
- Steel-cut oats: Keep in mind that steel-cut oats are not the same as rolled oats (also known as traditional or old-fashioned oats). Steel-cut oats are less processed than rolled oats. They are also much harder and cook differently.
- Chia seeds: One downside of no-cook overnight steel-cut oats is that they don’t get as creamy as regularly cooked steel-cut oatmeal. For this reason, I always add some chia seeds to overnight steel-cut oats. Chia seeds improve the mouthfeel of the dish by adding a subtle creamy texture. Chia seeds are also a nutritional powerhouse and will boost the nutritional benefits of the breakfast.
- Milk: You can use any milk you like. Regular cow’s milk works perfectly for this recipe. Any non-dairy milk, such as coconut or almond milk is also a great choice.
How to Make Overnight Steel Cut Oats
Here are the step-by-step instructions on how to make overnight steel cut oatmeal:
- Place the steel cut oats into a large bowl. You will need 1/4 cup of oats per portion. (Photo 1.)
- Carefully add boiling water to the bowl. The oats will swell quite a bit so make sure that the oats are covered by at least 1 1/2 inches of water. The more portions you are making, the more water you will need. (Photo 2.)
- To keep the water warm longer, place a cover on the bowl. I just use a small plate because it fits perfectly over my bowl. Let the oats soak for at least one hour. (Photo 3.)
- Remove the cover and drain the oats. (Photo 4.)
- Divide the soaked oats equally between jars or glass containers. (Photo 5.)
- Add the chia seeds. You will need about 1 tablespoon per portion. (Photo 6.)
- Add your favorite non-dairy or cow’s milk, about 1/2 cup per portion, and mix to combine. Cover with a tight lid and place in the fridge overnight. (Photo 7.)
- Add your favorite toppings, such as nuts and fruits, before serving. (Photo 8.)
Variations
Here are a few ideas on how to customize this overnight steel-cut oats recipe with different toppings:
Sweeteners
I don’t usually add any additional sweetener to my morning oatmeal because I find that with fruits and berries, it tastes sweet enough.
If you want it to taste sweeter, you can add a little bit of natural sweetener:
- Maple syrup
- Honey
- Coconut sugar
- Raisins
- Dried dates
Topping Ideas
Toppings add flavor and nutrition to the overnight steel cut oats. Choose your favorite toppings or experiment with new ones.
There are so many combinations that you can create a new flavor every day.
Topping # 1 – Berries and Fruits:
I usually add about 1/2 cup of fresh berries or cut-up fresh fruit.
Here are some of my favorite fruits and berries to add to overnight steel cut oats:
- Blueberries
- Strawberries
- Blackberries
- Raspberries
- Peaches
- Apples
- Plums
- Pineapple
- Pomegranates
- Oranges
- Mango
- Kiwi
- etc.
Topping # 2 – Nuts, Seeds, and Nut Butters:
Don’t forget to add some nuts or nut butter. I usually add about two tablespoons of chopped nuts or one tablespoon of nut butter:
- Almonds
- Sunflower Seeds
- Pumpkin Seeds
- Flax Seeds
- Shredded Coconut
- Walnuts
- Pecans
- Cashews
- Hazelnuts
- Almond Butter
- Cashew Butter
- Cacao Nibs
- etc.
Storing
Store these overnight steel cut oats in the refrigerator in a glass jar with a tight lid. Consume within 48 hours
More Breakfast Recipes
If you are looking for healthy breakfast ideas, check out these recipes:
- Quinoa with Fruit for Breakfast
- Homemade Muesli
- Egg Avocado Toast
- Blueberry Kale Smoothie
- Apple Cinnamon Quinoa Breakfast Bowl
- Raspberry Oatmeal
How to Make Overnight Steel Cut Oats
Yield: 2 portions
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Additional Time: 8 hours
Total Time: 8 hours 15 minutes
Very easy overnight steel cut oats recipe. No cooking required. Perfect for busy mornings.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup steel cut oats
- 2 Tbsp chia seeds
- 1 cup your favorite non-dairy or cow's milk
Toppings:
- 1 cup of berries or cut up fruit
- 2 Tbsp chopped nuts or 1 Tbsp nut butter
Instructions
- Place the steel cut oats into a large bowl.
- Carefully add boiling water to the bowl making sure that the oats are covered by at least 1 1/2 inches of water.
- Place a cover on the bowl and let the oats soak for at least one hour.
- Remove the cover and drain the oats.
- Divide the soaked oats equally between 2 jars or glass containers.
- Add 1 tablespoon of the chia seeds to each jar.
- Add your favorite non-dairy or cow’s milk and mix to combine. Cover with a tight lid and place in the fridge overnight.
- Add your favorite toppings such as nuts and fruits before serving.
Notes
1. Consume within 48 hours.
2. Nutrition information is a rough estimate for 1 serving of the base recipe made with almond milk without any toppings or sweeteners.
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Nutrition Information
Yield 2 portionsServing Size 1/2 of recipe
Amount Per ServingCalories 184Total Fat 9.6gSaturated Fat 0.5gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 9.1gCholesterol 0mgSodium 25.5mgCarbohydrates 19.9gFiber 6.5gSugar 0.7gProtein 6.5g
Nutrition facts provided on this website are an estimate and not guaranteed to be accurate. Please see a qualified health care provider for personalized diet advice and make sure that each of the ingredients is allowed in your diet.
