Overnight Steel Cut Oats (5-Minute Recipe) - Real + Vibrant (2024)

Published: · Updated: by Sapana Chandra, MS, CHC · 9 Comments

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Making overnight steel cut oats is a quick and easy way of making a delicious and filling vegan breakfast. Made with steel cut oats, nut milk, salt, and water. It just requires 5 minutes of your time right before you go to sleep and another 5 minutes in the morning.

Overnight Steel Cut Oats (5-Minute Recipe) - Real + Vibrant (1)

These overnight steel cut oats are filling, creamy, chewy, and so delicious. Make a large batch and have breakfast ready to go for the entire week.

They are so easy to make have a delicious texture, perfect for breakfast or even as a filling snack.

Ingredients you'll need

Making overnight steel cut oats requires the least amount of time and leads to delicious results. All you need are a few ingredients, including:

  • Steel cut oats: These are normally sold in packages or in the bulk section.
  • Water
  • Almond milk: Since we're making a vegan version, use store-bought or homemade almond milk.
  • Salt

You can also use additional toppings and ingredients to add flavor, including ground cinnamon, fresh berries, nut butter, hemp seeds, or chia seeds.

How to make overnight steel cut oats

1. Boil water: In a small pot, bring water to a boil. As soon as the water comes to a boil.

2. Add ingredients: Add oats, salt, and stir. Cover the pot and let it sit overnight. Turn off heat and cover the pot.

3. Warm oats: In the morning, mix the oats and warm on medium-low heat for 5 minutes.

4. Add milk: Add milk and stir well. Add toppings and serve.

Overnight Steel Cut Oats (5-Minute Recipe) - Real + Vibrant (2)

Storing and reheating

If you have leftovers, let them cool down and place them in an air-tight glass container for up to 4-5 days. When you're ready to enjoy them, simply reheat the oatmeal on the stove top for a quick and easy breakfast. If the oats appear too thick, Just add a little water or milk and stir.

Top tips and suggestions

You can do so much with these basic overnight steel cut oats to boost the nutrition level, flavor, and more. Here are some of my favorite tips:

  • Use high-quality steel-cut oats: If your oats have been sitting for over a year, it might be best to compost them.
  • Add superfoods: Ingredients such as cinnamon, chia seeds, hemp seeds, and nut butter will boost the nutrition level in these oats. Be sure to add them in the morning when you're ready to enjoy the oats.
  • Sweeten naturally: Chopped dates, honey, and maple syrup are great options.
  • Use water: Adding nut milk will make your oats creamy, but you can also stick to water if you don't have milk on hand.
Overnight Steel Cut Oats (5-Minute Recipe) - Real + Vibrant (3)

Frequently asked questions

What's the difference between steel cut oats and rolled oats? The primary difference between rolled oats and steel cut oats lies in the amount of processing.

Steel cut oats, also called pinhead oats, are groats of whole oats that have been cut into a few pieces. Therefore, steel cut oats are the least processed and maintain the best texture when cooked. However, they also take the longest amount of time to cook, but with a little prep the night before, you can easily mitigate this.

Rolled or old-fashioned oats are made by steaming and pressing flat. If you are in a hurry and need breakfast in a few minutes (and didn't do any prep the night before), rolled oats are always a great option. Click here for the recipe that uses rolled oats instead.

Overnight Steel Cut Oats (5-Minute Recipe) - Real + Vibrant (4)

More easy breakfast recipes

  • Cherry Breakfast Bars
  • Breakfast Cookies
  • Chocolate Chip Banana Bread
  • Overnight Oats Recipe
  • Banana Chocolate Chip Bars
  • Roasted Cherry Yogurt Bowl

I hope you love this overnight steel cut oats recipe as much as I do.Sign up for email updatesto receive new recipes delivered to your inbox or check out my new cookbookPlant Power Bowls.

Overnight Steel Cut Oats (5-Minute Recipe) - Real + Vibrant (5)

Overnight Steel Cut Oats

Print Pin Rate

Prep time: 5 minutes minutes

Cook time: 10 minutes minutes

Total time: 15 minutes minutes

Servings: 2

Calories: 313kcal

Author: Sapana Chandra

Making overnight steel cut oats is a quick and easy way of making a delicious and filling vegan breakfast. Made with steel cut oats, nut milk, salt, and water. It just requires 5 minutes of your time right before you go to sleep and another 5 minutes in the morning.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup steel cut oats
  • 2 cups water
  • ¼ cup almond milk
  • pinch of salt

Additional Toppings

  • ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ¼ cup fresh berries, blueberries, raspberries, strawberries
  • 1 tablespoon nut butter
  • 1 tablespoon hemp seeds
  • 1 tablespoon chia seeds

Instructions

  • In a small pot, bring water to a boil the night before. As soon as the water comes to a boil, add the oats, salt, and stir.

  • Immediately turn off the heat and cover the pot. Let it sit overnight.

  • In the morning, mix the oats and warm on medium-low heat for 5 minutes.

  • Add milk and any other ingredients you'd like to. Serve and enjoy.

Nutrition

Calories: 313kcal, Carbohydrates: 53g, Protein: 13g, Fat: 6g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Sodium: 53mg, Fiber: 9g, Sugar: 1g, Calcium: 85mg, Iron: 3mg

Course: Breakfast

Cuisine: American

More Breakfast Recipes

  • Vegan Blueberry Scones
  • Raspberry Smoothie
  • Banana Chocolate Chip Bars
  • Roasted Cherry Yogurt Bowl

About Sapana Chandra, MS, CHC

Sapana Chandra is a certified health coach, author of Plant Power Bowls, and founder of Real +Vibrant. Here you’ll find simply delicious vegetarian recipes with step-by-step photo instructions – recipes you’ll be excited to enjoy and share with your loved ones.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Maggie says

    Can regular milk be used? Or would I just skip and use water and get the same consistency? Also do you just leave the pot on the counter all night or in the fridge?

    Reply

    • Sapana Chandra, MS, CHC says

      Hi Maggie, you can use regular milk instead of almond milk when you warm up the oats in the morning. I just leave the pot on the counter all night.

      Reply

  2. Sapana Chandra, MS, CHC says

    Hi JC!! Thank you for bringing this to my attention. The 1195 was an error in the system and has been corrected now. The sodium is coming from the pinch of salt which can be omitted.

    Reply

  3. Jess says

    This is the perfect ratio of ingredients! Turned out perfect, thanks!Overnight Steel Cut Oats (5-Minute Recipe) - Real + Vibrant (10)

    Reply

    • Sapana Chandra, MS, CHC says

      So happy to hear! Thanks for sharing!

      Reply

  4. Carley says

    Made this for breakfast. Loved how good they turned out.Overnight Steel Cut Oats (5-Minute Recipe) - Real + Vibrant (11)

    Reply

    • Sapana Chandra says

      So glad to hear!

      Reply

  5. Riley says

    I had no idea how easy it was to make overnight steel cut oats! I cooked them last night and after a few minutes of warming up, they were ready to go this morning for my family. Thank you!Overnight Steel Cut Oats (5-Minute Recipe) - Real + Vibrant (12)

    Reply

    • Sapana Chandra says

      It's so easy, isn't it?! I'm so glad you and your family enjoyed!

      Reply

Leave a Reply

Overnight Steel Cut Oats (5-Minute Recipe) - Real + Vibrant (2024)

FAQs

What happens if you use quick oats instead of rolled oats for overnight oats? ›

Tips for making the best overnight oats

Use plain old fashioned rolled oats, not quick oats. Quick oats will get too soggy when soaked with milk. And do not use steel cut oats because they won't soften enough to eat just with milk unfortunately. Try this steel cut overnight oatmeal instead.

Why not steel cut oats for overnight oats? ›

We love the chewy, hearty texture of steel-cut oats, but they're too firm to use for overnight oats. Steel-cut are much better simmered slowly, although if you are short on time, soaking them in water overnight then draining them before simmering will drastically cut down the cooking time.

Are quick cook steel cut oats the same as steel cut oats? ›

Note: You may have seen quick cooking steel cut oats - they are simply cut smaller, so they cook faster. Like rolled oats, these are still good, but may have a lesser effect than the longer cooking steel cut oats. Keep them all on hand, if you like.

Are quick steel cut oats as healthy as regular steel cut oats? ›

"It's a common misconception that one type of oat is healthier than another," said Rizzo. "They are all actually identical in terms of their nutrition. The difference is how they are rolled and cut." However, Price added that since instant oats are the most processed option, they generally have salt and added sugars.

What not to add in overnight oats? ›

As Best points out, "some of the worst ingredients that are mistakenly added to healthy overnight oat recipes include chocolate sauce, sugar, syrup, and dried fruit."

Why did my overnight oats not work? ›

If you don't add enough liquid, your oats will be dry and clumpy in the morning, making them less enjoyable to eat. Make sure to add enough milk or yogurt to fully cover your oats and give them a creamy consistency.

What happens if I eat steel cut oats every morning? ›

Oatmeal's high fiber content and prebiotic qualities may benefit your body in more ways than one. Making oatmeal a regular part of your menu can potentially lower your disease risk, help your gut health thrive, make bowel movements easier and keep you feeling fuller for longer.

Why do steel cut oats make me sleepy? ›

If you're feeling lethargic and tired, you may be consuming the following foods that lower your energy: Oats – Oats are rich in melatonin and high in tryptophan – an essential amino acid that assists in the development of Serotonin. Serotonin is linked to regulated sleep.

What are the disadvantages of overnight oats? ›

Overnight oats usually contain more calories than traditional oats, which is not ideal for individuals following a low-calorie diet or looking to cut back on calorie-rich foods. Note: Eating raw oats is generally safe, but may cause digestive issues or increase the risk of foodborne illness.

Are 5 minute steel-cut oats healthy? ›

Both steel cut oats and rolled oats (or old fashioned oats) pack in a ton of nutritional benefits: Rich in a soluble fiber called beta glucan which has been linked to lower LDL cholesterol. Good source of anti-inflammatory antioxidants known as avenanthramides. Promotes healthy gut bacteria.

Is there such a thing as instant steel-cut oats? ›

Quick Cooking Steel Cut Oats are created much like our regular steel cut oats: they're just cut into smaller pieces, so they're ready to eat in 5–7 minutes instead of 15–20.

What is so special about steel-cut oats? ›

Due to their density, steel-cut oats are cooked with a higher ratio of liquid than rolled oats. They yield a larger portion, meaning you can eat less oats and consume fewer calories. Steel-cut oats take longer to digest, helping you to stay full longer and causing less of a rise in blood sugar.

Why not use steel-cut oats? ›

Meanwhile, rolled and quick oats have a milder taste and cook down to a creamy, smooth consistency. And since steel-cut oats are the least processed, they take the most time to prepare, which could be a turn-off for some people.

Do steel-cut oats raise blood sugar? ›

Your body digests steel-cut oats slowly, but that doesn't mean they're hard to digest. It's actually better to digest slowly because it doesn't cause your blood sugar to spike.

Are steel-cut oats good for weight loss? ›

Steel cut oats may support blood sugar control, proper digestion, heart health, and weight loss.

Is it OK to use quick oats instead of rolled oats? ›

When it comes to the two types you probably already have in your kitchen—rolled oats and quick oats—you can use them in recipes interchangeably. If you need quick oats, but only have rolled oats, just pulse the rolled oats a few times in the blender to get the textural effect your recipe needs.

Is it okay to use instant oats for overnight oats? ›

Quick oats, also known as instant oats, or pre-packaged oats, are a great option for overnight oats. Quick Oats are very similar to rolled oats, except they have a finer cut, and are thinner. This increased amount of processing makes them easier to digest.

What is the difference between overnight oats and quick oats? ›

While Oatmeal is simple meal of cooked oats with milk or sometimes curd as my granny eats. For both Instant or rolled oats can be used. Difference we see here, overnight oats are not cooked, instead oats absorbs milk/curd and gets softer allowing us to consume.

Why use rolled oats for overnight oats? ›

rolled oats – old-fashioned rolled oats are a must for overnight oats. They soak up the liquid, which gives you a lovely creamy texture. Instant, quick-cooking and steel cut oats don't work because they don't absorb the liquid in the same way that rolled oats do.

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