A delicious twist on oatmeal, High Protein Overnight Oats are a breakfast you’ll jump out of bed for! Perfect for breakfast meal prep and a great option for busy mornings.
Overnight oats with protein powder are a healthy breakfast because 25 grams of protein are in a single serving. Meal prep oatmeal with protein powder, yogurt, chia seeds, and honey to keep you energized all day.

Don’t let the decadent names fool you, protein overnight oats are a healthy breakfast option. The instructions below are for a “base” protein oats recipe along with 3 flavor variations: Chocolate Chip, Blueberry Cheesecake, and Strawberry Shortcake. The fun flavors come from adding protein powder in overnight oats.
Looking for more oats-based breakfast recipes? Try my chocolate baked oatmeal or cinnamon roll overnight oats next time.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Easily meal prep this high-protein oatmeal recipe for a perfect way to eat a nutritious breakfast daily.
- Seriously, the best part is the flavor. The flavors are so indulgent, you will think you are eating dessert for breakfast.
- Getting enough protein in your diet is important for overall health, and although old-fashioned oats are good for you, they only contain a small amount of protein. Proats (protein oats) are full of, you guessed it, protein!
- Overnight oats with protein powder are the perfect healthy breakfast (or snack!) and a delicious way to add extra protein to your diet.
Ingredients
This makes a “base” high protein oatmeal recipe. Continue reading for ideas on how to season oatmeal to make a variety of flavors. Find the exact measurements in the recipe card:
- Old fashioned oats
- Milk of choice – As a personal preference, I like coconut milk overnight oats, but any milk will work in this recipe.
- Protein powder – I like to use Optimum Nutrition whey protein or Signature whey protein, but any type of protein powder will work great. If you’re wanting a specific flavor for your oats, make sure you use that flavor of powder.
- Plain Greek yogurt – when testing this recipe, I noticed that adding unsweetened Greek yogurt made the oatmeal extra creamy texture. Plus, its’s another great source of protein.
- Honey – a natural sweetener
- Chia Seeds - Chia seeds are a great source of healthy fats, like Omega-3, and fiber.
- Vanilla extract - gives this oatmeal extra flavor.
How to Make Protein Overnight Oats
This make-ahead breakfast recipe is easy to double or triple in order to make a large batch for meal prepping. You can make protein powder overnight oats in individual containers or one large container, or mixing bowl, to portion out throughout the week. I prefer to make oats in an individual mason jar for a quick, high-protein breakfast.
Step 1: Decide what flavor oatmeal you want to make and get those additional ingredients ready. Keep in mind that the base recipe tastes amazing as is, so there is no need for add-ins, if you don’t want to use them.
Step 2: Line mason jars in a row on the kitchen counter. An easy way to meal prep is to make an assembly line and add each ingredient to each container one by one. Start by adding a scoop of protein powder and all dry ingredients followed by wet ingredients.
Step 3: Stir the mixture well and cover with an airtight lid. PRO TIP: if you’re using mason jars, simply tighten the lid and shake the container to mix well. Keep oats in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours before eating. Ideally, let them soak overnight to allow the oats to fully soften, they are best eaten the next morning.
Flavor Variations
To make protein powder overnight oats, start by looking at what flavor protein powders you have. For example, I have vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry flavored powders, so I started my recipe creation with what I had.
Start with the “base” protein overnight oats recipe then add the corresponding flavored protein powder and additional ingredients to change the flavor profile. You’ll never have boring oats again. This is a chance to get creative in the kitchen – the flavor possibilities are endless!
Chocolate Chip Overnight Oats
Add chocolate protein powder to the base recipe then add chocolate chips to the mixture. Peanut butter, coconut flakes, and/or sliced almonds are also great additions to chocolate protein powder overnight oats.
Blueberry Cheesecake Overnight Oats
Add vanilla protein powder to the base recipe then stir in fresh blueberries to the mixture.
Strawberry Shortcake Overnight Oats
Add strawberry protein powder to the base recipe then stir in chopped fresh strawberries to the mixture.
Swaps & Subs
- You can use pure maple syrup as a sweetener instead of honey.
- If you don’t have protein powder, use a store-bought protein shake in place of the milk and powder.
- Add your favorite toppings: fresh fruit, a dollop of peanut butter or almond butter, or a sprinkle of brown sugar.
- Use your favorite milk to make protein oatmeal. Like I mentioned earlier, I use coconut milk, but almond milk, oat milk, and cows’ milk would be great options too.
- If you don’t have yogurt, try this recipe with cottage cheese instead. I like to use one or the other to up the protein content.
Pro Tips
- If your protein oatmeal is too thick, add a dash of milk until it reaches the consistency you like.
- Stir well! If the protein powder isn’t mixed well, your oats may have a powdery consistency.
- To get extra creamy overnight oats, don’t skip the yogurt.
FAQs
Old fashioned rolled oats will give you the best texture for overnight oats. Quick oats are fine to use, but they will be soggier. Steel cut oats will not soften much and cause your oats to be chewier.
Yes! Freezing overnight oats will increase the shelf life, but keep in mind that it may affect the taste, texture, and quality. For optimal quality, it's recommended to freeze the oats right after making them. Freeze overnight oats in a freezer-safe airtight container for up to 3 months. Thaw oats in the refrigerator the night before eating them.
To make this recipe vegan, use a vegan protein powder, non-dairy milk, and pure maple syrup instead of honey.
I like whey protein overnight oats. The brands of protein powder I use are Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 100% Whey Protein and Signature Whey Protein. I have been happy with the results of this recipe using this brand. The exact flavors I use are: Vanilla Ice Cream, Extreme Milk Chocolate, and Delicious Strawberry.
Storage
Mason jars are the best container for overnight oats, but any glass jar or airtight container with a lid will work. I use 16 ounce wide mouth mason jars when making this high protein overnight oats recipe.
Overnight oatmeal will last up to 5 days in the refrigerator in an airtight container or 3 months in the freezer.
More Breakfast Recipes
- Nutella Stuffed Pancakes
- Healthy Snickers Smoothie
- Funfetti Pancakes with Vanilla Glaze
- Chocolate Chia Seed Pudding
If you try this recipe or any recipe from Happy Honey Kitchen, please rate the recipe and leave a comment below! Enjoy!
High Protein Overnight Oats
Equipment
- mason jar or any airtight container with a lid
Ingredients
"Base" Protein Overnight Oats Recipe
- ½ cup old fashioned rolled oats
- 1 scoop protein powder choice of flavor
- ⅔ cup milk of choice
- 2 Tablespoons plain Greek yogurt
- 1 Tablespoon chia seeds
- 1 teaspoons honey
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
Chocolate Chip Overnight Oats
- chocolate protein powder
- 2 Tablespoons chocolate chips or cacao nibs
Blueberry Cheesecake Overnight Oats
- vanilla protein powder
- ½ cup fresh blueberries
Strawberry Shortcake Overnight Oats
- strawberry protein powder
- ½ cup strawberries chopped
Instructions
- Decide what flavor oatmeal you want to make and get those additional ingredients ready. Keep in mind that the base recipe tastes amazing as is, so there is no need for add-ins, if you don’t want to use them.
- Add a scoop of protein powder and all dry ingredients followed by all wet ingredients.
- Stir the mixture well and cover with an airtight lid. Keep oats in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours before eating. Ideally, let them soak overnight to allow the oats to fully soften, they are best eaten the next morning.
Notes
- The protein powder brands I use are Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 100% Whey Protein and Signature Whey Protein (linked in the post)
- I find that these 16 ounce wide mouth mason jars work best. (linked in post)
- If your protein oatmeal is too thick, add a dash of milk until it reaches the consistency you like.
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- Additional toppings or add-ins can include: peanut butter, coconut flakes, nuts, and spices.
Mina
I'm not a fan of oats since I'm allergic to them, but they look so yummy!
Katie
YUM!!! I love that your recipe includes chia seeds. Simply delicious!
Daphne
I love overnight oats! Thanks for sharing your recipes, they look delicious.
Charles
Definitely not my grandmother's "mush."
I'll try. No guarantee that Sofia will partake in the pleasure, however. I have to sit on her just to eat oatmeal and bananas once or twice a month.
Silvia
I love this recipe. It is delicious. The oats are very creamy and flavorful. I made the blueberry recipe, I cant wait to try the chocolate and strawberry.
Kim
Made all three and they are all tasty but we LOVE the chocolate one!