Simple Banana Overnight Oats

These banana overnight oats are a perfect make ahead breakfast or snack option for babies, kids, and adults alike! Make a batch and enjoy throughout the week with all kinds of toppings.

Jump to:

• What are overnight oats?
• Overnight oats for baby
• Ingredients
• Step-by-Step Instructions
• Tips for Success
• Topping Suggestions
• Serving Suggestions
• Frequently Asked Questions
• More EASY breakfast ideas
• Banana Overnight Oats

What are overnight oats?

Overnight oats are basically no-cook method of making oatmeal. Instead of cooking the oats, simply soak them with milk of choice (and/or yogurt) and let them sit in the fridge for at least 4 hours, ideally overnight - hence the name.

Texturally, it is denser and creamier than the stove-top oats with a porridge or pudding like consistency.

If you are new to making overnight oatmeal, be sure to check out my super in-depth Overnight Oats or Quinoa Post!

And if you like this make ahead breakfast, give overnight Weetabix a try too.

Overnight oats for baby

You can enjoy this recipe with your baby as soon as they’re ready to start solids, usually around 6 months. It's important to remember that your baby is unique and that rather than going by the calendar, you need to make sure your baby is DEVELOPMENTALLY ready to start solids.

If you're unsure, be sure to grab my FREE handout!

This is seriously a wonderful breakfast idea for your baby because it allows you to:

• introduce flavor and texture to babies regardless of which feeding method you chose.
• make every bite count when not much is being eaten - especially during the first weeks of starting solids or during an illness.
• incorporate a variety of foods into their meal/snack with ease. There are endless possibilities when it comes to flavor combinations and toppings. I'm sharing 6 here but you really can add whatever you fancy!
• offer choking hazards (e.g. nuts, dried fruits) in a safe way, as they will soften up along with the rest of the ingredients. Just be sure to ground or finely chop them before adding.
• offer key nutrients that are particularly important during the first years of life - iron, zinc, omega-3, healthy fats, calcium, and vitamin D, etc.
• introduce the top allergens early and often.
• practice eating with a spoon. Because the texture is pretty thick, it will make it easier to scoop.

Also check out: Healthy Breakfast Ideas for Babies

Ingredients

• Oats - rolled oats will work best but if you want a smooth creamy texture then you can use quick oats.
• Ripe Banana
• Yogurt - will make the overnight oats even creamier and adds a boost of protein and fat.
• Chia seeds - You can leave them out if you wish, but I highly recommend that you give them a try first. They will give the oats a pudding-like texture while boosting nutrition. They’re a great source of iron and fat, which are essential nutrients for babies and toddlers.
• Milk - use full-fat cow milk or any dairy-free alternatives.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Mash the banana in a container. Add the rest of the ingredients and stir.
2. Store in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours, preferably overnight.

Tips for Success

• You can half the recipe if you want just one serving or double the recipe to enjoy for several days.
• After stirring in a container, you can portion into smaller containers or just store the entire mixture.
• Give it a good stir once you take it out of the fridge.
• Add the toppings right before eating - Otherwise, they will become soft and mushy. This may be good, however, if serving to your baby (see below).

Topping Suggestions

This recipe is very basic and that's on purpose! Make a large batch and you can easily incorporate more variety and nutrition throughout the week simply by switching up the toppings.

• Finely chopped or ground nuts and seeds
• Peanut or nut butter
• Grated carrots
• Mashed sweet potatoes or butternut squash
• Fruits

Serving Suggestions

For babies

If you have been doing purees, overnight oats are a great way to introduce your baby to texture. If you are feeling really anxious, you can first try it with quick oats instead of rolled oats, which will give you a smoother texture.

You can also add any hard to eat toppings, like crispy fruits and raw vegetables (e.g. grated carrots), along with the rest of the ingredients so they soften.

This spoon is perfect for tiny hands. Preload and place on the bowl or hand to your baby. And if your baby would rather eat with their hands (which is most likely), let them!

Messy eating is an important part of learning to self feed.

For toddlers

They love to have a sense of control and independence! So provide options and allow them to choose what toppings they want in their overnight oats.

Frequently Asked Questions

More EASY breakfast ideas

Did you make this recipe? Leave a rating below and let me know how you liked the recipe! Your feedback means so much to me!