Peanut Butter Banana Overnight Oats
Peanut butter banana overnight oats are a healthy, portable breakfast you can make in a mason jar! Loaded with protein, whole grains, and fruit, they’re perfect for busy mornings.
Peanut butter pairs well with so many things. For some delicious examples, look no further than our chocolate peanut butter pancakes and brown butter banana pancakes.
But when it comes to breakfast, it’s hard to rival the dynamic duo of peanut butter and banana. You’ve got your fruit, you’ve got your protein and healthy fats—and these peanut butter overnight oats add some whole grains to the mix, too!
Basically, this humble mason jar is a well-rounded, hearty, supremely satisfying breakfast. Simple, delicious, and the kind of meal that makes you feel like you’ve just made a good choice for yourself. (Unlike all those other times when you pick up a slice of lemon loaf and a cinnamon dolce latte from the drive-thru at Starbucks.)
About this peanut butter banana overnight oats recipe
What’s especially great about these peanut butter banana overnight oats is that while they’re a healthy breakfast, they kind of taste like dessert, which is always a win, right?
Use a ripe banana and you’ve got a lot of sweetness right there. But then vanilla yogurt, peanut butter, and maple syrup—just a bit!—sweeten the pot (er, jar) even more.
If you find yourself in a rush in the morning, you can grab a jar of overnight oats from the fridge so you can bring it with you to work and eat it at your desk. And if you have kids who just can’t get it together in the morning (the AM struggle is real, mamas!), overnight oats are ready-to-go in the fridge, no heating required!
What you need
- Peanut butter – Natural peanut butter, creamy, chunky—whatever you like or have on hand!
- Old-fashioned oats – Also known as rolled oats. Using other types of oats won’t yield the same result.
- Milk – Use your favorite plant-based milk (and yogurt) for vegan overnight oats.
- Banana – The riper the banana, the sweeter your overnight oats will be!
- Vanilla Greek yogurt – Dairy or plant-based are both fine here.
- Maple syrup – You can skip this if you want your overnight oats less sweet, or swap it for honey.
- Chia seeds – Not a fan of chia seeds? Substitute hemp seeds or simply leave them out.
How to make it
Melt the peanut butter. Scoop the peanut butter into a microwave-safe bowl and warm it up for 30 seconds, or until it’s pourable.
Combine the ingredients. Place all of the ingredients into a mason jar.
Screw on the lid and shake to combine.
Tip: Don’t have a mason jar? You can use a Tupperware container with a lid, or simply stir everything together in a bowl and cover it with plastic wrap.
Refrigerate. Place the jar in the refrigerator and chill overnight.
Serve. Take the jar out of the fridge and serve with some extra banana slices and a drizzle of peanut butter.
Tip: These peanut butter banana overnight oats are meant to be enjoyed cold, but if you prefer them warmed up, you can pop them in the microwave.
FAQs
Yes, bananas and oats are a healthy combination and a delicious one! Bananas add sweetness to oats, and the earthy flavor of the oats is a nice complement to the bananas.
The answer to this question depends on how you make them, but assuming you add only a small amount of sweetener and use healthy mix-ins like fruit and nuts, overnight oats are a healthy breakfast. Oats contain beta glucan, a soluble fiber that lowers blood glucose and cholesterol levels, which has been shown to reduce the risk of diabetes and heart disease.
No, chia seeds aren’t necessary for overnight oats. If you don’t like them, leave them out!
How to make these peanut butter banana overnight oats your own
Here are some ways to customize this recipe for peanut butter banana overnight oats:
- No-yogurt option. While a lot of overnight oats recipes are made with yogurt, you can totally make it without if you’re not a fan. Just add extra milk so there’s enough liquid to submerge the oats.
- Add more protein. You can make your overnight oats with protein powder, too. Just add a half scoop of unflavored or vanilla protein powder, or use chocolate for chocolatey oats. (Looking to up your protein intake? Try our protein pancakes or chocolate protein pancakes, too!)
- Make it peanut-free. Use almond butter instead of peanut butter, or for a nut-free option, swap in sunflower seed butter.
Make Ahead Ideas
You can store overnight oats in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, so they’re great for meal prep. For longer storage, freeze overnight oats for up to 3 months in a freezer bag, jar, or airtight container. Thaw the oats overnight in the fridge before serving.
Storage Suggestions
The bananas may darken during storage, although if they’re submerged in the oat mixture, this should slow the oxidation process. You can prevent this by leaving out the banana and adding it when you’re ready to eat.
More oat recipes to try
Get the Recipe: Peanut Butter Banana Overnight Oats
Ingredients
- ¼ cup peanut butter
- ½ cup old-fashioned oats
- ½ cup milk
- ½ banana, sliced
- ¼ cup vanilla Greek yogurt
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- 2 teaspoons chia seeds
Instructions
- Warm your peanut butter in the microwave for 30 seconds.
- Place all your ingredients into a mason jar. Place the lid on the jar and shake to combine.
- Put the oats in the fridge and let them sit overnight.
- Serve with some extra banana slices and a drizzle of peanut butter.
Notes
- You can store overnight oats in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, so they’re great for meal prep. For longer storage, freeze overnight oats for up to 3 months in a freezer bag, jar, or airtight container. Thaw the oats overnight in the fridge before serving.
- The bananas may darken during storage, although if they’re submerged in the oat mixture, this should slow the oxidation process. You can prevent this by leaving out the banana and adding it when you’re ready to eat.