2020 and 2021 has brought a lot of challenges. It’s also brought some unexpected blessings – like not having to endure a commute or dash out of the house in the mornings. However, now that life is slowly starting to return to normal, I forget what it’s like to have places to go and commitments that are not *all* virtual! I’ve really ramped up my food prep game the past couple weeks, as I’m finding it’s really easy to skip meals or snacks if we’re not prepared and have easy, ready-to-grab things on hand. On mornings I drop Brady off at my in-laws’ for childcare, I often find I have all of his food prepped for the day but have completely forgotten to eat anything myself. By the time I get home I’ve been up for several hours, have usually worked out already, and am famished.
One easy prep-ahead breakfast that’s been great to have in my back pocket: overnight oats.
Overnight oats, if you’ve never had them, are oats soaked in liquid, with chia seeds to bind them and give them a thick consistency. (Chia seeds also make them super filling, and add Omega-3s!) You make them the night before, place them in the fridge, and let them soak up and do their thing. Then, in the morning… voila. You’ve got a perfect, filling breakfast that’s ready to eat and go. I like to make my overnight oats in mason jars, and I’ll eat them right out of the jar with a spoon. Mason jars also make them easy to travel with. I’ll often prep several mason jars at a time, to have several breakfasts ready for the week in advance.
The fun part of overnight oats are that they’re super versatile. You can add any combination of fruits, flavorings, and toppings you’d like, and you’ll never get sick of them.
I recently started experimenting with adding protein powder with my overnight oats. While overnight oats have plenty of fiber, healthy carbs, and healthy fats as is, I wanted a good dose of protein to make it a complete meal. This can also be helpful if you plan to eat your overnight oats post-workout, like I do.
These Chocolate Cherry Protein Overnight Oats are the final product, and I’m SO happy with how they’ve turned out. I love the combo of chocolate and cherries together, and cherries are coming into season now that it’s almost Summertime. I like to chop cherries in half and sprinkle them on top the morning of – but you can also add frozen cherries to your mixture and let them soak overnight with the rest of the ingredients if you prefer. Either way, you can’t go wrong.
If you make my high-protein overnight oats, I hope you enjoy them!
PrintChocolate Cherry Protein Overnight Oats
With 6 ingredients and only 5 minutes of prep time… overnight oats are the best kept secret of busy mornings. Making them with protein powder gives them an extra punch to help keep you full and satisfied.
- Prep Time: 5
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1 serving 1x
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: No-bake
- Cuisine: Healthy
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup old-fashioned or rolled oats
- 1 tablespoon chia seeds
- 1 scoop chocolate protein powder (about 30 grams)
- 3/4 cup milk of choice (I like using unsweetened Ripple or soy milk for high-protein plant-based milk options, or Fairlife for a higher-protein dairy option)
- 1 teaspoon pure maple syrup (optional, for extra sweetness)
- Halved cherries for topping
Instructions
- Add all ingredients except cherries to a mason jar.
- Stir until well-incorporated, and the chia seeds are evenly distributed.
- Cover jar with lid (feel free to give it an extra shake!), and place in the fridge overnight.
- In the morning, stir or shake again, top with fresh cherries, and enjoy!
