Breakfast needs a little chocolate every now and again, don't you think? Try these kid-approved chocolate chip overnight oats this week. Don't let the chocolate fool you, these oats also have fiber, protein and whole grains to fuel your morning. We share tips for finding affordable vegan, dairy-free chocolate chips, too.
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Convenient and easy, overnight oats are great for busy weekday mornings, camping, road trips, traveling or anywhere where you can't cook.
These chocolate chip overnight oats use our vegan basic overnight oats recipe as the base!
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🧄 Ingredient notes
- Vegan chocolate chips - Dairy-free chocolate chips are surprisingly hard to find and tend to be expensive. Good news for Trader Joe's shoppers, their semi-sweet chocolate chips are dairy-free! And, usually around a reasonable $2 a bag.
- Old-fashioned rolled oats - do not use quick oats for this recipe, they turn out mushy. Don't use steel cut, they don't get soft enough to enjoy with this method. You want old-fashioned rolled oatmeal for this method of cooking oats.
- Plant-based milk - any vegan milk you enjoy should work here, like almond milk (pictured), soy milk, oat milk (for that double oat flavor!), coconut milk, cashew milk and rice milk. You can use unsweetened or sweetened original varieties, if you like. Vanilla milk works great, too.
- Ground flax - adds health benefits of added fiber, along with omega-3. Flaxseed also thickens the oatmeal slightly.
- Plant-based yogurt - amps up the creaminess and protein. Vegan yogurts made from cashew, soy, coconut, almond and oat will all work here. Soy yogurt will give you the most protein.
📋 Substitutions and variations
Here are some suitable substitution options for the ingredients:
- Chocolate chips - If you can't find vegan chocolate chips, try using dairy-free dark chocolate chips, chopped dark chocolate or shaved dark chocolate. If you are not vegan (but rather plant-based, flexitarian or veganish and are okay with a small amount of dairy, then standard chocolate chips are fine here).
- Plant-based milk - Use any plant-based milk you enjoy. Vanilla-flavored (or chocolate!) milk works especially well in this recipe.
- Flax - use chia seeds instead of ground flaxseed. Or, omit them (it will be less thick if you omit one of these options).
- Nut-free - make this nut-free by using a nut-free plant milk, such as soy milk, rice milk or oat milk.
Here are some variation ideas for these chocolate chip overnight oats:
- Double chocolate - mix in cocoa powder for a double chocolate overnight oats
- Use chocolate plant-based milk - make it extra chocolatey by substituting regular plant-based milk for a chocolate version in this recipe
- Add nuts or seeds - chocolate goes especially well with nuts and seeds like pecans, walnuts, pistachios, almonds, sunflower seed kernels and cashews. Add a tablespoon in for added nutrition and protein.
- Top with fruit - Chocolate pairs nicely with almost any fruit, so top these chocolate chip oats with fresh or frozen strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, cherries, mango, banana, raspberries, peach, apricot or melon.
- Matcha chocolate chip - add chocolate chips to our matcha overnight oats
🔪 Instructions
Step by step instructions for how to make chocolate chip overnight oats.
Add rolled oats to a pint-size mason jar or container that holds at least 2 cups.
Pour in plant-based milk and ground flaxseed (or chia).
Add plant-based yogurt to jar.
It will look like this when you've added all your ingredients.
Screw on your lid and then shake it all up! Or, use a spoon to mix all the ingredients together. Place jar in refrigerator overnight or at least 2 hours.
Mix in the chocolate chips or sprinkle them on top. When you're ready to eat them, pull it out of the fridge and eat cold or warm up in microwave for 30-60 seconds.
⭐️ Expert tips
- Use a canning funnel to add ingredients to jars without making a mess
- Don't go overboard on the chocolate chips, they pack in lots of calories (70) and fat per tablespoon
🍳 Equipment
- a container to hold your overnight oats that holds 1 pint (about 2 cups, 16 ounces or 550 milliliters). I recommend using wide mouth pint size mason jars. The pretty glasses in my pictures are 15 ounce stemless wine glasses from Walmart.
- measuring spoons and cups
🥡 Make ahead and storage tips
Overnight oats are perfect for meal prep and batch cooking. Make them Sunday night to have breakfast ready to go all week long. Store overnight oats in the refrigerator, combined, for up to 5 days.
This recipe does not stand up well to freezing.
❓ FAQ
For one serving of chocolate chip overnight oats using ½ cup rolled oats, ½ cup plant-based milk, 2 tablespoons yogurt, 1 teaspoon flaxseed, 2 teaspoons maple syrup and 2 tablespoons semi-sweet chocolate chips, the calories are 413.
Most chocolate chips have dairy milk in them, so they are not vegan. However, you can find dairy-free chocolate chips. Trader Joe's semi-sweet chocolate chips contain no dairy and are vegan. Also, some dark chocolate chip products are vegan. Check the nutritional label for milk to be sure.
💜 More recipes you'll love
If you love this chocolate chip overnight oats recipe, check out these other plant-based breakfast recipes!
Love this recipe? Please rate it 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ below in the recipe card. And, if you make it, please tag me on Instagram or Facebook in your posted photos! I would love to see your creations. 😄
📖 Recipe
Chocolate Chip Overnight Oats (vegan)
Equipment
- Glass jar, pint-sized or bowl, container with cover
Ingredients
- ½ cup old-fashioned rolled oats
- ½ cup plant-based milk almond milk, soy milk, oat milk, etc.
- 2 tablespoons plant-based yogurt cashew yogurt, soy yogurt, coconut yogurt, etc.
- 1 teaspoon ground flaxseed or chia seeds
- 2 teaspoons maple syrup or other sweetener (sugar, brown sugar, agave nectar, coconut sugar, date syrup)
- 2 tablespoons vegan chocolate chips Trader Joe's brand
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a glass jar, bowl or container that will hold at least 12 and up to 16 ounces (this allows space for the oats and any toppings you add later). Stir everything together.½ cup old-fashioned rolled oats, ½ cup plant-based milk, 2 tablespoons plant-based yogurt, 1 teaspoon ground flaxseed, 2 teaspoons maple syrup, 2 tablespoons vegan chocolate chips
- Place a lid or cover on the container. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or overnight.
- Eat cold or microwave for 30-60 seconds to warm up. Prepared overnight oats will stay good stored in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
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