I’m not usually one to play matchmaker, but I was so firmly convinced that two of my longest-running, most-treasured breakfast besties—overnight oats and steel cut oatmeal—would hit it off that I couldn’t resist the urge to combine the two into a single bowl of Overnight Steel Cut Oats. Ladies and gentlemen, we have a match made for a 1990s rom-com classic! Ever since I stirred together my first batch of make-ahead steel cut oats, it’s been a ride-off-into-the-sunset breakfast love story.
Now, if you are reading this and thinking to yourself, Isn’t the fact that you can use steel cut oats for overnight oats incredibly obvious?, please consider the great fictional romances of our time.
Wasn’t it also obvious that Harry would end up with Sally? That Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan were meant to be (twice)? That Ross would finally win over Rachel? Why, yes. But that doesn’t make the evolution of the love story any less satisfying.
The same is true of Overnight Steel Cut Oats.
If you are reading up to this point and wondering, What are overnight oats?, let me give you a brief rundown: overnight oats are dry oats that are stirred together with milk, a bit of sweetener such as honey or maple syrup, and whatever other deliciousness you like.
You can make overnight oats with chia seeds, peanut butter, fresh or dried fruit, and any other mix-ins. The limit is only your imagination (or perhaps your pantry). This Sugar Cookie Protein Oatmeal, for example, includes a scoop of protein powder.
You leave the oatmeal in the refrigerator overnight and then wake in the morning to a bit of breakfast magic.
In the refrigerator, the oatmeal absorbs a portion of the milk and becomes irresistibly creamy. You give it a stir, pour it into a bowl, and sit down to reap the benefits of a filling, healthy, delicious breakfast that took seconds to prepare.
Overnight oats are typically enjoyed cold, similar to muesli. If you prefer a hot oatmeal that can be made overnight, you can check out my Overnight Slow Cooker Steel Cut Oats. If you need a hot oatmeal that can be made in minutes, check out my Instant Pot Steel Cut Oats.
So, What’s the Difference between Overnight Steel Cut Oatmeal and Every Other Overnight Oats Recipe?
Up until the point of making this recipe, I’d always made my overnight oatmeal with rolled oats (a.k.a. old-fashioned oats). Rolled oats are whole oats that have been steamed and pressed, so they cook more quickly and have a more pliable texture. Overnight oats made with rolled oats are more creamy than chewy. They are also delicious. Start with my Apple Cinnamon Overnight Oats and see if you agree.
Steel cut oats are closer to their original harvested state. They are not steamed but instead are cut into pieces with a steel blade (hence the name “steel cut”). Steel cut oats are chewier and nuttier.
The firmer texture of steel cut oats means they take longer to cook, but your reward is a bowl of oatmeal that has the most perfectly pleasing texture and is never ever mushy. Steel cut oats are also higher in fiber than regular rolled oats, and I find that they keep me fuller for longer.
Generally, you never want to substitute steel cut oats for rolled oats in a recipe, because the two have such different textures…
…unless, of course, you want to try making overnight oatmeal using steel cut oats, which is exactly what I did for us here!
(If you’d like to know more about the difference between different types of oats, this guide briefly explains).
Overnight Steel Cut Oats—Fall Asleep Dreaming of Breakfast
Overall, I found that I loved overnight oatmeal made with steel cut oats. It was definitely chewy and nutty, but in a way that I found refreshing and enjoyable.
I recommend soaking the steel cut oats for at least 10 hours before eating. They’ll be super chewy but yummy on Day 1 and will continue to soften throughout the week. Even on Day 5, the Overnight Steel Cut Oats still had a nice texture and were not at all mushy. Hearty oats only, please!
Falling asleep knowing that I don’t need to worry about a healthy breakfast in the morning gives me peace of mind. Being better rested is one of my Four Intentions for 2018, and of the four, it’s been my biggest focus so far.
I hope this Overnight Steel Cut Oats recipe gives you better sleep too. I’ve made dozens of versions of overnight oats, and today’s is the best steel cut oats recipe I’ve tried yet. Once you see how yummy it is, I think you’ll fall asleep dreaming about it too!
If you were hoping for an overnight steel cut oatmeal mason jar recipe, I have you covered there as well.
I recommend waiting until Day 2 to divide the steel cut oats into the mason jars, as they need at least one full night to soak up the liquid. Doing it right away was less convenient in the end.
Waiting to divide the oats also makes it easier to add other yummy mix-ins you know you’ll want in every jar too. Personally, I love my overnight steel cut oats with chia seeds, and if you were looking for overnight oatmeal with peanut butter, ME TOO! You’ll find a suggested amount of nut butter in the recipe as well.
I can’t overstate how flexible these make ahead steel cut oats truly are. If you need an overnight oatmeal vegan recipe, use almond milk or any other nondairy milk you love. Want to pack in some extra protein? Stir in a scoop of protein powder or Greek yogurt. Don’t have any fresh fruit on hand and want to use dried or frozen? GO FOR IT! Chocolate chips? YES!
I’ve come across a few leads on a hot overnight steel cut oatmeal recipe, so that’s my next experiment. Any other overnight oat requests? Send ’em my way!
Recommended Tools to Make Overnight Steel Cut Oats
- I love these stacking mixing bowls.
- These containers come with lids, and the large size is perfect for refrigerating a batch of make ahead steel cut oats.
- One batch of this overnight steel cut oatmeal will tightly fill four 12-ounce mason jars (if you’d like a larger portion or want to have plenty of room for fruit, use pint-sized mason jars).
- Favorite mix-ins: chia seeds, flaxseeds, and protein powder.
Overnight Steel Cut Oats
Ingredients
Overnight Steel Cut Oats—Base Recipe:
- 1 3/4 cups milk any kind you like (I use unsweetened almond milk)
- 1 1/2 tablespoons honey or maple syrup
- 1 1/2 tablespoons peanut butter or other nut butter of choice, optional but delicious
- 1 cup uncooked steel cut oats you can also use quick-cooking steel cut oats; the final oatmeal will have a softer, less chewy texture
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
Optional Additions:
- Chia seeds flaxseeds, or hemp seeds
- Protein powder
- Ground cinnamon
- Citrus zest I love orange zest with honey and cinnamon!
- Dried fruit favorites: reduced-sugar dried cranberries, raisins, chopped dates
- Fresh fruit or frozen and thawed fruit
- Toasted almonds walnuts, or pecans (add just before serving to maintain the most crunch)
- An extra drizzle of honey or maple syrup
Instructions
- In a mixing bowl, whisk together the milk, honey, nut butter, and any protein powder you may be adding until smooth. Stir in the oats, salt, and any other optional additions (wait to add fresh fruit or nuts so that they stay fresh/crisp). Cover the bowl tightly with plastic (or transfer it to an airtight storage container) and refrigerate overnight or for up to 5 days.
- When ready to serve, stir the oats and portion the desired amount into your bowl. (At this point, you can also divide the oats into individual containers and refrigerate for the week.) Top with any desired fresh fruit, nuts, or other toppings. (If placing the oats in individual jars, feel free to add toppings to each, as they will store fine this way. If storing as a single larger batch for the week, I find it is best to wait to add the fresh toppings/nuts until just before serving so that they don't all sink to the bottom.) Enjoy cold and congratulate yourself for your breakfast-planning prowess.
Notes
- Leftover steel cut oats can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Their texture will soften as they sit, so if they are too chewy for you on Day 1, you can let them hang out a bit longer.
- The first day, the oats will be more liquidy, but they will continue to absorb more of the milk throughout the week. If at any point you'd like more milk, simply splash a little on top of your bowl or pour more in the individual mason jars if you are storing the steel cut oats that way.
Nutrition
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My go to recipe for overnight oats. My entire family loves it and looks forward to it. I prefer letting it sit for a 2nd night and top with granola and my fave nuts and fresh fruits but wifey loves it right away. I also warm up a little then add cold milk with toppings so it’s at room temperature. So yummy! I prefer the TJs steel cut oats fur this. I’ve tried others.
Hi Stan! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
You’re welcome! I’ve been using for years and thought it’s time to share my appreciation.
So I found your recipe after I started my overnight oats… when making them hot they say to use 1 3/4 milk and 1/4 oats is that cos of the heating process? I guess I’m gonna have seriously soggy oats?
Hi Jim! I’m sorry but I am not able to answer questions about someone else’s recipe, you would have to ask them.
I love this recipe. I tried overnight steel cut oatmeal only once before (different recipe) and this one turned out so well. It was super easy to prepare and delicious. Two thumbs up from me and my tastbuds! For the base, I like using oat milk, cutting the salt down to between 1/8 and 1/4 tsp and adding a splash of vanilla! And maybe a little extra peanut butter! YUM :) I prefer warm oatmeal so I heat it before topping with chia seeds, hemp hearts, pumpkin seeds and banana slices. So yum — thank you so much for sharing this amazing recipe ♡
Hi Lisa! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
Question- can I warm these up in the morning on the stove?
Hi Megan! These are meant to be served cold, but I know other readers have warmed them with great success. Hope you enjoy them!
So this is not cooked?
Hi Laurie, no these are not cooked. That is pretty common for overnight oats.
These are absolutely delicious and super easy to make. The honey and peanut butter are so tasty.
Hi Danielle! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
Haven’t made this yet but want to thank you for the nutritional informational! My goal is to find recipes that aren’t high in calories, have lots of protein and fiber and are low In cholesterol. I have to lower my cholesterol and up my fiber sez doctor.
Hope you enjoy it Cecile!
This does not work with Irish oats… 3 days in fridge and I broke down and cooked it.
Thanks for the feedback Michelle! I’ve only tried it with steel cut oats for this recipe.
Just tried them this morning. They are very different from steel cut oats made in stove. Very chewy and slightly hard. I think they were a bit better after they were microwaved but still doesn’t beat the smooth nutty texture of stove-made oats.
Thanks for trying the recipe and sharing your results, Michael!
how does the nut butter mix in with the recipe? do you need to heat it to make it more liquidy?
thank you
Hi Susan! No need to heat it. Once you’ve stirred all the ingredients together, the nut butter will incorporate just fine. I hope you enjoy the recipe!
Can I just soak the steel cut oats in water, and then warm it up for breakfast?
Hi Karen! You likely could but that would be a different recipe than this one. Hope you enjoy it!
Has anyone on a very low cholesterol diet substituted another liquid for milk? Unsweetened apple juice?
Thank you in advance.
Hi Irwin, although I haven’t tried it, you could try using water. It will change the consistency and flavor of the oats but it might work. If you decide to experiment, let me know how it goes!
Thank you SOOO much for being a Guinea Pig in the name of my hearty faves overnight oats & steel cut oats. They are hands down #1. Making them NOW!
I am also in love with the invisible flavor and macho protein power of pea protein with brown rice syrup. I cannot do soy, and many have a taste, and pea/br.rice protein is superior in nutritional value. I did see that it is too complex to make myself (boo, I’d been hoping to try), but if you have any suggestions tips on a supplier, please share in your next healthy/high protein recipe.
You write very well, and I will check out your book- congrats on that, btw! I’ve been stumbling upon your recipes for years, and you do a fine job on this blog. Love that you’re published.
Cheers-
Lori
Hi Lori! That means the world to me! THANK YOU SO MUCH!
Great recipe. Have you had hot Grape-Nuts? Overnight steel cut oats remind me of Grape-nuts. Just put them in a bowl add your liquid and microwave for 30-45 seconds. You get chewy hot cereal with good texture. Thanks for all your ideas.
Pat
Hi Pat, I haven’t had hot grape-nuts before but sounds tasty! Thanks!
YUM. Had to search on this again… got a score on steel cut oats. Look forward to Sunday’s meal plan for next week… for this one on the fast-move. Thank you–GREAT recipe.
Glad you enjoyed them Cynthia!
:After placing in the fridge overnight, can this be warmed in the microwave, adding a little milk? I’m not a “cold oatmeal” fan.
Hi Carol! I haven’t tried it myself but others have with great success. Hope you enjoy it!