These Pumpkin Overnight Oats are creamy, spiced for cozy season, and made with real pumpkin. Stir everything together before bed, pop the jars into the refrigerator, and enjoy a grab-and-go breakfast the next morning.
The creamiest, dreamiest pumpkin overnight oats.
Pumpkin overnight oats seem so easy. But it took a surprising number of tries to get this recipe right.
I knew I wanted to use actual pumpkin puree for fiber and flavor rather than just making pumpkin spiced oats, but the first few tries gave me overnight oats with a texture that was way too thick and dense for my liking.
So I ended up turning to one of my favorite ingredients to remedy this: Greek yogurt. The texture is still thick, but in a good way—thick and creamy, rather than thick and dense. It also adds protein for an extra satisfying breakfast.
Unlike pumpkin pie, it’s perfectly reasonable to eat these pumpkin overnight oats straight from the refrigerator at 7 am. (Although honestly, I will never say no to leftover Crustless Pumpkin Pie for breakfast. Never!)
More Pumpkin Oatmeal Recipes
For a warm version of pumpkin oatmeal, try my Pumpkin Oatmeal, Pumpkin Baked Oatmeal, or Slow Cooker Pumpkin Oatmeal.
Ingredient Notes
You’ll find the full list of ingredients in the recipe card below, but here are some notes to keep in mind.
- Greek Yogurt. Nonfat plain Greek yogurt is my favorite, but vanilla Greek yogurt works too. Using vanilla will make the finished oats sweeter, so taste before adding the maple syrup.
- Pumpkin Puree. Use canned pumpkin puree, not pumpkin pie filling.
- Milk. Use any milk you normally keep on hand.
- Pure Maple Syrup. Honey or date syrup also work for a slightly different flavor.
- Pumpkin Pie Spice. The shortcut to classic pumpkin flavor!
- Kosher Salt. This is my little secret anytime I make oats for breakfast. It really makes the flavor pop.
- Rolled Oats. Old-fashioned rolled oats soften while retaining a satisfying texture. Quick oats will go mushy on you, while steel-cut oats won’t soften enough using this method.
- Chia Seeds. Chia seeds absorb liquid as the oats rest, thickening the mixture and making it especially creamy. If you’re not a fan, you can leave them out.
- Pecans. Optional, if you want some crunch.
- Mini Chocolate Chips. Mini chips distribute more evenly, so you get a little chocolate in every spoonful.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Mix the Pumpkin Base (photos 1 and 2). Stir together the Greek yogurt, pumpkin puree, milk, maple syrup, pumpkin pie spice, and salt until the pumpkin and yogurt are completely incorporated.
Add the Oats and Chia Seeds (photo 3 and 4). Stir in the rolled oats and chia seeds. Make sure there aren’t any pockets of dry oats hiding at the bottom of the bowl.
Taste Before Chilling. If you prefer sweeter overnight oats, stir in another drizzle of maple syrup.
Divide and Refrigerate. Divide the oats into jars or airtight containers. Cover and refrigerate overnight. This is totally essential! During this time, the oats soften and the liquid thickens.
Stir and Serve. Stir again. If the oats are thicker than you’d like, stir in a splash of milk. Top with chopped pecans, mini chocolate chips, or both and eat cold. ENJOY!
More Pumpkin Overnight Oats Toppings
There are SO MANY ways you can top these oats. In addition to the pecans and chocolate chips, try:
- Cinnamon chips
- Sliced banana
- Diced apples
- An extra drizzle of maple syrup
- Almond butter
- Granola (like this Homemade Granola!)
- Cinnamon
- An extra spoonful of Greek yogurt
More Make-Ahead Oat Recipes
Pumpkin Overnight Oats
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Ingredients
- ¾ cup nonfat plain Greek yogurt or vanilla Greek yogurt
- ⅔ cup pumpkin puree
- ⅔ cup milk of choice
- 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup plus additional to taste
- 1 ¼ teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
- ⅛ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 ¾ cups rolled oats
- 1 tablespoon chia seeds
- Chopped pecans optional for serving
- Mini chocolate chips optional for serving
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, stir together the yogurt, pumpkin, milk, maple syrup, pumpkin pie spice, and salt.
- Stir in the oats and chia seeds. Taste and adjust the flavor as you like (if you'd like it sweeter, add a bit more maple syrup).
- Divide between 3 jars. Cover and refrigerate overnight
- In the morning, give your serving a big stir. Top with pecans or mini chocolate chips as desired.
I was really looking forward to these! I found that the oats (yes, steel cut) were pretty gummy in comparison to my typical recipe with them, and I thought the spices were a bit too strong: my mouth was burning after eating my bowl full of oats.
Sorry to hear that you had trouble with the recipe, Rebecca. The amounts, flavorings and timing have worked well for myself (and others) so I wished it would of been a hit for you too!
Good proportion of liquid to oats. Definitely needs a thorough stirring and rest prior to serving as the oats were on the bottom and the liquid on top when the crockpot was checked after 8 hours.
This recipe was VERY heavy on the spices. While I love the flavors, I would recommend using half (or less) of the amounts for ginger, nutmeg, and cloves. I use freshly milled/grated spices and the clove (which I love) overpowered all other flavors.
Thanks for the feedback Elizabeth. The method, ingredients, and timing have worked well for myself (and others) but I know how frustrating it can be to try a new recipe and not have it turn out as planned, so I really wish you would’ve enjoyed it!
Absolutely LOVE this recipe and make it almost every week. I go to bed looking forward to it the next morning. Thx for sharing!
Hi Judy! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
Fabulous! I threw in some dried cranberries at the beginning also and increased milk to 3 cups because I knew I wouldn’t be up in 7 hours to turn off cooker and didn’t want it to dry out. It was perfect. We ate it with walnuts and a bit of brown sugar. It tastes just as good reheated the next day.
Hi Susan! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review and feedback on adding more milk!
Put this in the crockpot last night and woke up to a wonderful smell this morning! These are amazing! I’m not usually an oatmeal eater because I think they’re slimy, but I loved these steel cut oats, so did my Hubs. Will definitely be making these again. And I love the fact they can be frozen since it’s just the two of us because this recipe made a ton.
Hi Deb! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
Best ever
Thank you!
I love this recipe. Perfect for the fall.
People complain that there’s too much spice, but that’s not it. It’s actually that the maple syrup isn’t sweet enough to bring out the full flavor of the spice.
The last time I made this recipe, I omitted the maple syrup entirely then just added some brown sugar to my individual serving before eating. It tasted delicious!
Thank you Irene!
I love this oatmeal!! Thank you for creating this recipe! I’ve spent most of my life on a weight loss journey, and this has been a huge help to make breakfast desirable!
Lately I’ve been doctoring it up for bonus nutrition – I added vegan unflavored protein powder, ground flax seed, and an extra cup of milk to tonight’s batch. I’ll stir in chopped apples and blueberries in the morning. I’ve used raspberries and cut grapes on other occasions. I love getting a vegetable in at breakfast and look forward to a warm hearty bowl :)
Makes me so happy to hear that you are enjoying it Janine! Thank you!
I only have a 7 qt. skow cooker . Do you think I would need to make any changes ?
Hi Pam, it should work but your oats will likely be cooked faster than the original recipe. Enjoy!
Wow. I was sure this would be too much liquid, but it was perfect. I made it with skim milk, and without flaxseed or cloves. Cooked on high in slow cooker and it was ready in 3 hours. We love it. Thank you for the recipe.
Glad you enjoyed it, Saimi!
Made these for overnight guests. They were a hit. Spices were perfect for me. I like the sweetness level and those that like it sweeter can add extra syrup or brown sugar to their serving!
So great to hear, Dee! Thank you!
I don’t know if I followed the recipe wrong, but the Pumpkin Overnight Oats turned turned out terrible. It’s flat and tasteless. I added brown sugar to my bowl, hoping it would help. It didn’t. Good-bye recipe.
I’m sorry to hear the recipe wasn’t to your taste, Paula. I know it’s disappointing to try a new recipe and not enjoy it, but I understand we all have different tastes. I (and many other readers) have enjoyed it, so I really wish they would’ve been a hit for you too!
This was delicious! I cooked this in a 7qt crockpot that tends to run hot, so I made a few tweaks to help it from scorching on the sides and bottom: I omitted the maple syrup and added in 1 cup of mashed bananas (about 2 medium) and then added a bit of honey or maple syrup to my bowl. I also used only water for the liquid (5 cups) and add a splash of milk to my bowl. I cooked it on low for 6 hours, then shut it off and let it sit for another 2 hours and it came out perfect! I’m freezing a lot of this in 1-cup portions so I can grab one for breakfast throughout the next couple of weeks.
So glad to hear and thank you for the feedback, Kristen!
Erin, Is there a way of making this recipe in the Instapot? I’m a newbie with pressure cooking but love the way plain steel cut oats come out in it. This is a larger quantity and with the can of pumpkin added I don’t want to mess it up.
By the way, I made your apple walnut bread again as is my tradition. Wish I’d kept count how many years!! Always delicious. Thank you!!
Hi Susan, here is our instant pot steel cut oats recipe: https://www.wellplated.com/instant-pot-steel-cut-oats/ so it would have to be adjusted accordingly. If you decide to experiment, I’d love to know how it goes!
I didn’t mind these, but I usually make my oats without any spices or seasonings other than a plant-based milk. I prefer it that way so I’ll stick with that, although I will use this overnight slow cooker recipe to try them plain. I like the idea of having the oats ready made for a few days as steel cut oats take a while to do well on the stove top.
Thanks!