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Chocolate Overnight Oats

4.99 from 110 votes

These healthy chocolate overnight oats combine the two best meals of the day, for one unforgettably delicious dessert or filling breakfast treat!

The Best Chocolate Overnight Oats
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Breakfast chocolate overnight oats

Thick, fudgy, and ultra rich, this recipe will remind you of unbaked brownie batter.

Yet at the same time, it is packed with over ten grams of protein!

I first published the original chocolate overnight oats recipe close to a decade ago, and it has inspired countless others to create their own versions of the surprisingly nutritious morning meal.

Chocolate overnight oatmeal gives chocolate lovers like me a great excuse to eat chocolate for breakfast and still feel healthy.

In other words, this is basically my perfect breakfast.

Want more chocolate for breakfast? Make Chocolate Banana Bread

Chocolate Oats In A Jar

Chocolate overnight oats health benefits

Thanks in large part to the heart healthy oats and antioxidant rich cocoa powder, the recipe is packed with whole grains and nutrition.

It can be high fiber, high in iron and calcium, very high in manganese, and a good source of both vitamin B12 and vitamin E.

Depending on the specific ingredients you choose, the healthy chocolate overnight oats may also be low sugar or sugar free, cholesterol free, and low saturated fat.

The banana version offers a good source of potassium. And the entire recipe can contain under 250 calories with over ten grams of protein.

Chocolate Overnight Oats Ingredients

Ingredients

The recipe calls for rolled oats, cocoa powder, a pinch of salt, chocolate chips, sweetener, yogurt or banana, milk of choice, optional chia seeds and nut butter.

Cocoa powder – You can use regular unsweetened cocoa powder or Dutch cocoa powder. Or use hot chocolate mix and garnish each bowl with mini marshmallows to create hot cocoa oatmeal.

Want high protein chocolate overnight oats? Go with your favorite chocolate protein powder instead of the cocoa powder.

Chocolate chips – I like to throw in an optional few teaspoons of large or mini chocolate chips for added chocolate flavor and texture.

Alternatively, you may use a finely chopped chocolate bar in place of the chips.

Yogurt or banana – This ingredient adds thickness and creaminess, as well as extra nutrition, to the breakfast recipe.

For vegan chocolate overnight oats, choose dairy free yogurt or an equal amount of mashed banana or roasted mashed sweet potato instead.

Milk – Almost any milk is fine, including plant based almond milk, oat milk, soy milk, or canned coconut milk.

If you prefer to double the yogurt and skip the milk, this option is fine as well.

Salt – A pinch of salt adds depth of flavor to chocolate recipes. I recommend including just an eighth teaspoon for heightened chocolate flavor.

If you are on a low sodium diet or normally prepare salt free oatmeal, you can try leaving it out to see which way you like better.

Sweetener – Add sweetness to your chocolate brownie oatmeal with your family’s go to all purpose sweetener.

I am partial to pure maple syrup. Sugar or brown sugar, coconut sugar, honey, agave, or xylitol or stevia for a sugar free breakfast work too.

What type of oats do you use for overnight oatmeal

I recommend thick or old fashioned rolled oats for the best texture. Feel free to opt for either Scottish oats or Irish oats.

However, quick oats and instant oats also both work if they are all you have on hand.

If you experiment with steel cut oats, please let me know how it goes.

For gluten free overnight oats, look for certified gluten free oats at the grocery store. Or swap out the oats for an equal measurement of rolled quinoa flakes.

Readers also love this Brownie Baked Oatmeal

Easy chocolate overnight oats recipe video

Above, watch the step by step video.

You can actually make the entire chocolate recipe in less time than it takes to watch this twenty five second video.

Talk about fast food!

Chocolate Overnight Oatmeal (low sugar, gluten free)

Toppings for chocolate oats in a jar

To thicken the texture and add protein, calcium, iron, B vitamins and minerals, stir a spoonful of superfood chia seeds in with the yogurt.

As a chocolate peanut butter cup lover, I often also stir in a tablespoon of peanut butter. Or add a spoonful of melted coconut oil for richness.

Fresh fruit makes a wonderful topping to overnight oats. Try fresh raspberries, cherries, strawberries, sliced bananas, or blueberries.

Other add ins or toppings you may wish to try include raisins, shredded coconut, hemp seeds, mini chocolate chips, or a drizzle of chocolate syrup or almond butter.

Or create dessert oatmeal with Banana Ice Cream or Coconut Ice Cream.

Healthy Chocolate Oats

How to make overnight chocolate oatmeal

This chocolate brownie flavored recipe comes together with just a few simple steps.

Start by layering all of the ingredients into a mason jar or lidded container.

You can either add the yogurt now or wait until the next day.

Screw the lid on very tightly, and shake well.

Place the jar in the refrigerator, and refrigerate overnight or for at least six hours.

The next morning, simply unscrew the lid and garnish with chocolate chips and fresh berries or banana if you wish.

Then serve with a spoon and enjoy.

If you prefer hot overnight oats, heat them up in a microwave safe dish or transfer to a small saucepan and heat on the stove top.

Possibly out of laziness, I like eating my chocolate oats straight from the fridge, whether in cold weather or warm.

Tips for leftovers and making larger servings

Those who are feeding a family or meal prepping for the week can easily take the oats from a single serving recipe to one that yields a more substantial amount.

Simply double, triple, or quadruple all of the ingredients and stir everything together in a mixing bowl.

Then distribute the chocolate oats evenly into mason jars, covered bowls, or storage meal prep containers.

Store any leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to five days. Or store in the freezer and thaw before reheating and serving.

Easy Double Hot Chocolate Overnight Oats Recipe

The recipe was adapted from these Overnight Oats and my Chocolate Baked Oats.

Pin it now to save for laterPin Recipe

Chocolate Overnight Oats

This recipe for healthy chocolate overnight oats combines the two best meals of the day, breakfast and dessert!
Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes
Yield 1 serving
5 from 110 votes

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup rolled oats
  • 1 1/2 tbsp cocoa powder or chocolate protein powder
  • 1 tbsp chocolate chips (optional)
  • 2 tsp chia seeds (optional)
  • 1/8 tsp salt
  • 1/2 cup milk of choice
  • 1 tbsp almond butter or peanut butter (optional for richer flavor)
  • 1/2 cup yogurt or mashed banana
  • 1 tbsp pure maple syrup or sweetener of choice to taste

Instructions

  • To make chocolate overnight oats, add all ingredients to a mason jar or lidded container and stir. (You can either add the yogurt now or when ready to eat.) Seal the lid tightly. Shake to evenly combine all ingredients. Transfer to the refrigerator, and let sit overnight. The next day, simply take off the lid and breakfast is ready! Or if you prefer hot overnight oats to cold, you can heat it up in a microwave safe bowl or small saucepan on the stove top.
    View Nutrition Facts

Notes

While the ingredients are out, try these Healthy Oatmeal Cookies.
 

Have you made this recipe?

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More About The Cookbook

Published on January 12, 2025

Meet Katie

Chocolate Covered Katie is one of the top 25 food websites in America, and Katie has been featured on The Today Show, CNN, Fox, The Huffington Post, and ABC's 5 O'clock News. Her favorite food is chocolate, and she believes in eating dessert every single day.

Learn more about Katie

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98 Comments

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  1. Sara Kilpatrick says

    Hi Katie, how would you describe the consistency or texture of overnight oatmeal? I made some one time last year, but I remember the consistency being kind of strange so I never tried it again. It would be nice to have my oatmeal ready to go in the morning so I really want to like overnight oatmeal!

    (My favorite breakfast is your chocolate peanut butter cup baked oatmeal. I have that almost every morning unless I just need a break from the PB).

    • Lisa says

      I like mine really thick and chewy! Especially the chocolate peanut butter. So yummy.

      I only use 1/3 cup of oats with a scoop of chocolate protein powder and a small amount of the unsweetened almond milk. Because of the thicker consistency I make mine in a bowl and spoon it into the jar. Add a sprinkle of dark chocolate chips.

      The same for Vanilla with berries, I add a scoop of vanilla protein powder to 1/3 cup of oats and a small amount of the unsweetened almond milk. Chewy deliciousness.

  2. Patty says

    I know “smh” as “shaking my head”. 🙂 The chocolate overnight oats looks amazing! Can’t wait to try it! Thanks, Katie!

  3. Sarah Heckman says

    Would substituting flax seed instead of chia seeds work well? Or would it compromise the texture? What if they were ground?

  4. Chocolate Covered Katie says

    Oh no, that somehow got left off when I transferred the ingredient list to the recipe-card format… Thank you so much for pointing it out. I just fixed the post. You can add any sweetener you wish – if you’d prefer to keep it sugar-free, you can use stevia or xylitol, or you can even stir in melted banana or date paste. Maple syrup is also really good. Amount will depend on your tastebuds and also if your yogurt is sweetened or unsweetened.

  5. Rita says

    I definitely want to give this a try; it looks amazing! But is it OK to add greek yogurt in place of the plain yogurt? Also can honey be used as a sweetener? Thanks!

  6. Cassie says

    5 stars
    Oh no no no, nut butter is NOT an optional ingredient. 😉 I am actually the total opposite where I LOVE my oatmeal hot, expanded in a bowl and soft! However, chocolate for breakfast? TOTALLY on the same page. I can pretty much have these oats any time of the day and be happy!

  7. katie says

    5 stars
    I always thought “smh” meant “shaking my head.” I guess it can mean either one! Lol, you learn something new every day.
    My brothers think I’m crazy when I eat chocolate waffles or even just have chocolate chips in my pancakes. I tell them they’re the crazy ones! I can imagine their faces when they see me dipping into a big jar of brownie batter oatmeal!

  8. Alpine Pedestrian says

    On my backpacking trips we call something similar to this recipe “Hang Dog.” At home we combine instant oatmeal, powdered milk, cocoa, brown sugar, dash of salt, and chocolate chips. In camp in the evening, we pour water in the zip bag and squish it around. After eating it in the morning we’re so zinged with energy we can pour on the miles for a long time without needing a food break. Thanks for the reminder! Hang Dog season will soon be here.

  9. Lauren says

    5 stars
    I had it this morning for breakfast topped with blueberries. I think it’s my favorite overnight oatmeal recipe now!

  10. Jamie G says

    5 stars
    This looks great, and healthy! I do have a question about the calorie count though. 1/2 a cup of oats has 150 calories, and 1 tablespoon of oil or nut butter has 100. That is 250 calories before adding the milk, yogurt, chia, and sweetener and cocoa and chocolate chips. My calorie count is about 350 for this as one serving–still reasonable and healthy, but a difference for those of us counting calories. Thanks for another great recipe that I will try!!

  11. Amanda B. says

    Did you make it from her emails? She mentioned above that the sweetener was left off in the email. That could have been what happened to yours!

  12. Amanda B. says

    This was FAN FLIPPING TASTIC! I made it for breakfast last night (to eat this morning) and know exactly what I’m having for breakfast tomorrow again! 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

    I’m giving it 5 smiley faces!

  13. Lauren D says

    5 stars
    I just had this for breakfast after making it last night. It was so good! I have overnight oats almost daily, but I’ve never made them with yogurt before (I just use almond milk). I made this recipe with half a container of SoDelicious Greek Style Coconut Milk Strawberry (that’s just what I already had), a tsp of chia seeds, and 1/2 a tbsp chocolate chips. It tasted like I was eating chocolate covered strawberries! And I loved the creaminess that the yogurt added to the oats. This is definitely going to be a new breakfast staple for me. Thanks Katie!

  14. Kina says

    5 stars
    My kids and I love chocolate overnight oats! I combine the cocoa powder with maple syrup or honey first and mix it well. Then I add the almond milk and stir it into chocolate milk before adding the other ingredients. Doing it that way seems to help the distribution of the chocolateyness lol. We top it in the morning with chopped walnuts, almonds and strawberries. Soooo yum! The kids have theirs in mugs with handles.

  15. Julie says

    5 stars
    Ahhhhmazing. It really does taste like brownie batter to me, and I love that it is mostly healthy! I added a bit of coconut sugar for a sweetener and it was just right. Thank you Katie! I am now *so* full. Chocolatey oatmeal on a Monday morning was the right thing to do. 🙂

  16. Sue says

    5 stars
    I used vanilla kefir in place of the yogurt and milk and it was just about sweet enough. I added about a teaspoon of honey in the morning and it was perfect.

  17. Rachel says

    This may be a stupid question, but how does one add coconut oil to overnight oats? No matter how well I mix the melted oil into the oats, it just seems to draw itself into unbreakable clumps when I add milk and then the next morning I have a weird layer of schmaltz on my oats… The recipe still tastes delicious, but I’d prefer if I could get the coconut flavor a little more infused.

  18. Holly says

    5 stars
    You are a wizard at making things taste like batter! I loved this recipe, I only I had issue which I thought might happen. I used melted coconut oil and when it hit the yogurt and milk it solidified. So the next morning I ended up fishing big hunks of hardened oil out. But it still tasted great. I will try some nut butter next time.

  19. Unofficial CCK Helper says

    Just try stirring it next time instead of shaking. Problem solved, and the recipe is delicious this way. I did it the stirring way the first time I made these because I didn’t pay attention to the directions. Both ways worked for me.

  20. Carine says

    5 stars
    made this for my breakfast last week (in lieu of your baked pb, banana & chocolate baked oatmeal) It was delicious!!! So decadent. I heated mine up-even the grandkids wanted a bite and asked why they got cheerios!

  21. Alexandria says

    5 stars
    Chocolate and oats..two of my favorite foods! And it’s for breakfast. 🙂 Yummy, yummy. I loved this recipe so much and I found the texture to be really delicious and creamy just the way I like it. Thanks Katie!

  22. carine nadel says

    5 stars
    made this and loved it! I like my oatmeal hot-so I did heat it and loved every morsel! I actually used some silk strawberry (what I had on hand) and it was great!

  23. Cathy says

    It looks as though the recipe for the brownie batter is different on the photo before the actual link…1/3 oats, 2 Tbs cocoa powder, vanilla extract? I made the one in the link with non fat Greek yogurt and no chia seeds or choc chips and the calories were almost double. Still very good though. I’d like to know what that other recipe is.

  24. Jenny Levine says

    Definitely making this for breakfast…tonight! And thank you for the education: I thought smh meant “smack my head”! Why would it mean that??

  25. Tara says

    I made this last night and had it for breakfast this morning. It was delicious! I must say that I ate it cold on this hot summer day and it tasted more like a pudding to me, but I didn’t mind 🙂 I’m thinking this will make a great make-ahead meal for travel also. Thanks so much!

  26. Karly says

    Girl, you seriously kill the games. Games, because healthy AND delicious, obviously. These look like just what I need to start my day on the right note!

  27. Betsy Hendley says

    This was excellent. Kids also liked it. The best part is that it’s good without adding any sweetener! I didn’t have yogurt so used just milk. I bet it’s even better with the yogurt! Thanks for another great recipe!

  28. Erika says

    Katie, this recipe is ridiculous. It is SO good. I felt guilty feeding it to my kids and had to remind myself of its goodness. AND–BONUS_-so easy to make.

    I’m wondering how to omit yogurt? If I add nut butter, you think that suffices? Or maybe can add some coconut cream?

  29. Jenna says

    Beware, the calorie count is completely wrong. Even using the lowest calorie ingredients such as almond milk (15 calories for 1/2 cup) and lowest calorie yogurt I can find (50 calories for 1/2 cup) . Looks delicious but not low calorie in my opinion and misleading for those that don’t double to check the calories themselves. I didn’t even include the chia seeds or nut butter calories yet since they are optional.
    Look at the breakdown:
    -Rolled Oats- 150 calories
    -Cocoa Powder- 18 Calories
    Yogurt- 50 Calories
    Milk- 15 calories (that’s being generous in my opinion as almond milk isn’t even specified in the recipe)
    Chocolate chips- 80 calories for 3 tsp

    TOTAL CALORIES: 313

    Now add nut butter (90 calories) and chia seeds (137 calories) and you have a whopping 540 calories. THIS IS NOT LOW CALORIE!!!

    • Gabby says

      I didn’t put any nut butter or chia seeds, and it tasted wonderful! Even the chocolate chips weren’t necessary imo – it tastes just as chocolate-y and sweet without them. So having said that, 300-some cals. is really not bad for breakfast 🙂

      • Kim says

        You’re right. If you’re gonna have one higher calorie meal, breakfast should be the one. Revs up your metabolism, especially if adding in protein like yogurt, and it gets your mind working better as well.

  30. Gabby says

    Chocolate for breakfast? As soon as I saw this recipe, I knew I had to try it :p
    I mixed it up at night, then heated it up the next morning. And as soon as I tasted it, I thought “oh my god, am I dreaming?!” This tasted JUST like brownie batter. But more like a refreshing, not sickeningly sweet brownie batter with nice chewy oats in it. I also put some dark chocolate chips in it before I microwaved it, and it elevated it to a whole new level. I actually felt guilty while eating it, because I’ve been trying to watch my weight. I had to keep reminding myself that it was only a few hundred calories! (I think 300-something). Even my non-health-conscious friends loved this. It was creamy, chocolate-y, sweet, and incredible. If you love chocolate, YOU MUST TRY THIS!!!

  31. Melissa says

    This is absolutely delicious, but be warned, dieters: it is not a low calorie breakfast. I clocked mine at around 580 cals without sweetener.
    I like to make it and have it super occasionally for dessert.

  32. Rebecca says

    Do you have a cinnamon roll version of this? Definitely want to try this one but cinnamon roll would be yummy too!

  33. Jodi says

    New to your blog, loving everything I see. Haven’t tried anything yet because I’m doing up my meal plans/grocery list for next week now, but definitely want to add your recipes into the mix…always felt deprived of my chocolate every time I tried to eat healthy and ended of falling off the wagon. Feeling better about this next attempt with your blog as my secret weapon!

    With these overnight oats recipes, what kind of shelf life do they have? Like, if I made up enough for the whole week when doing my meal prep on Sundays, would they be edible? That’s the only thing I’ve found hard to find on your blog…how long they can be kept or made in advance. Finding that info on a recipe seems to be hit-or-miss …

  34. Lauren says

    Can you make overnight oats without yogurt? Really want to give this a go but I don’t have any yogurt in the fridge at the moment!

  35. Heather says

    Mine came out very bitter and not good at all. I’m not sure what I did wrong. Struggling to get an overnight oats recipe I like.

  36. Kristina says

    Your Chocolate Brownie Batter Overnight Oatmeal recipe on youtube says to add vanilla extract but I don’t see any in the recipe above. I assume it is a typo in the above recipe. Since it is not listed above I was wondering how much vanilla extract goes in this recipe? Great recipes! Thanks!

    • Jason Sanford says

      Definitely looks like a typo! You can add 1/4 tsp pure vanilla extract – it’s fine to add or leave out, your choice 🙂
      -Jason

  37. Tierney says

    I love this, it actually tasted really good and defies the assumption that healthy food can’t taste good! The only this is, I found it really filling and couldn’t finish the whole thing, so I would recommend maybe halving the recipe or using less oats and yoghurt. I like to add ‘healthy Nutella’ from another recipe instead of the chocolate or nut butter as well

  38. Sarrie says

    Katie,

    These overnight oats are fabulous! I have been following your culinary adventures for some time now, and I have to say–this is my favorite recipe so far! I used Greek Yogurt and calculated my macros on MFP, and this breakfast produced an astonishing 20 grams of protein! Lacking a mason jar, I mixed mine in a bowl and covered. When I opened it up this morning, the texture reminded me of chocolate mousse! Perfectly decadent with a shake of cinnamon and a drizzle of molasses.

    Thanks for the healthy inspiration!

  39. Beth says

    Can I make this without any yogurt? Would I need to add more yogurt? Or maybe add ground flaxseed with the milk to make it thicker instead of yogurt?

    • Jason Sanford says

      Unfortunately there’s no way to know unless you try, but I’d just go with more milk of choice or coconut milk or even mashed banana. Be sure to report back if you try!

  40. Aleksandra Zarak says

    Dear Katie, loving your recipes and have mad e a few to great success I purchased your app and to my horror was disappointed by the recipez with butter, eggs etc. Wher ed the recipes you are sharing with us here??? Sadly, I did not make one single recipe from the app.

  41. Pamela says

    Amazing! Tastes so much like brownie batter. The only thing is my calorie count was substantially higher than listed – 500+. I ate half and had a banana. Probably will make it again.

  42. Fi says

    Your calorie content is MUCH lower than what is accurate. 1/2 cup of rolled oats itself is 210 calories. If you make it as stated (with chia seeds and chocolate chips) it comes to 600 calories per serving!

    • Jason Sanford says

      Hi, I’m not sure what you’re using for calculating calories, but a half cup of oats is only about 150-160 cals, and optional ingredients are not usually included in nutrition facts (in general, not just for Katie’s recipes). Hope that helps!

  43. Eba Margaret Alday says

    Hey, can I use hemp seeds instead of chia seeds? Also, should i put hemp seeds with the same ratio as chia seeds?

  44. Torina Dachel says

    Just finished mixing this one up. I had chocolate almond milk on hand so had to measure even less ingredients! I already know it’s going to be a favorite for my kids. We’ll top with our favorites: walnuts and unsweetened coconut chips. Thanks, Katie, for so many awesome dessert-for-breakfast recipes!

  45. Kris Clemence says

    5 stars
    I just purchased hello breakfast pages 6-34-46-80-90-96 and 112 are missing how do I access them without printing out the entire book again.

    • CCK Media Team says

      Hi! Thank you so much for getting the book! And sorry for the confusion – those pages just act as spacers between chapters. The ebook developer put them in, we don’t really know why. So do not worry, they are not actual recipes 🙂

  46. Kasie says

    SO SO GOOD!! I didn’t even add the extra sweetener and it tasted like chocolate mousse and brownies had come together. I added a scoop of peanut butter and let some of the chocolate chips on top and 😍😍

  47. Monique says

    5 stars
    Katie, why are you such a genius? I always look up recipes whenever I feel like a healthier sweet treat and your recipes are so delicious! I also find them to be unique because there’s a lot of copycat recipes that are the same and yours always feel like you put a lot of work into making sure they taste perfect— and they do! The oats are lovely! Thanks for all that you do 🙂

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