These Barely Overnight Oats are the easiest high-protein breakfast you’ll make! Just oats, chia seeds, protein powder, cashew milk, and cinnamon create a creamy, meal-prep-friendly breakfast with almost no effort.

About This Recipe

These Barely Overnight Oats are named for one simple reason: they use just two tablespoons of oats instead of the large serving you’d find in traditional overnight oats. Chia seeds and protein powder do most of the heavy lifting, creating a thick, creamy, satisfying breakfast that’s packed with protein while keeping the oats to a minimum.

Made with just oats, chia seeds, protein powder, cashew milk, and a sprinkle of cinnamon, this recipe comes together in minutes and is perfect for meal prep. By morning, you’ll have a grab-and-go breakfast that’s filling, delicious, and endlessly customizable. Top it with fresh fruit, nut butter, yogurt, granola, or chocolate chips to make it your own.

If you love overnight oats but want a higher-protein, lower-carb version that still has that creamy texture, these Barely Overnight Oats are about to become a staple in your breakfast rotation.

For more easy meal prep breakfast recipes, try my Banana Pudding Overnight Oats, Overnight Oats with Mango and Walnuts, Chocolate Protein Overnight Oats, Apple Pie Overnight Protein Oats, Super Filling Macro-friendly Overnight Cauliflower Oats, Blueberry Protein Chia Pudding, Vanilla Chia Pudding, or Cauliflower Chia Pudding.

Ingredients and Substitutions

Old-fashioned oats: Use gluten-free if needed.
Milk: I used unsweetened SILK cashew milk, but any milk of your choice works.
Protein powder: Grab your favorite protein powder. My favorite brands are Clean Simple Eats, or for a dairy-free option, I love Active Stacks! Use LILLIE for a discount.
Chia seeds: Any type of chia seeds (black, white, or a mix) works for this recipe. Chia seeds are a great source of omega-3s and protein. They will absorb the liquid overnight and expand in size, so don’t worry if it doesn’t look like a lot when initially mixed.
Cinnamon: I love adding a dash of cinnamon to give these oats a little more warmth.

Dietary Adaptations

GF/DF: Make sure to use gluten-free oats and a dairy-free protein powder (Active Stacks is my favorite). Their chocolate is elite, but the vanilla is good too.

How To Make

Add everything to a glass jar or container and refrigerate overnight. Stir it at least once after about 30 minutes to make sure the chia seeds are broken up.
The next morning, give it a good stir and top with whatever you like! Berries, nut butters, granola or nuts…

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