Having a high-protein breakfast option ready to grab in the morning is super helpful. We love prepping baked oats, chia puddings, and overnight oats ahead of time so my girls can grab them as they race out the door in the morning. This recipe for chocolate protein overnight oats is a current favorite. I mean it’s chocolate, after all! But it’s not like dessert pretending to be breakfast. It’s still ACTUALLY healthy and will give you plenty of energy to go about your day.

Chocolate protein overnight oats in a glass jar with a metal spoon next to it.

Protein Overnight Oats Ingredients

These protein overnight oats are super easy to make, and they’re the perfect recipe to prepare ahead of time for busy days. The best part about this recipe? You only need a few simple ingredients!

Here’s what you’ll need for these Chocolate Protein Overnight Oats:

Old-fashioned rolled oats
Chia seeds
Black cocoa powder
Almond extract or vanilla extract
Pinch of salt
Silk cashew milk (or your favorite milk)
Chocolate protein powder (I used Active Stacks)

Toppings for Chocolate Overnight Oats

Toppings are everything when it comes to these yummy protein overnight oats. These are my daughters’s favorite toppings, but you can use whatever you like!

Optional toppings (not included in macros, so make sure to log them on your own):

Powdered peanut butter (I do about 1 Tbsp.)
Chopped strawberries
Dairy-free whipped cream
Pinch of cocoa nibs

You can also top yours with nut butter and other fruits if you like! Just don’t forget to log it wherever you track your macros, if counting macros matters to you.

How to Make Protein Overnight Oats

Before we begin, I have to say that a cute jar makes overnight oats taste better. It’s just more enjoyable to eat these oats out of a fun container. You can make these protein overnight oats in any container, but I recommend using a glass container. These are my favorite glass jars. They’re the perfect size for a single serving of overnight oats (and they’re great for other recipes as well!)

Here’s how to make protein overnight oats:

Mix the ingredients. Grab an airtight glass jar and add the oats, chia seeds, cocoa powder, almond extract, salt, protein powder, and cashew milk. Mix well. If you like your overnight oats extra thick, use a little less cashew milk than the recipe calls for.
Store overnight. Place the mixed protein overnight oats into the refrigerator for the night. After I put my oats into the fridge, I like to take them out and mix them at least once or twice to make sure the chia seeds don’t get clumpy.
Add toppings and enjoy. In the morning, grab your chocolate overnight oats, add your toppings, and enjoy!

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Gluten-Free and Dairy-Free Modifications

These chocolate protein overnight oats can easily be modified to be both gluten- and dairy-free!

To make this recipe gluten-free: Make sure to use gluten-free oats.

To make this recipe dairy-free: Use dairy-free protein powder and milk. My ALL-TIME favorite non-dairy protein is Active Stacks which is a beef protein powder. Use code LILLIE for 10% off of your order.

If you need to eat gluten-free and dairy-free, I know how hard it can be! All of my recipes are either naturally gluten-free and dairy-free, or they have super easy swaps. Search my blog for easy recipes or grab one of my cookbooks. I wrote PLANNED while I was cutting out gluten and dairy for dietary reasons so that one is especially gluten-free and dairy-free friendly!

Also, you can grab my dinner-only meal plan where I create weekly dinner plans for you! By getting my meal plan, you’ll gain access to over 200+ recipes!

Serving Suggestions

Serving these overnight protein oats is so easy! With just a few toppings, it really takes it over the top.

I really love to top my overnight protein chocolate oats with a tablespoon of powdered peanut butter, and stir in just barely so it leaves some peanut buttery chunks like I do with my shake! Trust me, don’t stir it all the way in! This is crucial. Monumental. Non-negotiable. Then I love topping them with some fresh strawberries, dairy-free whipped cream, and a little pinch of cocoa nibs.

Of course, you can top yours with whatever you want! Enjoy.

Chocolate overnight oats topped with whip cream, strawberries, and cocoa nibs.

More Overnight Oats Recipes

I love quick recipes that I can just pull out of the fridge when I’m in a pinch. These protein overnight oats are the perfect high-protein breakfast for busy mornings. For more tasty overnight oats and quick breakfasts, check out these recipes!

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A post shared by Lillie Biesinger (@lillieeatsandtells)

Protein Overnight Oats Recipe

These high-protein overnight oats have 22 grams of protein per serving, are super macro-balanced, and are the perfect way to start your day! They are so easy to prep ahead of time so you can quickly grab it on your way out the door.

If you love this protein overnight oats recipe and are looking for more macro-friendly recipes, check out my cookbooks, and my weekly dinner meal plan!

I also love sharing recipes on Instagram, so make sure you’re hanging out with me over there. And if you make these protein overnight oats, tag me! I love to see what you’re cooking.

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