Vegetarian Recipes

Overnight Oats (Base Recipe plus Variations)

Overnight Oats are the ultimate introduction to budget-friendly meal prep! With the busy lives we all lead, it’s hard to fit in time for breakfast before rushing out the door, but this no-cook recipe is the magical solution, trust me! My overnight oats base recipe is absolutely delicious as-is but is also the perfect vessel for your favorite toppings. And don’t worry if you’re not feeling particularly creative; I’ve shared 3 of my favorite flavor variations below.

Overhead view of overnight oats with various toppings

I must confess: I almost always skip breakfast if I don’t plan ahead! Then, noon rolls around, and I am hangry. It’s not a good look—just ask my husband! That’s why having this overnight oatmeal in the fridge at all times is a MUST. Oats are full of fiber, which keeps me full until lunchtime, and I love the blank canvas to turn them into a unique treat, depending on my craving that day.

What Are Overnight Oats?

Think of overnight oats as the cooler, more convenient cousin of traditional oatmeal. Instead of cooking the oats on a stovetop or in a microwave, they soak overnight in liquid (usually milk) and soften to the perfect texture without heat. I also add brown sugar, chia seeds, and cinnamon to my base recipe to create a delicious, well-rounded breakfast. Mix it all in a mason jar and let it sit in the fridge overnight for a grab-and-go breakfast in the morning!

Here’s what you’ll need to make my easy overnight oats recipe:

Oats: I use old-fashioned oats (also known as rolled oats) for my overnight oatmeal. Quick-cook oats and steel-cut oats don’t work as well, as they absorb liquid differently.
Milk: I like to make mine with dairy-free milk, but I whipped these oats up a few times with whole milk, 2% milk, and almond milk, so I can tell you this recipe works no matter your preference!
Brown Sugar: Adds just the right amount of sweetness.
Cinnamon: You can also use a different spice depending on the toppings you’ll add—pumpkin pie spice, nutmeg, or whatever you like!
Chia Seeds: At its core, overnight oats only require two ingredients: oats and milk. But I highly recommend adding chia seeds! They soak up liquid like crazy and create a chia oatmeal pudding-like texture. They’re also nutrient-dense, providing fiber, iron, and omega-3s.
Salt: Just a pinch will enhance the other flavors.
Toppings: Add any toppings you love to your jar! I’ve listed some of my favorites below, but you really can’t go wrong with any combination.

Are Overnight Oats Healthy?

Oats are a great source of fiber, protein, vitamins, and minerals! They’ll keep you full and satisfied for longer, making them a great breakfast option. Adding milk, chia seeds, fresh fruit, and nuts only adds to their nutritional value. You can leave out the brown sugar if you want to reduce the added sugar, but overall, overnight oats with chia seeds can definitely be considered a healthy choice!

The perfect ratio for oats to milk is 1:1, in my opinion. I use ½ cup of oats and ½ cup of milk to make one serving. You don’t need to reduce the milk if you omit the chia seeds.
Add fresh fruit just before eating to stop them from getting mushy. The same goes for granola or anything else you want to stay crunchy.
Let the oats sit overnight (about 8 hours) for the best texture, but 15 minutes or so is okay if you’re in a hurry. This is enough time for the chia seeds to absorb some liquid and for the oats to soften slightly.
Overnight oats are meant to be enjoyed cold, but you can absolutely heat them up if you prefer a warm breakfast. 60-90 seconds in a microwave-safe container should do the trick!

how long do overnight oats last?

These oats can last in the fridge for 4-5 days, making them great for meal-prepping. I prefer enjoying them within 12 hours for the best texture, but they’ll still taste good after a few days—maybe just a bit softer. Store them in an airtight container to keep them fresh, and don’t add any toppings until you’re ready to eat them.

Overnight Oats Variations

I am super picky when it comes to my oatmeal: 1. I want a lot of varied textures, 2. I want it to be nutrient-dense and have healthy components, and 3. It has to come together FAST! These flavor variations check everything off my list:

Peanut BUTTER and Jelly

Your childhood favorite gets an upgrade with my peanut butter and jelly overnight oat recipe. I layer blueberry jam with crunchy peanut butter AND peanuts for extra crunch. Add a few fresh blueberries and you’re good to go!

Chocolate Raspberry

Will chocolate and fresh berries ever not be a match made in heaven? I don’t think so. You only need some raspberry jam, dark chocolate chips, and fresh raspberries to make a breakfast that tastes just like dessert.

Banana Walnut

Banana bread is my go-to coffee shop snack, so I always have an overnight oat version in the fridge. Simply mix in some walnuts and add sliced bananas on top for a delicious and satisfying breakfast that’ll keep you feeling full all morning!

Side view of overnight oats in mason jars

Overnight Oats (Base Recipe plus Variations)

These easy Overnight Oats are the ultimate introduction to budget-friendly meal prep. They’re no-cook, ideal for on-the-go, and customizable!

Course Breakfast

Cuisine Amercian

Total Cost $1.04 serving

Prep Time 5

Chill Time 8

Total Time 8 5

Servings 8 oz mason jar

Calories 302kcal

Author Jess – Budget Bytes

Equipment

8oz. Mason Jars

Ingredients

Overnight Oats Base Recipe

½ cup old fashioned oats $0.82
½ cup milk $0.09
½ Tbsp brown sugar* $0.04
⅛ tsp cinnamon $0.01
½ Tbsp chia seeds $0.07
pinch of salt $0.01

Peanut Butter and Jelly Variation (total: $1.93 per serving)

base recipe $1.04
1 tsp blueberry jam $0.04
1 Tbsp peanuts $0.10
1 Tbsp crunchy peanut butter $0.49
a few blueberries, if desired $0.23

Chocolate Raspberry Variation (total: $1.56 per serving)

base recipe $1.04
1 tsp red raspberry jam $0.04
1 Tbsp dark chocolate chips $0.11
a few raspberries, if desired $0.34

Banana Walnut Variation (total: $1.42 per serving)

base recipe $1.04
1 Tbsp walnuts $0.29
⅓ of a banana, diced $0.09

Instructions

Combine old fashioned oats, brown sugar, cinnamon, chia seeds, and salt in an 8 oz. Mason Jar.
Pour in milk.
Stir or shake to combine, making sure all ingredients are mixed in evenly to avoid clumps of chia or brown sugar.
Put the lid onto your mason jar and place it in the fridge.
Refrigerate for 15 minutes or up to 12 hours before enjoying.

See how we calculate recipe costs here.

Notes

*If you don’t want added sugar, skip it! The ratios in this recipe come out great with or without the brown sugar.

Nutrition

Side view of 4 jars of overnight oats with a wooden spoon taking some from one of the jars

how to make Overnight Oats – step by step photos

Combine ½ cup old fashioned oats, 1/2 Tbsp brown sugar, ⅛ tsp cinnamon, ½ Tbsp chia seeds, and a pinch of salt in an 8 oz. Mason Jar.

Ingredients for overnight oats in a mason jar with milk being poured in

Pour in ½ cup milk.

A spoon mixing the ingredients for overnight oats in a mason jar

Stir or shake to combine, making sure all ingredients are mixed in evenly to avoid clumps of chia or brown sugar.

Overnight oats in a mason jar before being refrigerated

Put the lid onto your mason jar and place it in the fridge.

Overnight oats in a mason jar after being refrigerated

Refrigerate for 15 minutes or up to 12 hours before enjoying.

Overhead view of 4 mason jars filled with overnight oats

Never skip breakfast again with this easy and satisfying recipe for overnight oats!

Golden Milk Overnight Oats

$0.40 each

Pumpkin Pie Overnight Oats

$0.95 each

Overhead view of four jars of chocolate overnight oats, each with a different topping

Double Chocolate Overnight Oats

$1.58 recipe / $0.40 serving

Apple Pie Overnight Oats

$2.26 recipe / $0.57 serving

The post Overnight Oats (Base Recipe plus Variations) appeared first on Budget Bytes.

Cheesy Vegetarian

Homity Pie (Cheesy Potato and Leek Pie)

If you’re not familiar with homity pie, let me introduce you:

Homity pie is a traditional British recipe, which is essentially a cheesy potato and leek pie. It’s just the sort of thing we Brits do perfectly – simple ingredients, combined to make incredible comfort food. Say what you like about British food, but it’s hard to argue with buttery sautéed leeks, cheesy crushed potatoes, and a flaky shortcrust pastry case.

A slice of homity pie (cheesy potato and leek pie).

I’m not going to lie, this homity pie is a bit of a labour of love. It’s not a quick weeknight meal like most of my recipes – this cheesy pie is definitely one to save for a special occasion (it would be perfect for a vegetarian Christmas dinner!).

Since cooking this pie takes a bit of time and patience, don’t try to cook it against the clock. Give yourself plenty of leeway – perhaps an afternoon where you’ve not got much else on. That way, it doesn’t matter if the potatoes have to sit for a little while so you can finish cooking the leeks, or if the pastry case is ready to fill before the filling is actually cooked – you can just potter away at your own pace, and it can all be assembled when you’re ready.

Overhead shot of a cheesy pie with a slice pulled away.

What’s in Homity Pie?

There are three parts to this recipe:

garlicky sautéed leeks and onion
buttery crushed potatoes (with a cheesy topping)
a crispy pastry case

These 3 elements can all be prepared simultaneously, or one at a time, depending on how good you are at multitasking. I’ve written the recipe in 3 separate parts, but if the timings work out (or if you have someone else helping you in the kitchen), you can prepare them all at the same time.

Once all three parts of the recipe are ready, they can be assembled, and baked one last time to complete your cheesy homity pie.

And by the way, I am 100% not a pastry expert. You may think my homity pie looks decidedly… rustic. But I like it that way If I wanted it to look perfect, I’d have saved myself a couple of hours, and bought one in a shop.

Becca’s Top Tip

Any extra scraps of pastry can be baked on their own, and eaten spread with strawberry jam – my kids love it when I cook with pastry as they always get little jam tarts!

Cheesy Vegetarian Bakes ebook on an ipad screen.

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Ingredients

Here’s what you’ll need to make this recipe. See the printable recipe card below for detailed ingredient quantities.

leek – It’s hard to get the scale from the picture, but the leek I used was absolutely enormous – a proper monster (probably as big as my forearm!). If your leeks are a more normal size, you’ll probably need at least two.
potatoes
shortcrust pastry – I used a ready-rolled sheet of shop-bought pastry, as making pastry is not my forte. Feel free to use homemade pastry if you prefer!
cheddar cheese – If possible, use freshly grated mature cheddar cheese rather than the pre-grated stuff, as it melts more nicely.
onion – I used red onion, but regular onions would also be good.
fresh parsley
egg
garlic – I used pre-minced garlic from a jar because I hate chopping large amounts of fresh garlic.
curry powder (optional, but it does add a lovely hint of warmth)

Becca’s Top Tip

If you’re using shop-bought pastry, take it out of the fridge an hour or so before you need to use it. This helps it to soften a little, and means it’s less likely to crack as you unroll it.

Recipe Video

Equipment

I like to use a loose bottomed springform cake tin for homemade pies. It works really well because:

The clip on the side and the loose bottom make it so easy to remove the pie from the tin once it’s finished baking.
It gives a nice tall pie, which looks great, and also gives a wonderfully thick layer of filling.
The metal heats up nicely and helps to crisp up the pastry.

You can use a shallower pie tin to make homity pie if that’s what you have, but I would always recommend a cake tin if you have one.

Here’s a similar one on Amazon, with great reviews:

8-Inch Springform Cake Tin

I love using a loose-bottomed springform cake tin to make homemade pie. If you’re in the UK or Australia, click ‘Buy on Amazon’ to view a local product.

A slice of homity pie with sautéed leeks, potatoes and cheese.

Printable Instructions

Homity Pie (Cheesy Potato and Leek Pie)

How to make the classic British recipe homity pie (cheesy potato and leek pie!) – a tasty vegetarian pie made with shortcrust pastry.

Course Main Course

Cuisine British, English

Diet Vegetarian

Prep Time 50

Cook Time 40

Total Time 1 30

Servings people

Calories 427kcal

Author Becca Heyes