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    Home » Recipes » Breakfast Recipes

    Published: Jul 10, 2022 by Nicole This post may contain affiliate links.

    Chunky Monkey Overnight Oats

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    promotional graphic for Chunky Monkey Overnight Oats

    Bananas, walnuts, and chocolate in every delicious bite of creamy oats. You're going to love this chunky monkey overnight oats recipe!

    a serving bowl filled with chunky monkey oats topped with walnuts, chocolate chips, and banana slices

    When you think of chunky monkey flavors you may think of ice cream desserts but now you can get those same flavors for breakfast with this chunky monkey recipe.

    Surprisingly this is my daughter's favorite overnight oats recipe (probably because of the chocolate). But all of the ingredients just work so well together to create a sweet and savory combination of flavors in every bite.

    For a nuttier oatmeal breakfast, check out these Peanut Butter Banana Overnight Oats.

    Why This Recipe Works

    1. It's easy to make! You don't need much to make these chunky monkey oats and the prep time is less than 10 minutes, making them incredibly quick to stir together. The hardest part is the patience.
    2. It's an affordable breakfast option. This recipe costs about $1 to make and can be divided into 2 smaller servings if desired.
    3. It's ready when you are. Making this overnight chunky monkey recipe means that a few minutes spent at night will give you a breakfast that's ready to eat when you wake up. Just add some toppings and a spoon.
    Jump to:
    • 🥘 Ingredients
    • 🍽 Equipment Needed
    • 🔪 Instructions
    • 🧾 Substitutions
    • 🍴 Recipe Tips
    • 👩🏻‍🍳 Storage
    • ⏲️Make Ahead Instructions
    • 💭 FAQs
    • 📖 Recipe
    ingredinets needed for chunky monkey flavored overnight oats

    🥘 Ingredients

    Old fashioned oats- This is the base of the recipe. These oats will soak up liquid overnight to soften without the need to cook them.

    Milk- Use dairy milk or nondairy milk based on what your preferences are.

    Greek yogurt- Adding greek yogurt will make the oatmeal thicker, creamier, and a bit healthier too.

    Vanilla extract- This is a great flavor enhancer.

    Maple syrup- Use maple syrup as a natural sweetener.

    Chia seeds- This is optional, but adding chia seeds will help to get your oatmeal some more nutritional benefits.

    Salt- A natural flavor enhancer.

    Chocolate chips- We like to use semi-sweet chocolate chips to help keep this oatmeal from feeling too sweet, but you can just as easily use milk chocolate or dark chocolate depending on what you'd prefer.

    Chopped walnuts- Buy them prechopped or chop them yourself. Walnuts add a nice earthy touch and crunch.

    Banana- Use a ripe banana. But wait to add it to the oatmeal so it doesn't brown overnight.

    For specific quantities, see the recipe card below.

    🍽 Equipment Needed

    BeeyondCereal is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.

    • Mixing Bowl
    • Measuring Cups
    • Measuring Spoons
    • Whisk
    • Storage containers

    🔪 Instructions

    Check out how to make chunky monkey overnight oats with these simple step-by-step instructions:

    Whisk together the milk, yogurt, vanilla, salt, and maple syrup in a bowl until blended.

    Stir in the chia seeds, if using.

    a mixing bowl with a whisk, greek yogurt, maple syrup, chia seeds and vanilla inside

    Stir in the oats and mix until combined.

    oats on top of wet ingredients in a bowl for overnight oats

    Stir in the chocolate chips and walnuts until combined.

    overnight oats mixture with walnuts and chocolate chips in a bowl

    Pour the oat mixture into a sealed container and place it into the fridge to chill for at least 6 hours or overnight.

    In the morning, add more milk to adjust the thick oat mixture to your liking (or eat it thick).

    Top with walnuts, chocolate chips, and sliced banana. Enjoy!

    a spoon dipping into a bowl of chunky monkey flavored oats

    🧾 Substitutions

    Oats. I have had great success using old fashioned oats and steel cut oats as well as quick cook steel cut oats (the kind that are chopped into smaller pieces). The difference in texture is pretty minimal.

    Milk. You can use whole milk, low fat milk, almond milk, coconut milk or any other milk of choice. Even water or coffee creamer can work well in a pinch. Unsweetened almond milk is our favorite.

    Sweetener. Healthier sweetener options include honey and maple syrup but you can also choose to use agave or a low-carb liquid sugar substitute.

    Yogurt. You can use any plain or flavored yogurt of choice. Our go-to is Greek Yogurt because it's healthier but regular yogurts can be used too. We really enjoy Honey flavored Greek yogurt (it's our favorite). You can also omit the yogurt and just add in another ¼ cup of milk.

    🍴 Recipe Tips

    Do not add the sliced banana to your oats until ready to serve, otherwise, your bananas may turn brown before you get to eat your oats. Dipping sliced banana in pineapple juice, or lemon juice can prevent the browning for several hours, but will give the bananas a more acidic flavor.

    Chia seeds are optional

    Adding chia seeds is optional but can be a great way to get additional health benefits from your meal. They help to reduce your blood pressure and reduce your risk of heart disease.

    Chia seeds will absorb some of the liquid in the oats, so in the morning they will be pretty thick. You can thin down your oats to your desired consistency by stirring in additional milk.

    👩🏻‍🍳 Storage

    Your overnight oats are good for 5 days in the fridge so if desired, you can meal prep for the week on Sunday and not have to worry about breakfast again until Saturday.

    ⏲️Make Ahead Instructions

    You can eat your oats right after they've been mixed together, but the oats will be chewy. Letting them sit for at least 4 to 6 hours is ideal for a better texture and consistency as it will take several hours for the oats to absorb the liquid in the oats. 

    💭 FAQs

    Are overnight oats healthy?

    Made with Greek yogurt, fresh bananas, and nuts, this recipe is packed with protein, and natural sweeteners, and is much more filling than a bowl of cereal.

    Are overnight oats eaten cold?

    Yes, overnight oats are mostly served and eaten cold, which is honestly more delicious than you would think. The cold oats are especially inviting on a warm day.

    Can overnight oats go bad?

    Yes, these oats can go bad after being in the fridge too long. For best results, we recommend eating them within 5 days.

    chunky monkey banana overnight oats in a bowl loaded with with toppings

    More great breakfast recipes to check out soon

    • How to Make Overnight Oats
    • Smoked Salmon Scrambled Eggs
    • Strawberries and Cream Overnight Oats
    • Peanut Butter and Jelly Overnight Oats
    • Muffin Mix Pancakes
    • Apple Cider Donut Muffins

    📖 Recipe

    a close up of a bowl of chunky monkey flavored overnight oats topped with walnuts chocolate chips and banana slices
    Print Recipe
    5 from 1 vote

    Chunky Monkey Overnight Oats

    Bananas, walnuts, and chocolate in every delicious bite of creamy oats. You're going to love this chunky monkey overnight oats recipe!
    Prep Time 10 mins
    Cook Time 0 mins
    6 hrs
    Total Time 6 hrs 10 mins
    Servings: 1 serving
    Calories: 595kcal
    Cost Recipe $1.13
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Equipment

    • Mixing Bowl
    • Measuring Cups
    • Measuring Spoons
    • Whisk
    • Storage containers

    Ingredients

    • ¾ cups Old fashioned oats ($0.14)
    • ¼ cup Milk ($0.05)
    • ½ cup Greek yogurt ($0.46)
    • 1-2 Tablespoons Maple syrup ($0.04)
    • 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract ($0.02)
    • ½ teaspoon Chia seeds *optional ($0.02)
    • 1 pinch Salt ($0.01)
    • 1 Tablespoon Chocolate chips ($0.06)
    • 2 Tablespoons Chopped walnuts ($0.20)
    • ½ Ripe banana ($0.13)
    US Customary - Metric

    Instructions

    • Whisk together the milk, yogurt, vanilla, salt, and maple syrup in a bowl until blended.
    • Stir in the chia seeds, if using.
    • Stir in the oats and mix until combined.
    • Stir in the chocolate chips and walnuts until combined.
    • Pour the oat mixture into a sealed container and place into the fridge to chill for at least 6 hours or overnight.
    • In the morning, add more milk to adjust the thick oat mixture to your liking (or eat it thick).
    • Top with walnuts, chocolate chips, and sliced banana. Enjoy!

    Notes

    Substitutions

    • Oats. I have had great success using old fashioned oats and steel cut oats as well as quick cook steel cut oats (the kind that are chopped into smaller pieces). The difference in texture is pretty minimal.
    • Milk. You can use whole milk, low fat milk, almond milk, coconut milk or any other milk of choice. Even water or coffee creamer can work well in a pinch. Unsweetened almond milk is our favorite.
    • Sweetener. Healthier sweetener options include honey and maple syrup but you can also choose to use agave or a low-carb liquid sugar substitute.
    • Yogurt. You can use any plain or flavored yogurt of choice. Our go-to is Greek Yogurt because it's healthier but regular yogurts can be used too. We really enjoy Honey flavored Greek yogurt (it's our favorite). You can also omit the yogurt and just add in another ¼ cup of milk.

    Recipe Tips

    • Do not add the sliced banana to your oats until ready to serve, otherwise, your bananas may turn brown before you get to eat your oats.
    • Adding chia seeds is optional but can be a great way to get additional health benefits from your meal. They help to reduce your blood pressure and reduce your risk of heart disease.
    • Chia seeds will absorb some of the liquid in the oats so in the morning they will be pretty thick. You can thin down your oats to your desired consistency by stirring in additional milk.
    • Your overnight oats are good for 5 days in the fridge so if desired, you can meal prep for the week on Sunday and not have to worry about breakfast again until Saturday.
    • You can eat your oats right after they've been mixed together but the oats will be chewy. Letting them sit for at least 4 to 6 hours is ideal for a better texture and consistency as it will take several hours for the oats to absorb the liquid in the oats. 

    Nutritional Information

    Serving: 1serving | Calories: 595kcal | Carbohydrates: 81g | Protein: 23g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 12g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 7mg | Sodium: 166mg | Potassium: 719mg | Fiber: 10g | Sugar: 28g | Vitamin A: 47IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 275mg | Iron: 4mg
    Author NicoleDurham
    Course Breakfast
    Cuisine American
    Tried this recipe?Mention @BeeyondCereal on Instagram and hashtag it #BeeyondCereal
    To view how this recipe was calculated you can visit my Pricing Disclosure Page for more information.

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    I'm Nicole and I am the owner and recipe developer here at Beeyond Cereal. I love saving money and one of the best places to trim expenses is in the kitchen. With this site, we are serving up tasty and frugal homemade dishes that the whole family will enjoy.

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