Lemon Poppy Seed Overnight Oats

Looking for the perfect breakfast to meal prep? These lemon poppy seed vegan overnight oats are made with yogurt for an easy breakfast. Made with simple, pantry staple ingredients for a healthy recipe.

I’m kind of obsessed with all things lemon poppy seed. We have pancakes, cloud like cookies, and now oats!

Overnight oats are one of my favorite breakfasts as the weather warms up and I’m not in the mood for a smoothie (which is rare).

This particular vegan overnight oats recipe is perfectly sweet and tangy and made with yogurt to give it an incredibly luxurious and creamy consistency. Plus a little protein boost if you use greek yogurt!

Overnight oats are not necessarily healthier than cooked oatmeal, though they may retain certain nutrients a bit better since they aren’t boiled.

You can add in a bit of chia seeds for an extra nutrient boost, a scoop of your favorite vanilla protein powder or enjoy exactly as is! If you love this recipe, try my lemon cupcakes or coconut chia pudding next!

Key Ingredients

Quick Oats: Most overnight oats recipes call for rolled/old fashioned oats, but for this recipe, I love using quick oats.

It creates a bit of a creamier consistency and I personally find it more pleasant to eat. You can definitely use rolled oats instead, but you can’t use steel cut oats.

Yogurt: Yogurt helps add creaminess to the oats. You can use any kind of yogurt you like, but I like to use greek yogurt or a dairy free greek yogurt (I like Kite Hill) for added protein.

If you aren’t a fan of greek yogurt, just regular non-dairy yogurt works great. I love coconut yogurt here.

Poppy Seeds: You can find poppy seeds in the spice section of most grocery stores.

Lemon: The juice from 1 lemon will make this recipe tangy and fresh. You can also add some lemon zest or even lemon extract for a richer flavor.

Maple Syrup: Maple syrup or honey will sweeten the oats. You can definitely do without, especially if you use a yogurt that is sweetened.

Non-Dairy Milk: This is the liquid base which helps soften the oats without needing to cook them! I like to use soy milk for added protein, but almond, coconut or oat milk will also work.

How to make vegan overnight oats

Add all ingredients to a large mixing bowl or tupperware container and mix together well. 

Cover and let sit in the fridge overnight or for at least 2 hours to thicken. They are called “overnight” oats, but they don’t really need to sit overnight.

Stir and serve with fresh blueberries and extra yogurt if desired. Enjoy!

Tips for success

If you’re using yogurt that is sweetened, you may want to cut back on the maple syrup to just 1 tbsp. I used unsweetened yogurt so 2 tbsp was perfect. If you prefer oats that aren’t very sweet, feel free to cut back even more.

If you prefer your oats on the thicker side like I do, start with 3/4 cup of milk and add more as needed after they have thickened.

The yogurt and maple syrup adds moisture too, so avoid adding too much milk because you don’t want the oats to be too liquidy. Between 3/4 and 1 cup of milk is usually perfect!

Do you eat overnight oats cold?

I always eat these oats cold right from the fridge, but if you have some extra time in the morning you can heat them up on the stove for a more cozy breakfast.

However, there’s no need to warm them up, just a matter of personal preference!

Looking for more breakfast recipes? Try these!

• Blueberry Baked Oatmeal
• Quinoa Breakfast Bowl
• Almond Flour Pancakes
• Vegan Gluten Free Waffles

Lastly, if you want more recipes straight to your inbox, be sure to subscribe to my email list. As always, tag me on instagram if you make this recipe so I can see your creation! Be sure to comment and leave a review if you like this recipe!