Peanut Butter and Jelly Overnight Oats are such a great quick and easy breakfast idea to make for your kids when they’re heading back to school! Easy to prep the night before, they make the morning mania run a little smoother.
Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are an art form.
There are a bajillion and one ways to make them, and each variation is just as delicious as the next.
Peanut Butter Jelly Time: Strawberry vs Grape
When it comes to PB & Js, there are several types of people in this world:
First you have the concord grape fanatics who like tradition and who don't like to stray away from the norm. Then there are the strawberry jam lovers who squeal with delight when they're lucky enough to find a whole piece of fruit in their preserves.
Next up are the crunchy peanut butter enthusiasts who love the party the little pieces of peanuts throw in their mouths, and then there are the creamy peanut butter lovers who are perfectly content with the classics.
Lastly there are the crust less kiddos who like their sandwiches to be cut into perfect little squares just like their mommy's used to make them, and finally there are the folks like me who are just too dang lazy to trim the crusts off of a couple of pieces of bread.
I'm the crunchy peanut butter and strawberry preserves slathered on two thickly cut wedges of chewy multi-grain bread kind of gal. I'm also the just take a spoon and scoop up a giant glob and speckle it with chocolate chips before stuffing it in my face and hiding in the shadows of the kitchen to savor the flavors before my husband can see what I'm up to type of person as well.
I often make my husband a batch of his favorite Cosmic Brownies so I can go run and hide to eat my peanut butter spoons.
At this very moment, there are no less than three jars of all natural peanut butter chilling in my pantry. Surprisingly, only one of them is open. I eat so much peanut butter, my husband wrote a giant 2 next to the "Amber's Crunchy Crack" on the grocery list just so he could ensure that he may actually get to enjoy some every now and then.
Easy Overnight Oats
I'm also a sucker for some overnight oats. The best thing about overnight oats is that you just need a base recipe, and then there are a zillion and one flavor combinations from there. My base recipe for overnight oats is:
- Rolled oats
- Chia seeds
- Greek yogurt
- Sweetener of choice: stevia, monk fruit, honey, agave, sugar
- Milk of choice
- Sea salt
- Pure vanilla extract
Strawberry Jelly
The term "jelly" is being used loosely here though because there are several ways you can make the strawberry filling.
I have made this particular recipe no less than five times now, and I have never once actually used jelly in the dish. It would remind me too much of those weird oatmeal swirlers I used to love and adore back in the 90's. Memba those?!?
The coolest part about these overnight oats is that you can adjust this recipe to your liking and incorporate the "jelly" portion of the recipe whichever way you like: Leave fresh strawberries whole and layer them with the overnight oat mixture, or slice the fruits and layer them that way instead.
You could also use frozen strawberries so their delectable juice will swirl around with the peanut butter as they defrost in the fridge, or you could mash frozen or fresh strawberries with a sprinkling of sugar and chia seeds and pop them in the microwave for a few seconds until a thin gel forms, then layer. It really is up to you
Other Overnight Oat Recipes to try...
No matter which way you choose the flavors will be the same, and you'll end up wanting to eat these every morning for the rest of your life.
Or at least that's what I plan to do.
Peanut Butter and Jelly Overnight Oats
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups strawberries fresh or frozen
- 2 teaspoon chia seeds
- 2 cups old fashioned oats
- 2 ½ tablespoon chia seeds
- 2 cups unsweetened vanilla almond milk
- ½ cup plain Greek yogurt
- ¼ cup peanut butter
- 1 teaspoon Pure vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt
- 1-2 tablespoon sweetener of choice I use stevia
- Granola, peanut butter, fresh strawberries for garnish
Instructions
- Add strawberries and 2 teaspoon chia seeds to a small microwavable bowl. Microwave for 1 minute. Mash with a fork then set aside.
- Mix all remaining ingredients in a large bowl until well combined.
- Starting with strawberry chia sauce, spoon alternate layers of strawberry sauce and oat mixture into four glasses, cover with lids or plastic wrap, and refrigerate overnight.
- Remove lids or plastic wrap, top with granola, peanut butter, and fresh strawberries, if desired, and serve immediately.
Mia says
Hi friend! You know where I stand on nuts - so I just wanted to say a friendly electronic "hello" and I hope you and the fam are staying bundled up!
amber says
Thanks, girl. Things have been insane around here lately. I have a teething baby who has started waking up several times a night again, doesn't want anyone other than mommy, is refusing to nap unless it is in my arms, and when I do occasionally get to put him down, his naps last for maybe 30 mins. It's making it very hard to get in the kitchen and recipe test! How's wedding planning going?
Mia says
Aww! Poor Owen! (And poor Amber) If you strap him into a Baby Bjorn so he's close to you, are you able to get work done? Not necessarily cooking (I imagine grease popping on his poor little footsies...not that you really seem to do a lot of frying..that's just how my imagination is), but laundry and stuff?
Wedding planning is crazy! Its fun, but really stressful. I much prefer planning other people's weddings, lol. I can't wait to be married, though!
amber says
I have an Ergo which I use to carry him around the house so I can get some chores done, but it doesn't last long. It's not because he doesn't like it, but it's because my stupid 80 year old back won't hold up.
Garage Gyms says
Where did you get those spoons? I want them.
amber says
I got them as a wedding gift, but they are fiestaware. I'm almost certain they sell them at Belk & Kohl's.
Garage Gyms says
Yes! Kohl's still has them. Thank you =)
Liz in Brooklyn says
I tried this recipe last night and brought some to work today. I used 2% milk instead of almond milk and skipped the sweetener. This is also my first attempt at any overnight oats recipe as well as my first use of chia seeds in anything. Overall, I think it's a great breakfast or lunch for me - I love that you can really smell the peanut butter even though there isn't much in it. And it's filling, I actually halved the recipe and then made that into 3 servings instead of 2; that put these at 6 WW PointsPlus, which is only slightly more than a good granola bar, but so much more substantial. I've been trying to rein in my sweettooth so I didn't do the added sweetener, but may add a bit next time if I have some handy or if my boyfriend might be having some, however it was fine with just the natural sweetness of the fruit. Thanks for the recipe!
Amber says
Thanks so much for making the recipe and coming back and commenting! I love hearing from readers! So glad you love overnight oats now. They're my fav!
Desiree Donnelly says
Do you cook the oats first??
Amber says
Desiree, nope! They "cook" overnight in the fridge by soaking up all the yummy goodness!
Courtney says
How long do these stay good in the fridge? Could I make a batch and eat it for breakfast four mornings?
Amber says
Hey, Courtney! I'm so sorry for the delayed response. These will stay good in the fridge for a few days. Making a batch for four mornings in a row shouldn't be a problem.
Cheryl Arminio says
This was delicious! Very peanutty and creamy. I would use more strawberries next time I make it, I felt it could use more. A nice addition to my breakfast menu!! Will definitely make this again.
Amber says
Adding more strawberries can never hurt! So happy you enjoyed them!
Michelle says
I wonder if steel cut oats could be used in this?
Amber says
I've never made overnight oats w/ steel cut oatmeal so I can't vouch for the results. I would think if you did make them w/ steel cut oats then prepare for them to be very, very, very chewy. Let me know how they turn out if you try them. Thanks!
Tom Kuhn says
Your recipe for peanut butter and jelly and cold oats his Chia seeds in the recipe twice is this correct?
Amber says
Yes, Tom, that is correct!
Alicia Clark says
I can't wait to try this! I've tired other overnight oats recipes and they've been quite tasty but this looks a little different than anything I've done. Love your blog! I'm working on launching one about single life and cooking healthy. I'm quite the introvert so I keep putting it off:) It's challenging to not give in to fast food, especially when you work on the road a lot and I don't do well in the mornings so I'm going to get back to the overnight oats. Thanks for the post!
Becky says
I love the sound of this recipe. I wonder if I could use Peanut Butter Powder instead of actual Peanut Butter. What do you think?
Amber says
I think it would be fine although you'll probably have to add just a little extra milk
Hollis Ramsey says
I’m making the Peanut Butter version, with creamy PB, whole milk, chia seeds, dried dates and date syrup. It’s been in the fridge ~5 hrs, and I think I’m gonna add some frozen strawberries now. I put it in the fridge in the morning so I can have it for dinner.
How’s Owen, and how’s the craniopharyngioma? The comments are ~6-7 yrs old. I hope all is well.
Amber says
I love this recipe! We make it all the time! It's one of my favs. The cranio is still there. Whomp. Whomp. I'm actually going in for my 3rd surgery on the 5th of October. I'm still here though so I can't complain too much! Owen is doing amazing! He just turned 8 and is just so incredible. He's thriving at school and is just an all-around fabulous child! I hope you loved the oats. Your additions sounded so yum! I think I'm going to make some for tomorrow too.