Lemon Blueberry Overnight Oats

Posted October 16, 2023 by: Admin #Kitchen

Created with fresh blueberries, lemon zest, chia seeds, and Greek yogurt, these lemon blueberry overnight oats offer a convenient and protein-rich breakfast option for those hectic mornings when you’re on the go.
I have a strong fondness for overnight oats, and my blog has seen its fair share of overnight oat recipes. These recipes aren’t just a simple and wholesome breakfast choice; they also boast incredible versatility, allowing for various flavor enhancements. Once you’ve mastered the fundamental formula, you can easily alter the taste profile by incorporating different berries, fresh fruits, dried fruits, sweeteners, and spices to match the season or your mood.

Ingredients for Lemon Blueberry Overnight Oats

To prepare these blueberry overnight oats, you’ll need the following ingredients:

– Oats: Rolled oats or quick-cooking oats are essential, as steel-cut oats won’t adequately absorb the liquid or soften.
– Blueberries: You can use either frozen or fresh blueberries, with frozen berries offering better flavor as they thaw.
– Lemon: While lemon juice is an option, using lemon zest adds a more intense flavor to the oats.
– Chia Seeds: Including chia seeds helps thicken the mixture and provides a creamy texture; however, they can be omitted if necessary.
– Milk: While this recipe uses regular cow’s milk, you can opt for almond milk, coconut milk, rice milk, or soy milk.
– Yogurt: Greek yogurt, in particular, boosts the protein content, but regular or coconut yogurt can be substituted.
– Honey: A generous drizzle of honey enhances the berries’ sweetness, but maple syrup is a suitable alternative.
– Vanilla Extract: A touch of vanilla complements the lemon and blueberry flavors.
– Salt: A pinch of salt balances the flavor.

While blueberries are featured in this lemon blueberry overnight oats recipe, you can certainly explore other berries like raspberries, strawberries, blackberries, or any combination that tickles your taste buds.

Dietary Adaptions

For dietary adaptations:

– To make them **Gluten-Free:** Opt for certified gluten-free oats to avoid any cross-contamination.
– To make them **Dairy-Free:** Substitute dairy milk with your preferred non-dairy option and use coconut or soy yogurt instead of cow’s milk yogurt. Note that these changes may reduce the protein content.
– To make them **Vegan:** Replace both milk and yogurt with plant-based alternatives such as coconut milk, soy milk, or almond milk.

How to Make Lemon Blueberry Overnight Oats

The process of making lemon blueberry overnight oats is as easy as 1, 2, 3. If you can pour, stir, and exercise a little patience, you can effortlessly whip up these blueberry lemon overnight oats:

Add all the ingredients to a mason jar or bowl.
Stir until thoroughly combined.
Place them in the refrigerator and wait.

That’s all there is to it! Overnight oats require minimal preparation skills; they just need some time in the fridge to work their magic. You can prepare them the night before and wake up to a delectable grab-and-go breakfast.

What can I add to my overnight oats?

Once you’ve mastered the basic overnight oat recipe, the topping possibilities are endless. Here are some of my preferred toppings for overnight oats:

– Almond butter
– Peanut butter
– Granola
– Honey
– Maple syrup
– Shredded coconut
– Hemp seeds
– Pumpkin seeds

Moreover, you can enhance your overnight oats with additional fresh fruit to infuse more fiber and flavor.

Blueberry Lemon Overnight Oats

Storage

You can store overnight oats in the fridge for up to 5 days. While they are at their best texturally on the first or second day, you can prepare them in advance for a week. Over time, the oats will become softer, which may be less appealing to some, and the liquid may separate slightly from the oats. A quick stir before consuming will address the separation issue.

Are overnight oats healthy for you?

Absolutely! Packed with protein, fiber, complex carbohydrates, and healthy fats, overnight oats offer a well-rounded breakfast that’s suitable for any day of the week.

Oats are gluten-free whole grains and come loaded with various vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Additionally, they contain a special type of fiber known as beta-glucan, which is shown to lower bad cholesterol levels.

Including cow’s milk and yogurt in your overnight oats boosts the protein, healthy fats, and calcium content. Fresh fruit like blueberries adds extra fiber and essential micronutrients such as vitamin C, vitamin K, manganese, and potassium.

How many calories in overnight oats?

The calorie count in overnight oats varies depending on ingredients and portion size. This lemon blueberry overnight oats recipe provides 438 calories, 7 grams of fat, 70 grams of carbohydrates, 11 grams of fiber, and 21 grams of protein per serving.

To lower the calorie count, reduce the portion size, choose low-fat dairy products, and reduce or omit honey. To increase the protein content, consider adding a scoop of vanilla protein powder. Reducing the fat content can be achieved by using 0% milk, 0% Greek yogurt, and omitting chia seeds. To cut down on added sugars, reduce honey or omit it, keeping in mind that naturally occurring sugars are present in milk, yogurt, blueberries, and oats.

Lemon Blueberry Overnight Oats

In summary, these lemon blueberry overnight oats make for a quick and easy meal prep option, offering a well-balanced and convenient breakfast.

Ingredients

For the ingredients, you’ll need:

– ½ cup rolled oats or quick-cooking oats
– 1 tablespoon chia seeds
– A pinch of salt
– ½ cup milk
– ½ cup plain Greek yogurt
– 1 tablespoon honey
– ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
– ½ cup blueberries, fresh or frozen
– 1 teaspoon lemon zest

Instructions

Instructions are as follows:

1. In a small bowl or mason jar, add oats, chia seeds, and salt. Stir to combine. Add milk, yogurt, honey, and vanilla extract, and stir again until well combined with the oats.
2. Once well combined, add blueberries and lemon zest, and gently stir them into the oat mixture.
3. Cover the bowl or jar with a lid and transfer it to the fridge overnight or for at least 2 hours.
4. In the morning, take the oats out of the fridge, give them a stir, top with additional toppings as desired, and enjoy!
5. If making them for meal prep, the oats can be prepared in advance and stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.