PB&J High-Protein Overnight Oats

Breakfast is now officially the best part of the day. Tickle your inner child with memories of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches while impressing your protein-conscious grown-up self with 35 grams of protein. Soak all the pantry-friendly ingredients overnight to wake up to creamy, hearty and wholesome oats.

Memorable Weekday-Easy Meal-Prep Breakfast with Nostalgic Flavors. High Protein with Whole Food + Protein Powder. Portable, Make-Ahead Oatmeal To Go. Convenient, Nutrient-Dense Balanced Breakfast. Mix in One Bowl, No Cooking Required to Prepare or Eat. Hearty & Filling. Year-Round Kitchen Staple. Budget Friendly. Perfect When Cooking for One or Two. Easy DIY. Vegetarian. Naturally Gluten Free. What're you waiting for?! So Good!!

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COMPLIMENTS!

• "Mmmmm, this is good." ~ Someone I live with, who'd gone to the fridge for some leftover rice pudding. 😍

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Morning Protein On the Go (or Prepping for a Power Outage)

The Midwest was hit with a big winter storm over the weekend, snow, ice, sleet, even the occasional clap of thunder!

Beforehand, we spent a few hours prepping for an extended power outage during single-digit temperatures: candles, batteries and flashlights; winter gear for ourselves and the dog; water for drinking, etc.; creating a to-do reminder list should, accck, the power go off.

Funny thing? The forecast predicted that the storm would hit about ten o'clock Saturday night. But when we woke up Saturday morning, get this, no power! (Just a little, um, "squirrel event", the power people reported after fixing the issue so-so fast, within 90 minutes.)

But that unexpected power loss provoked serious thought about what we would do for food while without power for a few days.

Lunches would be easy: quick sandwiches, maybe some soup warmed up on the gas stove. Dinners wouldn't be too hard since we could cook meat from the meat freezer (grabbing some real fast, hoping to keep the meat and fish inside safely frozen) and toast some Fried Bread, thanks to that gas stove.

But what about breakfast?

First, I made a batch of Creamy Oatmeal to, again, warm on the stove.

Then I pulled out a recipe for overnight oats that's been on the menu for over a year but on the backburner for sharing here on Kitchen Parade.

We're still digging out but the storm has now moved on. Good luck, East Coast! Good luck, Texas!

Me, I'm happy to have needed (and especially "not" needed, since we never did lose power) this simple make-ahead breakfast idea forevermore.

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Recipe Overview: PB&J High-Protein Overnight Oats

• Other overnight oats are typically carb-y, sugar-laced affairs. But not these Overnight Oats! I especially selected ingredients for high protein plus pantry friendliness and naturally, good taste. Mix everything the night before (or a day or two before) so the Overnight Oats come together in the fridge overnight.

• When to Serve = Whenever you want a quick no-cook, grab 'n' go, mess-free but high-protein breakfast, easy to pack to-go in a purse or backpack.
• Diet Needs & Choices = As written, the recipe is vegetarian, gluten free and egg-free. I have the idea that it would easily convert to vegan with plant-based yogurt and milk.
• Distinctive Ingredients = Peanut Butter + Jelly + Oats
• Short Ingredient List = all the above + chia + milk + greek yogurt + vanilla protein powder
• For Garnish = if you like, top with a little extra jam or some fresh fruit
• Kitchen Tools = a mixing bowl and a mixing spoon plus individual storage containers, I use pint-size canning jars and mini canning jars, both topped with the same wide-mouth one-piece plastic lids for glass wide-mouth canning jars (fyi, all three are affiliate links).
• Hands-on Time = It takes me about 5 minutes to set up a short assembly line for a double batch.
• Fridge Time = After that, refrigerate the Overnight Oats in the fridge for a few hours. Why? Two reasons. First, the oats soak up lots of liquid, softening almost as if they've been cooked. Second, the other ingredients, led especially by the chia, firm up and the flavors meld. Besides, isn't it so very cool to wake up knowing that breakfast is ready-to-go in the fridge, no extra anything required other than grabbing a spoon? Yeah. Very cool. Very very cool.
• Eating with Our Eyes = Overnight oats aren't especially pretty but if that's a concern, fresh fruit is your friend.
• Texture = The texture is cold and wet, creamy with some texture. Is it for everyone? Maybe not but I love this stuff!
• Special Techniques = Good news, there are zero special techniques to use here, just mix all the ingredients well, saving the milk for last to loosen it all for mixing.
• Shop Your Pantry = This is pantry-friendly recipe, you may well have everything on hand except possibly, the protein powder and heaven knows, there are lots of powders on the market now. I'm super happy with Trader Joe's Orgain Organic Protein.
• Makes = A single recipe yields about 1-1/4 cups of Overnight Oats. In my household, my husband can devour a whole one, me I'm happy with half or even less.
• Small Households = This recipe works especially well for those Cooking for One or Two.
• So good! I hope you love it!


• If you love the PB&J concept, check out my Peanut Butter & Jelly Smoothies, the "grape jelly" ingredient will be a big surprise!
• Not quite what you're looking for? Check out my other recipes for make-ahead breakfasts.

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Why I Love This Recipe & You Might Too

• ... it's more convenient than even a bowl of breakfast cereal, just add a spoon
• ... even a small serving is hearty and filling with no "hungries" until well after lunchtime
• ... oats really (really) help with regularity
• ... definitely gives off familiar PB&J vibes
• ... just love the cold, barely sweet milky oats
• Ready to get started? Here's your recipe!

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How do you save and share favorite recipes? recipes that fit your personal cooking style? a particular recipe your mom or daughter or best friend would just love? If this recipe inspires you, please do save and share! I'd be honored ...

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PB&J HIGH-PROTEIN OVERNIGHT OATS

Hands-on time: 5 minutes
Time-to-table: 8-10 hours
Makes about 1-1/4 cups with 35 grams of protein, about one large serving (for him, say) or two smaller servings (for her, say)

Meal prep the night before, either for a single day or a few days.

• 2 tablespoons (32g) peanut butter (plain or crunchy)
• 2 tablespoons (18g) vanilla protein powder
• 1 tablespoon (20g) jam or jelly (preferably with no added sugar)
• 1 tablespoon (12g) chia
• 1/2 cup (112g) plain Greek yogurt (non-fat to full-fat)
• 1/2 cup (50g) uncooked rolled oats (old-fashioned, not quick or instant)
• 1/4 cup (60g) milk (skim to whole milk)
• Sprinkle salt or to taste

TO SERVE
• Extra milk to loosen, if needed to taste

MIX In a bowl or right in the individual container(s), use the back of a spoon to smoosh all the ingredients except the rolled oats and milk until well-mixed.

Work in the rolled oats, then the milk.

For convenience, transfer the mixture to individual containers and cover, I use a pint jar for a large serving and two half-pint jars for two smaller servings.

REFRIGERATE overnight, at minimum, or for two or three days.

TO SERVE If needed, stir in a little extra milk to loosen the Overnight Oats.

ALANNA's TIPS No peanut butter? Another nut butter such as almond butter would work well, so would tahini, the sesame seed butter. For protein powder, I've been fine with the Orgain Organic Protein found at Trader Joe's. Overnight oats often taste a little "raw". This one? I like it straight out of the bowl, even before refrigerating overnight. On the other hand, my husband likes his soaked overnight, then warmed in the microwave. That works too.

FOR MORE INFO If you "skipped straight to the recipe," please scroll back to the top of this page for ingredient information, ingredient substitutions, tips and more. If you print this recipe, you'll want to check the recipe online for even more tips and extra information about ingredient substitutions, best results and more. See https://www.kitchenparade.com/2025/01/pbj-high-protein-overnight-oats.html .

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Not Your Everyday Oatmeal

more
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Shop Your Pantry First

(helping home cooks save money on groceries)

~ recipes using oatmeal ~
~ recipes using peanut butter ~
~ recipes using jam ~
~ recipes using yogurt ~
~ recipes using protein powder ~
~ recipes using chia ~

~ All Recipes, By Ingredient ~
~ How to Save Money on Groceries ~

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Kitchen Parade is written by second-generation food columnist Alanna Kellogg and features fresh, seasonal dishes for every-day healthful eating and occasional indulgences. Quick Suppers are Kitchen Parade favorites and feature recipes easy on the budget, the clock, the waistline and the dishwasher. Do you have a favorite recipe that other Kitchen Parade readers might like? Just send me a quick e-mail, you'll find my current address in the FAQs. How to print a Kitchen Parade recipe. Never miss a recipe! If you like this recipe, sign up for a free e-mail subscription. If you like Kitchen Parade, for more scratch cooking recipes using whole, healthful ingredients, you're sure to like my food blog about vegetable recipes, too, A Veggie Venture. If you make this recipe, I'd love to know your results! Just leave a comment below.

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