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These easy banana overnight oats are healthy, convenient, and free of any added sweeteners making them the perfect breakfast for any member of your family. Healthy protein from yogurt, fats from peanut butter, and carbs from oats make this breakfast complete.

Jump to Recipe

bowl of peanut butter banana overnight oats

Do you remember a few years ago when overnight oats were all the rage on Pinterest? I started making them for my husband and myself for breakfast (this was before we had kids) and used this basic chia seed overnight oats recipe. I had kind of forgot about them for a few years, but when I was trying to come up with new ideas for my toddler’s breakfast, I remembered overnight oats.

Looking for a way to makes these sweet without sweetener – I turned to my favorite method, bananas. My toddler is banana crazy! Which is why I used 5 bananas in his first birthday cake and make him Daniel Tiger’s banana swirl on repeat.

But first, before we talk about these banana overnight oats…let’s cover the basics. Just in case you missed the overnight oat craze and haven’t yet tried them.

How to Make Toddler + Baby Overnight Oats Video

What are Overnight Oats

Overnight oats are an easy breakfast that you can prep ahead for your week. Typically they involve some variety or combination of oats, milk, yogurt, chia seeds, fruit and other mix-ins such as nut butter, flaxseed, sweetener, and shredded coconut.

Overnight oats are easily one of my family’s favorite breakfasts – even my toddler! Fixing breakfast for your family each morning can be challenging and I find the prepping it ahead of time is a simple way to make mornings better. (By the way, check out this post if you are looking for more great breakfast ideas for your toddlers and kids.)

Overnight Oats FAQ

Are overnight oats a healthy breakfast?

Overnight oats are a perfect breakfast for anyone – adults, kids, and toddlers! Because overnight oats are made with a variety of ingredients including oats, chia seeds, yogurt, and fruit, they have a variety of nutrients and make a very balanced breakfast with protein, carbs, and fat.

Do you eat overnight oatmeal cold?

Most people eat overnight oats cold. Because the oats are soaked in liquid during the night it softens them and makes them easier to digest.

Can a 1 year old eat overnight oats?

Yes, a 1-year-old or older toddler can eat overnight oats. Many recipes do have added sweeteners, so look for a recipe such as this banana overnight oat recipe that is sweetened with fruit only to serve to your littles.

What kind of oats do you use for overnight oats?

Most overnight oats, are made with old fashioned oats. The texture of overnight oats made with old fashioned oats works very well and may be most preferrable to your kids. However, there are receips for overnight oats made with steel cut oats.

Can you heat up overnight oats?

Why not? They are typically eaten cold, but you CAN heat them if you just absolutely prefer your oats warm. Simply heat in the microwave in a microwave-safe dish or on the stovetop.

What Makes This Overnight Oat Recipe So Great?

The best part about these banana overnight oats is they are sweetened solely with banana – no honey, maple syrup, or sugar. Many overnight oats recipes include one of these sweeteners, which I prefer to avoid for our daily breakfast (and save for desserts, special occasions, and less frequent breakfasts or meals.)

And honestly, no sweetener is needed as ripe bananas provide a naturally sweet flavor in these oats, making it possible to bypass additional sweetener and still have delicious tasting overnight oats.

What You Need To Make Healthy Banana Overnight Oats

These satisfying peanut butter banana overnight oats are a wonderful way to serve oatmeal to your entire family and make a great breakfast for toddlers or babies. Sweetened with banana and made savory with the flavor of peanut butter, these overnight oats are perfect for young kids including toddlers and babies.

Here’s what you need to make banana overnight oats:

Old Fashioned Oats – There are so many different types of oats, but old fashioned are my favorite variety for overnight oats.
Milk – Any variety (cow’s, almond, coconut, oat, etc)
Plain Yogurt – Yogurt adds protein and makes the oats creamy and filling! Greek yogurt will make your finished product a little thicker and add more protein than traditional yogurt, but either will work. Just make sure you do buy plain yogurt as flavored will usually have sweeteners.
Banana – The banana is what sweetens these overnight oats. Each serving has 1/2 banana mashed to flavor them throughout. You can top with the remaining half banana (or even another fruit) if you wish.
Nut butter – My recipe features peanut butter but could easily be switched for almond or another favorite nut butter. If you or your family has an allergy to nuts, you can simply omit the nut butter.
Favorite Mix-Ins – Chia Seeds, Hemp Seeds, Shredded Coconut, Additional Fruit for topping
Cinnamon

It’s a perfect recipe to involve your kids in the kitchen. I usually try to let my 2-year-old help mix these up every week. I find involving him in the meal prep helps him to be more interested in eating the finished product.

Best Ways To Store Overnight Oats

Banana Overnight Oats for Kids

I love these Elk and Friends glass cups. We use them daily for kid’s drinking cups, but they come with lids for food storage as well. I often use half of this recipe to fill the 8 oz kid-sized containers which make for a great grab and go breakfast. However, you don’t need special containers for storing oats! 8 oz mason jars with lids can also make a good size for kids.

Overnight Oats For Adults

Overnight oats are a great on the go breakfast idea for adults. They are also perfect for anyone stuck in a cereal rut and looking for easy breakfast ideas that are not cereal but still fast in the morning.

You can make your oats in any container. Seriously, nothing special is needed. We usually use wide-mouthed pint mason jars with plastic lids.

Other Healthy Breakfast Recipes You May Enjoy

High Protein Banana Bread

Chia Seed Overnight Oats

Sugar Free Pumpkin Muffins

Dairy Free Coconut Cream Pancakes

Banana Oat Pancakes

Print Recipe

5 from 1 vote

Banana Overnight Oats (Toddler + Baby Approved)

Prep Time5

Cook Time0

Total Time5

Servings:

Calories: 506kcal

Ingredients

1/3 Cup Old Fashioned Oats
1/2 Banana
1/2 Cup Yogurt Greek or Traditional (see notes)
1/4 Cup Milk any variety
2 Tbsp Peanut Butter
1 Tbsp Chia Seeds optional
1/8 tsp Cinnamon
Fruit, Shredded Coconut, Flax Seed Toppings optional

Instructions

Start by mashing ripened banana with a fork.
Mix together mashed banana, old fashioned oats, yogurt, milk, peanut butter, cinnamon, and chia seeds.
Top with any favorite toppings such as sliced banana, berries, or shredded coconut.

Notes

*Greek yogurt is thicker and therefore you may choose to use a little less yogurt or need additional milk to stir the oats if greek yogurt is used.

Nutrition Facts Per One Recipe: 506 kcal, 19 g protein, 51 g carbohydrate

Divide recipe into 2 servings if making for kids.

Nutrition

Calories: 506kcal

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Healthy Banana Overnight Oats (Toddler + Baby Approved)

How to Make Toddler + Baby Overnight Oats Video