Chocolate peanut butter overnight oats check every box I look for as a dietitian and a busy mom: quick to prep, filling enough to carry you through the morning, and satisfying enough that you'll actually look forward to eating them.
I love chocolate. I love peanut butter. So what better way to start the day than with a big bowl of peanut butter and chocolate overnight oats, straight from the fridge?! I've gotten a lot of requests for overnight oat recipes without chia seeds and without yogurt (two of my go-to ingredients for a basic overnight oats recipe), and finally got to work.
To make these oats high in fiber and protein, even without chia seeds and yogurt, these oats rely solely on oats, ground flax seed, peanut butter, and milk. It took a few tries to get the consistency and flavor right, but the final recipe is fudgy, sweet, rich, and super satisfying. It's exactly what you need when you really want a peanut butter cup for breakfast, but also want to start your day with a nourishing meal.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
- It's ready in under 5 minutes and fully prepped the night before. No blender needed, like with my chocolate chip cookie dough overnight oats, or layering (tiramisu overnight oats!). You just pour, mix, and refrigerate.
- Super easy to double the batch for breakfast all week long (just use the toggle on the recipe card!)
- Kid-friendly and easy to customize. My son does not like oatmeal, but he loves chocolate and peanut butter! This recipe instantly won him over.
- Even without chia seeds, yogurt, or protein powder, you'll get 16 grams of protein and 9 grams of fiber in each serving.
Ingredients
- Rolled oats: Use rolled, old-fashioned oats. They're loaded with soluble fiber, which helps you feel fuller and supports heart health and blood sugar regulation.
- Ground flaxseed: This is what makes these overnight oats without chia seeds work so well. Ground flax thickens the oats, adds a boost of omega-3s, and blends in completely. You won't even know it's there.
- Cocoa powder: Unsweetened cocoa powder gives you that deep chocolate flavor without making these overly sweet. Dutch-process works great here too if that's what you have on hand.
- Peanut butter: Any creamy peanut butter works for this recipe, but I prefer natural peanut butter (the kind where the oil and peanuts tend to separate). It's easier to stir in by hand, and get a pretty drizzle on top. Just be sure to stir the container well before using.
- Maple syrup: This adds just the right amount of sweetness. You can adjust the amount up or down based on your preference, or swap in honey or another sweetener if you prefer.
- Milk: Any milk works here. Dairy, oat, almond, whatever you keep in the fridge. If you want a thicker result, use a little less. Thinner? Add a splash more before eating. But if you're hoping to get the full 16 grams of protein per serving, be sure to use either dairy or soy milk.
Substitutions
- Peanut butter: Sub for any nut or seed butter. Almond, cashew, or sunflower butter are all options that add protein, healthy fats, and a creamy texture.
- Flaxseed: To boost fiber, protein, and healthy fats, and to thicken the texture, you should use either ground flaxseed (not whole flaxseeds) or chia seeds. If subbing for chia seeds, use 2 tablespoons for this two-serving recipe.
- Maple syrup: I like the flavor maple syrup adds to this recipe, but you can sub for equal amounts of honey, coconut sugar, brown sugar, or cane sugar.
Nutrition Variations
Want to adapt this recipe to better fit your nutrition goals? Try these ideas:
- Higher Protein: Instead of cocoa powder, use chocolate protein powder (as in my double chocolate overnight oats). You can also use ultra-filtered milk, which adds an extra 5 grams of protein per cup, or stir a half cup of Greek yogurt into the recipe for an extra 6 grams of protein per serving.
- Lower sugar: Use a low-calorie sweetener like monk fruit. I would start with 10 drops or so, and adjust from there to your desired sweetness.
- Gluten-free: Just be sure to use certified gluten-free oats, and this recipe is already naturally gluten-free!
- Vegan or dairy-free: Use plant-based milk (recommend soy for the protein boost!) and be sure to use dairy-free or vegan chocolate chips if you're sprinkling them on top!
Instructions
- Step 1: Combine the dry ingredients (oats, flax, and cocoa powder) in a jar or bowl and stir well.
- Step 2: Add the wet ingredients (milk, maple syrup, and peanut butter) and whisk until combined. Then cover and refrigerate overnight (or at least 4 hours).
- Step 3: (Optional) Drizzle peanut butter on top and sprinkle with mini chocolate chips.
Equipment
When making more than one serving of these oats, as directed in this recipe, you'll want to combine everything in a bowl or larger Pyrex dish, like my 3- cup glass containers. To store for ready-to-grab single servings, spoon one to one and a quarter cup portions into a glass jar, like these 10-ounce overnight oat containers.
Topping Ideas
The chocolate peanut butter oats are delicious on their own, but toppings make them feel a little more special:
- Mini chocolate chips
- Extra drizzle of peanut butter
- Sliced banana
- Chopped peanuts for crunch
- A sprinkle of flaky sea salt
- Cacao nibs
If you love chocolate and fruit together, a handful of fresh raspberries or sliced strawberries on top is a great touch. If you're not sure, just give my cherry chocolate smoothie a try, and you'll be convinced this combo is perfect!
Storage
Keep your chocolate peanut butter overnight oats in a sealed jar or airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. I recommend adding toppings right before eating so they stay fresh.
These are one of my favorite breakfast meal prep recipes because you can make multiple servings at once and have breakfast handled for almost the whole week.
Nutrition Highlights
As a dietitian, I love that these overnight oats are genuinely filling and nutritious, even without yogurt or chia seeds. The ground flaxseed adds fiber and plant-based omega-3s while the peanut butter brings healthy fats and protein to keep you satisfied. The oats themselves are a great source of fiber too. I talk more about why that matters in my roundup of high-fiber foods.
Together, these ingredients do a great job of stabilizing blood sugar in the morning, which means you're less likely to be ravenous by 10 am. I don't know about you, but that's what I want from breakfast.
Knowing the benefits of overnight oats, you'll be ready to rotate through my overnight oat collection to keep mornings easy all week long, without getting sick of the same flavor combos!
FAQS
Yes! Almond butter, cashew butter, or sunflower butter all work great as a swap. Same amount, just stir it in well.
Yes! As long as you use the ground flaxseed, they'll thicken up similarly to chia seeds, but without the classic chia-seed "jelly" texture.
You can! Just pop them in the microwave for 60-90 seconds and stir well. While some overnight oat recipes really are only good cold, this recipe is good both ways.
Store them in the fridge for up to 4 days. I like to make a batch at the start of the week, put them in individual bars, and just grab one each morning.
More Overnight Oats You'll Love
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
Did you try this recipe?
Once you've made it, let me know! You can:
- Leave a 5-star rating and review! (If you made any substitutions, let us know in the comments!)
- Share a picture of the recipe on Instagram and tag me @graciouslynourished - I'd love to see how it turns out!
Until Next Time...
All my best,
Kelsey
📖 Recipe
Chocolate Peanut Butter Overnight Oats
Ingredients
- 1 cup rolled oats
- 1 cup milk
- 3 tablespoons ground flax seed
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- 1.5 tablespoons cocoa powder
- 2 tablespoons peanut butter
- mini chocolate chips, extra peanut butter drizzle optional
Instructions
- Combine all the ingredients (except for the optional toppings) in a jar and stir, or cover with a tight-fitting lid and shake until well combined.
- Refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight.
- Top with mini chocolate chips and an extra drizzle of peanut butter if desired.
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