🥣 How to Make Overnight Oats in Mason Jars
If you’re looking for a healthy, affordable breakfast that takes less than 5 minutes to prep, then overnight oats in mason jars are your new best friend. They’re delicious, endlessly customizable, and perfect for meal prepping your week without breaking the bank.
Just mix, chill, and grab in the morning. No cooking. No stress. No skipping breakfast!
🧂 Basic Overnight Oats Formula
- 1/2 cup rolled oats
- 1/2 cup milk (dairy or non-dairy)
- 1/4 cup Greek yogurt (optional for extra creaminess and protein)
- 1–2 tsp chia seeds or flaxseed (optional for fiber)
- 1 tsp honey or maple syrup (optional for sweetness)
- 1/4 cup fruit or add-ins (berries, bananas, apples, etc.)
Combine ingredients in a 12–16 oz mason jar. Stir or shake with lid on, refrigerate overnight, and enjoy cold in the morning. That’s it!
💡 Budget Tip
Buy oats in bulk and use store-brand milk or yogurt to keep costs low. One bag of oats can make a dozen jars of overnight oats for less than $0.50 per serving. Always check YesWeCoupon.com for deals on oats, milk, yogurt, and mason jars!
🍓 Favorite Flavor Combos
- 🍌 **Peanut Butter Banana** – Add 1 tbsp peanut butter + 1/2 banana sliced
- 🍓 **Berry Bliss** – Add mixed berries + a drizzle of honey
- 🍎 **Apple Pie** – Add diced apples + cinnamon + raisins
- 🥥 **Coconut Mango** – Add shredded coconut + diced mango + a splash of coconut milk
- 🍫 **Chocolate Mocha** – Add cocoa powder + espresso + chocolate chips
Meal prepping? Line up 4–5 jars in the fridge for grab-and-go breakfasts all week.
🥄 Why We Love Overnight Oats
- ✅ Ready when you wake up
- ✅ No cooking required
- ✅ Keeps for up to 5 days in the fridge
- ✅ Customizable for picky eaters & food allergies
- ✅ Great source of fiber, protein, and slow carbs
Overnight oats are not only frugal, but they’re also great for portion control and clean eating goals.
🔁 Related Breakfast Recipes:
🥣 The Frugal Power of Overnight Oats
Overnight oats are one of the cheapest and most effective ways to meal prep for the week—especially if you’re trying to eat healthier without draining your grocery budget. With just a few pantry staples like oats, milk, and fruit, you can create endless variations for pennies per jar.
Let’s break down the cost. A standard 42 oz container of store-brand rolled oats yields roughly 30 servings. Add in basic milk and fruit, and you’re looking at:
- Oats: $0.10
- Milk: $0.15
- Yogurt (optional): $0.25
- Fruit: $0.25
Total cost per jar: $0.75 or less!
Compare that to a pre-packaged oatmeal cup ($1.50–$3.00) or a fast food breakfast, and the savings become obvious. Plus, you skip added sugars, preservatives, and packaging waste.
🧊 Make-Ahead Convenience
One of the best things about overnight oats is that they’re ready when you are. No stove, no microwave, no prep—just grab and go. They last 4–5 days in the fridge, making them ideal for batch prepping on Sunday night for a full workweek’s worth of breakfast.
Keep them in individual mason jars (12–16 oz is ideal) so they’re portioned and portable. Stack them neatly in your fridge and pull one out as you head to work, school drop-off, or even enjoy it as a mid-morning snack.
Need to feed kids fast in the morning? Let them help build their jars with their favorite toppings. It’s fun, educational, and teaches healthy eating habits early.
🥗 Boost the Nutrition with Add-Ins
You can tailor overnight oats to suit almost any diet or nutritional need. Whether you’re vegetarian, dairy-free, gluten-free, or just want a high-protein option, it’s easy to modify.
- 💪 **Add protein:** Greek yogurt, protein powder, chia seeds, hemp hearts, or peanut butter
- 🌾 **Add fiber:** Chia, flaxseed, oats, and berries are naturally high in fiber
- 🩺 **Lower sugar:** Use mashed banana, dates, or stevia instead of honey or syrup
- 🧠 **Brain-boosters:** Try walnuts, blueberries, and omega-3-rich seeds
Overnight oats are great for sustained energy because they provide complex carbs and fiber that digest slowly. That means fewer mid-morning cravings and better focus—especially useful for busy professionals, students, or parents on the go.
📦 Store & Label Like a Pro
Keep your meal prep organized by labeling each mason jar with the flavor and prep date. Use masking tape, dry erase stickers, or chalkboard labels for an easy and reusable system.
Don’t have mason jars? Reuse old salsa jars, baby food jars, or glass meal prep containers. You can also use BPA-free plastic cups with lids in a pinch. Just avoid storing them too long in plastic if you use dairy or fresh fruit.
Pro Tip: For extra bulk savings, buy oats, seeds, and dried fruits in the bulk bins at warehouse clubs or discount grocers. You’ll save up to 40% per ounce versus prepackaged options!
🍴 Creative Ways to Serve
Don’t stop at just spooning oats from a jar. Here are some creative ideas to mix it up:
- 🥥 **Layer in parfaits** – Add granola, yogurt, and fruit for a beautiful breakfast parfait.
- 🥞 **Stuff into crepes** – Use cold overnight oats as a filling for breakfast wraps or pancakes.
- 🍫 **Blend into smoothies** – Pour into a blender with fruit and milk for a thick, hearty smoothie.
- 🧁 **Serve in baked oat cups** – Mix into muffin tins and bake for a to-go breakfast bite.
These options keep things interesting and give you flexibility, especially if you batch prep but get bored easily.
🛒 Stack Savings with Coupons
Maximize your grocery budget by pairing your overnight oats prep with weekly sales and coupons. Before heading to the store, visit YesWeCoupon.com to find:
- 💸 Coupons on oats, yogurt, plant-based milks, and nut butters
- 🧾 Weekly ad matchups for breakfast essentials
- 📦 Amazon and Walmart bulk deals on jars and meal prep containers
- 📲 Cashback offers on Ibotta, Fetch, or Checkout51 for oatmeal products
Stretch your savings even more by using store-brand products. For example, Aldi and Walmart offer rolled oats and almond milk for up to 60% less than name brands—with no drop in quality.
📣 Share Your Oat Creations!
Join the YesWeCoupon breakfast club on Instagram and show off your overnight oats creations. Use the hashtag #YesWeOat and tag @YesWeCoupon for a chance to be featured!
Whether you’re a peanut butter banana lover or a berry parfait fan, your jars could inspire thousands of frugal foodies just like you.