This recipe for Maple Pecan Overnight Oats is the perfect wholesome prep-ahead healthy breakfast recipe. Made with a base of old fashioned oats and crunchy pecans, it’s a simple recipe and the perfect vehicle for your favorite breakfast toppings.

Maple Pecan Overnight Oats

I love oatmeal and whether it’s hot or cold outside, you can find me eating oats in some form year-round. Traditional stove-top oats, baked oatmeal, crunchy granola, oatmeal muffins and, of course, overnight oats! When it comes to easy and healthy breakfast recipes, it’s hard to beat overnight oats. I mean just look at the steps:

Combine ingredients in a jar and stir
Cover and refrigerate overnight
Add a splash of milk in the morning and stir
Top with favorite toppings and enjoy

See what I mean? It’s almost as simple as pouring yourself a bowl of cereal in the morning but so much more satisfying!

I’ve shared a handful of overnight oats recipes on the blog throughout the years and wanted to share a recipe with you guys today that incorporates some of my favorite ingredients. Of course it calls for a base of old fashioned rolled oats but also incorporates chia seeds, Greek yogurt, cinnamon, chopped pecans and a splash of maple syrup.

Yum!

I love the way the natural sweetness of the maple syrup plays off of the crunchy, buttery chopped pecans and feel good knowing that pecans, little nutritional powerhouses, are incorporated into each bite. A one-ounce serving of pecans adds 3g of plant-based protein and fiber to the overnight oats. Compared to other nuts, pecans are among the highest in fiber and lowest in carbs (4g) per serving as well as a good source of zinc and an excellent source of manganese, a mineral that is essential for metabolism and bone health. Starting my day with some of that sounds pretty sweet to me!

And of course don’t forget to top your maple pecan overnight oats with your favorite toppings! I personally love fresh berries and more pecans (can’t get enough) but flaky unsweetened coconut and even a sprinkle of cacao nibs or chocolate chips are big-time winners, too!

How Long Can Overnight Oats Stay In The Fridge?

If you’re into the whole meal prep thing, this recipe is a great one to double or even triple so you have breakfast ready to go multiple mornings in a row. If you’re hoping to do a little food prep legwork on the weekends to make breakfast easier in the morning you may be wondering how long overnight oats will stay fresh in the fridge. They can be stored in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Keep in mind, however, that the oats will soften overtime and becomes less chewy. If this doesn’t bother you, feel free to make them several days in advance! I personally like to prepare them 1-3 day in advance at most.

Ingredients to Make Overnight Oats

To make overnight oats, I typically rely on a few main ingredients, including milk (any milk of your choice will do — almond milk, coconut milk, regular milk), Greek yogurt, chia seeds and/or flax seeds (I also love hemp seeds!), a sweetener of choice (honey or maple syrup are my favorites), spices (cinnamon is my go-to though I love pumpkin pie spice in the fall) and whatever berries, nuts or fun mix-ins I’m in the mood for that day!

To make this recipe for Maple Pecan Overnight Oats, you’ll need the following ingredients:

Milk (any kind you prefer — I love traditional whole milk in this recipe for added creaminess but almond milk is another favorite I like in this recipe, too!)
Pecans
Old Fashioned Oats (the best for chewiness — you won’t want to use steel cut oats or instant oats in this recipe)
Maple Syrup (for a little touch of natural sweetness)
Chia Seeds (for texture and a punch of fiber!)
Greek yogurt (vanilla or plain Greek yogurt work well — if using plain, you may wish to bump up the maple syrup in this recipe if you prefer sweeter oats)
Cinnamon
Sea Salt (just a pinch of sea salt really helps bring out the flavors in this recipe!)

How to Make Maple Pecan Overnight Oats

Step 1

Combine all ingredients together in a bowl or mason jar, ensuring all of the oats have been coated in the milk.

Step 2

Cover and place the bowl or mason jar in the refrigerator where the oats will soak overnight.

Step 3

In the morning, add a splash of milk and stir everything together again

Step 4

Top with additional chopped pecans, fresh berries, a drizzle of pecan butter or maple syrup, etc. Enjoy!