Packing a quick, easy and delicious breakfast for your lunchbox isn't always the easiest thing to do. These Quinoa Overnight Oats are perfect for when you need something on the go that can be prepped ahead of time. They pack well in a jar and keep in the fridge for a few days, which means you can make a batch and simply grab them from the fridge the next morning. Easily change up the flavors by adding different toppings. The perfect way to use up a batch of quinoa leftover from meal-prepping salads for the week, and a great way to get going on busy mornings.
If you need a lunchbox main dish to go with your quinoa overnight oats then why not add this Bacon Ranch Chicken Salad to your menu plan for the week so you have a batch ready for packing?
Quinoa Overnight Oats In A Jar
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This fun twist on the basic overnight oats recipe combines leftover quinoa with oats and lots of fresh in-season fruit, crunchy nuts, and a deliciously zesty and light yogurt cream to top it off.
It is the perfect make-ahead breakfast! Make a big batch and pack it into mason jars or small containers for a busy week ahead.
Why I love this recipe:
- it is a great addition to your meal prepping rotation: make a large batch of quinoa overnight oats at the start of the week and it will last for 3-5 days if stored correctly in the fridge;
- the dressing is lightened up and naturally sweetened: by using a mixture of yogurt and maple syrup you get a luxurious and creamy dressing to top off the oats that aren't too sweet and that pairs perfectly with the fruit;
- it is naturally gluten-free: obviously double check the ingredients on the oats that you decide to use, and if you are following a strict coeliac diet then follow the guidelines of a health professional in relation to which brands to use;
- it is vegetarian and easily made vegan: by switching the yogurt and milk used for plant-based options this meal prep breakfast is easily made vegan. Just be mindful that using different ingredients like coconut yogurt or almond yogurt may change the flavor of the dish.
Plus it is an easy breakfast to make which is always a huge plus!
🧂 INGREDIENTS YOU NEED
Although using leftover quinoa in an overnight oats dish may seem a little different, this is still a super simple breakfast made with a combination of simple ingredients such as rolled oats, leftover quinoa, fresh apples, juicy blueberries, chopped nuts, and a deliciously light and creamy yogurt topping.
You will need:
- leftover cooked quinoa: it is important to rinse the quinoa before cooking it. This removes the bitter-tasting coating on the small seeds, and if it is not rinsed prior to cooking the quinoa will taste all kinds of wrong and will not work in this sweet recipe at all. I use white quinoa for this recipe, but that is simply for aesthetics, colored quinoa works just as well;
- rolled oats: I would not recommend steel-cut oats as they do not get a creamy texture through soaking. Quick oats or instant oats can get a little mushy, but will work if that's all you have;
- milk of choice: I used coconut milk in this recipe, however, any regular or non-dairy milk such as almond milk or oat milk will work here;
- vanilla extract;
- maple syrup: you could also use honey or another liquid sweetener of choice if preferred;
- dash of cinnamon;
- ground ginger: you can replace this with fresh ginger if preferred, although that can be a lot stronger in flavor so you may want to adjust the amount used;
- fresh blueberries: dried blueberries or frozen blueberries can be used if blueberries are not in season;
- fresh apple: we are going to grate this apple so that the mixture becomes almost like a bircher muesli. You can peel the apple or leave the skin on depending on your preferences. Dried apple roughly chopped could be used in place of fresh apple;
- yogurt of choice: I used coconut yogurt in this recipe, however, any regular or plant-based yogurt will work here. I do suggest using a thick full-fat yogurt like Greek yogurt so you end up with nice thick yogurt cream, but use whatever works for you;
- pinch of salt.
You might also want some extra fresh berries, freshly chopped apples, chopped walnuts, and coconut flakes to serve.
Or use your imagination and add your favorite toppings.
📋 HOW TO MAKE
This recipe could not be easier to make!
You are going to simply combine the rolled oats with the cooked quinoa, milk, vanilla, maple syrup, cinnamon, chopped apples, and blueberries in a large bowl with a lid and give everything a good stir until completely combined.
Pop the lid on and then put it into the fridge for at least 2 hours, but preferably overnight.
Alternatively, to save on time down the track you can pack the overnight quinoa straight into mason jars, leaving room to add fresh fruit on top when it comes time to serve. Just be sure to pack it in an airtight container.
Once you have the oats sorted we are going to make the yogurt cream.
To do this, mix the yogurt with the maple syrup and vanilla and stir well to combine. Pop this in the fridge until needed, we want it to be nice and cold when paired with the oats and quinoa.
When it comes time to serve up or pack your breakfast jars give the quinoa mixture a good stir to make sure everything is well combined.
Add a good spoonful of the oat mixture into your storage container, and top with some maple yogurt, some fresh apple, fresh blueberries, and any other toppings of your choice.
I like to add some crunch so I usually add some chopped nuts or seeds or some granola if I have it handy.
Pop the lid on and pack for your breakfast on the go.
Quinoa overnight oats are best served cold, so if you are packing it for lunch you will want to make sure that you have access to a refrigerator at work or pack it with a solid ice pack that will stay cold for the duration of the day.
🥢 USEFUL PRODUCTS
I like to have a bunch of thin ice packs on hand in the freezer at all times. When I pack a yogurt-based breakfast like this I will pack it with one ice pack on top and one ice pack on the bottom to ensure the dish stays cold when I don't have access to a fridge.
💭 STORING TIPS
This easy quinoa overnight oats recipe should be stored in an air-tight container in the fridge for about 3 days. It should be kept cold, so if you are packing it for lunch you should put it in the fridge or pack it with some good ice packs to ensure it stays cold at all times.
It is not a good option for freezing.
🍽 SERVING SUGGESTIONS
No further steps are needed for serving this recipe, except to give everything a good stir and enjoy with a spoon.
If you like to change things up you could always use this as a base recipe and try adding:
- other fresh berries such as strawberries, raspberries, or blackberries depending on what is in season
- some fresh chopped mango with some dried mango and coconut stirred through the oats
- a drizzle of maple syrup or honey on top for some added sweetness
- a sprinkle of brown sugar on top
- a spoon full of protein powder or a dollop of peanut butter or almond butter on top for some added protein
- a sprinkle of flax seeds, hemp seeds, sunflower seeds, or chia seeds on top or through the overnight quinoa
Choose your favorite flavor combinations and go to town.
When packing this lunchbox breakfast I would serve it with some fresh fruit, a handful of nuts, a salad like this Creamy Dragon Fruit Waldorf Salad Recipe With Grapes, lettuce leaves for stuffing the salad into, and a sweet treat like one of these Ultimate Two Bite Chocolate Brownie Muffins.
👪 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Can I use leftover quinoa for quinoa overnight oats?
Yes. Leftover quinoa works perfectly for quinoa overnight oats. Just be sure it has been cooked in plain water rather than a stock, and that is hasn't been salted too much when cooked.
Should I rinse quinoa before cooking?
Absolutely.
When quinoa is not rinsed it will be covered in a bitter substance that will make it taste very unappealing when cooked, which means rinsing it before cooking, especially when using it in a sweet recipe like this, is absolutely vital.
Hope this satisfies your sweet tooth and fills your tummy.
Apple and Blueberry Quinoa Overnight Oats
Materials
- 1.5 cups cooked quinoa (leftover quinoa is fine)
- ½ cup rolled oats
- 1.5 cups milk of choice
- 1 cup grated apple
- ½ cup fresh blueberries plus more for serving
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
- ¼ teaspoon salt
For the yogurt cream top
- ½ cup thick yogurt
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- extra berries, chopped apples, and chopped nuts for serving
Instructions
- In a large bowl mix together the quinoa, oats, milk, grated apple, blueberries, maple syrup, vanilla, cinnamon, ginger, and salt until well combined.1.5 cups cooked quinoa, ½ cup rolled oats, 1.5 cups milk of choice, 1 cup grated apple, ½ cup fresh blueberries, 2 tablespoons maple syrup, ½ teaspoon vanilla extract, ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon, ¼ teaspoon ground ginger, ¼ teaspoon salt
- Transfer the mixture to 4 glass jars with lids and put in the fridge for at least 2 hours, or overnight.
- In a small bowl combine the yogurt with the maple syrup and vanilla, and stir to combine. Cover and chill for about 10 minutes.½ cup thick yogurt, 1 tablespoon maple syrup, ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- To serve add a dollop of the maple yogurt on top of the quinoa mixture in each jar. Top with fresh berries, chopped apple, and chopped nuts.extra berries, chopped apples, and chopped nuts for serving
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