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Busy mornings often call for something quick, filling, and easy to grab from the refrigerator. These Strawberries and Cream Overnight Oats have quickly become one of the simplest make-ahead breakfasts in our kitchen. The ingredients are stirred together the night before, chilled overnight, and by morning the oats soften into a creamy, spoonable breakfast that tastes like a light strawberry dessert.
The flavor comes from freeze-dried strawberries, vanilla protein powder, and a touch of vanilla pudding mix which creates that classic “strawberries and cream” taste. It’s an easy way to prep breakfast ahead of time alongside other simple morning favorites like fluffy homemade pancakes, hotel style waffles, or sourdough discard crepes.
You can also browse my ever growing collection of Breakfast Recipes for more simple morning ideas.
If you’re more of a coffee in the morning type person try my Mocha Chip Overnight Oats.
Because the ingredients are shelf-stable, the dry mixture can even be pre-portioned into jars ahead of time. That makes it a great option for meal prep days when you might also be preparing things like instant pot frozen chicken breast, baking dutch oven cheesy bread, or making a batch of homemade taco seasoning for the week.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Quick make-ahead breakfast
- Naturally sweet strawberry flavor
- Higher protein than traditional oatmeal
- Simple pantry ingredients
- Easy to prep several jars at once
- Creamy texture without needing yogurt
- Perfect for busy mornings or meal prep
These overnight oats pair nicely with other breakfast options like sourdough discard cinnamon rolls, homemade biscuits, or even savory dishes like biscuits and gravy when feeding a larger family breakfast table.
Ingredients
- Quick oats
- Vanilla protein powder
- Nonfat dry milk
- Ground flaxseed
- Freeze-dried (or fresh) strawberries
- Stevia
- Sugar-free vanilla pudding mix
- Milk
Many of these ingredients are common pantry staples that also appear in other breakfast recipes like homemade pancakes, or baked treats such as lemon sugar cookie bars and sugar cookie cake.
Equipment
Overnight Oats Containers – These special mason jars are perfect for overnight oats because they allow enough space to stir the ingredients together and store the oats directly in the refrigerator.
Measuring Spoons or Kitchen Scale – A small digital kitchen scale makes it easy to portion the dry ingredients accurately, especially when prepping multiple jars at once.
Mixing Spoon – A simple spoon or butter knife works well for stirring the oats before refrigerating.
How to Make
Start by adding the dry ingredients directly into a mason jar. The quick oats form the base of the mixture, while vanilla protein powder and powdered milk create the creamy “strawberries and cream” flavor once liquid is added. Ground flaxseed adds fiber and body, and the freeze-dried strawberries provide concentrated strawberry flavor without watering down the oats.
Next, sprinkle in the sugar-free vanilla pudding mix and a small amount of stevia. The pudding mix is what gives the oats their thick, creamy texture after chilling overnight.
Once all of the dry ingredients are layered together in the jar, pour your milk or water over the mixture. Stir thoroughly so the oats and powders fully hydrate. The mixture may look thin at first, but the oats and pudding mix will absorb the liquid while chilling.
Seal the jar and place it in the refrigerator overnight. During this time the oats soften, the strawberries rehydrate slightly, and the pudding mix thickens the mixture into a creamy consistency.
By morning, the oats are ready to eat straight from the jar. The texture should be soft, creamy, and lightly sweet with bursts of strawberry flavor. If you’re looking for something with a little more of a coffee kick, try my Mocha Chip Overnight Oats.
This type of make-ahead breakfast is perfect for busy mornings when the kitchen is already active with family favorites like Fluffy Homemade Pancakes, Hotel Style Waffles, or a weekend breakfast spread with Homemade Biscuits and Gravy.
This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
PrintStrawberries and Cream Overnight Oats (High Protein)
Creamy strawberries and cream overnight oats made with quick oats, vanilla protein powder, freeze-dried strawberries, and a touch of vanilla pudding mix for extra smooth texture. This easy high-protein breakfast comes together in minutes and chills overnight for a quick grab-and-go morning meal.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Chill Time: 6 hours
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 6 hours 5 minutes
- Yield: 1 serving
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: No Cook, Overnight
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 20 g Quaker Quick Cook Oats
- 15 g Be Amazing Vanilla Protein Powder
- 1 TBSP (7 g) Great Value Nonfat Dry Milk
- 3 g Great Value Organic Ground Flaxseed
- 5 g Great Value Freeze-Dried Strawberries (or 3-4 fresh diced)
- 1 g stevia (or to taste)
- 5 g Great Value Sugar-Free Vanilla Pudding Mix
- 7–8 oz milk or water
Instructions
- Add the oats, protein powder, dry milk, flaxseed, freeze-dried strawberries, stevia, and pudding mix to a mason jar or shaker bottle.
- Pour in 7–8 ounces of milk or water.
- Secure the lid and shake well until the powders are fully combined.
- Refrigerate overnight, or for at least 4 hours, to allow the oats and pudding mix to hydrate and thicken.
- Shake again before drinking or eating.
Notes
-
This recipe makes one serving with a 56 g dry mix.
-
For meal prep, scale the recipe x 5 or x 10 and combine the dry ingredients in a jar and scoop 56 grams per serving.
-
Using milk instead of water will make the shake creamier and add additional protein.
-
Nutrition (estimate per serving)
Calories: 209
Protein: 18.7 g
Carbohydrates: 27.8 g
Fat: 3.5 g
Fiber: ~3–4 g
Recipes That Pair Well With This
For a larger breakfast spread, these overnight oats pair nicely with a variety of my breakfast favorites.
- Fluffy Homemade Pancakes
- Hotel Style Waffles
- Sourdough Discard Crepes
- Sourdough Discard Cinnamon Rolls
- Homemade Biscuits
- Biscuits and Gravy
For savory brunch options, you might also serve:
- Classic Chicken Salad on croissants
- Garlic Butter Rice alongside eggs and sausage
- Cilantro Lime Rice with my Southwest breakfast burritos
And for dessert later in the day:
- Classic No Bake Cookies
- Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake
- Lemon Sugar Cookie Bars
- Frosted Sugar Cookie Bars
- Classic No Bake Cookies
More Recipes to Try
- Mocha Chip Overnight Oats
- Creamy Chicken and Rice Soup
- Cajun Chicken Pasta
- Garlic Butter Pasta
- Slow Cooker Taco Soup
- Homemade Taco Seasoning
- Everything Bagel Seasoning
- Cajun Chicken Pasta
- Southwest Chicken Sandwiches
- Homemade Ranch Seasoning Mix
These simple pantry recipes make it easier to cook from scratch throughout the week.
Tips for Little Helpers
Kids often enjoy helping assemble overnight oats.
- Let them measure and pour the oats
- Allow them to sprinkle in the strawberries
- Kids can help stir the jar before refrigerating
- Older kids can portion multiple jars for breakfast prep
This is a simple kitchen task that builds confidence while preparing breakfast for the next day.
Tips for Success
- Use quick oats for the best texture.
- Stir the mixture thoroughly before refrigerating.
- Allow the oats to chill at least 6–8 hours.
- Adjust sweetness slightly depending on your protein powder.
- Freeze-dried strawberries provide the best flavor without watering down the oats.
FAQs
Can I use old-fashioned oats instead of quick oats?
Yes, but the texture will be slightly chewier. Quick oats soften more fully overnight.
Can I make multiple jars at once?
Yes. This recipe works well for meal prep. Simply portion the dry ingredients into several jars and add milk when ready.
Can I skip the protein powder?
You can, but the oats will have less protein and slightly less creaminess.
Do the strawberries need to be fresh?
Freeze-dried strawberries work best because they concentrate the strawberry flavor without adding extra moisture.
Storage
Store prepared overnight oats in a sealed mason jar in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Freezing Instructions
Overnight oats generally do not freeze well once mixed because the texture can become watery when thawed.
However, the dry ingredient mix can be stored in jars or containers in the pantry for several weeks, making it easy to prepare fresh jars as needed.
Variations
Chocolate Strawberry
Add a small amount of cocoa powder for a chocolate-covered strawberry flavor.
Strawberries and Cream Cheesecake
Add a spoonful of cream cheese or Greek yogurt when stirring.
Strawberry Banana
Stir in sliced banana before serving.
Extra Protein
Add additional protein powder or a spoonful of powdered peanut butter.
Final Thoughts
These Strawberries and Cream Overnight Oats are a simple way to prepare breakfast ahead of time without much effort. With a handful of pantry ingredients and a mason jar, you can create a creamy, satisfying breakfast that’s ready to grab from the refrigerator in the morning. The flavor is bright, lightly sweet, and perfect for busy days when a quick breakfast makes all the difference.
While you’re here, check out all of my Breakfast Recipes
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