Want a fun flavor twist for your everyday overnight oats? Love matcha lattes and looking for ways to play with matcha powder? Try this EASY Matcha Overnight Oats Recipe. This is a great breakfast for your busy mornings since you can make it the night before and wake up to a ready-to-eat, healthy breakfast!
MATCHA LOVERS UNITE!
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What Are Matcha Overnight Oats?
Matcha Overnight Oats are simply a flavor variation of the classic overnight oats.
Overnight Oats
Overnight oats is a tasty and healthy breakfast similar to oatmeal. A benefit of overnight oats is that you save a lot of time since overnight oats do not need to be cooked.
The oats soak up the liquid ingredients of a given recipe and become softened through setting over a period of a couple hours to overnight.
Matcha
Matcha is a powder made from grinding whole green tea leaves. It is traditionally found in Japanese culture where it is featured in tea ceremonies and sweets.
Matcha Overnight Oats
For this recipe, I kept my classic base overnight oats recipe and added just the right amount of matcha green tea powder to flavor this breakfast beautifully.
I like to think of it like a matcha latte in oatmeal and edible form. If you love matcha lattes (like me!) and oatmeal, you may fall in love with this Matcha Overnight Oats Recipe too!
Matcha Overnight Oats Recipe Ingredients
Old-Fashioned Oats
Old-Fashioned Oats: Old fashioned rolled oats are the most important ingredient for this Matcha Overnight Oats recipe. The oats serve as a nice, hearty base and will take on any flavor of your choosing.
Learn about how other oats (quick-cooking oats and steel cut oats) would do in this recipe in the FAQ below.
Matcha Green Tea Powder
Matcha: Whilst oats may be critical to make overnight oats, matcha is the key ingredient for this flavor variation. Matcha gives this recipe a lovely green tea flavor.
Matcha comes from Japan where it is specially cultivated. The leaves are slowly ground into a bright, green powder.
There are basically two types of matcha green tea powder:
- Ceremonial: Designed to be used in traditional Japanese tea ceremonies / for drinking.
- Culinary: Designed to be used in recipes, like matcha muffins, matcha smoothies, matcha cookies, and matcha overnight oats (like this recipe).
Also good to know: matcha gives this recipe a boost thanks to the caffeine from green tea.
In terms of caffeine levels, you may be interested to know that matcha has less caffeine than a cup of coffee. Or maybe that’s just something I googled when I first started drinking it.
My fave matcha spot from when I lived in NYC sells their matcha online. You can get MatchaBar ceremonial grade matcha on Amazon here.
Milk of Choice
Milk of Choice: Use your favorite milk (or whatever you have in the fridge) in this recipe. Pretty much any will do. As a flexitarian, I aim to eat mostly plant-based, so I prefer non-dairy, plant-based milk. My current fave is oat milk.
Here are some other great milks that would work: almond milk, soy milk, coconut milk, cashew milk, and of course dairy milk. Though the latter would of course make this non-vegan.
Opt for unsweetened milk so you can avoid added sugars choose how much (and what quality) sweetener you eat.
Yogurt (Optional)
Yogurt: Like with the milk, you can use pretty much any yogurt you prefer for this Matcha Overnight Oats Recipe. I find non-dairy yogurts, like almond milk yogurt or coconut milk yogurt, taste great with the matcha. But you could definitely use greek yogurt (not vegan), soy yogurt, or cashew milk yogurt.
Also like the milk, I recommend going with an unsweetened yogurt.
Want to make Matcha Overnight Oats without yogurt? From my testing, yogurt is the key to getting a beautiful, creamy texture in your overnight oats. It’s also what sets it apart from regular oatmeal. But you can also substitute the yogurt with more milk, if you prefer.
Maple Syrup
Maple Syrup: I highly recommend using pure maple syrup for this Matcha Overnight Oats Recipe. Unlike sugar, you won’t have to worry about the texture being grainy. Or needing to take extra steps to dissolve sugar in hot water. Yay for efficiency!
Maple syrup helps you avoid refined sugars if you, like me, aim to eat closer to whole foods where possible.
Other natural sweeteners are: honey, coconut sugar, date sugar, date syrup OR whole food sweeteners like chopped, pitted dates or mashed banana.
Chia Seeds (Optional)
Chia Seeds: Chia seeds are totally optional, but they’re an easy ingredient to add to boost nutrition and help you stay fuller longer. They add protein, fiber, omega 3 fatty acids, and antioxidants.
If you make Matcha Overnight Oats without chia seeds, you may want to reduce the milk you use or your finished oats may turn out a bit more liquidy.
Fresh Raspberries (Optional)
Fresh Raspberries: For a colorful topping that makes your Matcha Overnight Oats absolutely gorgeous, try fresh raspberries. The berry flavor goes great with the matcha.
This makes it a Raspberry Matcha Overnight Oats Recipe, I guess. Mmm!
For looks – red and green pair beautifully together, in general. In terms of color theory, they sit opposite each other on the color wheel. This makes them complementary colors, and a great color duo.
Additional Mix-Ins and Toppings
Want to add even more mix-ins and toppings? Here are more ideas to add to your Matcha Overnight Oats Recipe to make these matcha oats the most delicious for YOU.
Additional Mix-Ins and Toppings to Try:
- Other Fresh Berries
- Banana Slices
- Your Other Favorite Fresh Fruit
- Coconut Flakes
- Vanilla Extract
- Almond Extract
- Almonds (chopped, sliced, slivered)
- Chopped Pecans
- Chopped Walnuts
- Pumpkin Seeds / Pepitas
- Hemp Seeds
- Protein Powder
- Drizzle of honey (would make this not vegan though)
- A sprinkle of matcha powder – just for looks 😉
Or add your other favorite toppings of choice. There are nearly endless possibilities!
Health Benefits of Matcha
Matcha has some incredible health benefits. I could write a whole post just about this topic. For now, here’s a high-level list:
- Rich in Antioxidants (Catechins and Polyphenols)
- Contains a Variety of Vitamins and Minerals (Including – Vitamins: A, C, E, K; Minerals: Copper, Magnesium, Manganese, Zinc)
- May Help Manage Stress + Anxiety and Improve Cognitive Function (Matcha is High in L-theanine, which research has shown to help with stress-related symptoms and cognitive function)
- And more!
Of Note: While green tea is made by steeping green tea leaves in hot water, matcha is made differently. Matcha is made by grinding whole green tea leaves. So when you eat or drink matcha, you’re getting the nutrients from the entire leaf. Pretty cool, right?
How to Make This Matcha Overnight Oats Recipe (5 Easy Steps)
Dear fellow busy peeps – you need this recipe so you can eat well on your busiest days. A couple quick minutes the night before will give you a delicious breakfast the next day.
Here’s how to make this Matcha Overnight Oats recipe in 5 quick and simple steps:
- In a glass container, add matcha powder and whisk in milk of choice until evenly mixed.
- Stir in oats, yogurt of choice, and maple syrup.
- Next, stir in the chia seeds. Cover and place in the fridge. Note: I’ve noticed stirring my chia seeds at this point helps keep them from clumping together.
- The next morning, give your matcha overnight oatmeal a stir and check the texture. Add a splash of milk if you want your overnight oats more liquidy / milky.
- Add any toppings you’d like to your oats and enjoy!
What a great way to start your day!
Bonus for my fellow office / desk workers: if you’re too busy to eat, you can take your overnight oats to work to eat at your desk. Not ideal, but better than skipping breakfast.
Lazy / Busy Girl Tip: It's a good idea to measure the oats and milk so the texture is just right after setting. I've found that I can eyeball the rest of the ingredients, even the yogurt!
Raspberry Overnight Oats Recipe FAQ
How long do I need to wait after prepping to eat this Matcha Overnight Oats Recipe?
You don’t need to wait overnight to enjoy your overnight oats once you’ve prepped them. You need about 2-4 hours minimum for the oats and chia seeds to soak up the milk (and yogurt) in this recipe to soften and set. Basically, once the texture is to your liking, you can dig in.
Do you eat overnight oats hot or cold?
Overnight oats are designed to be eaten cold. Honestly, that’s one of its best features, because heat = more effort. Eating it cold = yay lazy breakfast. Haha
But seriously, you can warm up your overnight oats in the microwave if you’d like. You may want to make your overnight oats without yogurt in this case since that ingredient typically doesn’t heat up well.
What type of oatmeal should I use to make this recipe?
For optimum overnight oats texture, I recommend you use old-fashioned rolled oats. It gives the perfect overnight oats texture in my humble opinion.
Quick oats can yield a mushier texture.
And steel cut oats will require a special recipe since steel oats are so different – you couldn’t just do a one-for-one substitution.
Are overnight oats gluten-free?
Whilst oats are naturally gluten-free, there are two things to keep in mine if you are concerned about gluten:
- Oats can be produced in a facility where they can become contaminated – most products will say if they’re produced in a facility with gluten.
- Oats contain a protein called avenin that can cause a similar reaction to gluten for some individuals.
When in doubt, please speak with your trusted medical care provider. I’m a blogger, not a doctor. So wanted to share some helpful input to help you research and make the best decision for you.
How do you make Matcha Overnight Oats without yogurt?
To make this Matcha Overnight Oats Recipe without yogurt, simply replace the yogurt with the equivalent amount of milk.
Side note: I must share that I do think the yogurt makes overnight oats taste next level. And I’m saying this as someone who tries to not buy extra ingredients if I don’t have to. For me, it’s worth it to get the yogurt!
How do you make matcha overnight oats without chia seeds?
Chia seeds soak up a lot of liquid, so if you make your overnight oats without chia seeds, you may need to reduce how much liquid you use.
Important note: chia seeds help make overnight oats filling since they provide a good source of protein, fiber, and healthy fats. So you may want to add more nuts and seeds on top or add some protein powder in lieu of chia seeds to help you stay fuller longer.
Print
Matcha Overnight Oats Recipe
- Prep Time: 5
- Cook Time: 120
- Total Time: 2 hours 5 minutes
- Yield: 1 1x
Description
This delicious and fun breakfast takes just a couple minutes to prep and then sets overnight (or in a couple hours). Simply add your toppings and enjoy – no cooking required!
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon matcha green tea powder
- 1/2 cup rolled oats
- 1/2 cup milk of choice (I love oat milk)
- 2 tablespoons yogurt of choice
- 1/2 – 1 teaspoon maple syrup
- 1 – 3 teaspoons chia seeds
- handful of fresh raspberries, optional garnish
Instructions
- In a medium bowl (or mason jar), add matcha and whisk in milk.
- Add oats, yogurt, and maple syrup and stir to combine evenly.
- Stir in chia seeds, cover with a lid, and put container in the fridge.
- Wait at least 2-hours to overnight. Take off the lid and stir. If needed: add a splash of milk or so to make the texture more liquidy.
- Add toppings of choice and enjoy!
Notes
- Use your favorite milk in this recipe. I’ve been making mine with oat milk since that’s what I prefer in my morning coffee. You could also use almond milk, soy milk, coconut milk, or beyond.
- To make this Matcha Overnight Oats Recipe without chia seeds, you may need to reduce the milk because the chia seeds soak up a TON of liquid.
- To make this Matcha Overnight Oats Recipe without yogurt, substitute any removed yogurt with more milk.
- Feeling lazy? I recommend measuring the matcha, oats, and milk. You can estimate the rest of the ingredients, especially the more you make this recipe.
Summary: Matcha Overnight Oats Recipe
Matcha overnight oats are a fun flavor twist on the classic overnight oats.
This recipe is a great meal prep idea for even those of you (like me) who do not actually like to meal prep. It’s perfect for busy mornings before work, errands, taking care of your kids, etc.
Basically, if you have a busy schedule (like me) but also love eating healthy food that actually tastes good (also like me) and you love matcha (where’s my team matcha crew?), then you may just fall in love with this recipe for matcha overnight oats.
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More Overnight Oats Recipes to Love
Raspberry Overnight Oats Recipe
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Hope you enjoyed this Matcha Overnight Oatmeal Recipe. Thank you for stopping by!
What overnight oats flavor should I make a recipe for next?