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These chocolate protein overnight oats are packed with protein, full of fiber and taste like dessert too. They’re rich and chocolatey and the perfect healthy breakfast to start your day.
The Perfect Make-Ahead Breakfast
I love overnight oats as a Registered Dietitian. They’re easy to prep and perfect for a grab and go breakfast. You’ll have to try my Strawberry Cheesecake Overnight Oats and Peanut Butter Chocolate Overnight oats next!
That said, these are my favorite because they are SO chocolatey and seriously taste like you’re having dessert for breakfast. Here’s why you’ll love them:
- 30+ grams of protein per serving.
- 12 grams of fiber per serving.
- 5 minute prep time.
- Packed with nourishing, simple ingredients.
- Rich chocolatey flavor.
- Tastes like dessert!
If busy mornings are getting in the way of you and a healthy breakfast, you have to try these.
They’re also super customizable and you can add whatever toppings you want. I love adding fresh berries, a drizzle of peanut butter, or chocolate chips.
Ingredients
- Old fashioned rolled oats: Rolled old fashioned oats work the best for this recipe for the best texture. You can use quick oats or instant oats, but just be aware that the texture will be much softer and a bit “mushy”.
- Chia seeds: I love adding chia seeds because they add healthy fats, fiber and help to create the perfect texture. If you don’t love chia seeds, you can also use flax seeds or leave them out.
- Chocolate protein powder: Clean Simple Eats and Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Whey are my personal favorites, but feel free to use your favorite protein powder. If you only have vanilla protein powder that’s okay too!
- Greek yogurt: Greek yogurt helps create a rich and creamy texture and boosts the protein content,
- Milk: Milk adds protein, calcium, potassium and vitamin D! You can also use soy milk, cashew milk, almond milk, coconut milk or any other non-dairy milk of choice. You could even use chocolate milk!
- Cocoa powder: For rich chocolate flavor and some fiber too!
- Pure maple syrup: You can also use honey, brown sugar, a zero sugar syrup or stevia, or skip it all together.
Variations
- Chocolate peanut butter. Stir in 1-2 tbsp of creamy peanut butter or powdered peanut butter and then top with a peanut butter drizzle.
- Double chocolate. Stir in 2 tbsp of mini chocolate chips.
- Chocolate berry. Before serving stir in a handful of fresh berries like sliced fresh strawberries or blueberries.
- Vegan. Swap in a vegan protein powder and a dairy-free yogurt.
- Gluten-free. These are easily gluten free with certified gluten-free oats.
How To Make Chocolate Protein Overnight Oats
- Add ingredients. Add all ingredients to a small bowl, mason jar, or other single-serve container with a lid. Mix until smooth and combined.
- Chill and serve. Set in the fridge for at least 4 hours or overnight. Before serving, give it a final stir and top with your favorite toppings!
Note: If you don’t love cold oats, you can heat them up in the microwave in 30-60 second intervals.
How to store
Store these oats in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. If you prep them in a bowl, transfer them to a small mason jar or other single serving airtight container before refrigerating to set.
Topping Ideas
Overnight oats are best when you add 2-3 tablespoons of toppings before serivng in my opinion. My favorites:
- Fresh berries
- Sliced bananas
- Drizzle of peanut butter or almond butter
- Granola
- Chopped walnuts, almonds or pecans
- Mini chocolate chips
Recipe FAQ
Clean Simple Eats and Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Whey are my personal favorites, but any will work. I recommend choosing one that you like normally.
Any 12-16 oz. container with a lid will work, but I love these 12 oz. glass containers with bamboo lids or 16 oz. jars with lids. I love this size because they’re the perfect size for adding toppings.
You can but I recommend traditional oats over quick oats because they will come out mushier without as much texture.
You can, but they will come out a lot chewier. I recommend traditional oats over steel cut oats for sure.
More Overnight Oats Recipes
If you’ve made and loved these Chocolate Protein Overnight Oats or any other recipe on my blog, please leave a 🌟 star rating and comments below!
Chocolate Protein Overnight Oats
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup rolled oats
- 1 tbsp chia seeds
- 1/2 cup Greek yogurt
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/2 scoop chocolate protein powder
- 1 tbsp cocoa powder
- 1 tbsp maple syrup or honey, or sugar-free sweetener
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a small bowl, mason jar, or other single-serve container with a lid. Mix until smooth and combined.
- Set in the fridge for at least 4 hours or overnight.
- Before serving, give it a final stir and top with your favorite toppings like fresh berries, chocolate chips, peanut butter, or chopped nuts.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated and should only be used as an estimate.
So chocolatey and so yummy!! I love topping mine with frozen strawberries and raspberries. Love this recipe!!!
Thank you so much for your kind review! I’m happy you liked them 🙂
Does your recipe use whole milk? I would swap for oat milk and save calories, anxious to try this.
You can definitely use whatever milk you like!
What should I do if I don’t have protein powder? How should I adjust the recipe? TIA
You can just leave it out if you don’t have any!
This was so good! I made it with unsweetened vanilla almond milk and skipped the protein powder because I didn’t have any. It was like a chocolate mousse oatmeal. So yummy!
Fantastic!
I’ve made this recipe in original form and also as a vanilla style (just subbing vanilla protein powder and adding a bit of cinnamon) and I’m obsessed! I look forward to my mornings where I have these waiting for me! I love to mash raspberries and slide them on top with some maple syrup! Seriously so good!
Absolutely amazing! A chocolate lovers protein dream will be making others of yours. Soooo easy it’s funny.
Thank you! Definitely one of my favorites!