Chunky Monkey Protein Overnight Oats (Print Version)

Protein-packed overnight oats featuring chocolate, peanut butter, and banana flavors inspired by the classic chunky monkey combination.

# What You'll Need:

→ Oats Base

01 - 1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
02 - 1 cup unsweetened milk of choice (dairy or plant-based)
03 - 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt or non-dairy yogurt
04 - 2 tablespoons chia seeds
05 - 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
06 - 1 scoop (approximately 30 grams) chocolate or vanilla protein powder
07 - 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup or honey
08 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
09 - Pinch of salt

→ Mix-ins and Toppings

10 - 1 medium ripe banana, sliced
11 - 2 tablespoons natural peanut butter, divided
12 - 2 tablespoons chopped walnuts
13 - 1 tablespoon mini chocolate chips, optional

# How to Make It:

01 - In a medium mixing bowl or large jar, combine oats, milk, yogurt, chia seeds, cocoa powder, protein powder, maple syrup, vanilla extract, and salt. Stir thoroughly until fully incorporated.
02 - Gently fold in half of the banana slices and 1 tablespoon of peanut butter into the oat mixture.
03 - Cover the jar or bowl with a lid or plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 6 hours or overnight until the mixture reaches a thick and creamy consistency.
04 - In the morning, stir the chilled oats thoroughly and add additional milk if needed to achieve your desired consistency.
05 - Divide the overnight oats evenly between two bowls or serving jars.
06 - Top each serving with remaining banana slices, a drizzle of the remaining peanut butter, chopped walnuts, and mini chocolate chips if desired.
07 - Enjoy the overnight oats chilled immediately.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • You get a full day's worth of energy from a meal you literally just assembled the night before.
  • It tastes like chocolate peanut butter banana cake but won't judge you for eating it at 7 a.m.
  • There's genuine protein happening here, so you'll stay full until lunch without the mid-morning slump.
02 -
  • Don't skip stirring the night before—I learned this the hard way when I just combined things and went to bed, waking up to separated cocoa powder floating on top like a science experiment.
  • The texture matters more than the exact ratios, so taste and adjust the sweetness and consistency before you eat it because overnight oats taste noticeably different when cold versus when they've been sitting in the fridge.
03 -
  • Use slightly overripe bananas because they're sweeter and won't require as much added sweetener—this matters more than you'd think when you're trying to keep added sugar reasonable.
  • The texture changes slightly each day in the fridge, so day one feels creamier while day three gets thicker; if you're making a batch, eat the first jar on day two when the texture reaches its perfect middle ground.
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