Chocolate Banana Overnight Oats (Easy 5-Minute Meal Prep)

If chocolate and banana is one of your favorite flavor combinations, this Chocolate Banana Overnight Oats recipe is about to become a weekly staple. It’s rich, chocolatey, naturally sweet, and satisfying – the kind of breakfast that truly curbs a chocolate craving.

This is also one of my favorite 5-minute meal prep recipes. In under five minutes, you can prep breakfast for the entire week using simple pantry ingredients. It’s an affordable way to use up ripe bananas, avoid food waste, and have a healthy, portable breakfast ready to grab every morning.

Quick Look at This Recipe

• Prep Time: 5 minutes
• Cook Time: None
• Total Time: 5 minutes (+ overnight soak)
• Servings: 1 (easy to scale for the week)
• Method: No-cook
• Flavor & Texture: Rich, chocolatey, creamy, naturally sweet

Ingredient Notes

You’ll find the full ingredient list in the recipe card below. These notes will help you get the best results.

• Rolled oats (old-fashioned oats) are the foundation of overnight oats. Don’t use instant oats — they turn mushy — and skip steel-cut oats, which stay crunchy. Rolled oats are naturally gluten-free, but if you’re sensitive, choose certified gluten-free oats.
• Cacao powder gives these oats a deep chocolate flavor while providing the benefits of a superfood. You can also use unsweetened cocoa powder if that’s what you have.
• Cinnamon adds warmth and enhances the natural sweetness of the banana.
• Chia seeds are a staple in all of my overnight oats recipes. They add fiber, protein, omega-3s, and help create a thick, pudding-like texture.
• Pure vanilla extract adds depth and rounds out the chocolate flavor.
• Unsweetened almond milk keeps the recipe dairy-free and low in added sugar, but any milk works.
• Banana naturally sweetens the oats and makes this a perfect recipe for using up ripe bananas. If you only use half, you can freeze the rest for later — I share how to do that in my how to freeze bananas tutorial, and frozen bananas are great for healthy smoothie recipes or even healthy banana bread.
• Pure maple syrup is optional if you want extra sweetness.
• Cacao nibs add crunch and extra chocolate flavor without refined sugar.

Supplies

• 16-ounce mason jars (wide or regular mouth)
• Plastic mason jar lids

How to Make Chocolate Banana Overnight Oats (Step-by-Step)

• In a 16-ounce mason jar, add the rolled oats, cacao powder, cinnamon, and chia seeds. Stir well to evenly distribute the dry ingredients.
• Add the almond milk, vanilla extract, and mashed banana. Stir until everything is fully combined.
• Cover with a lid and refrigerate overnight.
• In the morning, stir the oats. Add maple syrup if needed for extra sweetness.
• If the oats are too thick, stir in a splash of milk until creamy. Top with cacao nibs if desired and enjoy.

Expert Tips & Variations

• Use ripe bananas. The riper the banana, the sweeter your oats will be — often eliminating the need for added sweetener.
• Stir the dry ingredients first. Mixing the cacao powder and cinnamon with the oats before adding liquid prevents clumping.
• Adjust thickness in the morning. Chocolate banana overnight oats thicken as they sit. Add 1–2 teaspoons of milk to loosen them up.
• Boost protein if needed. Stir in collagen powder, protein powder, hemp hearts, or Greek yogurt.
• Hide in superfoods. Flaxseed, coconut oil, or chia seeds blend in easily without changing flavor.

Storage Tips

For the week: You can prep up to 5 jars of these banana chocolate overnight oats on Sunday for the week. Keep in mind the oats will thicken the longer they sit — just add a splash of milk before eating.

For the freezer: Freeze the dry ingredients and banana together in a freezer bag or jar. When ready to use, add milk and refrigerate overnight. This is one of my favorite ways to stay stocked with easy breakfasts. See more overnight oats freezer meal prep tips.

More Easy Prep Overnight Oat Recipes

• Vanilla Overnight Oats
• Strawberry Cheesecake Overnight Oats
• Pumpkin Overnight Oats
• Cherry Overnight Oats
• Blueberry Overnight Oats

See more of my healthy oatmeal recipes.

Did you make this recipe?

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