Chai overnight oats are vegan and gluten free, and they will bring all the cozy, spicy flavors you've been dreaming of to your breakfast table. As easy to make as always, this simple oatmeal recipe can be made ahead and is great for easy meal prep. First, mix the ingredients together and then pop it in the fridge overnight. Then in the morning, you'll have a cozy cup of chai spiced overnight oats ready to grab and go!
If you love overnight oats, try these Lotus Biscoff overnight oats next!
I love chai. I can still remember the first time I had a chai latte. When I was in high school, I got my very first job at a new bakery & coffee shop in my teeny tiny hometown. During training, I learned how to make all sorts of espresso drinks. I also had my first sip of espresso, matcha, and a chai tea latte. Chai was truly love at first sip!
I was hooked on chai tea lattes for a while there! The Tazo chai concentrate was my first love, and I especially loved their pumpkin chai. At the time, I knew nothing about the origins of chai and the culture surrounding it. When I left for college, I (like all of us small town guys and gals) was exposed to so many new cultures. One of my best friends from college is Indian and very in tune with his culture. I learned a lot from him because of his different perspectives (and finally tried Indian food. I was missing out). So, I got curious about the actual history and culture of chai. It's so interesting to learn about the cultures and traditions behind the food and drinks we enjoy. My personal philosophy on the purpose of food really focuses on that.
What is Chai?
Chai is usually short for masala chai. This tea originated in India, and it is usually a mix of black tea leaves, ground peppercorn, ground ginger, cardamom pods, cinnamon sticks, and cloves. The tea originally used for chai was sourced in Assam, which is a state in Northeastern India. While this tea had grown in India for many, many years, the people considered tea more medicinal and did not drink it for fun. It was when the British colonizers in the 1830s became worried about China's monopoly on the tea industry that they began to set up tea farms in Assam. The tea grown at these farms was mainly exported out of India. Chai didn't become popular in India until the British-owned Indian Tea Association encouraged textile, manufacturing, and mining companies in India to offer tea breaks for their workers. Subsequently, the popularity of masala chai began to spread.
Chai has become very popular in India today. For instance, there are street vendors called chaiwalas that deliver tea to the public. It is also common to welcome people into the home with a cup of chai.
Chai in America
Most of us Americans know chai in the form of a chai latte because of its popularity at coffee chains. Chai lattes are made by adding steamed milk to brewed chai tea or to a chai concentrate. Chai concentrate is nice because it only requires a little dilution, but most concentrates are super, super sweet. There are some good ones out there though, like Bhakti's Unsweetened Chai Concentrate for example!
Chai Overnight Oats
I love this chai tea overnight oats recipe so much. I'm just being honest here! The cozy, warm flavors of chai coupled with the creaminess of the oats is to die for. The overnight oats are vegan and gluten free, making it the dairy-free healthy breakfast recipe you've always dreamt of. My love for oats and love for chai are now one!
Another reason why I love this recipe so much is because it is so easy to prepare and make in advance! Healthy breakfast meal prep just got a whole lot better, y'all! Let's get into the deets.
What are Overnight Oats?
Ok, one more thing until we get into the deets! So Megan, what the heck are overnight oats and why are you so obsessed with them? Hear me out. Overnight oats is no-cook oatmeal. I said it! This oatmeal is prepared by letting your oats soak in milk for at least 2 hours or overnight. After the oats soak for a few hours, they become soft and creamy and delectable. The texture is very similar to traditional oatmeal, but overnight oats are typically eaten cold.
Are Overnight Oats Healthy?
Yes! Overnight oatmeal is full of fiber and whole grains. Common ingredients in overnight oats are:
- Oats (the most common for overnight oats is whole rolled or old fashioned oats)
- Dairy or non-dairy milk
- Chia seeds
- Natural sweeteners like honey or maple syrup (they are optional)
- Fruit and other toppings like nuts, nut butters, Greek yogurt, spices, and seeds
One of the many reasons why I love overnight oats recipes is because you can make them in so many different, delicious flavors. Chai latte overnight oats is only one of them! For example, some fun flavors that I have seen recipes for are matcha, chocolate, peanut butter, and coffee. In conclusion, overnight oats is truly the best easy, quick, and healthy breakfast that you can prepare in advance.
How to Make Chai Tea Overnight Oats
It honestly doesn't get much easier than this! Here are the ingredients you will need to make this gluten free overnight oatmeal recipe:
- Gluten free old fashioned rolled oats
- Milk
- Chia seeds
- Chai concentrate
- Vanilla extract
- Ground cinnamon
- Ground ginger
First, gather your ingredients, and then mix them all together in a bowl or container of some sort. Preparing the oats in a jar or mason jar makes things even easier! Once everything is mixed together, stick the oat mixture in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours or overnight. Then you are good to go!
Chai Overnight Oatmeal Substitutions
There are quite a few things you can do with this recipe! Firstly, you can use whatever milk you prefer, dairy or non-dairy. Personally, I prefer using oat milk, coconut milk, or cashew milk to make the chai oats vegan and extra creamy. I don't love almond milk for this recipe, but it can definitely work!
Secondly, you can use either sweetened or unsweetened chai concentrate depending on your preferences. However, if you find your oats not sweet enough after you've made them, you can add a bit of honey or maple syrup to hop them up.
Adding an extra quarter or eighth teaspoon of ground cinnamon or ginger is also an option if your oats are not spiced enough.
Chai Overnight Oats FAQ
Nope! I don't recommend using quick cooking oats because they will become too mushy after being soaked. Steel cut oats, on the other hand, will not get soft enough. So for this recipe, stick to using gluten free old fashioned whole rolled oats.
Yes! I recommend eating chai tea overnight oats cold, but you can heat them up in the microwave if you prefer warm oats.
Store your overnight oats in the refrigerator in an airtight glass container. They'll keep for 3-4 days.
You can freeze overnight oats for up to three months. For easy meal prep, make the overnight oats in bulk and then freeze individual containers for easy grab and go meals!
More Oat Recipes You'll Love
๐ Recipe
Chai Overnight Oats
Equipment
- 2 jars
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Ingredients
- 1 cup whole rolled oats
- ยฝ cup oat milk
- ยฝ cup chai concentrate
- 2 tablespoon chia seeds
- ยฝ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- ยผ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- โ teaspoon ground ginger
Instructions
- Add oats, milk, chai concentrate, chia seeds, vanilla, and spices to a container such as a mason jar.1 cup whole rolled oats, ยฝ cup oat milk, ยฝ cup chai concentrate, 2 tablespoon chia seeds, ยฝ teaspoon pure vanilla extract, ยผ teaspoon ground cinnamon, โ teaspoon ground ginger
- Stir ingredients with a spoon until well combined.
- Close the container tightly and let sit in the refrigerator for at least 6 hours or overnight.
- Serve and enjoy!
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