I’ve been really into making fun breakfasts lately.
After a near month-long string of Cheerios + sliced banana + almond milk and repeat in the early morning hours, I figured it was time to put a little more effort into the most important meal of the day. Especially after finding out that one of my girlfriends, who has two kids under the age of 5, manages to get them, herself, and her husband out the door with freshly made smoothies in hand every morning. Puts my Cheerios to SHAME!
Anyways, the aforementioned smoothies have become a popular option. Ben and I both enjoy sucking down the blended to hell combo of 1 cup (ish) frozen berries, 1 frozen banana, 1/4 cup old fashioned oats, 1 tsp chia seeds, 2-3 cups (ish) baby spinach, and a huge glug of almond milk in the mornings. He drinks his on the way to work then texts me, I’M SO FULL, as he pulls into the parking lot. NO SERIOUSLY, I’M SO FULL, comes an email 30 minutes later. Bahahaha.
If my meat and potatoes man can get full off of a smoothie, ANY man can! #winning
DIY Frozen Breakfast Burritos are always a popular option, but when I’m craving something really, really fresh yet filling – and FAST – in the mornings, Make-Ahead Fruit & Yogurt Breakfast Parfaits have become the answer.
Creamy Greek yogurt is mixed with heart-healthy old fashioned oats, chia seeds, and a splash of milk, then layered with frozen fruit and berries in a jar for a make-ahead, grab-and-go breakfast. Make one, two, or 10 at a time – they keep for several days in the refrigerator!
These Make-Ahead Fruit & Yogurt Breakfast Parfaits are basically layered overnight oats, which I used to make allll the time several years ago. The combo of yogurt and oats mixed together then left to sit overnight in the refrigerator is so dreamy. The oats become nice and chewy, then the frozen berries melt to create a sweet berry sauce that permeates every bite. They are fantastic!
And easy to make, too. Layer up a bunch of these on Sunday night then sleep well knowing you’ll have breakfast taken care of during the week. It’ll save you at least, what, 10 minutes every morning which you can use to sleep in a bit, hunt for your blessed missing shoe, or, gasp, start work early! 
Make-Ahead Fruit & Yogurt Breakfast Parfaits start with 6oz Greek yogurt each. Thick, luscious, and packed with protein, Chobani is my go-to brand. You could purchase the big tubs of yogurt to make several breakfast parfaits at once, which is usually more economical, but these babies were 10/$10 at the grocery store this weekend, causing me to freak out and pile, well, 10 containers high into my arms, as Ben was in the card aisle with the cart.
I’m sure you can guess what happened next. Sneaker caught. Flying Greek yogurt. Loud plops. Girl frantically scurrying around dairy aisle on hands and knees. Husband turns corner. I KNEW that was you. D’OH!
Anywho, spoon 6oz Greek yogurt into a bowl then add 1/3 cup old fashioned oats. Heart-healthy and full of fiber, old fashioned oats provide a nice, chewy texture to these breakfast parfaits.
Next add 1 teaspoon chia seeds (available at all grocery stores, usually in the “health food” section or bulk bins) and 2 Tablespoons milk – any kind’ll do ya’ – then stir everything together until smooth.
BTW – it has been a RED hot minute since I last featured chia seeds here on IGE! Chia seeds were made famous by the “hair”-sprouting clay Chia Pets, but are known for their many, many health benefits too! Click here to read more about chia seeds >
K! Next, consult your arsenal of containers. Wide-mouth pint jars work really well for layering the parfaits, but any mason jar or tall container with a lid will do. Spoon half the yogurt mixture into the bottom of a jar.
Then add the GOODIES. I chose all frozen fruit and berries, but you can use fresh fruit and berries, seeds, nuts – the works. Frozen fruit works great in these parfaits because they melt in the fridge and create a yummy berry sauce that gets mixed in throughout the entire parfait. So yum!
In goes a few Tablespoons each of frozen pineapple (also clutch for cooling down the raging bonfire in my mouth that occurred after eating a few bites of Ben’s Panchero’s burrito laced with their hot sauce this weekend. That stuff should come with a warning!) and frozen blueberries.
Top with frozen raspberries next. This combo was absolutely delicious, but just use what you like!
Top with the remaining yogurt mixture and berries, then either dine, or stick in the fridge. These babies stay good for up to 3 days to grab-and-go in the mornings for a convenient, healthy and filling breakfast!
Make-Ahead Fruit & Yogurt Breakfast Parfaits
Makes 1
Ingredients:
6oz Greek yogurt
1/3 cup old fashioned oats, uncooked
1 teaspoon chia seeds (optional)
2 Tablespoons milk (almond, cow, soy, etc.)
1 cup frozen mixed fruit and berries
Directions:
- In a bowl combine yogurt, oats, chia seeds, and milk. Stir to combine then layer half in a wide-mouth mason jar or container. Add half the fruit and berries then layer in remaining yogurt mixture and berries. Refrigerate overnight, and up to 3 days. Enjoy cold.
Creamy, sweet, and satisfying, these Make-Ahead Fruit & Yogurt Breakfast Parfaits leave me full for hours!
Play around with the flavors of yogurt and berries/fruit, too. The possibilites are really endless!
These look so yummy and they might even get me to start making myself breakfast in the morning. I do have a question, if I wanted to incorporate peanut butter into the mix, would I mix it with the yogurt? That seems a little weird to me, but I need to know. I need to get my peanut butter on!
Hmmm, maybe a drizzle on top of both berry layers!
Could use some powdered PB2?
I love the idea of yogurt and oats. I may switch out my “Cheerios in a bag”!
Such a great idea! I used to do something similar when I had to be at work early. I love using frozen berries though, because they melt beautifully into the yogurt.
YUM – love Chobani!
Quick question– why do you add milk to the yogurt? Does that do anything special or could I choose not to add milk?
xx
The oats and chia seeds absorb a lot of the moisture in the yogurt, so you need a bit additional in the form of milk (water could also work!)
Great, thanks! I’m about to try these
xx
It is absolutely rediculous how excited these breakfast parfaits just made me. I kind of want to eat one for dinner… does it have to sit overnight?
Hehe, you can eat it a couple hours later – the oats just need some time to soften up!
I’ve never found a overnight oats combination that quite works for me…but the way you described the melted frozen fruit juice makes me think this may be just what the overnight-oats-doctor ordered!
I really like this idea. I will make it with Nondairy yogurt and sans the chia seeds as well.
Great idea.
Just put mine in the fridge for tomorrow! It’s going to be a good start to the day! I made a mango blueberry version and will add homemade granola in the morning to top it off
I normally bring plain old overnight oats to work with me for breakfast. These look so so much better! Can’t wait until the weekend to make a big batch! Don’t think Monday morning will be so bad!
I have been obsessed with overnight oats lately! To answer a comment up above..there is a powdered peanut butter out there called PB2 that I add to mine and it is delicious. It sounds weird but soooo good and easily mixes into the overnight oats. Also, almond butter is divine as well mixed in! So yum!
I’m so in love with this! It’s simple but packed with so much good stuff. The frozen fruit is a great idea because it will melt in the fridge!
I love these with half a banana chopped up and a little coco powder and or peanut butter mixed in with the yogurt mix!
It would work if you cook them first, then probably add a touch more milk so they don’t get pasty in the fridge.
These look incredibly tasty and easy to make. I absolutely love that you can make them the night ahead. There really is no excuse to not eat a nutritious and delicious breakfast. But hey, there is nothing wrong with a bowl of Cheerios now and then, right??
I think the best part of this is that they are in mason jars! Love it!
I just made some for breakfast tomorrow. I’m excited to see how it turns out!
These look great!! Much easier than adding my nut & cereal combo to my yogurt as I eat it at my desk. I’m gf and don’t eat oats, I wonder if leftover quinoa or maybe a tablespoon of flax would work as a sub?
Sure that might work!
Ooh, these look amazing! I love that they’re super portable–a very healthy grab-and-go breakfast. And good idea sticking the chia seeds in your yogurt.
Do you think this would work with buckwheat? I have a gluten allergy and, for some reason, even gluten free oats seem to bother me (which sucks, because oatmeal is so good), but this looks so good and would be so convenient!!
Hey Kelly! I’ve never tried buckwheat, but if you’ve used it to replace cooked oats before, then it might work!
Overnight oats have been on my to-eat list for about a year now, but nothing has really lit a fire under my you-know-what quite like this recipe. Plus, the cuteness of the mason jars cannot be denied! Well done, IGE
I got up and made one of these for my breakfast, after a mad search for the dang chia seeds. I did not read all the post, but guessed it was a pint jar, and broke out a wide-mouth one from my unopened case. I had fresh berries, too
This really is the perfect breakfast! Making this right away!
What a great idea! I’m always on the hunt for a good (and quick) replacement for my breakfast (um…coffee) in the morning!
This is probably a dumb question, but do you use uncooked oats in your smoothies, or cooked? (Sorry, I don’t like yogurt, so the smoothie caught my eye!)
Yep, uncooked oats!
Would steel cut oatmeal work? I bought some recently and looking for easy ways to use it.
Hi Teri! I had some Quick Steel Cut Oats from TJ’s and I used those in mine, left it in the fridge all last night – seemed to work pretty well for me!
I may just add a teensy bit more milk next time for soaking.
These look fantastic! I love that you used frozen fruit and made them ahead of time. I’m always one to be running around trying to throw together breakfast in the morning.
You have inspired me to give overnight oats another try…I gave them a go this past summer and I’m not sure what went wrong, but the yogurt and milk separated overnight and texturally, it was a terrible, awful mess! But I will try, once more…
Great recipe! I am not a fan of greek yougurt – do you think regular yogurt would work?
I made mine with light yoplait adn had it for breakfast this morning and it was delicious. I also for some reason cant do greek yogurt. I have tried several times
I love adding some lemon zest on top of the yogurt…makes a big taste difference, especially if its just plain/vanilla yogurt!
I love overnight oats! These look really yummy, thanks for posting!
Makeupandothermusings.blogspot.com
So excited to try these, I too tend to skip breakfast knowing it is bad !!! My question is what size mason jar do you actually use? The mason jar simply adds to it’s beauty !!!!
They are pint jars!
Those parfaits are beautiful! I am going to have to get me some mason jars for these and for those mason jar salads, too.
These look so fresh and like something I’d want to wake up to! Guess I know what I’ll be using my pb jar for!
“If my meat and potatoes man can get full off of a smoothie, ANY man can! #winning” <— SAME thing happened to me the other day. I made a kale smoothie with homemade apple juice, the whole bit. It even had beans in it (but don't tell my hubby) Kevin finished the whole glass and was full for a whopping 4 hours. Total, major winning.
Totally stoked they make PEAR Chobani!!! #daymade
I KNOW!!! It was my first time trying it, and omg, so delish!
OOOooooo…that’s a good breakfast
I’m always weary of breakfast parfaits, because they never keep me full, but I’ve never thought to use oatmeal in them (silly me!) I’ll try it out soon.
i am a little disappointed… the pear chobani is not out on the shelves by me!! *pout* has anyone seen it in the southwest chicago or suburb area??
This is the very first time I saw it here – hopefully they’ll continue rolling it out across the country!
Gosh, you take amazing pictures Kristin! They are always styled with so much color. Absolutely beautiful. Are you shooting with natural light or an indoor light kit?
Thank you, Sarah! I use natural light whenever possible!
Didn’t know there was a PEAR Chobani!! Going to have to keep my eyes peeled for that one!
Oh yum! These look so delish! I just made one with frozen mango and strawberries, I’m so excited to try it.
Just made 2 of these up for the am. They sound very tasty. Target also has this yogurt $1/ea this week. Thanks again for another wonderful idea!
ps – made my son one with blueberry yogurt and frozen blueberries and mine with pomegrante yogurt and pomegrante seeds…
Delicious, delicious, delicious! Both my hubby and I gobbled these up for breakfast this morning. The mason jar is the best touch. Will definitely be making these again.
I made these last night and just ate it!! They are truly delicious!!! I have made overnight oats before, but never added the fruit until the next morning! This is convenient and so filling, I will definitely be making more combinations every day! Thank you for such a great tasting, versatile recipe!!
wowzer, made it this a.m. and loved it. overnight oats never work for me but this did. your cheesy orzo with broccoli is my go to side now. thanks a L.O.T.
i am loving quick breakfasts like this lately! and love the mason jars
have you ever tried the fitnessista’s breakfast cookie dough cereal? TO. DIE. FOR.
Bahaha! Laughed right out loud at my computer while reading your grocery store mishap. I’m sorry:) Best part of the story was that Ben knew it was you. #predictable? I’m assuming that none of them splattered open in the fall.. which would have made it 10x worse.
Soooo, that smoothie you mentioned, I couldn’t find that particular recipe among your recipes, and I’m the kinda gal that needs to make something from a recipe. Do you think you could post that breakfast recipe too? Also, I’m kinda confused as to why the Skinny Creamy Italian Chicken comes up under “Drinks”?
Thank you! We made these for this morning and it was off the chain good!! Will be something we make every week from now on. So easy and way delish. Used plain whole greek yogurt, ground flax seeds instead of chia since I had those on hand, and frozen mixed berries with a drizzle of honey on top. Goodness! so good!
Any suggestions if you don’t have Mason jars? (where do you buy those anyway?) Could you use small Tuperware?
Yep you can use whatever tupperware you already have! Mason jars can be found at the grocery store, or even places like Lowe’s!