After a month-long string of cereal + sliced banana + almond milk in the morning, I figured it was time to put a little more effort into the most important meal of the day. When I’m craving something fresh and filling — yet FAST — for the morning,  Make-Ahead Fruit & Yogurt Breakfast Parfaits are where it’s at!
Protein packed 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!
Make-Ahead Fruit & Yogurt Breakfast Parfaits are basically layered overnight oats, which I used to make allll the time several years ago. Â The combination 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.
Layer up a bunch of parfaits 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 bless-ed missing shoe, or, gasp, get to work early! ;)
How to Make Breakfast Parfaits
Start each parfait with 6oz Greek yogurt. You can purchase the big tubs of yogurt to make several breakfast parfaits at once, which is usually more economical.
Spoon the yogurt into a bowl then add 1/3 cup certified gluten-free 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 and 2 Tablespoons milk then stir everything until well combined.
Spoon half the yogurt mixture into the bottom of a wide-mouth mason jar or tall container.
Next add 1/2 cup frozen fruit + berries. 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. Super good and luxurious feeling with zero effort required!
I use a few Tablespoons each frozen pineapple and frozen blueberries.
Plus frozen raspberries. This combo is absolutely delicious, but again, use what you like.
Top with the remaining yogurt mixture and another 1/2 cup berries then stick in the fridge. These parfaits stay good for up to 3 days post-assembly, so grab and go throughout the week for a convenient, healthy, and filling breakfast. Enjoy!
More Make-Ahead Breakfast Recipes
- Mini Egg Bites
- Raspberry Peach Crisp Breakfast Parfaits
- Maple Cinnamon Oatmeal Breakfast Bars
- Make-Ahead Breakfast Bowls
- Maple Pumpkin Oatmeal Breakfast Bars
- Green Smoothie Muffins
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Make Ahead Fruit & Yogurt Breakfast Parfaits
Description
Make Ahead Fruit & Yogurt Breakfast Parfaits are a quick and healthy breakfast idea! Assemble on the weekend then grab and go all week long.
Ingredients
- 6oz Greek yogurt
- 1/3 cup certified gluten free old fashioned oats (raw)
- 1 teaspoon chia seeds
- 2 Tablespoons milk, any kind
- 1 cup frozen mixed fruit and berries
Directions
- Stir together yogurt, oats, chia seeds, and milk in a bowl. Layer half inside a wide mouth mason jar or tall container then add half the frozen fruit and berries. Layer in remaining yogurt and berries then refrigerate at least overnight and up to 3 days.
This recipe is courtesy of Iowa Girl Eats, http://iowagirleats.com.
Misty S. 01.16.2013
Oh yum! These look so delish! I just made one with frozen mango and strawberries, I’m so excited to try it.
Sara 01.16.2013
Didn’t know there was a PEAR Chobani!! Going to have to keep my eyes peeled for that one!
Sarah@makingthymeforhealth.com 01.16.2013
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?
Iowa Girl Eats 01.16.2013
Thank you, Sarah! I use natural light whenever possible!
kiki marie 01.16.2013
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??
Iowa Girl Eats 01.16.2013
This is the very first time I saw it here – hopefully they’ll continue rolling it out across the country!
Avery @ Southern Belle Living Well 01.16.2013
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.
Emily 01.16.2013
Totally stoked they make PEAR Chobani!!! #daymade
Iowa Girl Eats 01.16.2013
I KNOW!!! It was my first time trying it, and omg, so delish!
Leanne @ Healthful Pursuit 01.16.2013
“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.
Michele B 07.31.2013
What kind of beans prepared?
Carley @ Optimistic Health 01.16.2013
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!
Carrie @ Season It Already! 01.16.2013
Those parfaits are beautiful! I am going to have to get me some mason jars for these and for those mason jar salads, too.
Nancie Nelson 01.16.2013
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 !!!!
Iowa Girl Eats 01.16.2013
They are pint jars!
Chelsea 01.16.2013
I love overnight oats! These look really yummy, thanks for posting!
Makeupandothermusings.blogspot.com
Sarah @ People, Places & Plates 01.16.2013
I love adding some lemon zest on top of the yogurt…makes a big taste difference, especially if its just plain/vanilla yogurt!
Jeannine 01.16.2013
Great recipe! I am not a fan of greek yougurt – do you think regular yogurt would work?
Nicole Lee 01.17.2013
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 :(
Amanda @ Once Upon a Recipe 01.16.2013
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…
Sara 01.16.2013
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.
Teri 01.16.2013
Would steel cut oatmeal work? I bought some recently and looking for easy ways to use it.
Kelly 01.16.2013
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.
Pam 01.16.2013
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!)
Iowa Girl Eats 01.16.2013
Yep, uncooked oats!
Victoria 01.16.2013
What a great idea! I’m always on the hunt for a good (and quick) replacement for my breakfast (um…coffee) in the morning!
Lydia 01.16.2013
This really is the perfect breakfast! Making this right away!
Paula 01.15.2013
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
Mahwish 10.28.2013
Hey! I am planning to make these on little parfaits cups for a brunch party this weekend, how did it turned out.. please tell me??? Thanks