Description
These Strawberry Cheesecake Overnight Oats are a dreamy, dessert-inspired breakfast that makes waking up a joy. By blending creamy Greek yogurt with softened cream cheese and fresh lemon, the oats take on a rich, tangy cheesecake flavor that pairs perfectly with sweet strawberries. Loaded with protein and fiber, this effortless no-cook meal preps itself while you sleep, giving you a decadent start to the day that is actually good for you.
Ingredients
The Base
- 1/2 cup heaping rolled oats (old-fashioned)
- 2/3 cup unsweetened milk of choice (almond, oat, dairy)
- 1/3 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 1 tablespoon chia seeds (or ground flax meal)
The Cheesecake Flavor
- 3 tablespoons cream cheese, softened
- Zest and juice of 1/2 lemon
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 0–2 tablespoons honey or maple syrup (adjust to taste)
- Pinch of salt
The Mix-ins
- 1/4 cup fresh strawberries, chopped (plus more for topping)
- Optional: Crushed graham crackers (for serving)
Instructions
Combine
In a medium mixing bowl, add the Greek yogurt, rolled oats, milk, chia seeds, vanilla extract, salt, honey, softened cream cheese, lemon zest, and lemon juice.
Whisk
Whisk vigorously! Why? You need to break down the cream cheese so it incorporates into the milk and yogurt. You want a smooth, creamy batter, not a liquid with white lumps.
Fold
Stir in the chopped strawberries.
Jar
Spoon the mixture into a Mason jar or an airtight container with a lid.
Chill
Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, preferably overnight. Magic Time: During this time, the oats and chia seeds will absorb the liquid and thicken into a pudding-like consistency.
Serve
In the morning, give it a good stir. Top: Top with extra fresh strawberries and for the full cheesecake experience a sprinkle of crushed graham crackers.
Notes
Soft Cream Cheese is Key: Ensure your cream cheese is very soft (room temperature) before mixing. If it’s cold, it won’t blend smoothly, and you’ll end up with tiny chunks of cheese in your oats rather than a cohesive cheesecake flavor.
The “Crust” Hack: To truly mimic a slice of cheesecake, crumble a graham cracker or some granola on top right before eating. This adds the necessary textural crunch.
Texture Adjustments: Chia seeds soak up a lot of liquid. If the oats are too thick for your liking in the morning, simply stir in a splash of milk to loosen the mixture.
Lemon Zest: Don’t skip the zest! The oils in the lemon peel provide that aromatic “baked cheesecake” scent that juice alone cannot achieve.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 hours (or overnight)
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: No-Cook / Refrigerator
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 Jar
- Calories: 460
- Sugar: 18g
- Sodium: 280mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 58g
- Fiber: 10g
- Protein: 18g
- Cholesterol: 45mg
Keywords: strawberry cheesecake oats, healthy dessert breakfast, overnight oats recipe, high protein breakfast, meal prep breakfast, chia seed pudding, gluten free oats