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Chai overnight oats are a cozy, spiced twist on classic overnight oats. Made with rolled oats soaked in chai-infused milk, a blend of cardamom, cinnamon, and cloves comes through for a warm and flavorful breakfast that’s ready when you wake up.

This recipe uses chai masala tea to give the oats a rich, aromatic base, along with chia seeds for a bit of texture and added nutrition. It’s perfect for those chilly mornings when you want something both comforting and easy to prepare the night before.

Recipe Info

This recipe is:

Bursting with warm chai flavors. The oats are steeped in chai masala-infused milk, giving a cozy, spiced twist to the classic overnight oats.
Simple to make ahead. Just mix and refrigerate overnight—no cooking skills or special tools needed.
Nutritious and filling. Chia seeds add texture and fiber, helping you stay full and energized in the morning.

Making chai overnight oats for the first time? Read the ingredients notes, step-by-step instructions, and tips. If you’re familiar with the recipe, feel free to jump to the recipe card.

Extra Learning

Before we jump in, here are a few handy resources to help you nail this recipe:

Overnight oats 101. Our overnight oats base recipe that covers ingredient swaps, tips on adjusting the recipe, and how to fix common issues.

Ingredients and Substitutes

Rolled oats. They form the base of the dish, soaking up the liquid and softening overnight to create a creamy texture.
Milk of choice. Used to soften the oats and add creaminess; any dairy or plant-based milk can be used.
Chai masala tea. Provides the distinctive spiced flavor central to chai, blending warm spices like cardamom, cloves, and ginger.
Cinnamon. Adds warmth and enhances the overall spiced flavor profile.
Salt. Balances and enhances the sweetness and spice elements.
Chia seeds. Thicken the mixture and add a slight texture while boosting nutritional content.
Brown sugar. The sweetener, can be substituted with white sugar, maple syrup, or honey for different flavor options. If you’re a chai regular, use your favorite sweetener.

Step-by-Step: How to Make Chai Overnight Oats

Heat the milk. Pour your milk of choice into a small pot and warm it up on medium heat until it’s nearly boiling. Keep an eye on it to make sure it doesn’t boil over.
Steep chai tea. Turn off the heat, add the chai masala tea to the hot milk, and let it steep for 4 to 5 minutes, or according to your tea package instructions. Once steeped, strain the tea.

Steeping the chai masala tea — Steep chai masala tea

Straining the tea — Steep chai masala tea

Top up and add sugar and salt. Pour the chai-infused milk back into a bowl or measuring cup and top it up to make 1/2 cup. Stir in the brown sugar and a pinch of salt until they dissolve.

Pour chai milk into a cup, top to 1/2 cup, and stir in brown sugar and salt

Combine dry ingredients. In a separate bowl or jar, mix together the oats, chia seeds, and cinnamon. This ensures the spices are well distributed.

Stir together the rolled oats, chia seeds, and

Mix wet and dry. Pour the chai milk mixture over the dry ingredients. Stir everything thoroughly until all the oats and seeds are coated and soaked.

Pour the chai milk over the dry ingredients

Chill and soak. Cover your bowl or jar with a lid or plastic wrap, then refrigerate for at least 6 hours or overnight. This allows the oats and chia seeds to absorb the liquid and soften into a creamy breakfast.
Serve.

Chill overnight, add your favorite toppings, and enjoy!

Variations

Vegan

For a plant-based option, use unsweetened plant milk (I recommend oat), and a vegan friendly sweetener (not all brown sugars are).

High Protein

For a protein-packed breakfast, tweak the recipe like this:

Add 1 scoop (about 30 g) of vanilla protein powder to the chai-infused milk after steeping and straining.
Do not top up the milk to 1/2 cup after steeping since protein powder doesn’t absorb as much milk.
Halve the brown sugar amount to balance sweetness with the added protein powder.

Option	Protein per serving (g)
Regular	11.7
Regular + protein powder	31.7

Tips

Double the tea for a bolder flavor. The chai flavor intensifies the longer the oats sit (or at least that’s been my experience), so if you’re eating them the morning after preparing, consider doubling the tea quantity to prevent a bland taste.
Adjust steeping time to your liking. Experiment with steeping the tea slightly longer or shorter to customize the chai’s punch without over-extracting bitterness.
Fix texture. If the prepared oats are too dry for your liking, mix in a tablespoon of milk to make them creamier. It’s much easier to fix oats that are too dry than ones that are soaked.
Add sweetener if needed. I only add as much sugar as needed to make the oats tasty. Stir in some honey or maple before eating if need be.

Chai infused overnight oats for two — Thick and creamy chai overnight oats

Storage

Store the chai overnight oats in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 to 4 days. Keep the container sealed to maintain freshness and prevent the oats from absorbing other odors.

Cozy chai infused overnight oats — A jar of chai overnight oats topped with pecan and grated chocolate

Similar Recipes to Try

Looking for more? Check out the following recipes:

Chai Chia Pudding. Same flavor, but chia pudding instead of oats. Lovely if you’re into chai masala.
Raspberry Overnight Oats. A fresh, fruity twist on the classic overnight oats. Works with fresh and frozen raspberries.
Strawberry Overnight Oats. A fresh and tangy option. Make it with fresh or frozen strawberries.
Mango Overnight Oats. Bright and tropical, done with fresh or canned mango.