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Coconut overnight oats are a creamy, tropical, and sweet breakfast you can make ahead in just a few minutes the night before. Made with coconut milk, oats, chia seeds, and a touch of yogurt, they’re high in protein (13.5 g before adding protein powder), fiber-rich (8 g / serving), and a tasty way to start your morning.

Love meal prep? Multiply the ingredients and prep a few jars at once for an easy breakfast that’s ready to grab from the fridge whenever you need it.

Recipe Info

This recipe is:

Tasty and satisfying. Coconut milk, shredded coconut, and oats create a sweet, refreshing flavor with a creamy-yet-crunchy texture.
Easy to adjust. A vegan-friendly option or a 30+ g protein version are only a couple minor tweaks away (see the variations section).
Easy and make-ahead. Just mix, chill, and enjoy—perfect for busy mornings or weekly meal prep.

Making coconut 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. Form the hearty base that absorbs liquids overnight, creating a creamy, satisfying texture.
Chia seeds. Help thicken the oats by absorbing moisture while adding a subtle crunch.
Desiccated coconut. Add the core coconut flavor. Sweetened shredded coconut also works, but you may need to adjust quantity to maintain the coconut taste.
Coconut milk (carton variety). Provides the coconut creaminess and liquid necessary for soaking oats. Regular or oat milk work in a pinch, though coconut milk is best for obvious reasons.
Non-fat Greek yogurt. Adds creaminess and a slight tang, enhancing texture and flavor.
White sugar. Sweetens without overpowering, maintaining a clean coconut profile. Other sweeteners might alter the coconut flavor, so a neutral-flavored option works best.
Salt. Balances overything out and add sweetness. Don’t skip.

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

Mix coconut milk, sugar, and salt. In a bowl, pour the coconut milk and add the sugar and salt. Stir well until the sugar completely dissolves.

Coconut milk mixture — Stir together the coconut milk, sugar, and a pinch of salt until the sugar is mostly dissolved

Add yogurt and mix. Stir in the yogurt thoroughly to combine it with the milk mixture.

Adding the yogurt — Stir the yogurt into the milk

Mixing in the yogurt — Stir the yogurt into the milk

Add oats, chia seeds, and shredded coconut. To the sweetened coconut milk mixture, add the rolled oats, chia seeds, and shredded coconut. Mix everything thoroughly until evenly combined.

Adding the coconut oats and chia seeds — Add the rolled oats, shredded coconut, and chia

Mixing all the ingredients — Add the rolled oats, shredded coconut, and chia

Refrigerate overnight. Cover the bowl or transfer the mixture to a jar with a lid. Place it in the refrigerator and let it soak for at least 6 hours, or overnight for best results.
Serve with your favorite toppings. When ready to eat, give the oats a good stir. Add your preferred toppings like fresh fruit, nuts, or sprinkle with more dessicated coconut.

Coconut overnight oats topped with sliced peaches and shredded coconut — Chill in the refrigerator for at least 6 hours, then add your favorite toppings and enjoy!

Variations

Vegan

Switch to vegan-friendly ingredients for a delicious plant-based coconut overnight oats:

Replace non-fat Greek yogurt with thick coconut yogurt for creaminess.
Make sure your white sugar is vegan-friendly.

Rich coconut flavored overnight oats for two — Rich coconut-flavored overnight oats for two

High protein

Boost protein content with minimal ingredient adjustments:

Add one serving (about 30g) of vanilla or chocolate protein powder to the mixture. Chocolate or a tropical-flavored portein powder should work okay, too.
Reduce the amount of sugar by half to balance flavor.
Decrease coconut milk by 2 tablespoons so it ends up creamy instead of wet after soaking.

Option	Protein per serving (g)
Regular	13.5
High-protein	33.5

Homemade coconut overnight oats topped with peaches

Tips

Use canned coconut milk if you like. If you want to use canned coconut milk, substitute up to half of the carton coconut milk. That adds richness without making the oats overly heavy or super calorie-dense.
Warm the coconut milk slightly to dissolve sugar. If the sugar doesn’t dissolve easily, gently warm the milk on the stove while stirring. After a minute or two it should be all gone.
Stir before serving. A good stir mixes any liquid separation and balances the creamy and crunchy elements evenly.

Storage

Store the prepared coconut overnight oats sealed in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days.

Similar Recipes to Try

Looking for more? Check out the following recipes:

More tropical goodness? Test out my Mango Overnight Oats, Lime Overnight Oats, or Coconut Chia Pudding.
Into overnight oats? Check out all ours overnight oats flavors.