Overnight Oats with Chia and Flax (Easy 5-Minute Gluten-Free Recipe)

18 Reviews
Published Feb 12, 2016 ∙ Kristina Stosek

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Overnight oats with chia and flax are one of the most reliable gluten-free ways to simplify your morning routine. Prepped in just five minutes the night before, this recipe gives you a thick, creamy, grab-and-go breakfast waiting for you the second you wake up. Dairy-free option included.

A glass jar filled with creamy gluten-free overnight oats mixed with chia seeds, ground flax, and topped with fresh berries, walnuts & white chocolate chips

Why Add Chia and Flax to Overnight Oats?

Overnight oats are a great morning shortcut, but a standard bowl can sometimes leave you hungry an hour later. Adding chia and ground flax seeds changes the structure of the meal, turning a simple carb into a long-lasting energy source that keeps you full until lunch.

If chia pudding is your thing, you can also check out these 9 Healthy Chia Pudding Recipes for more breakfast and snack ideas.

How to Keep Overnight Oats from Getting Gummy

The secret to the texture is the precise ratio of seeds to liquid. Chia seeds create a naturally thick, creamy consistency without requiring heavy cream or excess yogurt. Combined with the flax, they absorb just enough liquid to create a rich, satisfying pudding without letting the oats become gummy or heavy.

 

  • The Ground Flax Secret: Always use ground flaxseed rather than whole seeds. Ground flax blends seamlessly into the liquid, ensuring a smooth texture throughout the jar instead of a gritty one.

Easy Flavor Variations for This Base Recipe

A glass jar filled with creamy gluten-free overnight oats mixed with chia seeds, ground flax, and blueberries with side bowl of various toppings

Once you have the basic ratio mixed, it is easy to customize. You can adapt the recipe instantly using whatever ingredients are in your kitchen:

  • The Liquid: Use standard milk, or swap in unsweetened almond, coconut, or oat milk to keep it naturally dairy-free.

  • The Fruit: Stir in fresh or frozen berries, sliced bananas, or tart cherries before refrigerating so the flavors meld overnight.

  • The Crunch: Just before serving, top your jar with a handful of toasted walnuts, pumpkin seeds, or a sprinkle of gluten-free granola to contrast the creamy texture.

  • The Spice: Sprinkle with cinnamon, nutmeg, orange or lemon zest and a drizzle of pure maple syrup or honey.

How to Make Overnight Oats with Chia and Flax

Prepping this recipe takes less than five minutes and requires zero cooking. Just add all of your ingredients, except the fruit into a large bowl and stir well to ensure the seeds are evenly distributed.

Once the base is thoroughly mixed, gently fold in your fresh or frozen berries. Transfer the mixture into jars or covered containers and refrigerate overnight. By morning, the oats will have absorbed the liquid, leaving you with a thick, ready-to-eat breakfast pudding.

Give this oat pudding a try tonight, and let me know your favorite topping combinations in the comments below!

A glass jar filled with creamy gluten-free overnight oats mixed with chia seeds, ground flax, and topped with fresh berries, walnuts & white chocolate chips

More Gluten-Free Breakfast Ideas

If you enjoy the texture of this recipe, try this Vegan Mocha Chia Pudding. It has a rich, chocolate-coffee flavor but uses a similar chia base, making it a great option when you want something that tastes a bit more indulgent.

You can also explore our full collection of gluten-free overnight oats recipes for more flavor combinations and easy meal-prep inspiration.

This Gluten-Free Overnight Oats with Chia and Flax recipe was created and tested by me, Kristina, a professional gluten-free recipe developer. If you enjoyed this recipe, I’d love to hear from you! Please leave a ⭐ star rating and a quick review below, it helps others discover these recipes.

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Hi, I’m Kristina, a gluten-free recipe developer creating and testing recipes since 2012. Every recipe on this site is made in my kitchen and personally tested (with the help of my very honest family!).

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Published: February 2016| Updated: 2026 | By Kristina Stosek

 

Overnight Oats with Chia and Flax (Easy 5-Minute Gluten-Free Recipe)

18 reviews
Published Feb 12, 2016 · Kristina Stosek
Prep Time:
5 min
Serves:
2

Ingredients

1 cup full fat milk or dairy-free milk, such as coconut milk, almond milk or hemp milk (unsweetened)
½ cup certified gluten free rolled oats
2 tsp. pure maple syrup
2 tsp. chia seeds
1 tsp. ground flax seeds
½ tsp. pure vanilla extract
½ tsp. GF ground cinnamon
1 cup fresh or frozen berries, cherries or bananas
Toppings: full fat plain Greek yogurt, nuts, seeds or fresh fruit

Instructions

  1. In a medium jar or glass bowl mix everything together, except the fruit
  2. Stir in fruit and transfer to serving bowls. Cover and refrigerate overnight or at least for 6 hours
  3. Just before serving add your favourite topping

Nutrition Info

  • Approximate Nutritional Value per Serving || Calories: 300–395 kcal Fat: 12–16g Carbohydrates: 50–65g Fiber: 13–16g Protein: 8–11g Sugar: 15–20g (from maple syrup and fruit) Omega-3s: 2,000+ mg Calcium: ~10-30% DV (depending on the milk used) | This meal offers a balanced combination of healthy fats (from chia seeds, flax, and full-fat or dairy-free milk), fiber (from oats, chia, flax, and fruit), and natural sugars (from maple syrup and fruit). It’s a good source of omega-3s and antioxidants (from berries), and it also provides a decent amount of protein and vitamins/minerals, particularly if using fortified dairy-free milk.

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Comments

  1. Randy

    the vanilla and cinnamon are a nice touch, it gives the oats a pudding like flavour.

  2. Kristen Baker

    Can you freeze this?

  3. Kristina

    Yes Kristen, you can freeze leftovers

  4. Kiki

    DELICIOUS! I have a blend of flax and chia seeds and used 1 T of that. I also used oat milk, then topped it with raspberries and blueberries and a little granola. Thank you!

  5. Kristina

    sounds so good!

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