Lemon Cheesecake Overnight Oats (High Protein Recipe)

These Lemon Cheesecake Overnight Oats are ultra creamy and taste like dessert, yet are packed with nourishing ingredients to power your morning.

This healthy overnight oats recipe is the perfect refreshing breakfast to meal prep in summer when you want something cool, energizing, and easy. It has quickly become a warm-weather favorite in my kitchen. It captures everything I love about lemon desserts—the brightness, the creaminess, the graham cracker crunch—without any baking and minimal mess. It’s high in protein, naturally sweetened, and keeps you full all morning long. Plus, it takes just five minutes to prep and feels like a treat you actually look forward to waking up to.

If you love this recipe, you need to check out my other meal prep breakfast recipes like Mini Strawberry Pancake Bites, Vanilla Almond Granola and Vegan Banana Bread Cookies.

Why You'll Love This Recipe

• Tastes like dessert, fuels like breakfast – All the flavor of lemon cheesecake with nourishing ingredients that keep you full and energized.
• No cooking required – Just stir, chill, and enjoy! So ideal for hot summer mornings or busy weekdays.
• Great for meal prep – Make a few jars at once and have a ready-to-go easy breakfast waiting in the fridge for up to 4 days.
• Customizable – Easily adjust the sweetness, swap in your favorite milk, or make it dairy-free and vegan.
• Bright, refreshing, and fun – The lemon flavor is vibrant and summery, while the graham cracker topping adds a special final touch.

Ingredients

• Oats – Old-fashioned oats are best for texture, but quick oats work if you prefer it softer. Be sure to use certified gluten free oats for gluten-free diets.
• Chia seeds – Help thicken the oats and add fiber.
• Fresh Lemon juice – For the perfect fresh lemon flavour
• Maple syrup – Can be swapped with honey or agave if needed.
• Unsweetened Almond milk – Any milk works here, including oat milk, soy milk or regular dairy milk.
• Vanilla extract – Adds a warm, sweet flavor that ties everything together.
• Vanilla protein powder – Optional, but adds creaminess and a protein boost. You can also use Greek yogurt in the base if preferred.

For the topping:

• Plain Greek yogurt – Thick, creamy, and high in protein. Use a dairy-free yogurt to keep it vegan.
• Maple syrup – Lightly sweetens the topping.
• Lemon zest – Adds fresh citrus aroma and flavor.
• Graham cracker crumbs – For that classic cheesecake crunch. Crushed digestive biscuits or granola also work well.

See recipe card for quantities.

How to Make Lemon Cheesecake Overnight Oats

1. Make the oat base: Add oats, chia seeds, lemon juice, maple syrup, almond milk, vanilla extract, and protein powder to a small mason jar. Stir until fully combined and smooth.
2. Refrigerate: Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or overnight for best texture.
3. Make the topping: In a small bowl, mix Greek yogurt with maple syrup. Spoon over the oat mixture.
4. Garnish & enjoy: Top with fresh lemon zest and a sprinkle of graham cracker crumbs just before serving.

How To Store Lemon Cheesecake Overnight Oats

These oats will stay fresh in the fridge for up to 4 days, making them a great option for batch meal prep. Store the yogurt topping in a separate airtight container if you want to keep the layers defined, or assemble everything in one jar for a grab-and-go breakfast. For best texture, add the graham cracker crumbs just before eating so they stay crunchy

3 Top Tips For The Perfect Overnight Oats!

1. Use fresh lemon juice and zest. Bottled juice won’t have the same brightness or aroma that really brings this recipe to life.
2. Give it a good stir after refrigerating. The chia seeds and oats can settle—mix again before adding your topping for the best texture.
3. Don’t skip the toppings! The creamy yogurt and graham cracker crunch really take it from a simple oat jar to a healthy breakfast that tastes like dessert.

FAQs

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