How to Make Overnight Crockpot Oatmeal (Easy Breakfast Idea For Busy Families!)
Are your mornings busy? Keep breakfasts simple with our slow cooker Crockpot oatmeal recipe!
Love steel-cut oats as a comforting breakfast idea?
Let your Crock-Pot slow cooker do the work overnight and wake up to a nice warm bowl of creamy steel-cut oats! This Crockpot oatmeal recipe provides such a yummy and EASY way to prepare a healthy and filling breakfast – perfect for a lazy weekend or busy weekday morning.
Why use steel-cut oats in your slow cooker oatmeal?
They give more bang for your buck nutritionally speaking, and are hearty and filling. Steel-cut oats are higher in fiber and iron than traditional rolled oats. Because of their thick coarse texture, steel-cut oats require a little more soaking, making them perfect for Crockpot oatmeal. This slow cooker method is a convenient hands-off way to prepare them!
Hip tips for making this Crockpot oatmeal recipe:
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- I would stick with steel-cut oats for this recipe rather than rolled oats. Steel-cut oats are whole-cut oats that have a chewy texture and take longer to cook than rolled oats so they will hold up in a slow cooker overnight and not turn out mushy.
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- If you have a dairy intolerance, you can use a different type of milk in your Crockpot oatmeal. This will work with water too, however, the result may not be as creamy.
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- The same goes for subbing in the sweetener of your choice. Honey or brown sugar works instead of maple syrup as a sweetener, and you can always adjust sweetness to taste. If you’re trying to lower the sugar, try our homemade keto maple syrup.
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- Make sure to prep your slow cooker with non-stick spray or a slow cooker liner first to avoid sticking. If your slow cooker runs hot, you could always create a water bath set-up by placing contents in a casserole dish first, and then placing about an inch of water in the slow cooker, that way it’s actually cooking in the casserole dish.
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- Have a large family? You can easily double this slow cooker oatmeal recipe to feed a larger crowd.
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- Top with the toppings your family enjoys. I love a few sliced almonds, chopped walnuts, and Craisins on mine, but you can choose the fruits, nuts, and other toppings you prefer.
Overnight Crockpot Oatmeal With Steel Cut Oats
yield: 4 SERVINGS
prep time: 10 MINUTES
cook time: 8 HOURS
total time: 8 HOURS 10 MINUTES
Let your slow cooker do the work overnight and wake up to a nice warm bowl of creamy oatmeal with this recipe!
Ingredients
- 1 cup steel cut oats
- 4 cups water
- 1/2 cup half and half
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- Optional: dried fruit and nuts for toppings
Directions
1
Spray slow cooker with non-stick spray. Whisk together all ingredients in a slow cooker.
2
Cover and cook on low for 8 hours.
3
Stir and serve in bowls with desired toppings – I topped with dried cranberries, figs, and walnuts.
My family is crazy about oatmeal and this is such an easy way to prepare it.
Having a warm bowl of steel-cut overnight oats ready when you wake up is so smart and will keep you full longer! Everyone can add their toppings as desired, and overall this Crockpot oatmeal is a winning breakfast idea. Enjoy!
Use your Crock Pot to make our delicious cinnamon monkey bread for a breakfast treat!
Love it! Your whisk is so cute too. Thank you and happy cooking! 🌻
Thanks Julia!
Can you use regular (not quick cook) oatmeal? I don’t eat steel cut
I think the cooking time may be a little long overnight, but maybe someone else has tried regular oats with success? Since slow cookers may differ it could be worth it to experiment on warm setting instead of low? Just a thought! 😀
Lina, I’ve tried it twice with 2 different slow cookers, to no avail, it’s been majorly stuck after 8 hours. So, we either need to put it on low for 3 hours, then warm to finish, or we need to add more liquid. I did add 1/4 cup extra of milk; but I think it’s more about the length of time it’s cooking. Last night input them on at midnight and by 7 they were cooked on the sides. So, back to the drawing board. Lol. Good luck
Oh darn! I will have to test this again in my current slow cooker. I have been using my rice cooker lately.
I have heard that putting the ingredients in another casserole dish and adding water in the slow cooker may work better. I will test this soon!
With regular rolled oats, you actually don’t need to cook them at all if you want to prepare them overnight! Just put them together with liquid (water or milk), maple syrup/brown sugar, and put them in a covered bowl, in the fridge. (I add some frozen berries too…) They absorb the liquid overnight and are ready to eat in the AM.
I have tried this with regular oats and the oatmeal was mushy.
Yes, oatmeal should not be in the crockpot for so long. It doesn’t need to be cooked that long. I know we all like convenience but it’s so easy to cook on the stovetop.
Anyone have a recipe a similar recipe that uses protein powder?
LOVE steel cut oats… I miss them now that I’m low-carbing. I always topped mine with a big scoop of peanut butter on one side of the bowl (love it when the peanut butter gets all melty) and a big scoop of yogurt on the other side of the bowl. I never mixed them in, just scooped a bit of the oats with a bit of the topping for each bite. Yummmmy!
Yum! Peanut butter would be awesome…
Yum! I usually mix the pb in–gonna try just letting it melt! We make an almond joy version with coconut milk and top with toasted coconut chips and almonds and chocolate chips.
I’m so glad you posted this. I’m going to try it!! I love these kind of posts.
Thanks Lynsi! Enjoy 😀
Is muesli the same as steel oats? Wondering if I can substitute, since I have it in the pantry.
It isn’t the same
Simon, please see my comment above re making no-cook-fridge overnight oats — you can do the same with Muesli as rolled oats (definitely don’t try to cook it overnight though…too soft…but Muesli is great if you just let it sit in the fridge in some almond milk overnight!).
Totally. I’ve done both many times.
Thank goodness for Quaker quick 1 minute oats. I personally don’t see the need to cook oats overnight. My opinion! 😀
Lol…totally agree! They now sell 3 minute quick cool steel oats.
Not as much nutritional value in the quick cook oats! Also, some of the packets have tons of added sugar! Not judging, but that’s why some people would prefer long cooking oats!!
Thanks Devona! I guess it’s just convenient and tasty to just walk in the kitchen and serve it in the morning 😄
I guess it’s kinda like a programmable coffee machine. It’s nice to wake up and have the work done–even if it only takes a couple minutes. Some people also prefer less processed foods whenever possible.
OMG! They are so much better!! I have been looking for this recipe! I HATE regular oatmeal, but when my husband and I went to Disney World for our honeymoon I ate them every day!! That was 6 1/2 years ago and I still talk about the oatmeal!! 🙂
You can really use whatever liquid you want–coconut milk, rice milk, soy milk, nut milk, coffee creamer, juice, water, etc. I’ve tried pretty much every type of milk and milk/water combos, and it comes out great. You just have to keep in mind how rich and/or sweet you like your oatmeal, and adjust.
Awesome Erin! Thanks for sharing!
Where do you find steel oats? I’ve never seen them in my local grocery store.
My grocery store (Albertson’s) carries them next to the regular oatmeal. Look again because they can blend in with all the oatmeal selections 🙂
Aldi
you can find them in the bulk section of most stores as well. Or the natural foods section.
I have been cooking steel cut for years overnight in crock pot. As above posters said, you can put in smaller round corning ware. I use 1 cup oats or less to 4 parts liquid (water) and then usually 1/2 cp milk or half & half for creaminess. Add a tbsp butter splash vanilla and some cinnamon) and then fill crock pot with water around corning ware and cook for 8 hours overnight. Much easier than scraping oatmeal off crockpot. Delish. Much better than any quick oats.
Love this idea – thanks Sheila! I agree so much better! Yum
Why not use a crockpot liner?
What size slow cooker do you use?
I have a 6 quart but it had a lot of room- so a smaller one would work or could double the recipe.
Thanks, I’m looking forward to trying this!
Sure! Enjoy 😉
Thanks!
Perfect—thanks! 🙂
My Zojirushi rice cooker has a setting for steel cut oats. I can program the time I want them to be ready in the morning.
Oh that’s so neat! 🙌
My daughter loves this cooked with diced apples & raisins added in.
Oh love that idea! Thanks for sharing!
Instant pot users:
I haven’t made steel cut, but I do make regular rolled oats in the IP.
Equal parts oats and water. Pinch of salt.
Set the timer to begin coming approx 30 min before you want to eat.
Cook 10 min at high pressure, natural release (hense the 30 min before eating). You will have the best texture oatmeal you ever had 🙂
I’m sure you could get some perfect steel cut oats this way as well.
*before cooking
Oh wow! Now I want to try – thanks for sharing Clippy!
I’m not a morning person at all & have had success with slow cooker steel cuts several times! It’s great for a busy morning (like before church) when there’s not time to cook a big meal but you want something good. I did this for company recently who was going to be leaving on an outing early before the sun was up. They appreciated a hot breakfast & me setting out mix ins the night before.
Wow those are great ideas Amanda – thanks for sharing!
Can you use and suggest something with less fat than half and half?
Yes- you can basically use a milk or liquid of choice 👍
Would this work in two and one half quart slow cooker?
I think it would do fine if fits and not overflowing 👍
can you put protein powder in them as well?
OMG!! They are SO much better!!!
Oh yay I’m glad you like!