Plus, unlike other crockpot oatmeal you’ll find on the internet, my simple recipe uses a water bath and a small casserole dish or mason jars to eliminate the hassle of cleanup—perfect for a busy morning or to make for a crowd. It doesn’t matter whether you’re a morning person or not, you’ll love the chewy texture of these steel cut crock pot oats.
Steel-Cut Oats: When selecting types of oats for this oatmeal recipe, I recommend using steel cut oats—sometimes called “Irish oats.” As mentioned in this article on Steel Cut Oats vs. Rolled Oats, steel cut oats are less processed and have a lower glycemic index than any of the different kinds of oats in the market. Also, rolled oats have a softer texture and don’t do well in slow cookers. Bob’s Red Mill (affiliate link) is one of my favorite steel-cut oats brands and is available in most grocery stores. Liquid: You can use water, plant-based or regular milk, or a combination of the two when you slow cook steel cut oats. Any other natural plant milk will work if you don’t want to use dairy milk. My favorite is unsweetened almond milk, which you can make at home using my easy recipe for DIY Almond Milk. I also like unsweetened coconut milk and oat milk. Sweetener: To give your crockpot steel cut oats natural, low-calorie sweetness, I recommend adding in a mashed ripe banana or applesauce (hello, Homemade Unsweetened Applesauce!). Or better yet, make a batch of my Breakfast Fruit Salad and use it as a healthy unsweetened option for topping. These tasty ingredients will satisfy your sweet tooth without the added sugar. Salt: A pinch of salt is the key to brightening up the sweet, creamy flavor of your slow cooker overnight oats. Toppings (optional): Garnish your steel-cut oats with fresh berries, homemade chunky granola, or unsweetened coconut flakes for a light, sweet take on this classic dish. Or, give your breakfast extra protein by adding peanut butter (or any other nut butter), a handful of nuts, or your favorite granola. Add-ins: Who says you have to eat slow cooker steel cut oats plain? Adding a dash of spices, like cardamom, cinnamon, or pumpkin pie spice, is an easy way to give your oats a warm, fragrant flavor. Or, mix in a teaspoon of vanilla extract to give each bite sweet undertones. You can even add protein powders to your overnight crockpot steel cut oats for extra nutrition.
Equipment You’ll Need
If desired, you can make this steel cut oatmeal recipe directly in the insert of the slow cooker. Spraying the insert with cooking spray or using a crockpot liner (affiliate link) will help make cleaning easier. However, I recommend cooking your oatmeal in an additional heat-resistant, waterproof bowl—such as a casserole dish, mason jar (I use the widely available 16 oz. jars – affiliate link), or ramekin. The key is to find a container that will fit in the bowl of your slow cooker. This extra layer ensures easy portioning and mess-free cleanup.
How to Cook Steel Cut Oats in a Crock Pot?
My slow cooker steel cut oats recipe takes the hassle out of overnight oatmeal. Once you combine your ingredients, you can set it and forget it with this effortless breakfast.
How to Store, Reheat, Freeze, and Thaw?
Making steel cut oatmeal in a slow cooker is a fantastic way to relieve morning meal prep stress. With these storage tips, you’ll never have to worry about preparing breakfast again.
Storage: To store crock-pot steel cut oats, let the mixture reach room temperature. Then, store in an airtight container and place in the fridge. If you prepared your oats in mason jars, screw on the jars’ lids for an airtight seal. Reheat: When reheating your slow-cooked oatmeal recipe, place the oats in a microwaveable bowl and add a splash of water or milk. Then, microwave the mixture for about 1½ minutes, stirring the oats every thirty seconds. Freeze: To freeze, divide your overnight slow cooker oatmeal into a 12-cup muffin tin and freeze for 4-5 hours. Then, transfer the frozen oatmeal cups into a Ziploc bag, remove as much air as possible, and store them in the freezer. You can reheat the frozen oatmeal by placing it in a microwaveable bowl with a little water or milk and microwaving it for 1-2 minutes. Thaw: If you’d prefer not to microwave your steel-cut oats straight from the freezer, you can thaw them overnight in the fridge. Just be sure to eat them the next day to ensure freshness.
You don’t need to stress over this easy steel cut oats in slow cooker recipe. Whether you’re looking for the perfect oat-to-liquid ratio or ideal cook times, this simple guide has everything you need.
Warm heat setting for overnight: Slow-cooked oatmeal begins to dry out after 4-5 hours in the crockpot. To maintain your oats’ creamy texture, I suggest turning your slow cooker to a warm heat setting after 4 hours and keeping it on “warm” until you’re ready to eat. Stir your oatmeal before serving: Because slow cookers don’t mix their ingredients during the cooking process, stirring your slow cooker oats is essential for creamy, lump-free oatmeal. Halve or multiply the recipe: You can make this crockpot oatmeal for a crowd or a single serving with my water bath method. Simply halve the recipe (ideal if you want to make a mini crockpot oatmeal) and cook it in a smaller dish, or multiply it and use a larger dish. The water bath will ensure your oatmeal comes out perfectly chewy no matter how many servings you prepare. Cooking times may vary: The amount of time it takes to cook overnight oatmeal in a crockpot may change depending on your specific slow cooker. Use this recipe as a base and adjust your cooking time depending on how quickly or slowly your oats cook.
Other Oatmeal Recipes You Might Like
Once you taste the creamy decadence of steel cut oatmeal in a crock pot, you’ll crave oatmeal every day of the week. These healthy oat recipes will help you start each day well.
Savory Steel Cut Oats Almond Milk Oatmeal Overnight Oats with Greek Yogurt Quinoa Breakfast Porridge Overnight Steel Cut Oats
If you try this Slow Cooker Steel Cut Oatmeal recipe or any other recipe on Foolproof Living, please take a minute to rate the recipe and leave a comment below. It is a great help to others who are thinking of making the recipe. And if you took some pictures, be sure to share them on Instagram using #foolproofeats so I can share them on my stories.
