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Slow Cooker Oatmeal couldn’t be easier to make. You can even make it the night before! It’s healthy, delicious and can be topped with anything you love!
I’ve been making Slow Cooker Oatmeal for as long as I can remember now. It’s one of the recipes everyone in the family can agree on in the morning. Plus, it’s inexpensive and can be doctored up any way you like it. We top ours with everything from hemp seeds, to berries, sliced bananas, chopped walnuts, maple syrup, honey and more.
As the seasons change and the weather gets colder, I have a growing desire to make warm, hearty foods for breakfast. To me, a hot bowl of oatmeal before heading off to school on a chilly morning gives kids a sense of comfort — not to mention enough energy to carry them through to lunch.
How to Make Slow Cooker Oatmeal
This recipe is about as easy as 1, 2, 3 and basically cooks itself. Here’s how to make it:
- Place 1 cup steel cut oats, 2 cups water, 2 1/2 cups milk and 1 teaspoon cinnamon in your slow cooker.
- Cook the oatmeal on low heat for 2-6 hours. The amount of time can vary depending on your slow cooker. Some that don’t have non stick surfaces can get hotter then others.
- Stir in your desired toppings and serve!
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Got a Rice Cooker?
Don’t have a slow cooker? You can make this recipe in your rice cooker on the porridge setting. Super duper easy!
More Oatmeal Recipes
- Coconut Cream Baked Oatmeal
- Refrigerator Oatmeal
- Pumpkin Spice Oatmeal in the Crock Pot
- DIY: Oatmeal Buffet
I’ve now made this recipe five days in a row now, so there must be something about it that’s working! Let me know what toppings you always add to your oatmeal and tag me on Instagram if you make this recipe!
Slow Cooker Oatmeal
Instructions
- Place the first 4 ingredients in a crock pot and stir to combine.
- Cook the oatmeal on low heat for 2-6 hours (the amount of time can vary depending on your crock pot. Some crock pots that don’t have non stick surfaces can get hotter then others). Oatmeal will stay warm overnight.
- Stir in desired accompaniments and serve.
Video
Notes
- I like to let the kids squeeze in their own honey to get them involved.
- Swirl in a bit of extra milk to cool it down for kids.
- Optional ingredients: berries, fresh or frozen fruit, chopped nuts, chocolate chips, maple syrup, pumpkin pie spices or other toppings you enjoy.
- Don’t have a crock pot/slow cooker? You can make it the same way using a rice cooker on the porridge setting.
For moms who don’t have a crockpot a small batch of oatmeal in a thermos is super easy too.
They now have GF Steel Cut Oats (I just saw them!) at the store so I can try this. My guess is this recipe does need steel cut oats because they take longer to cook (hence why most people don’t use them) and would be great in a crock pot. They are truly fantastic. Steel Cut Oats are different from rolled or old fashioned oats for those that ask. You can get them at Trader Joes or any other supermarket (sometimes they come in a can or Bob’s Redmill comes in a clear bag). Can’t wait to try!
I would this the rolled oats would turn to mush. I think steel cut is supposed to be healthier as well.
Steel cut oats are different. I use Bob’s Red Mill oats. Here’s some information from their site for you. Super yummy! http://www.bobsredmill.com/steel-cut-oats.html
Are steel cut oats different from rolled oats? “Old fashioned oats”? DO I have to use the steel cut kind? This sounds AWESOME! I am so glad you posted this recipe.
No just toss them in! 🙂
I’ve got steel cut oats, but have never used them because I thought they required extra prep time. Do you have to pre-soak or do anything special to them before adding them to the crock pot?
I love my steelcut oatmeal this way! I make a batch for Monday morning and reheat it with soy milk all week long. I love to stir a spoonful of nutella into it with chopped up fruit – strawberries and raspberries are awesome, or just apples and cinnamon! Peanut butter works well too. Oatmeal does need a bit of help to make it extra yummy!
Do you put in milk as well? I’m afraid it will spoil over night…
I love that idea! I like the steel cut oatmeals’ texture, the ‘crunch’ so to speak… I’m going to try this tonight!!
We love doing our steel cut oats this way, but they get too mushy for us on low, so we do them overnight on the “keep warm”, then I turn them to high for about 30 minutes while I’m getting the kids up and dressed. Also, we love frozen blueberries hidden in the bottom of each bowl to cool the oatmeal down and make it a funky purple color.
When I make these in the crock pot, I put it on “simmer” for 8 hours and the oats are still somewhat crunchy. I know other people who cook these on the warming setting, too.
The texture is just like regular oatmeal, nice and soft 🙂
Steel cut oats are my favorite and I have been meaning to make them in the crock pot forever. I’m a little worried that they will be to soft when made in the crock pot instead of having that wonderful crunchy texture that I love. Do they still keep their texture?
Some people make this recipe with no milk and all water so I’m sure any liquid would be fine.
I wonder, if rice milk would make this too runny? It’s so much more watery, then milk.