Today’s recipe, Crockpot steel cut oatmeal, is the ultimate grab-and-go breakfast. It only takes five minutes to put together, and you can flavor your oats with dozens of delectable add-ins.
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.
Ingredients
To make this recipe for steel-cut oats in a crock pot, you only need a handful of pantry-ready ingredients:
- 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.
Variations
- Apple cinnamon: If you like apple pie, you’ll love apple cinnamon steel cut oats from the crockpot. You can use either sauteed apples, as I did in my Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal, or shredded apples, as I did in my Overnight Muesli. Finish your bowl with a pinch of cinnamon or a cinnamon stick, and voila! Delicious and healthy slow cooker oatmeal.
- Blueberry: Nothing brightens a weekday morning like a bowl of oatmeal flavored with Pureed Blueberries or Homemade Blueberry Sauce. These ingredients transform your hot breakfast into a fruity delight full of antioxidants.
- Cranberry sauce: Adding a dollop of my naturally sweetened Cranberry Sauce is a festive, vegan way to give your slow cook oatmeal irresistible tartness. Plus, it’s an excellent use of holiday leftovers!
- Other sweeteners: For those who love pancakes and syrup, maple steel cut oats will be your new favorite weekday breakfast. Top your crockpot steel cut oats with maple brown sugar, pure maple syrup, or honey, and enjoy.
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.
- Combine the ingredients: Select a heat-resistant bowl, mason jar, or small casserole dish that will fit in your slow cooker. Mix the steel cut oats, water, almond milk, mashed banana, and salt inside the selected bowl.
- Prepare the slow cooker: Place your oat-filled dish inside your crockpot, and fill the insert halfway with water.
- Cook the oatmeal: Put on the lid and cook the steel cut oats in the crockpot for four hours in a low-heat setting. For a thicker consistency, let the oatmeal cook for up to five hours at low heat.
- Serve: Divide the overnight oats among four bowls. Top each off with fresh fruit, nut butter, or other favorite toppings. If you made your slow-cooking oats in mason jars, serve them in the jars with your toppings of choice.
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.
Expert Tips
Preparing steel cut oats in a crockpot is one of the easiest ways to start your morning with nutritious, hearty eats. Even beginners can make irresistibly creamy oatmeal with these pro instructions.
- 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.
FAQs
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.
For the best slow cooker steel cut oats, I recommend using a 1:4 ratio of oats to liquid. In other words, for every cup of steel cut oats, you will need 4 cups of liquid (water, milk or a combination of the two.)
I recommend cooking your steel cut oats in a slow cooker for 4-5 hours on a low-heat setting. After that time, switch your slow cooker to a warm heat setting to keep your oatmeal from drying out.
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.
Slow Cooker Steel Cut Oats Recipe
Ingredients
For The Steel Cut Oats:
- 1 cup steel cut oats
- 2 cups water
- 2 cups unsweetened almond milk or any of your favorite plant based or cow’s milk
- 1 cup mashed banana from one small banana or ½ cup of applesauce
- Pinch Salt
Optional Toppings:
- 1 cup seasonal fruit chopped
- Nuts or nut butters as garnish
Instructions
- Mix together the steel cut oats, water, almond milk, mashed banana and salt in a heat-resistant bowl (or a small casserole dish) that will fit in your slow cooker*. Alternatively, you can divide the ingredients (¼ cup steel-cut oats and 1 cup of liquid per jar) among four mason jars. Be sure to stir it well.
- Place the casserole dish (or mason jars) in the bowl of your crock pot. Fill the bowl halfway through with water.
- Put the lid on and cook for 4 hours in a low-heat setting for a super creamy consistency. If you want it to be thicker, you can let it cook for up to 5 hours in a low heat setting*.
- When ready to serve, divide it between 4 bowls and top each cup off with fresh fruit, nut butter, or any other one of your favorite toppings. If you cooked them in mason jars, serve them in the jars with your toppings of choice.
Notes
- Serving size: Each serving of this recipe is between 2/3 cup to a cup.
- Crockpot size: The size of my slow cooker is 6 1/2 quarts (a model that is no longer produced.)
- Warm heat setting: To maintain the creamy texture of your steel cut oatmeal, 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. This is especially necessary if you are cooking it overnight.
- Prefer not to use the water bath method? If you prefer to cook your steel-cut oats in the bowl of your slow cooker instead, you can put all the ingredients in the bowl. I recommend using cooking spray before adding everything in. Alternatively, you can use a slow cooker liner to make cleaning easier. The timing would not change.
- Cook times may vary: It is no secret that every brand of the slow cooker is different, so the timing might change slightly. My recommendation is to use this basic recipe as a starting point and alter the cooking time according to your own crock pot.
- Storage: To store leftover oatmeal, let it come to 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, place the oats in a microwaveable bowl and add a splash of water or milk. Then, microwave the mixture for about 1½ minutes, making sure to stir 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 freezer bag, remove as much air as possible, seal them, 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.
- The nutritional information below does not include the optional toppings.
Toni | Boulder Locavore
Such an amazing day starter!
Tanya
The best way to start the day!
Jennifer Farley
Such a filling breakfast! I definitely want to have this at least once a week or so!
Tanya
What a perfect way to start the day!
Heather
Such a beautiful, healthy and delicious breakfast!
Melissa Sperka
So good AND good for you
Aysegul Sanford
Ha ha.. That is exactly why I love it so much ?
Dilara R
I have been making this for a few weeks right now and I love it. I change it up with different fruit every time I make it and it never disappoints. I love reading your blog and through your adventures. I hope you are loving Vermont.
Aysegul Sanford
Ah sekercim, thank you. I am so happy that you liked it. We love Vermont (minus cold) ?Much love to you.
Pam
I cook my steel cut oats in my rice cooker. You can leave them on warm for hours and the consistency doesn’t change! It’s also way faster than cooking on the stove and the pot is easy to clean!
Emily
How did I miss that you were moving to Vermont?! I really am so behind on my reading! That’s so exciting! I’ve always wanted to visit vermont, so maybe someday we can connect there. 🙂 These photos are stunning- so vibrant and colorful. Love the way you dressed up a simple bowl of oats. I always make mine in the rice cooker with a timer, similar to how you do it here. It’s such a great thing to wake up to!
Aysegul Sanford
Oh Emily.. I would love to you to visit me in Vermont.. That would be a dream come true.
Rice cooker is such a great idea. I used to have one, long time ago, but I see that it would be perfect for this recipe. 🙂
Willow | Will Cook For Friends
I love steel cut oats! I always just cook mine on the stove, but I love the idea of throwing them in the slow cooker and waking up to warm oats in the morning. I actually have a steel cut oat recipe coming up, and will have to link to this post in the recipe notes as an alternative way to make it. And those toppings! Oatmeal is all about toppings, IMO. I wouldn’t have thought to cut up an energy bar, though — pure genius. I’ve never tried the ZonePerfect bars, but they sound super yummy. Will definitely be keeping my eye out for them from now on. 🙂
Aysegul Sanford
Thank you Willow. I think the idea of having breakfast ready when you wake up is the best part about this recipe. A warm bowl of goodness topped off with all kinds of toppings. Who can say no to that? :))
I can’t wait to see your post and what you topped it off with. Cheers my friend.
Sara @ Cake Over Steak
I just had some steel cut oats last weekend when it was FREEZING COLD. It sounds like you’re going to be all set for your move to Vermont. Good luck!
Aysegul Sanford
Thank you Sara!
Lisa
I have cooked steel cut oats in the slow cooker before, but I never would have thought of cooking it with the water bath method! It’s funny, before the new year, I was trying to develop a recipe for slow cooker oats with millet. I cooked it for 8 hours on low, like you did and it definitely wasn’t as creamy as i would have liked. I should really try this method when I retest the recipe later this month! Thanks for this.
P.S. You’re moving to Vermont?!! I’ve visited twice and always loved the beauty of Vermont. It is definitely way too cold for a California girl like me though 😉
Aysegul Sanford
Hey Lisa.. Yes, I have been there. 8 hours is just too long for steel cut oats. Who knew, right? 🙂
PS: I know, but we are looking forward to the change. Cheers!
Tessa | Salted Plains
Vermont! How exciting. I think I would wake up and check the weather there every morning too! This steel cut oatmeal method sound fantastic – I would have never thought to use a dish inside the crockpot. Your fruit in these photos look like gems! So pretty, Aysegul! xo
Aysegul Sanford
It was a surprise to me too, but it worked beautifully. Thank you for your kind words my friend. <3
Abby @ Heart of a Baker
Ohh how I have not thought about making steel cut oats in the slow cooker before?! This is such a good way to get them in without waiting around for them to be done!
Ruby & Cake
I love the detail you put into your recipes and that you give advice for leftovers! I never know what to do with my leftover oats they usually congeal and end up in the bin. I hope you enjoy your time in Vermont!
Aysegul Sanford
Thank you so much for your kind words. I try to do my best to answer all questions with the hopes that it will be helpful to my readers 🙂
Traci | Vanilla And Bean
Your moving to Vermont?! Oh my! I’ve never been but would love to visit some day… how are you feeling about it? I adore overnight oats in any form. But I’m with you on steel cut.. they require a different kind of attention than rolled. Thank you for sharing your tips to make mornings easier! I’ll have to get these back on my rotation.. (that bowl is gorgeous!!). Thank you for sharing Aysegul.
Aysegul Sanford
Yes!! I know, right? It is hard to believe, but we are moving again. I so wish you could come and visit me. Hopefully very very soon. <3
I, too, love a good warm bowl of steel cut oats. This turned out to be a really good one that exceeded my expectations. Thanks for stopping by Traci. <3
Lynn | The Road to Honey
First off, welcome (back) to New England. It’s definitely cold here in Boston . . .but even more brutal the further North you get so warm and comforting foods are a definite must.
Slow cooker steel cut oats are a regular way to warm up in our household. But I have to admit that I have not had problems with a difficult to clean insert. Perhaps I just got lucky and bought a brand/model that is ideal for this type of food. That said, it’s just the Mr. and I, so I like the idea of using the bowl to reduce the number of servings. Also, as much as I like honey on my oatmeal. . .my blood sugar does not and I find that I will spend all day trying to recover from blood sugar lows. I generally go with no sweetener by love the idea of using applesauce to sweeten it. . .definitely giving this a try next time. I also love the idea of topping it with nutritional bars especially since the Mr. is addicted to them.
Aysegul Sanford
Oh that is good to know. It must have been because of your slow cooker. Mine was a nightmare to clean.
Thanks for your kind wishes. I wish we can meet sometime and enjoy a bowl of this together. 🙂
PS: I love your Insta stories. Your tips on photography are so SO helpful.
Tammy
As everyone ends the year and begins 2020, we think more deeply about our health and happiness. In December I was told I have Sjogrens disease, which is an autoimmune disease that attacks your bodily fluids, ie. Dry eye/dry mouth etc.
Since there isn’t a cure, there is a great chance of relief by eating more whole foods and cutting out sugar and gluten. I decided to pick up a couple of good books on eating for a healthy gut and anti-inflammatory foods that help with the joint pain that goes with this illness.
With my “almost a Dr. of Physical Therapy” daughter being home for a clinical, we’re having fun shopping for healthier foods and trying new recipes.
We both enjoy steel cut oats and late lastnight I found your overnight crockpot recipe. With everyone in bed, I put our breakfast oats in a Pyrex dish into the crockpot filled about 2″ of water. I used part water and part unsweetened almond milk, a dribble of vanilla extract and pure maple syrup and a bit of cinnamon. It was turned on low for 7 hours and on warm for 2.5 hrs. More….so fun to sleep in! ? My hubby and daughter were so surprised to have a hearty breakfast ready to eat! We topped it with a bit more almond milk, nuts, craisins, blueberries, and nuts.
It was simply delish! This recipe will be a staple in my journey to feel better in the new year! Thanks! ??
Aysegul Sanford
Aww Tammy. This makes me so happy to hear. I literally make this recipe twice a week and have been working on a video to share it with my readers.
I am sorry to hear about the health issues. I hope my blog and recipes will inspire you as you change your eating habits.
I am always here if I can answer any questions.
Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment. Cheers!
Gena
I love making steel cut oats in the crockpot! It’s so easy and such a time saver; I like to do big batches for freezing and leftovers. This is a lovely recipe, Aysegul (I love the thought to add mashed fruit). Happy new year to you 🙂
Aysegul Sanford
Hi Gena! This is my new favorite way of starting the day. Like you said, it is such a time saver. Plus, it is super healthy. 🙂
Happy new year to you too.
PS: It makes me so happy every time you stop by my friend. <3
Amisha
I love your detailed your recipe is wndchow you talk about your experiments too ! I love steel cut oats and you are right – it takes so long to cook it on the stove top! I might have to invest in a crock pot !! Your pictures are mega delicious !!,????
Aysegul Sanford
Aww thank you Amisha. I do my best to be as helpful as I can be. Yes, you should try the crockpot method. If you are a lover of steel cut oats, you will love it. Much love and thanks again my friend. <3
Aimee | Wallflower Kitchen
I got a bag of steel cut oats that I’ve been meaning to use, since it’s the best time of year for cosy breakfasts like this! Gorgeous as ever
Aysegul Sanford
Aww thank you my friend <3