How to Make Overnight Crockpot Oatmeal (Easy Breakfast Idea For Busy Families!)

Overnight Crockpot Oatmeal With Steel Cut Oats

yield: 4 SERVINGS

prep time: 10 MINUTES

cook time: 8 HOURS

total time: 8 HOURS 10 MINUTES

Ingredients

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.

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Are your mornings busy? Keep breakfasts simple with our slow cooker Crockpot oatmeal recipe!

holding a bowl of steel cut slow cooker oatmeal

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.

raw steel cut oats in a measuring cup

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!

ingredients for overnight slow cooker Crockpot oatmeal

Hip tips for making this Crockpot oatmeal recipe:

    • 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.
    • 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.
    • 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.
    • 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.
    • Have a large family? You can easily double this slow cooker oatmeal recipe to feed a larger crowd.

steel cut Crockpot oatmeal made in the slow cooker

Placing sliced almonds on Crockpot oatmeal

A spoonful of overnight steel cut oats made with our Crock Pot oatmeal recipe


Print

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

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.

Brought to you by Hip2Save.

A bowl of slow cooker oatmeal made with steel cut oats

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!


About the writer:

Lina has a Bachelor's Degree from Northern Arizona University with 11 years of blogging and photography experience having work featured in Today.com, Martha Stewart, Country Living, Fox News, Buzzfeed, and HGTV.


Join The Discussion

Comments 56

  1. Julia L.

    Love it! Your whisk is so cute too. Thank you and happy cooking! 🌻

    • Lina (Hip's Modern Martha)

      Thanks Julia!

  2. spedtch95

    Can you use regular (not quick cook) oatmeal? I don’t eat steel cut

    • Lina (Hip's Modern Martha)

      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! 😀

      • Luanne

        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

        • Lina D (Hip2Save Sidekick)

          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!

    • Maggie

      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.

    • bremoeller

      I have tried this with regular oats and the oatmeal was mushy.

      • alaskajoy79

        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.

  3. Kelley

    Anyone have a recipe a similar recipe that uses protein powder?

  4. Heather C.

    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!

    • Lina (Hip's Modern Martha)

      Yum! Peanut butter would be awesome…

    • Erin

      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.

  5. Lynsi

    I’m so glad you posted this. I’m going to try it!! I love these kind of posts.

    • Lina (Hip's Modern Martha)

      Thanks Lynsi! Enjoy 😀

  6. Simon

    Is muesli the same as steel oats? Wondering if I can substitute, since I have it in the pantry.

    • RL

      It isn’t the same

    • Maggie

      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!).

  7. RL

    Totally. I’ve done both many times.

  8. Devona

    Thank goodness for Quaker quick 1 minute oats. I personally don’t see the need to cook oats overnight. My opinion! 😀

    • Elen

      Lol…totally agree! They now sell 3 minute quick cool steel oats.

      • Kelley

        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!!

    • Lina (Hip's Modern Martha)

      Thanks Devona! I guess it’s just convenient and tasty to just walk in the kitchen and serve it in the morning 😄

    • Erin

      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.

    • tracynkeithstearns

      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!! 🙂

  9. Erin

    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.

    • Lina (Hip's Modern Martha)

      Awesome Erin! Thanks for sharing!

  10. Gina G.

    Where do you find steel oats? I’ve never seen them in my local grocery store.

    • Lina (Hip's Modern Martha)

      My grocery store (Albertson’s) carries them next to the regular oatmeal. Look again because they can blend in with all the oatmeal selections 🙂

    • Lana

      Aldi

    • Allison

      you can find them in the bulk section of most stores as well. Or the natural foods section.

  11. Sheila

    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.

    • Lina (Hip's Modern Martha)

      Love this idea – thanks Sheila! I agree so much better! Yum

    • Tracy

      Why not use a crockpot liner?

  12. Frugal Momma

    What size slow cooker do you use?

    • Lina D (Hip2Save Sidekick)

      I have a 6 quart but it had a lot of room- so a smaller one would work or could double the recipe.

      • Frugal Momma

        Thanks, I’m looking forward to trying this!

        • Lina D (Hip2Save Sidekick)

          Sure! Enjoy 😉

  13. This Is The Best ! Make It A Couple Times A Week:)

    Thanks!

  14. tipaye

    Perfect—thanks! 🙂

  15. Lana

    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.

    • Lina D (Hip2Save Sidekick)

      Oh that’s so neat! 🙌

  16. Melissa

    My daughter loves this cooked with diced apples & raisins added in.

    • Lina D (Hip2Save Sidekick)

      Oh love that idea! Thanks for sharing!

  17. Clippy

    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.

    • Clippy

      *before cooking

    • Lina D (Hip2Save Sidekick)

      Oh wow! Now I want to try – thanks for sharing Clippy!

  18. Amanda Durham

    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.

    • Lina D (Hip2Save Sidekick)

      Wow those are great ideas Amanda – thanks for sharing!

  19. Jori

    Can you use and suggest something with less fat than half and half?

    • Lina D (Hip2Save Sidekick)

      Yes- you can basically use a milk or liquid of choice 👍

  20. Becca Casey

    Would this work in two and one half quart slow cooker?

    • Lina D (Hip2Save Sidekick)

      I think it would do fine if fits and not overflowing 👍

  21. missy

    can you put protein powder in them as well?

  22. Tracy

    OMG!! They are SO much better!!!

    • Lina D (Hip2Save Sidekick)

      Oh yay I’m glad you like!

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