Looking for a hearty, stick-to-your-ribs kind of breakfast that you don't have to work hard for on busy mornings? We get it. That's why we love making overnight slow-cooker oatmeal. Our crockpot oatmeal recipes are hearty and warming, and they're easy to put together the night before so you can wake up in the morning to a tasty, filling, nutritious breakfast.
When cooking oatmeal in the slow cooker, use steel-cut oats instead of quick oats. Quick oats will not hold up well over the extended cooking time, while steel-cut oats will maintain a much better (less mushy) texture.
Basic Slow Cooker Oatmeal Recipe
This one is plain, but you can totally stir anything you want into it. Cinnamon, blueberries, raisins, a little honey — the world is your oyster... or your oatmeal.
Makes 6 to 8 servings
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 8 cups water
- 2 cups milk or almond milk
- 2 cups steel-cut oats
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Lightly grease the slow cooker insert with the butter, coating it thinly to keep the oatmeal from sticking.
- Measure all ingredients in the slow cooker and stir to combine.
- Cover the slow cooker and turn it on to low. Allow it to cook for eight hours.
Maple Brown Sugar Slow Cooker Oatmeal
As a kid, my favorite version of Quaker instant oatmeal was the maple brown sugar. It's such a warming flavor combo, and it's super kid-friendly.
Makes 6 to 8 servings
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 7½ cups water
- 2 cups milk or almond milk
- 2 cups steel-cut oats
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup pure maple syrup
- ½ cup dark brown sugar
- 1 cup chopped toasted pecans (optional)
Instructions
- Use the butter to lightly grease the inside of the slow cooker insert to keep the oatmeal from sticking as it cooks.
- Add the water, milk, oats, salt, syrup, and brown sugar and stir to combine.
- Cover and turn the slow cooker on to low. Allow it to cook for eight hours.
- Just before serving, stir in the pecans, if using.
Orange Cranberry Slow Cooker Oatmeal
We love the sweet-tart combo of orange and cranberry, and they go so beautifully in these crockpot oats.
Makes 6 to 8 servings
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 7 cups water
- 2 cups milk or almond milk
- 1 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
- Zest of one orange
- 2 cups steel-cut oats
- 1 cup dried cranberries
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
Instructions
- Grease the liner of a slow cooker with the butter so the oatmeal does not stick to the sides.
- Stir in all of the remaining ingredients.
- Cover and cook on low for eight hours.
Mexican Breakfast Oats
Savory oats? You'd better believe it. Oatmeal has such a neutral flavor, it's perfect in savory dishes, too.
Serves 6 to 8.
Ingredients
- Olive oil
- 7 cups water
- 2 cups chicken stock
- 2 cups steel-cut oats
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 jar prepared salsa
- 1 (14-ounce) can black beans, drained
- 1 (14-ounce) can corn, drained
- ¼ cup chopped, fresh cilantro
- 6 scallions, thinly sliced
- 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
Instructions
- Lightly grease the liner of a slow cooker with olive oil to keep the oats from sticking.
- Add the water, chicken stock, oats, salt, salsa, black beans, and corn.
- Turn the slow cooker on low and cook, covered, for eight hours.
- Stir in the cilantro, scallions, and cheese, top with avocado if desired, and serve immediately.
Oatmeal & Apples in the Slow Cooker
Apples and cinnamon go with oatmeal perfectly. We love this warm, spicy flavor, and using dried apples makes it super easy to cook.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 6 cups water
- 1½ cups apple juice or apple cider
- 2 cups milk or almond milk
- 2 cups steel-cut oats
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup dark brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 cup chopped dried apples
Instructions
- Grease the liner of a slow cooker with the butter so the oatmeal does not stick to the sides.
- Stir in all of the remaining ingredients.
- Cover and cook on low for eight hours.
Pumpkin Spice Overnight Slow Cooker Oatmeal
Pumpkin and spice are always nice, and it's especially yummy for a fall breakfast. It's perfect for pairing with your PSL.
Makes 6 to 8 servings.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 6 cups water
- 1½ cups apple juice or apple cider
- 2 cups milk or almond milk
- ½ cup pure maple syrup
- 2 teaspoons pumpkin spice
- 1 (14-ounce) can pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie mix)
- 2 cups steel-cut oats
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- Toasted pecans (optional)
Instructions
- Grease the liner of a slow cooker with the butter so the oatmeal doesn't stick to the sides.
- In the slow cooker, whisk together the water, apple juice, almond milk, maple syrup, pumpkin spice, and pumpkin puree.
- Stir in the oats and the salt.
- Cover and cook on low for eight hours.
- Serve topped with chopped toasted pecans
Yummy Things to Mix in With Your Slow Cooker Oatmeal
One of the best things about oatmeal is just how versatile it truly is. It can be sweet or savory. We have all sorts of ideas for what you can mix in with it in the morning to get you off to a delicious start.
- Chopped nuts
- Granola
- Chocolate chips
- Peanut butter powder
- Honey
- Maple syrup
- Blueberries
- Sliced strawberries
- Sliced bananas
- Molasses
- Pumpkin seeds
- Coconut flakes
- Pineapple chunks
- Papaya chunks
- Mango chunks
- Chopped candied ginger
- Cinnamon
- Nutmeg
- Dried fruit
- Raisins
- Chopped dates
- Dried cranberries
- Dried cherries
- Jam, jelly, or fruit preserves
- Chia seeds
- Grated carrots
- Matcha powder
- Cocoa powder
- Vanilla extract
- Almond extract
- Nut or seed butter
- Nutella
- Yogurt
- Cottage cheese
- Chopped peaches or nectarines
- Chopped pears
- Hot sauce
- Chopped herbs
- Chopped ham
- Crumbled bacon
- Breakfast sausage
- Grated cheese
- Salsa
- Pickled peppers
- Chorizo
A Hearty Breakfast
Eating oatmeal in the morning will get your day off to the right start. By having a warm and filling breakfast, you'll have the energy you need to get through the day.
