Overnight Steel Cut Oats Crockpot Recipe
Overnight steel cut oats in the crockpot cook while you sleep, so you wake up to a hot, creamy breakfast with no stirring. The slow, low heat gives chewy, nutty oats that taste nothing like the gluey kind from a packet.
6
servings5
minutes8
hoursSteel cut oats cook in milk and water on LOW overnight, with a little butter to keep them from sticking. They come out creamy and chewy by morning.
Ingredients
2 cups steel cut oats
6 cups water
2 cups whole milk
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1/2 teaspoon fine salt
2 tablespoons maple syrup, plus more for serving
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup diced apple (optional)
1/4 cup chopped walnuts, for serving
Brown sugar, fresh berries and extra milk, for serving
Directions
- Grease the insert of a 6-quart slow cooker well with butter or cooking spray. This keeps the oats from sticking to the crock.
- Add the oats, water, milk, butter, salt, maple syrup and cinnamon to the slow cooker.
- Stir once so the oats are fully submerged and the butter begins to melt.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 7 to 8 hours. Do not use HIGH overnight, which can scorch the edges.
- In the morning, stir the oatmeal well. It may look thin at first, but it thickens as you stir and as it cools.
- Stir in the vanilla and the apple if using, then cover and cook on WARM for 15 minutes so the apple softens.
- Check the texture. The oats should be tender with a slight chew. If they are still firm, cook 30 minutes more.
- Spoon into bowls and top with walnuts, berries, a spoonful of brown sugar and a splash of milk.
Notes
- A 6-quart cooker is large for this amount, so the oats cook a little unevenly. Use a smaller 3 or 4-quart cooker or a heat-safe bowl set inside the insert with 1 inch of water around it for best results. Swap the milk for oat milk to make it dairy-free. Refrigerate leftovers for up to 5 days. Reheat in single bowls with a splash of milk.
Why steel cut oats are made for the slow cooker
Steel cut oats are whole oat groats chopped into pieces, so they take 30 minutes on the stove and need regular stirring. That is why many people give up on them. The slow cooker solves the problem: eight hours on LOW is just right, and you do nothing.
The long cook also changes the texture. The oats soften but keep their chew, and the starch slowly releases into the milk, so the oatmeal turns creamy without any cream. You get a breakfast that feels like a treat and happens in your sleep.
The trick is to start with a small batch in a small cooker if you can. A 6-quart insert spreads the oats thin, and the edges cook faster than the middle, so a 3 or 4-quart cooker gives a more even result.
Ingredient notes for slow cooker steel cut oats
Steel cut oats: look for the kind labeled steel cut or Irish oats. Rolled or instant oats turn to mush in eight hours.
Water and milk: the ratio matters. Four cups of liquid for each cup of oats is the standard, but milk cooked all night can scorch, so I use a mix with water.
Butter: a small amount coats the crock and keeps a crust from forming at the edges.
Salt: only half a teaspoon, but without it the oats taste flat and sweet instead of nutty.
Cinnamon and maple syrup: they cook into the oats overnight so the flavor runs through every spoonful. Keep the sugar light and add more at the table.
Diced apple: add it in the morning, not overnight. Cooked for eight hours it turns to nothing.
Tips for creamy oats and a clean crock
Grease the crock well: This is the most common mistake. Dry insert plus milk and sugar equals a crust that is hard to scrub. Butter or spray the sides and bottom.
Use LOW only: HIGH overnight scorches the milk and the oats at the edge turn brown and bitter. If your cooker runs hot, check at 6 hours.
Stir before serving: The oats look separated in the morning, with a thin layer on top. A good stir brings everything together and they thicken as they sit.
Keep the lid shut: Every peek lets out heat and adds an hour to the clock. Trust the overnight cook and wait until morning.
Swaps and variations
Swap the milk for oat milk or almond milk to keep it dairy-free. Try pumpkin puree and pumpkin pie spice for a fall batch, or stir in a cup of diced pears. For a dinner-style bowl, skip the sweetener and top with a fried egg and green onions. Use coconut milk for a richer, tropical style. For a make-ahead week, cook one batch on Sunday night and portion it into jars on Monday morning. Each jar reheats in two minutes.
Do not swap in rolled oats at the same amount, which overcook completely overnight. If you want rolled oats, cook them for only 2 to 3 hours.
What to serve with it
Set out toppings so everyone builds their own bowl: chopped nuts, fresh berries, sliced banana, a spoonful of nut butter and a drizzle of maple syrup. A glass of orange juice and a hard-boiled egg round out a breakfast on the go.
Storing, freezing and reheating
Refrigerate leftover oatmeal in single-serving jars for up to 5 days. It firms up when cold, which is normal.
Freeze portions in muffin tins, pop them out once solid and bag them for up to 3 months. Reheat in the microwave with a splash of milk for 1 to 2 minutes, stirring halfway, until steaming and creamy again.
A spoonful of peanut butter stirred into a hot bowl turns it into a filling breakfast that holds you until lunch.
Overnight Steel Cut Oats Crockpot Recipe at a glance
- Prep time: 5 minutes
- Cooking time: 8 hours
- Servings: 6 servings
- Ingredients: 11, led by steel cut oats, water, whole milk, unsalted butter
Tips for Overnight Steel Cut Oats Crockpot Recipe
A 6-quart cooker is large for this amount, so the oats cook a little unevenly. Use a smaller 3 or 4-quart cooker or a heat-safe bowl set inside the insert with 1 inch of water around it for best results. Swap the milk for oat milk to make it dairy-free. Refrigerate leftovers for up to 5 days. Reheat in single bowls with a splash of milk.
Overnight Steel Cut Oats Crockpot Recipe FAQ
How long does Overnight Steel Cut Oats Crockpot Recipe take?
Overnight Steel Cut Oats Crockpot Recipe takes 8 hours of cooking after 5 minutes of prep.
How many people does Overnight Steel Cut Oats Crockpot Recipe serve?
This recipe makes 6 servings.
What do I need to make Overnight Steel Cut Oats Crockpot Recipe?
11 ingredients, led by steel cut oats, water, whole milk, unsalted butter. Amounts are in the recipe card above.
