Steel-cut oats are hearty, filling, and perfect for meal prep. However, they can be time-consuming and require constant oversight when made on the stovetop. Using a slow cooker is the perfect solution. Everything cooks slowly and evenly, creating creamy oats that are ready when you are.
Recipe at a glance
- Prep time: 5 min
- Cook time: 6 - 8 hours on low
- Ratio: 1 cup steel cut oats to 4 cups liquid
- Servings: 6
- Best for: Overnight cooking and meal prep
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💡 Why I love this recipe
I love all oatmeal, but steel-cut oats are a cut above. They are the least processed, higher in fiber, and keep you feeling full longer than other types of oats.
They can also be time-consuming….unless you use your slow cooker. It takes out all the extra effort, leaving you with an easy, reliable breakfast that is perfect every time.
Why Make Steel Cut Oats in the Slow Cooker?
- Hands-free cooking. Once you put the lid on your slow cooker, just walk away and let it handle the rest. No need to check in or continuously stir.
- Consistent results. Low and steady heat will help your oats cook evenly without stirring.
- Reliable texture. Slow cooking with a tight lid creates a humid environment, which it perfect for making creamy oats. No fear of it becoming dry or overcooked.
- Easy meal prep. Make a large batch and enjoy warm or cold all week long.
What You'll Need
Following are the ingredients you'll need to make basic Slow Cooker steel cut oats. Full quantities and instructions are in the recipe card at the bottom of this page.
Grains
Liquids
- Milk of choice or water
Pantry Items
- Salt
Optional for Serving
- Maple syrup
- Brown sugar
- Honey
- Nuts/nut butters
- Butter
- Fresh Fruit
The Perfect Steel Cut Oat Ratio
- Slow cooker steel cut oats work best with a 1 cup oats to 4 cups liquid ratio
- You can choose water, milk, or any combination of the two as long as they total 4 cups. Both dairy and plant-based milks work well. Note: high-fat milks will result in a creamier texture
- If you use all water, adding a tablespoon or two of butter or coconut oil helps keep the oats extra creamy.
- Oats will continue to thicken as they sit. If they become too thick, stir in a splash of water or milk before serving.
Preparing your slow cooker
- Lightly coat your slow cooker with a non-stick spray, oil, or butter before cooking
- Avocado oil and butter are both great choices for this recipe
- Use a slow cooker liner for the easiest cleanup (always an optional step)
Step-by-step instructions
Oats
Add steel-cut oats and salt to a well-greased slow cooker (or one with a liner)
Liquid
Add liquid and stir to combine, then cover and cook.
Stir
After cooking, fully stir all ingredients again until smooth and creamy
Serve
Add toppings or mix-ins of choice and enjoy!
🍽 Serving ideas
Steel cut oats are like a blank canvas. You can top or mix in almost anything you like, such as:
- Fresh fruit and berries
- Maple syrup or honey
- Blueberry syrup
- Date caramel
- Nuts or nut butters
- Chocolate chips, granola, or coconut flakes
- Cinnamon and brown sugar
Top tip:
This recipe is great served at large brunch gatherings. I love setting up an oatmeal bar with various toppings on the side for a make-your-own oatmeal experience.
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Flavor Variations
The simple base recipe outlined above is just the beginning. Use it as a foundation for these great combinations:
🫙 Storing
Refrigerate leftover oatmeal in airtight containers for up to 5 days. Storing in Individual serving containers makes this the perfect grab-and-go breakfast all week. The oats will thicken as they sit. Add a splash of milk or water to loosen them up.
Steel cut oats can also be frozen for up to 3 months. For best results, thaw overnight in the refrigerator before gently reheating in the microwave.
😉 Expert tips for making the best oatmeal.
- Be sure to grease your slow cooker really well for the easiest clean-up
- While cooking, oatmeal can form a skin or thin crust on top. This can be stirred right back into your oatmeal. Or, you can scoop it off and toss it out if you prefer.
- I always recommend a slow cooker liner for easy clean-up. This is, of course, an optional step.
- In the market for a new slow cooker? I love mine!
Yes, you can make a double or triple batch of this recipe. The cooking time will not change as long as you maintain the 4:1 liquid to steel-cut oats ratio. Just note that it will take larger batches longer to come up to full cooking temperature. Therefore, it is best to plan to cook closer to 8 hours.
Also, do not fill your slow cooker more than ⅔ of the way to the top to avoid the potential for bubbling over.
It is not recommended to cook this recipe on high. Overnight oats cooked on high will most likely result in burnt oatmeal and a slow cooker that is difficult to clean.
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📖 Recipe
Slow Cooker Steel Cut Oats
(Click on the stars to leave a rating)
Print Pin Rate SaveAll nutrition information shown here is automatically generated and should be considered an estimate. If you follow a specific diet, please calculate your own values to ensure accuracy.
Equipment
- 3.5 quart slow cooker or larger
Ingredients
- 1 cup steel-cut oats
- 4 cups milk* or water, or a combination of the two
- ½ teaspoon salt
- sweetener and flavors of choice for serving optional
Instructions
- Grease the slow cooker with oil or non-stick spray to prevent sticking. Do NOT skip this step, or clean-up will be difficult.
- Add 1 cup steel-cut oats, 4 cups milk*, and ½ teaspoon salt to slow cooker and stir to combine.
- Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours.
- Add sweetener and flavors of choice for serving and enjoy!
Final Step
If you love this recipe, please let everyone know by giving it a star rating and leaving a comment. This will help my business to grow and allow me to keep on testing and sharing free recipes with you.😊
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Notes
- This recipe can be made with water in place of milk. If you use water, add a tablespoon or 2 of butter to help add just a touch of creaminess.
- You can choose any milk you prefer. I have made this with almond milk, cashew milk, 2% cows milk, and whole milk. All are delicious. Milk with fat will produce a creamier finished product.
- The recipe was designed to add your favorite flavors. You can use your sweetener of choice and your flavor profile of choice. Try mixing in your favorite fruit, granola, nuts, or dried fruits. The possibilities are endless.
- See above for some of my favorite flavor combinations.
- Nutrition facts are based on the use of unsweetened almond milk without any additional flavoring or mix-ins.
Nutrition
All nutrition information shown here is automatically generated and should be considered an estimate. If you follow a specific diet, please calculate your own values to ensure accuracy.
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Nancy Berry says
Delicious! My slow-cooker was a little too efficient, and at 8 hours there was a tan skin on the top and a dark brown one on the bottom, so next time I'll stop the cooking sooner. I followed the recipe as given, using a mixture of mostly milk and a little water; apart from the skin on top and bottom, the oats came out a perfect texture and very tasty, slightly sweet even before I added any sweetener. Cooking steel-cut oats on the stove left the pan hard to clean, and soaking them for a couple of days in the refrigerator for "overnight oats" gave me results that were edible but not great, so I'm happy to have this go-to recipe for steel-cut oats! Cooking spray made the clean-up easy as promised. Thank you for this recipe, Susan!
Susan says
Hi Nancy, Thank you so much for sharing your experience. I am so glad to hear you love this idea as much as I do!