Waking up to a warm, creamy bowl of oatmeal is one of life’s simple pleasures, and these Crockpot Steel Cut Oats make it incredibly easy! This recipe delivers perfectly cooked steel-cut oats with just the right amount of chewiness, loaded with the comforting flavors of mashed banana, brown sugar, maple syrup, and cinnamon. I absolutely love using my slow cooker for Crockpot Steel Cut Oats because I can prep them quickly, and then let the crockpot do the work – perfect for busy mornings or meal prepping breakfasts for the week. It’s a wholesome, satisfying, and delicious way to start the day!
Why You’ll Love These Crockpot Steel Cut Oats
- Easy & Hands-Off: The slow cooker does most of the work, making breakfast effortless.
- Creamy & Chewy Texture: Slow cooking yields perfectly tender steel-cut oats with a delightful chew.
- Flavorful & Comforting: Packed with banana, brown sugar, maple, and cinnamon for a warm and cozy flavor.
- Perfect for Meal Prep: Make a big batch and enjoy healthy breakfasts throughout the week.
- Customizable: Easy to adjust sweeteners and perfect for loading up with your favorite toppings.
Ingredients for Crockpot Steel Cut Oats
Here’s what you’ll need to make this easy and comforting breakfast. The full list with measurements is in the recipe card below.
Main Ingredients
- Plain oat milk (Dairy Alternative/Liquid)
- Maple syrup (Sweetener)
- Brown sugar, packed (Sweetener)
- Vanilla extract (Flavoring)
- Very ripe bananas, mashed (Fruit)
- Ground cinnamon (Spice)
- Salt (Seasoning)
- Steel cut oats (Grain)
Optional Toppings
- Brown sugar
- Maple syrup
- Fruit (fresh or dried)
- Nuts
- Raisins
(Note: the full ingredients list, including measurements, is provided in the recipe card below.)
Variations
I love the banana-maple-cinnamon flavor of these Crockpot Steel Cut Oats, but they are incredibly versatile:
- Apple Cinnamon: Swap mashed bananas for unsweetened applesauce and add extra cinnamon or apple pie spice. Stir in diced apples during the last 30 minutes.
- Pumpkin Spice: Replace mashed banana with pumpkin puree and use pumpkin pie spice instead of just cinnamon.
- Berry Delicious: Omit banana and stir in fresh or frozen berries during the last 30 minutes of cooking.
- Nutty: Add chopped pecans, walnuts, or almonds along with the oats. Add a swirl of peanut butter or almond butter before serving.
- Different Milk: Use regular dairy milk, almond milk, soy milk, or cashew milk instead of oat milk.
How to Make Crockpot Steel Cut Oats
Let me show you how incredibly easy it is to make Crockpot Steel Cut Oats:
Prep Crockpot and Combine Ingredients
- First, I grease my 6-quart crockpot (slow cooker) generously with cooking spray. This step is crucial to prevent sticking!
- Then, I pour in the oat milk, maple syrup, packed brown sugar, vanilla extract, mashed ripe bananas, ground cinnamon, and salt directly into the crockpot insert.
- I whisk these liquid and flavor ingredients together until they are fully combined.
- Finally, I stir in the steel-cut oats.
Cook
- I place the cover on the crockpot.
- I cook on the HIGH setting for 2 ½ to 3 hours, or until the oats are tender and creamy but still have a slight chew, cooked to my liking. Cooking times can vary slightly between slow cooker models.
Serve
- Once cooked, I give the Crockpot Steel Cut Oats a good stir.
- I taste and re-season if needed (maybe a touch more salt or sweetener depending on preference).
- I serve the oats plain or, my favorite way, loaded up with additional toppings!
Tips and Tricks for the BEST Slow Cooker Oats
Here are my secrets for making perfect Crockpot Steel Cut Oats:
- Grease the Crockpot Well: Don’t skip this! Steel-cut oats can stick significantly to the slow cooker insert if it’s not well-greased.
- Use Steel-Cut Oats: This recipe is specifically designed for steel-cut oats (also called Irish oats). Rolled oats or quick oats cook much faster and will become mushy with this method and timing.
- Ripe Bananas: Very ripe bananas provide the most natural sweetness and mash easily.
- Cooking Time Varies: Slow cookers can differ. Start checking for doneness around the 2.5-hour mark on high. Oats should be tender but retain some chewiness. Adjust time as needed for your preference.
- Stir Before Serving: Give the oats a good stir after cooking, as they can settle.
How to Serve
These Crockpot Steel Cut Oats are a fantastic blank canvas! Serve them warm, topped with:
- Extra brown sugar or maple syrup
- Fresh fruit (berries, sliced banana, diced apples)
- Dried fruit (raisins, cranberries, chopped apricots)
- Nuts (walnuts, pecans, almonds) or seeds (chia, flax, pumpkin)
- A splash of milk or cream
- A dollop of yogurt
- A spoonful of nut butter
Make Ahead and Storage
This recipe is PERFECT for meal prep!
- Storage: Once cooled completely, store leftover Crockpot Steel Cut Oats in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4-5 days.
- Reheating: Reheat individual portions in the microwave or on the stovetop. Add a splash of milk or water to loosen the oats as they will thicken considerably upon chilling. Stir well while reheating.
FAQs about Crockpot Steel Cut Oats
- Can I cook these on LOW overnight?
- While some slow cooker oat recipes are designed for overnight cooking on low (usually 6-8 hours), this specific recipe with its liquid ratios is tested for the HIGH setting (2.5-3 hours). Cooking for 8+ hours on low might result in overly soft or potentially burnt oats depending on your slow cooker model. If attempting, use plenty of cooking spray and check towards the end of the cook time.
- Can I use water instead of oat milk?
- Yes, you can substitute water or another milk (dairy or non-dairy) for the oat milk. The flavor and creaminess will vary slightly.
- Are steel-cut oats gluten-free?
- Oats themselves are naturally gluten-free, but they are often processed in facilities that also handle wheat. If you need strictly gluten-free, ensure you purchase certified gluten-free steel-cut oats.
Enjoy this warm, creamy, flavorful, and incredibly easy Crockpot Steel Cut Oats recipe! It makes breakfast simple and delicious.
Print
Crockpot Steel Cut Oats
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 3 hours
- Total Time: 3 hours 15 minutes
- Yield: 8 1x
- Category: Breakfast, Slow Cooker
- Cuisine: American
Description
These Crockpot Steel Cut Oats are creamy with just the right amount of chewiness. Loaded with mashed banana, brown sugar, maple syrup, and cinnamon, they cook effortlessly in the slow cooker. Serve with your favorite oatmeal toppings for a hearty breakfast!
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 (52 fl oz) carton plain oat milk (about 6 1/2 cups)
- ¼ cup pure maple syrup
- ¼ cup packed brown sugar (light or dark)
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 2 large very ripe bananas, mashed
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 ½ cups steel-cut oats (not rolled or instant oats)
- Cooking spray (for greasing crockpot)
Optional Toppings:
- Extra brown sugar
- Extra maple syrup
- Fresh fruit (berries, sliced banana)
- Nuts (pecans, walnuts)
- Raisins or other dried fruit
Instructions
- Prepare Slow Cooker: Generously grease the insert of a 6-quart (or larger) slow cooker with cooking spray. This helps prevent sticking.
- Combine Wet Ingredients & Seasonings: Pour the oat milk, maple syrup, brown sugar, vanilla extract, mashed bananas, cinnamon, and salt into the prepared slow cooker. Whisk until fully combined.
- Add Oats: Stir in the steel-cut oats.
- Cook: Cover the slow cooker and cook on HIGH for 2 1/2 to 3 hours, or until the oats are tender and have reached your desired consistency (some prefer chewier, some softer).
- Serve: Taste the cooked oatmeal and add more salt, sweetener, or cinnamon if desired. Serve warm, plain or with your favorite additional toppings like brown sugar, maple syrup, fresh fruit, nuts, or raisins.
Notes
- Oat Milk: Plain, unsweetened oat milk is recommended. You can substitute other milks (dairy or non-dairy), but the flavor and creaminess may change slightly.
- Steel-Cut Oats: Use regular steel-cut oats, not quick-cooking or instant varieties, as the cooking time is designed for traditional steel-cut oats. Do not use rolled oats.
- Sweetness: Adjust the amount of maple syrup and brown sugar to your personal preference.
- Bananas: Very ripe bananas provide the most natural sweetness and flavor.
- Consistency: Cooking time can vary slightly depending on your slow cooker model. Cook longer for softer oats, less time for chewier oats. If the oatmeal becomes too thick, stir in a little extra milk or water before serving.
- Greasing: Don’t skip greasing the slow cooker insert, as steel-cut oats can stick.
- Storage: Store leftover oatmeal in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4-5 days. Reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop, adding a splash of milk or water to loosen it up.