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.