Slow Cooker Steel Cut Oats made with quick steel cut oats, berries, bananas, maple syrup, and nuts are an easy, high-fiber breakfast!
Slow Cooker Steel Cut Oats
The slow cooker is a great vessel for making oatmeal for brunch, meal prep, or feeding a crowd. I load up the oats with lots of fruit and a little maple syrup to sweeten them and top them with chopped nuts. I tested this recipe with quick- cooking steel cut oats, which I loved in these savory oats. You can also make Instant Pot Steel Cut Oats. This can easily be made gluten-free.
This healthy breakfast is not only high in fiber, but it’s also delicious. Steel cut oats are processed less than old fashioned and quick-cooking oats, so they have the most fiber and protein. Plus, one of my favorite ways to boost the protein content is to add egg whites – you can’t taste them, and they don’t change the texture. Win, win! If you want to omit the egg whites, that’s perfectly fine too.
Slow Cooker Steel Cut Oatmeal Ingredients
- Oats: I used Bob’s Red Mill Quick-Cooking Steel Cut Oats. If you use regular steel cut oats, you’ll need to cook them longer. Check labels for gluten-free.
- Liquids: I use two cups of water for every cup of oats, almond milk would also work.
- Maple Syrup for sweetener.
- Cinnamon for flavor.
- Egg Whites for extra protein. If you’re allergic you can omit.
- Banana: Slice one ripe banana.
- Berries: Two cups of fresh berries, like blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries
- Nuts: Pecans, almonds or walnuts will work.
Do steel cut oats take a long time to cook?
Steel cut oats take longer to cook than other types of oats. However, quick- cooking steel cut are faster than regular steel cut ones. The slow cooker is the perfect way to make them because you can set it and forget it for a couple of hours.
How do you cook oats in a slow cooker?
- Put the oats, water, maple syrup, and cinnamon in the crock pot, and then add the fruit.
- Cover the slow cooker and cook on low for two hours.
- Top the oatmeal with the chopped nuts and more syrup if desired.
How long does cooked oatmeal last in the fridge?
Slow cooker oatmeal is perfect for meal prep. It will keep in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to six days. To reheat it, add a splash of milk or water, and heat it in the microwave or on the stove until warm.
Variations:
- Make It Vegan: Omit the egg whites to make it vegan.
- Berries: I used a mix of berries, but you can stick to one, like all blueberries or strawberries, if you wish.
- Fruit: Substitute raisins or apples for any of the fruit.
- Vanilla or Cinnamon: Add some vanilla extract or cinnamon sticks before cooking.
- Sweetener: Swap maple syrup for honey.
- Toppings: Top your oatmeal with fresh berries, sliced bananas, a drizzle of peanut butter, coconut flakes, or a spoonful of chia seeds. You can also top it with a dollop of yogurt for more protein.
- Chocolate: Swap out the berries for chocolate chips.
More Oatmeal Recipes You’ll Love:
- Apple Pie Overnight Oats
- Banana Nut Protein Oats
- Instant Pot Baked Oatmeal Bars
- Peanut Butter Oatmeal Protein Cookies
- Baked Oatmeal with Pears, Bananas, and Walnuts
Your comments are helpful! If you’ve tried this healthy Slow Cooker Steel Cut Oats recipe or any other on Skinnytaste, don’t forget to rate the recipe and leave me a comment below. And if you took a photo of it, share it with me on Instagram so I can reshare it on my Stories!
Slow Cooker Steel Cut Oats
Ingredients
- 1 cup steel cut oats*, quick cooking , such as Bob’s Red Mill
- 2 cups water
- 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup, plus more for serving
- 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/3 cup egg whites
- 2 cups mixed fresh berries, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries
- 1 medium ripe banana, sliced
- 1/4 cup chopped pecans or walnuts
Instructions
- Spray the slow cooker with oil to prevent sticking. Place oats, water, maple syrup, cinnamon and egg whites into the slow cooker and stir.
- Add the berries and bananas.
- Cook covered on low 2 hours.
- Serve topped with pecans, and optional maple syrup on top.
Stove Top Method:
- You can simmer this on the stove in a medium pot on low heat about 7 to 10 minutes, stirring.
Any advice on using a instant instead?
Check out this one- https://www.skinnytaste.com/instant-pot-steel-cut-oats/ 🙂
An easy, quick way to dress up a healthy breakfast! I used the stovetop method for a quick weekday breakfast. Delicious, easy, and filling.
Not a fan I found it quite dry. The baked oatmeal with coconut, blueberries and banana recipe in the Fast and Slow cookbook is what I would recommend.
I have tried sooo many oatmeal recipes but this is the only one I LOVE! So good.
Yay!!!!
Oh, my goodness! This recipe is sooo good! Will be making it often!
This is so good. It has become a staple in my house.
I prepared this recipe for breakfast and the texture of the steel oats was perfect. The addition of berries and banana was the perfect combination. Another hit from Gina!
Thanks Claudia!
It’s an easy way to get plenty of protein, fruits, and fiber in a delicious breakfast! Thanks for another great recipe!
What do I need to change if I only have quick oats to use?
Annette, that’s like making a mimosa with Orange Crush, it’ll be something, just not what Gina has created here.
Looks good, can you use frozen mixed berries?
I use 1 cup of almond milk instead of water to get the protein (no eggs). Then use old fashioned oats. Add bananas closer to the end. Slower cooker duration 90 minutes
I just bought a large container of regular (not steel cut) oats but would love to try this out! Can this be done with some adjustments? TIA!
Yes, I am assuming it could with more time?
Is the blue 6 for WW blue plan?
Thanks.
What size slow cooker are you using? Mine is 6 quarts, which seems way too big for this recipe.
This recipe was delicious! I cooked it both ways, and both turned out great. Crockpot easier because you can just leave it and not keep stirring, but stovetop was faster of course.
Just made this. I don’t really like oatmeal but a few years ago I made an overnight steel cut oatmeal apple and cinnamon and liked it so much better than rolled oats. This recipe is so good and only took a few hours. I used a crock pot liner for easy clean up
This is a seriously delicious recipe! I made it this afternoon so that I would have breakfasts at the ready over the next few days. It was so simple to assemble in the slow cooker and just set it on low for a couple of hours. The small bowlful that I tried when it finished cooking turned into two small bowlfuls! Delicious! It will be so warm and comforting on the chilly mornings ahead. Thanks, Gina, for another five star recipe!
Sounds great, I’ll have to give this a try! But with regular steel cut oats – the quick ones have a weird gummy texture that I don’t care for.
Haven’t tried yet, but I will in the morning. Your recipes never disappoint.
Thank you!!
Can a frozen berry medley be used?
Sure
Can this be made without the egg? Should flax or chia seeds be added if egg is omitted?
You can just omit or add chia for protein if you wish
Looks delicious! Are the oats used in this recipe gluten free? If not, will ones that say gluten free on the packaging work too?
gluten free steel cut oats will work, if they are not quick steel cut oats they need 4 hours
While oats are naturally gluten free, they may come in contact with gluten-containing grains such as wheat, rye and barley at the farm, in storage or during transportation.