Slow-Cooker Oatmeal

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Here’s an easy way to serve a crowd a hearty breakfast. You can assemble it in the slow cooker in the evening and wake up to a bowl of hot, nourishing oatmeal. The slow cooker eliminates the need for constant stirring and ensures an exceptionally creamy consistency.

an image of the Slow-Cooker Oatmeal
Credit:

Photographer: Jacob Fox, Food Stylist: Holly Dreesman, Food Stylist: Breanna Ghazali

Active Time:
5 mins
Total Time:
8 hrs
Servings:
8
  • Preparing this oatmeal is effortless, requiring just five ingredients and a slow cooker.
  • The fiber in oatmeal nurtures digestion, keeping your stomach satisfied longer.
  • The slow cooker method guarantees creamy oatmeal without needing to stir constantly.

This Slow-Cooker Oatmeal is the breakfast recipe you didn’t know you needed. With a little prep the night before, you can wake up to a warm and creamy pot of oatmeal that’s ready to serve a crowd (or just yourself for the week). Get your slow cooker going the night before, and by morning the oats will be perfectly cooked without you lifting a finger (or endlessly stirring a pot). Oats are the unsung heroes of breakfast, packing in fiber to keep you feeling satisfied and your gut running in tip-top shape. Whether you enjoy this overnight oatmeal as is or with your favorite toppings, you’ll be a breakfast rock star, all before your first sip of coffee. Read on for our best tips and tricks for making this easy oatmeal part of your regular routine!

Tips from the EatingWell Test Kitchen

These are the key tips we learned while developing and testing this recipe in our Test Kitchen to make sure it works, tastes great and is good for you too!

  • Steel-cut oats, sometimes labeled “Irish oatmeal,” look like small pebbles. They are toasted oat groats—the oat kernel that has been removed from the husk—that have been cut into two or three pieces. Do not substitute regular rolled oats, which have a shorter cooking time.
  • The oats should be toothsome, with a creamy texture, not pasty. If you need to thin out your oatmeal, add more liquid, either water or milk, about ⅓ cup at a time until the desired consistency is reached. 

Nutrition Notes

  • Steel-cut oats are a great source of fiber, a key nutrient that can help you feel full for longer periods of time. The fiber in oats may also help relieve and prevent constipation. Oatmeal is also great for heart health, as eating oats may help improve your cholesterol levels, thanks to the fiber.
an image of the ingredients to make the Slow-Cooker Oatmeal

Photographer: Jacob Fox, Food Stylist: Holly Dreesman, Food Stylist: Breanna Ghazali

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Ingredients

Original recipe (1X) yields 8 servings

  • 8 cups water

  • 2 cups steel-cut oats

  • cup dried cranberries

  • cup chopped dried apricots

  • ¼ teaspoon salt

Directions

  1. Combine 8 cups water, 2 cups oats, ⅓ cup dried cranberries, ⅓ cup dried apricots and ¼ teaspoon salt in a 5- or 6-quart slow cooker. Cover and cook on Low until the oats are tender and the porridge is creamy, 7 to 8 hours.

    an image of the oats and the ingredients for the Slow-Cooker Oatmeal being combined in the slow-cooker

    Photographer: Jacob Fox, Food Stylist: Holly Dreesman, Food Stylist: Breanna Ghazali

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Can I make this recipe on the stovetop?

    Yes. If you use the stovetop, we recommend using a double boiler. You may have to halve the above recipe to accommodate the size of most double boilers. Combine 4 cups water, 1 cup steel-cut oats, 3 tablespoons dried cranberries, 3 tablespoons chopped dried apricots and ⅛ teaspoon salt in the top of the double boiler. Cover and cook over boiling water for about 1½ hours, checking the water level in the bottom of the double boiler from time to time.

  • What’s the best way to store leftovers?

    This oatmeal is best served right out of the slow cooker, but if you have leftovers, they can be stored in the refrigerator. Any leftovers heat up nicely in the microwave. The oatmeal will continue to thicken as it sits, so you may need to stir in additional liquid to get it back to its creamy consistency.

  • Is this recipe gluten-free?

    Yes, this recipe is gluten-free. While oats themselves are gluten-free, people with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity should use oats that are labeled “gluten-free,” as they are often cross-contaminated with wheat and barley.

  • What else can I add to my overnight oatmeal?

    After cooking, you can top with additional sweeteners like honey or maple syrup, more chopped dried fruit, fresh fruit, chopped nuts or a dollop of Greek-style yogurt or peanut butter for extra protein.

EatingWell.com, December 2024

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

178 Calories
3g Fat
34g Carbs
5g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 8
Serving Size 1 cup
Calories 178
% Daily Value *
Total Carbohydrate 34g 12%
Dietary Fiber 5g 16%
Total Sugars 7g
Protein 5g 11%
Total Fat 3g 3%
Saturated Fat 0g 2%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Vitamin A 5µg
Vitamin C 0mg 0%
Vitamin D 0µg
Vitamin E 0mg 3%
Folate 13µg
Vitamin K 1µg
Sodium 79mg 3%
Calcium 30mg 2%
Iron 2mg 10%
Magnesium 59mg 14%
Potassium 179mg 4%
Zinc 1mg 14%
Vitamin B12 0µg
Omega 3 0g

Nutrition information is calculated by a registered dietitian using an ingredient database but should be considered an estimate.

* Daily Values (DVs) are the recommended amounts of nutrients to consume each day. Percent Daily Value (%DV) found on nutrition labels tells you how much a serving of a particular food or recipe contributes to each of those total recommended amounts. Per the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the daily value is based on a standard 2,000 calorie diet. Depending on your calorie needs or if you have a health condition, you may need more or less of particular nutrients. (For example, it’s recommended that people following a heart-healthy diet eat less sodium on a daily basis compared to those following a standard diet.)

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a special diet for medical reasons, be sure to consult with your primary care provider or a registered dietitian to better understand your personal nutrition needs.

Additional reporting by
Hilary Meyer
Hilary Meyer
Hilary Meyer is a recipe developer, tester, and content creator. After graduating from culinary school, she started working the EatingWell Test Kitchen in 2006, developing and testing recipes.