How Long to Cook Slow Cooker Steel Cut Oats

This is how long to cook slow cooker steel cut oats. A great breakfast for a crowd during the holidays or on the weekend for your family. Tasty and healthy meal you can enjoy with fruit, honey or milk. If you have just only eaten Instant Pot oatmeal in the mornings all these years, you are in for a real treat here.

How Long to Cook Crockpot Steel Cut Oatmeal

Ready for a hearty start to the day that is healthy and even great for your cholesterol??!! You’ve gotta’ try a bowl of this in the morning. If you haven’t messed around with all the different types of oats there are a few and each one is different in a variety of ways. Old Fashioned oats in Crockpot is just the start. Both take about 8 hours to get tender.

The quicker they cook the less nutritional value they offer, point blank. Another difference is the texture for sure. With quick oats they become mushier so if you like a little texture left in your bite this is the type you’re going to want to cook. There is a lot more natural flavor in this variety too.

Let’s talk a little bit about slow cooking shall we?? First off I have a few different varieties and I love them all. Each one has an occasion to be used like….

1. This is my favorite 6 quart programmable one with a locking lid so it’s great for bringing to a potluck too.
2. I prefer not to use liners, but rather just spray olive oil inside before adding my food for easier cleanups.

Let me give you a peek of my pretty thang I bought recently. It goes with my kitchen so I can just leave it out on the countertop all the time. 😉

Ingredients

• Steel cut oats of course is what we are using
• Water or some liquid, you could even use apple juice for more flavor
• Salt, just a bit is good to create a little savory
• Toppings or add ins would be;
• Brown sugar is there for sweetness of course, there are sugar free options out there too
• Cinnamon is optional but needed in our house for sure
• You could add raisins too if you wanted, the list of add ins goes on and on…
• Half and half or whole milk for creaminess when done

BUT when we want to have breakfast for dinner, or I am making a few things for Christmas brunch, a larger batch is needed. Cooking steel cut oats are easy and better for you. They have a great texture to it too. A great way to start the day.

If you have never used this it may scare you, it kinda’ did for me at the beginning. We share all the ways of How to Cook Steel Cut Oats here. Like my mom always just bought the quick kind, that has the least nutrients for you. With those all of the outside hull is stripped away so it cooks faster and gets tender really fast.

With this type all of that fiber rich goodness is still in tact which means it will really help scrub the inside of your vessels and great to lower cholesterol. You may not be looking for the health benefits, but rather like a littler more texture to your dish which is an added plus as well.

This is what the grains looks like. Yes it is different looking than what you might be used to. If you’ve only used old fashioned or quick oats to make cookies, you might be scratching your head.

How to Cook Quaker Steel Cut Oats in Slow Cooker

• Add oats, water and salt into slow cooker, mix.
• Cover and heat on low for 7-8 hours until oats are as tender as you’d like them to be.
• Lift lid and stir.
• Stir in brown sugar and half and half, stir again. Serve with cinnamon sprinkled on top and more half and half on top too if desired.

What can you put in oatmeal to make it taste better?

1. Real fruit – buy what is in season
2. Honey or brown sugar – duh
3. Some like to add milk, coconut milk, soy milk or almond milk instead of water
4. Cinnamon and/or nutmeg
5. Drizzle maple syrup on top or some inside while cooking
6. 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips on top of the whole batch

Shredded sweetened coconut is kinda’ a nice add in as well as dried cranberries like Craisins if I can find those on sale.

You know what is a fun way to serve oatmeal if you’re serving a large crowd for a get together or potluck? Make an oatmeal bar! Make a large batch this way, or on the stovetop and have small bowls of toppings next to it with a stack of bowls and spoons. Then let everyone make their own perfect bowlful!

For the kiddos to make them really happy I would even offer more sweets. I mean candy isn’t really a breakfast thing but if it is a holiday all rules are off if you ask me. Choose things like chocolate covered raisins or Nerds are fun teeny tiny candies that pack a punch of different flavors.

How do you add protein to oatmeal?

1. If the recipe calls to make in your Crock pot with milk or almond milk instead of cups of water
2. Add protein powder during the cooking process or when served
3. 1/4 cup flax seed is tasteless really but adds protein and fiber

Nut butter can be stirred in or squeezed on top for some added flavor too. That will oomph it up meaning it adds a bit extra creaminess to the dish, protein, and some heart healthy oils too.

Tip: use a bit of coconut oil or olive oil cooking spray inside of the pot to prevent sticking before you add your ingredients. Cover and cook on low vs. high heat, it comes out more tender.

Other Easy Oatmeal Recipes you’ll Love

• We have also made a quick batch of simple overnight oats for breakfast. That uses different oatmeal typically so it gets really tender in the fridge and fruit on the top is a must.
• Another variety is to make baked peach oatmeal in the oven, that one is really great. Of course, instant oats work for a quick on the go morning too in the microwave.
• Want to try pressure cooker chocolate oatmeal? We’ve got a great option for that too using almond milk. It could be served as a dessert this way with sliced fresh strawberries on top.

Either way you just can’t go wrong with these. I love raisins and brown sugar on top but maple syrup is great for an added bit of natural sweetness. My husband insists on some vanilla almond milk on top which makes it creamy and thins it out a bit, mine has to be really thick.

Everyone has their way of musts so let everyone alter their own bowl when it is done and just have fun with it y’all! If you’re just over it and want to get going you can click jump to recipe at the top of the screen y’all;