Overnight Strawberries and Cream Steel Cut Oatmeal is a set-it-and-forget-it make-ahead breakfast. Mix all the ingredients together in a slow cooker and set it before bed and wake up to a hearty, gluten-free slow cooker oatmeal! This crock-pot strawberry and cream oatmeal is a creamy delicious way to start any day!

I truly believe that starting each day with a balanced breakfast is a key to success.
But the problem with having breakfast on the table for my family once again is TIME. Between getting myself and the kids dressed and ready for the school day, I have little time to throw together breakfast. Sounds like your life too, huh?
I am all about the make-ahead breakfasts to make my life easier! That is why Overnight Steel Cut Oats are a staple in my house.
Inspired by my recipe for Slow Cooker Maple Brown Sugar Oatmeal, this recipe for Strawberries and Cream Oatmeal is made with steel-cut oats for a chewier, heartier texture and cooks overnight in the crockpot. But instead of maple and brown sugar, this recipe is flavored with strawberries and cream.

How to Make Overnight Steel Cut Oats
- Grease 6-quart slow cooker with coconut oil or use a disposable slow cooker liner.
- Mix together steel-cut oats, water, milk, strawberries, cinnamon, vanilla, and sea salt inside the crockpot.
- Place lid on the slow cooker and cook for 6 hours on low for firm texture and 8 hours on low for a softer texture.
- Alternatively, cook on high for 3-4 hours.
- Once cooked, stir in 1 cup of yogurt for a creamy addition.
- To serve, dish up strawberry oatmeal and top with additional strawberries, a dollop of yogurt, and a drizzle of honey or maple syrup if desired.
Stove Top Strawberry Steel Cut Oatmeal
If you would rather make this oatmeal on the stove, follow these instructions:
- Bring 6 cups of water to a boil.
- Reduce heat and simmer and then add in 2 cups milk, your oats, and a dash of salt.
- Cook 20 minutes, stirring frequently.
- Add in strawberries, vanilla extract, and yogurt.
- Mix well and serve.
Notes on Crock-Pot Oatmeal
- Use any milk you like for this oatmeal recipe. I have used almond milk and regular milk with delicious results.
- It is a really good idea to either grease insert in your slow-cooker or uses a slow-cooker liner for easy clean-up.
- I have never had an issue with the steel-cut oats burning in my slow cooker. However, each slow cooker is different. If your slow cooker burns the bottom of the oats, just don't stir the burnt bottom into the remaining oatmeal and you can eat the rest of the strawberry oatmeal. In the future, cut back cooking time by 2 hours.
- Feel free to use ANY fruit you like for this slow cooker steel-cut oats recipe. Blueberries, peaches, and raspberries have all been huge successes at my house.
- The strawberries make this dish perfectly sweet for my family, but a drizzle of honey, maple syrup, or even some brown sugar will sweeten perfectly if desired.
Make-Ahead Breakfast Recipes
- Slow Cooker Maple Cinnamon Oatmeal
- Easy Overnight French Toast Casserole
- Overnight Ham and Egg Breakfast Casserole
- Overnight Apple Pie Oatmeal
- Healthy Homemade Egg McMuffin Sandwiches
- Instant Pot Steel Cut Oats

Overnight Strawberries and Cream Steel Cut Oatmeal (Slow Cooker)
Ingredients
- 2 cups steel cut oats no substitution
- 4 cups water
- 3 cups milk any variety
- 2 cups strawberries divided
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- dash of sea salt
- honey or maple syrup if desired
- 1 cup plain Greek yogurt use coconut yogurt if dairy free
Instructions
- Grease the inside of the slow cooker with melted butter, coconut oil, or spray for easier clean-up.
- Pour the oats, water, milk, 1 ½ cups strawberries, cinnamon, vanilla, and sea salt into the slow cooker and mix to combine.
- Place the lid on slow cooker and cook for 6 hours on low for firm texture and 8 hours on low for softer texture. Alternatively, cook on high for 3-4 hours.
- Right before serving stir in yogurt for a creamy addition.
- To serve, dish up oats and top with additional strawberries, a dollop of yogurt and a drizzle of honey or maple syrup if desired.
Equipment Needed
Notes
- Use any milk you like for this oatmeal recipe. I have used almond milk and regular milk with delicious results.
- It is a really good idea to either grease insert in your slow-cooker or use a slow-cooker liner for easy clean-up.
- I have never had an issue with the steel cut oats burning in my slow cooker. However, each slow cooker is different. If your slow cooker burns the bottom of the oats, just don't stir the burnt bottom into the remaining oatmeal and you can eat the rest of the strawberry oatmeal. In the future, cut back cooking time by 2 hours.
- Feel free to use ANY fruit you like for this slow cooker steel cut oats recipe. Blueberries, peaches, and raspberries have all been huge successes at my house.
- The strawberries make this dish perfectly sweet for my family, but a drizzle of honey, maple syrup, or even some brown sugar will sweeten perfectly if desired.
- Use non-dairy milk for dairy-free and vegan slow cooker oatmeal.
- If you would like to use more milk than water, that is fine. You need a total of 7 cups liquid. I don't recommend exceeding 4 cups milk as then the oatmeal would be in risk of scorching the bottom of your slow cooker.
- If you would like your oatmeal thinner, use 8 cups of liquid (5 cups water, 3 cups milk), if you would like thicker oatmeal, use 6 cups of liquid (4 cups of water, 2 cups of milk).
Sage and Thyme
i used frozen whole strawberries, stirred them around in the brown sugar, i used 1/2 cup sugar, butter pieces, then added the vanilla to them and cinnamon then i added the oats. put in the liquid and voila.. i usually make apple cinnamon, but these were so so so good, thank you for the recipe I love the "dont darken my screen when using screen to cook feature" you have on this site. Thank you for your these inspiring recipes.
Kristen Chidsey
Thank you so much! I am glad you enjoyed the oatmeal and the options I have on the recipe card 🙂