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.
This recipe for crockpot oatmeal is made with steel-cut oats for a chewier, heartier texture, and then flavored with strawberries and cream.
The addition of Greek yogurt to this overnight oatmeal helps boost protein and creaminess and the cinnamon wakes the dish up with flavor. And the steel cut oats are a whole grain that is packed full of fiber and known to help regulate blood sugar.
But the BEST part about this recipe????
This oatmeal is made in the SLOW-COOKER while I sleep. Talk about a time-saver!
How to Make Overnight Steel Cut Oats
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Grease 6 quart slow cooker with coconut oil or use a disposable slow cooker liner.
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Mix together steel-cut oats, water, milk, strawberries, cinnamon, vanilla, and sea salt inside the crockpot.
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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.
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Alternatively, cook on high for 3-4 hours.
- Once cooked, stir in 1 cup of yogurt for a creamy addition.
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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 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.
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).
Nutrition
Rebekah
What would be the difference of using traditional oats (not the quick ones) rather than steel cut oats? Also where can I find steel cut oats?
Kristen Chidsey
Hi Rebekah! You should be able to find steel cut oats in any grocery store right along regular oats, or you can buy them on amazon--http://amzn.to/2yX1EbT (aff).
For this recipe, you want to be sure to use steel cut oats. They are a lot more hearty and can handle the long cooking time. Regular oats would essentially turn to mush. For overnight oats using traditional oats, just place all ingredients in a container with lid and refrigerate overnight and then serve cold or warm up individual servings.
Amber
Have you ever tried frozen strawberries? Thanks.
Kristen Chidsey
YES!! They will definetly soften more than fresh and color the oatmeal but they work! Throw them in frozen!
Pamela
Do you put the strawberries in whole or dice them up a little?
Kristen Chidsey
Hey Pamela--I love to dice them up a bit.
Ann
Do you know how long this will last in the fridge after it's been made?
Kristen Chidsey
Good Morning Ann--It should last safely for 5 days. If you won't use it in that time frame, I would dish it up in a silicone muffin liner and freeze. Pop them out of liner and place in freezer bag and pop one in the microwave for breakfast as needed 🙂 Enjoy!
Amy
This recipe looks amazing! I do have a question though. The liquid to oats ratio for steel cut oats is usually 3:1, and in fact my favorite overnight apple oatmeal uses this ratio. Even without including the yogurt (which I think probably counts as a liquid), the ratio is 4:1 in this recipe. Why so high? Isn't it too watery? I'm going to make this tonight with a bit less water, and I'll let you know how it turns out. (I'm sure you're on the edge of your seat! haha)
Kristen Chidsey
Good Morning Amy!!
I am curious to see how your recipe turned out! When cooking steel cut oats in the slow cooker, I always use a 4:1 ratio so that my oats are creamy and do not scorch easily. I also like them to be a bit on the thiner side and not so thick it needs to "plop" off the spoon. The yogurt does not add much more liquid actually because Greek yogurt is so thick!
Alison's Allspice
Breakfast is definitely a time of day that needs ready made meals like this! I love steel cut oats as well, pinned for later, Thanks!
Kristen Chidsey
Thanks so much Alison!
Kelsie | the itsy-bitsy kitchen
I also skipped breakfast every day in high school :). But if this gorgeous oatmeal had been an option I probably wouldn't have! It looks so good and I love that it's make-ahead!
Kristen Chidsey
Thanks Kelsie! It is a great make-ahead option!
Megan @ MegUnprocessed
This looks great and your pictures are crystal clear!
Jenn
this sound so good, and so much healthier than the instant boxed stuff. though i actually have a couple questions. does it matter if the greek yogurt is whole fat or lowfat? would vanilla flavored greek yogurt work? and i'm a sucker for cutting corners. would frozen strawberries work just as well? thanks, i can't wait to try it.
Kristen Chidsey
Hey Jenn! I am all about short-cuts and using what you have on hand. It does not matter if yogurt is low fat or full fat. And vanilla yogurt will work--it will just be sweeter. And frozen strawberries will work perfectly! Enjoy
Jennifer @ Show Me the Yummy
Loving this strawberries and cream flavor!
Kristen Chidsey
Thanks Jenny!!