This Slow Cooker Oatmeal makes the most delicious oatmeal! Oats cook overnight in the crock-pot with rich maple and cinnamon flavors. Wake up to hearty, gluten-free crockpot oatmeal that is a delicious way to start any day!
Love oatmeal? Be sure to check out all my healthy oatmeal recipes, including Instant Pot Oatmeal, Instant Pot Steel Cut Oats, and Overnight Oats.
Slow Cooker Maple Brown Sugar Oatmeal is one of my kids' all-time favorite flavors of oatmeal. This simple crockpot oatmeal recipe tastes just like classic Maple Brown Sugar Oatmeal packets--warming with a touch of brown sugar and rich with maple.
But when it comes to flavor and nutrition this slow cooker version of oatmeal beats those packs of maple brown sugar oatmeal hands down!
Full of fiber, rich in calcium, and made with less sugar, this is oatmeal you can feel good feeding your kids before they head to school. Or grab a bowl of this hearty crockpot oatmeal before you head out the door to work!
And given that this oatmeal is made with steel-cut oats and in the slow cooker overnight, it comes together just as easy as any packet of store-bought oatmeal. Which you have to love when a healthy breakfast is that easy to make!
Ingredients for Crock Pot Oatmeal
- Steel Cut Oats--Steel cuts oats are a must for this slow cooker oatmeal recipe. They cook perfectly overnight and become tender and soft, but not at all mushy, as regular oats would being cooked this length of time.
- Milk--Use any milk you like for this oatmeal recipe. I have used almond milk, coconut milk, and regular milk with delicious results.
- Water--You need to add water along with dairy of your choice to the oatmeal. This prevents the milk from burning/scorching on the bottom of the slow cooker.
- Maple Syrup--Pure maple syrup, not artificial maple syrup for the best flavor!
- Brown Sugar--Just a tad for to nod to the classic brown sugar flavor.
- Vanilla Extract--To bring out the sweetness in this crockpot oatmeal recipe.
- Cinnamon
- Salt--A dash of salt heightens the flavor of maple and brown sugar.
- Coconut Oil--For greasing the slow cooker (feel free to use butter or cooking spray instead). This will help with clean-up and prevent the oats from sticking to the crockpot.
Optional Ingredients
Looking to bump up the nutrients in your slow cooker oatmeal? Add in any or all of the following ingredients.
- Flax Seed--add ¼ cup ground flaxseed to slow cooker before cooking oatmeal.
- Wheat Germ--add in up to ¼ cup wheat germ to slow cooker before cooking.
- Protein Powder--add in 1-4 scoops of your favorite protein powder AFTER the oatmeal has cooked in the slow cooker.
- Yogurt--add in 1 cup plain yogurt to the oatmeal after the cooking time for a creamy, calcium-rich addition to Crock-Pot Oatmeal.
- Nuts--add in chopped pecans, walnuts, or almonds for a boost of healthy fats.
How to Make Slow Cooker Oatmeal
- Grease the insert of the slow cooker with coconut oil, butter, or canola oil.
- Mix steel-cut oats, water, milk, brown sugar, maple syrup, cinnamon, vanilla, and sea salt together in a large slow cooker.
- 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.
- Serve with a drizzle of maple syrup and chopped pecans and walnuts if desired.
More Delicious Oatmeal Recipes
- Instant Pot Steel Cut Oats
- Baked Carrot Cake Oatmeal
- Overnight Oats
- Spiced Vanilla Chai Oatmeal
- Healthy Baked Sweet Potato Oatmeal
Slow Cooker Maple Brown Sugar Oatmeal
Ingredients
- 2 cups steel cut oats no substitution
- 4 cups water
- 3 cups milk any variety
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- ¼ cup maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon melted coconut oil or cooking spray or butter
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- chopped nuts for serving
Instructions
- Grease slow cooker by brushing with melted coconut oil.
- Mix oats, water, milk, maple syrup, brown sugar, cinnamon, vanilla, and salt together in a large slow cooker.
- 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.
- To serve, dish up oats and top with additional maple syrup and chopped nuts if desired.
Notes
- You MUST use steel-cut oats for this slow cooker oatmeal. Regular or quick-cooking oats will not work.
- Add in up to ¼ cup flax seed or wheat germ to slow cooker before cooking oatmeal for added fiber.
- Add in 1-4 scoops of plain protein powder AFTER the oatmeal has cooked in the slow cooker for added protein.
- Add in 1 cup plain yogurt to the oatmeal after the cooking time for a creamy, calcium-rich addition to Crock-Pot Oatmeal.
- 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 crock-pot oatmeal. In the future, cut back cooking time by 2 hours.
- 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).
Sheri
We love this oatmeal! So easy to throw together and warm up for whenever you want it. We put a little honey on top after reheating and it's delicious. Thanks for sharing!
Hannah Johnson
I’m interested in making this for a big group, how many servings can this make in a crockpot?
Kristen Chidsey
Hi Hannah! You can fill your slow cooker 3/4th of the way full and cook with success. So for a 6 quart, this recipe should double easily. I wouldn't suggest more than doubling.
Christina
OMG This is the BEST oatmeal I’ve ever tasted in my life. Wonderful! I think I didn’t use enough coconut oil because my crockpot is an absolute disaster LOL but I don’t even care. My love for oatmeal has been revived. 💙
Kristen Chidsey
I am so glad you enjoy the oatmeal, Christina! And next time just grease your inner pot well. For now, soak it--it will be good!
Chris
I can't wait to try this! How long do left overs keep? Considering making this sunday nights for the week ahead...would it keep? Does it reheat well? Thank you!
Kristen Chidsey
It keeps for 5 days and reheats perfectly! I make Sunday night and eat on all week long! Enjoy!
Karen
What is the serving size?
Kristen Chidsey
About 1 cup 🙂
Renee
We love this way of cooking oatmeal. We add diced apples to ours. It is delicious. My house smells like apple pie.
Martine
Can I add apples to the recipe and do I add at the beginning of the cooking time
Kristen Chidsey
If you would like your apples to be soft, yes! Dice up peeled apples and mix into the oats.
Dana
Probably the best oatmeal I have ever had!! So easy to assemble!! The flavors were perfect, just enough sweetness! Perfect for a cold morning!
Kristen Chidsey
YAY! So glad you enjoyed Dana! It does make breakfast that much easier.