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 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
If you enjoyed this recipe for Crockpot Oatmeal, I would love for you to leave a comment and review below.
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).
Mara
I have made this twice for large groups, and it was a boisterous hit both times! I doubled the recipe, used almond milk but half the amount of brown sugar, and had sealed lid containers of a variety of toppings - raisins, granola, slivered almonds, crushed pecans, craisens, etc. - easy to take from one brunch to the next. Leftovers I put into single sized containers and froze, moving one into the fridge the night before I wanted it for breakfast, and added extra almond milk when reheating. Yum!
Victoria
Really delicious just tried it today! Thank you so much 😊
Kristen Chidsey
I am so happy to hear you enjoyed this Oatmeal recipe Victoria! Thanks for sharing!
Veronica
How many cups in a serving? Thanks so much!!!
Kristen Chidsey
It is about 1 cup per serving.
Raquel
What can be used instead of brushing inside of slow cooker with melting coconut oil ? The inside of my slow cooker is already nonstick?
Kristen Chidsey
I would use cooking spray then--even for nonstick, you will find it useful 🙂
Brooke
Hi, does this save/reheat well?
Kristen Chidsey
Absolutely! Store the leftovers in an airtight container for 4-5 days. Reheat individual servings in the microwave for 1-2 minutes, adding milk of needed to thin.
meg
You can freeze overnight oats in individual portions, too. I transfer the frozen oats to a microwave safe bowl, and nuke them on medium until they're hot. If they look dry, I'll add some almond milk.
Barbara
What size of slow cooker do I need to use?
Kristen Chidsey
Hi Barbara! This is is best being made with a 6-8 quart slow cooker.
Michelle
This is an easy , delicious recipe. I didn't make any changes or add anything extra , I used 2% milk, & I forgot to add the yogurt. Cooked 8 hours on low and it was perfect. Served it with a plate of toppings...coconut, nuts, chopped apples, & dried fruits. I would note that it made closer to 10-12 one cup servings. This recipe is a keeper.
Tracy
Do you think it will mess anything up if I use a slow cooker liner?
Kristen Chidsey
Not at all Tracy! And the clean up will be MUCH easier! Enjoy!