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
- Pumpkin Baked 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
- 1 teaspoon melted coconut oil, butter, or cooking spray for greasing crockpot
- 2 cups regular 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
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- chopped nuts for serving
Instructions
- Grease the bottom and sides of the slow cooker insert using coconut oil, cooking spray, or butter.
- Combine the steel-cut oats, water, milk, maple syrup, brown sugar, cinnamon, vanilla, and salt together in the slow cooker.
- Place the lid on the slow cooker and cook for 6 hours on low for a 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.
LJ
Delicious! I added some flax seed and in morning topped with walnuts. Very satisfying!
Thank you!
Kristen Chidsey
Thanks for sharing.
Gina
Loved this recipe very delicious. How can you store the leftovers?
Kristen Chidsey
Hi Gina! Thrilled to hear you enjoyed the oatmeal. 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.
Christina Jensen
I made a trial run of this, I purchased the only steel cut oats at the store. It was incredibly watery even after 8 hours. Looking at the container I do see it is '3 minute' steel cut oats. Is that why? I need this to turn out for this weekend!
Kristen Chidsey
Hey there Christina! I am sorry you had this issue. And yes, the quick-cooking steel-cut oats were to blame for the consistency. However, if that is what you have on hand, let me help you put it use. Combine 2 cups of your quick-cook steel cut oats with 2 cups of water and 2 cups of milk (you won't need as much liquid) Add in 2 teaspoons cinnamon, ¼ cup maple syrup, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, ▢¼ teaspoon kosher salt, and ¼ cup brown sugar. Stir to combine and cook on LOW for only 2 hours. I hope that helps you not waste your ingredients and enjoy this recipe 🙂
Jaclyn
We are doing "Crocktober" at work this week and this is going to be the recipe I make! Can I double it? I have an 8 quart slow cooker. Will the cooking time change?
Kristen Chidsey
Hi Jaclyn! Yes, you can double this recipe and the cooking time will remain the same.
Debby
Easy, simple and tasted good! It was a little too sweet for us so I will try cutting the maple syrup and brown sugar in half next time. I did cook on high and it was perfect after 3 hrs but just like microwaves and ovens, crockpots can vary in cooking times. I will be making again and thank you Kristen for sharing!
Kristen Chidsey
Thank you for sharing your feedback, Debby!
Shelly
I’m out of maple syrup. Can I start it this morning and add the maple syrup when I come home from work at the 4 hour point in the cook time?
Kristen Chidsey
Yes! You can even add right before serving 🙂 Enjoy!
Abby M.
Love this recipe! My little ones love it, too. Thank you 🙂
Kristen Chidsey
I love hearing this! Thanks for sharing!
Kristyn
I can start each day with this oatmeal!! It's so comforting, filling, & tastes & smells so good!! I don't think I could eat regular oatmeal again!
Kristen Chidsey
Thrilled to hear you enjoyed this oatmeal so much, Kristyn!
Heidi
Will quick cook steel cut oats work?
Kristen Chidsey
Hi Heidi! Quick-cook oats will not work correctly in this recipe.
Heidi
Thanks, Kristen! I did not use the QUICK steel cut oatmeal.I made this last night! So yummy! Thanks for the recipe!
Kristen Chidsey
Wonderful! Thanks for sharing, Heidi!
Emily
What is the serving size?
Kristen Chidsey
Hi Emily! Each serving is about 1 cup.
Emily
This recipe was so freaking good!!!!!!
Michelle S
This recipe is amazing. I’ve made it various times.
Kristen Chidsey
Thank you so much for sharing, Michelle!
Patty
Do leftovers reheat well?
Kristen Chidsey
Yes, absolutely! I recommend dishing out individual servings and reheating in 30-second intervals in the mircowave, adding milk to thin if needed.