Overnight Steel-Cut Oats Oatmeal (Slow Cooker)
This easy slow cooker Overnight Steel-Cut Oats Oatmeal recipe using almond milk, bananas, cinnamon, and vanilla and naturally sweetened with pure maple syrup is delicious and healthy!
Why We Love this Recipe!
Today, I want to share an easy vegan breakfast idea that’s both healthy and delicious. It will get you going in the morning, and help keep you feeling satisfied and ready for the day!
I’ve been on a slow cooker kick lately, and this overnight steel-cut oats recipe fits right in. I love how easy it is – simply throw your ingredients in and let it cook. It doesn’t get much simpler than that!
This recipe includes pantry staples that are easily accessible, making it a good fit for the meal rotation. You can also enjoy it for lunch or dinner from time to time!
I encourage you to add the ingredients to your grocery list and give this steel-cut oatmeal a try!
Looking to make healthy, to-go breakfast jars with this recipe? Take a look at my Overnight Steel Cut Oats Breakfast Jars for inspiration!
Ingredients You’ll Need
Overnight oatmeal starts with steel-cut oats simmered with water, non-dairy milk, sweetener, and cinnamon slow-cooked overnight using a slow cooker for a ‘set it and forget it,’ easy oatmeal recipe that’s heart-healthy and delicious!
- Steel-Cut Oats – This ingredient can not be substituted.
- Banana – adds a slight sweetness and heartiness to the overall dish, can also sub with pumpkin puree – can be optional
- Oat milk – You can your favorite plant milk such as almond, hemp, cashew, soy, etc.
- Pure maple syrup – You can substitute it with organic pure cane sugar, date sugar, coconut sugar, or monk fruit sweetener.
- Cinnamon – Can be optional. Cardamom would also add a nice flavor.
- Vanilla – use vanilla extract, vanilla powder, or seeds scraped from a vanilla bean pod
- Salt – just a pinch to boost flavor, can be optional
How To Make Overnight Steel-Cut Oats Oatmeal
Using a crock pot makes the recipe extremely easy to prepare. Simply place all the ingredients into the bottom of your slow cooker and set it on LOW for 8 hours.
The oats will be ready in the morning and you’ll have a hearty, creamy breakfast ready to be eaten or taken on the go. For a faster time, cook on HIGH for 3 – 4 hours.
Once done, overnight oatmeal with steel-cut oats is super creamy, with bits of oats adding wonderful texture.
It’s perfectly sweetened with banana and pure maple syrup, and cinnamon ties it all together for a warm and hearty overnight oatmeal made with heart-smart steel-cut oats.
Top with fresh sliced banana, chopped walnuts, a few goji berries, and a splash of your favorite non-dairy milk.
And there you have it, a flavorful oatmeal with bananas and nuts, made simple, wholesome, and delicious!
Oatmeal Tips
- Change up the fruit puree. The banana is super delicious and always in season. When fall rolls around, change it up with 100% pumpkin puree to celebrate the autumn!
- Use all water or all non-dairy milk. I’ve used a combo in this recipe, but you can use the water and milk in any combination you like, as long as it equals 6 cups to the 1 1/2 cups of steel-cut oats.
- Lightly grease the sides of the slow cooker bowl. To prevent the oat mixture from sticking to the sides while cooking, lightly grease or spray the sides with oil.
How To Store + Reheat
- Refrigerator: Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for 5 – 6 days. Mason jars are perfect for easy grab-and-go meals.
- Freezer: Overnight steel-cut oats are freezer-friendly and can be stored for 2 – 3 months in the freezer. To freeze, let cool completely and transfer to multi-use freezer-safe containers (affiliate link) or ziplock bags. Let thaw in the refrigerator before reheating.
- Reheat: Reheat overnight oatmeal on the stovetop over low heat, adding a splash of non-dairy milk or water, until warmed through. Alternatively, warm in the microwave using 30 – 60 second intervals, stirring after each, until warmed through.
More Oatmeal Recipes You’ll Love!
Oatmeal is accessible, economical and so versatile. Take a look at these other vegan oatmeal recipes, you may find a new favorite breakfast idea!
- Healthy Bowl Of Cinnamon Oatmeal
- Baked Apple + Banana Oatmeal
- Banana Oatmeal Cookies (3 Ingredients)
- Healthy Oatmeal (Customizable + Easy)
- Healthy Vegan Oatmeal Pancakes
- See all vegan Oatmeal recipes on TSV!
If you try this steel cut oats recipe, please let me know! Leave a comment and rate it below. I love to hear what you think, or any changes you make.
PrintOVERNIGHT STEEL-CUT OATS OATMEAL
Overnight Steel Cut Oats Oatmeal made in a slow cooker with banana, cinnamon, vanilla, and naturally sweetened with pure maple syrup is a warm and cozy way to start the day! 100% whole food plant based recipe.
- Cook Time: 3 – 8 hours
- Total Time: 0 hours
- Yield: Serves 4 – 6 1x
- Category: Breakfast
- Cuisine: Vegan
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups steel-cut oats
- 3 cups water
- 3 cups unsweetened almond milk (or your favorite plant milk)
- 1 – 2 ripe bananas (about 3/4 – 1 cup), mashed
- 1/4 cup pure maple syrup
- 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract or vanilla powder
- pinch of mineral salt
Optional toppings
- chopped walnuts, almonds or pecans
- banana slices or fresh berries
- goji berries or toasted coconut
Instructions
Grease bowl: Lightly grease the sides of the insert with oil. This will keep the mixture from sticking to the sides, but can be optional.
Slow cooker: In a 4 – 6 quart crock pot, place oats, water, milk, mashed banana, maple syrup, cinnamon, vanilla and pinch of salt, stir to mix, cover and cook on low for 3 – 5 hours, or up to 8 hours for overnight. If you can, it does help to stir 2 -3 times during cooking, but is not necessary.
Cool down: Once done, give a good stir, and let cool a bit. Oats will thicken upon standing. Add a tad extra non-dairy milk or water as needed to create desired consistency. Adding more liquid will create a creamier consistency.
Serve: Spoon into individual serving bowls and top with any of the optional toppings of choice. Drizzle a little non-dairy milk over top if you like.
Serves 4 – 6
Store: Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 5 – days. Can be reheated with a little milk or water on the stove top over low, or in the microwave for a minute or two.
Notes
Make this virtually fat-free by omitting nuts.
Bananas can be mashed smooth or left a little chunky. Also, try subbing the banana with pumpkin puree.
I do not recommend substituting old-fashioned or quick cooking oats in place of the steel-cut oats as regular oats require less liquids.
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How would you suggest doing this in a Instant Pot?
Great question, Dave! I would suggest using my Instant Pot Steel Cut Oats recipe to guide you. It’s delicious, enjoy!
This is certainly not the first time I’ve seen steel-cut oat recipes , but I have to say I’m getting more and more tempted to give them a try! Hope all is swell and that you’ve had a good first month of the year, Julie :) xx
Thank you Pia, same to you! It’s time for you to give them a try. It took me 40+ years to get around to loving them. I think you’ll love them too. Cheers :)
So smart to use a crockpot for this! I love making oats overnight for the next morning. It is always super easy and I actually fill a thermos for on-the-go to work. Can’t wait to try this one!
xoxo
Samantha
That’s a great idea! I have tons of mason jars, but need to invest in a good thermos. I think you just nudged me to get on it. Thank you! :)