How to Make Oatmeal in the Slow Cooker
4 CommentsJul 24, 2026
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Wake up to perfectly creamy Slow Cooker Oatmeal made with just 3 ingredients, an easy make-ahead breakfast for busy mornings.
Breakfast in the slow cooker is so easy! We also love to make Slow Cooker Quiche, and Slow Cooker Scrambled Eggs.
Table of Contents
- Why Make Your Oatmeal in the Crockpot
- Key Ingredients
- How to Make Oatmeal in the Slow Cooker
- How to Serve Crockpot Oatmeal
- Can I Cook Oatmeal in the Slow Cooker Overnight?
- Can I cook Rolled Oats in the Slow Cooker?
- What Other Breakfasts Can Be Made in A Slow Cooker?
- How to Cook Oatmeal in the Slow Cooker Recipe
Why Make Your Oatmeal in the Crockpot
The steel-cut oats becomes creamy and very tender with the slow cooker.
It's a healthy breakfast that you can customize with your favorite toppings.
Great for feeding a crowd buffet-style; it's just like the oatmeal you'd find at a nice breakfast buffet.
Oatmeal is a budget-friendly breakfast; we love having it at least once a week to save money.
Key Ingredients
Steel-Cut Oatmeal: Steel cut oats are oats that have been chopped into small pieces instead of rolled flat. They have a hearty, chewy texture and hold up really well in the slow cooker, making them the perfect choice for this recipe.
Water and Salt: Just the right amount of water and salt creates perfectly creamy oatmeal every time.
How to Make Oatmeal in the Slow Cooker
- Into the slow cooker, add the oats, salt and water.
- Stir and slow cook until the steel cut oats are soft.
How to Serve Crockpot Oatmeal
Toppings: Bananas, nuts, butter, cream or milk, brown sugar, raisins and blueberries are a favorite. You can also top the oatmeal with Slow Cooker Apple Butter, or Pumpkin Butter.
Sides: Buttered toast or English muffins are great for dipping.
Buffet Style: If you have multiple guests or a large family, set out the toppings in bowls and let everyone serve themselves buffet-style.
Can I Cook Oatmeal in the Slow Cooker Overnight?
Technically, yes. Six hours is about the longest you should cook steel cut oats before they become overcooked. I've seen people recommend cooking oatmeal overnight on the warm setting, but that may not be food-safe, as the temperature may not stay high enough to prevent bacteria from growing.
Can I cook Rolled Oats in the Slow Cooker?
You can, but the timing isn't long, only about 2 hours, and they tend to turn mushy. We prefer steel-cut oats because they stand up better for slow cooking.
What Other Breakfasts Can Be Made in A Slow Cooker?
If you're looking for more slow cooker breakfast recipes, try my Slow Cooker Sticky Buns, Slow Cooker Breakfast Burritos, and Slow Cooker Breakfast Casserole for easy mornings.
Or keep things simple with homemade Slow Cooker Applesauce and creamy Slow Cooker Yogurt, both perfect for meal prep and breakfast all week long.
If you tried this Slow Cooker Oatmeal recipe or any other recipe on my blog, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it goes in the 📝 comments below. Happy Slow Cooking!
How to Video
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups steel cut oats, (do not use rolled oats; I used O Organics)
- 1/8 tsp. salt
- 6 ¼ cups water
Instructions
- Add the steel cut oats and salt to the slow cooker. Pour over the water.
- It's important to stir so the oatmeal gets distributed evenly in the water.
- Cook on LOW for 4 hours. If needed, the oatmeal can cook for up to 6 hours on LOW.
Sarah's Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition info is auto-generated. This information is an estimate; if you are on a special diet, please use your own calculations.
Your family style oatmeal breakfast is the perfect dump it in and forget about it breakfast. Talk about easy! I especially like how my family can just serve themselves up whenever they’re ready to eat. Thanks also for your tip to use steel cut oats versus quick oats to ensure success!
I’m single, in wheelchair, living in very confined space. My Slow cooker is 2qt. Does halving recipe work? Cooking time?
Yes, I do think you can half this. I would check it at the 3 hour mark – smaller slow cookers tend to cook hot.
Great ideas!! They all look yummy. Thank you.