The whole family will enjoy this easy Apple Slow Cooker Oatmeal Recipe.
I love simple recipes that are fast and easy to make.
I love it even more when I only have to spend a few minutes prepping the recipe and my crock pot does all the work.
Imagine waking to the scent of apples and cinnamon in the morning and having a hot breakfast ready to be enjoyed. If you or your family enjoy oatmeal then this recipe will make a great addition to your meal plan.
If you or a family member follows a keto or low carb diet then you may be interested in this recipe for overnight chia oats/pudding. This delicious low carb version of oatmeal takes only minutes to make. Once they sit over night in the refrigerator the mixture will thicken up. Add your favorite low carb mix ins for a delicious breakfast meal.
Apple Slow Cooker Oatmeal Recipe
Steel cut oats are used in this recipe rather than rolled oats. The difference between the types of oats are in the manufacturing process:
- Steel cut oats, sometimes called Scottish or Irish oats, are made from the oat groat that has been cut into pieces.
- Rolled oats are made from oat groats that have been rolled flat.
- Instant oats are rolled oats that have been precooked and then dried. Precooking the oats allows instant oats to be cooked quicker than rolled oats.
As steel cut oats are made from pieces of oat groat they take longer to cook. They also absorb more liquid than rolled or instant oats and can handle cooking overnight in the slow cooker without turning into a pasty mush.
Why are they called steel cut oats?
The whole oat groat is cut into 2 or 3 pieces with a steel blade. This is why they are called steel cut oats. If the whole oat groat is pressed or rolled flat they are called rolled oats.
Ingredients for Apple Slow Cooker Oatmeal:
- Steel Cut Oatmeal – this type of oat takes longer to cook then rolled oats so it’s perfect for cooking overnight. If you swap out rolled oats for the steel cut oats you will want to cut the cooking time in half as well as keep a close watch that the oatmeal doesn’t dry out. Rolled oats are better used when you can watch the crockpot.
- Water – water is used in this recipe. You can add some milk, heavy cream, half and half or even a milk substitute in place a bit of the water. Replace one or two cups of water with milk to create an even creamier oatmeal.
- Apples peeled, cored and chopped – use a baking apple such as Granny Smith. They hold a better texture when cooked for longer times.
- Vanilla Extract – a bit of vanilla adds delicious taste.
- Spices – these include Ground Cinnamon , Ground Ginger and Ground Nutmeg
Directions to make Apple Slow Cooker Oatmeal:
Step 1: Spray the inside of the crock pot with non stick spray
Step 2: Add all of the ingredients to a 4 quart or larger slow cooker and stir everything together to mix.
Cover and cook on LOW for 6 – 8 hours.
Serve and enjoy.
Recipe Notes:
- Replace some of the water with milk or your favorite milk replacement (almond, soy, etc) for a creamier taste and texture.
- If you have a programmable slow cooker set it to automatically switch to the WARM setting once the cooking time is done. This will help to keep the oatmeal from drying out or sticking to the crock.
- Top your oatmeal with a pat of butter for a rich taste. Why not try adding some of this Cultured Butter for its delicious flavor.
- Add some of the mix ins below to change up the flavor. They all go quite well with the apple/cinnamon flavor.
- Leave out the apples and cinnamon for a plain oatmeal that can be dressed up with whatever other ingredients you enjoy mixing in.
Tips For Overnight Slow Cooker Oats Success:
Spray the inside of the crock with non stick spray before mixing the ingredients in. This will help keep the oats from sticking. You can also use a crockpot liner.
Do not use another type of oat in this recipe. Rolled oats will not stand up to cooking for hours in the crockpot and will turn into thick pasty mush.
How To Store Leftover Oatmeal:
Leftover oatmeal can be stored in a container in the refrigerator for up to 7 days.
To reheat the oatmeal place it in a microwave safe bowl or container, add 1 to 2 tablespoons of water or milk and warm it up. Personally I like to top my oatmeal with a bit of butter to give it a rich flavor. Add your favorite mixins to your oatmeal and enjoy.
Oatmeal can also be stored in the freezer. Place your oatmeal into individual servings in a freezer safe container and you will have a delicious breakfast ready at hand. Simply take a container of oatmeal out the day before and allow it to thaw in the refrigerator. Warm the oatmeal up in the microwave when you are ready to eat it.
Oatmeal Mix-ins:
Try mixing in the following to your oatmeal once it is warmed up.
Banana Honey Oatmeal: Top each serving with a teaspoon of honey drizzled over the top and some banana slices.
Mixed Berries Oatmeal: Add 1/4 to 1/3 cup of fresh blueberries, raspberries or a combination of the two to the oatmeal. Sprinkle a tablespoon of chopped nuts over the top.
Cranberry Apple Oatmeal: Mix in 1/4 cup of dried cranberries into the apple oatmeal.
Blueberry Apple Oatmeal: Mix in 1/4 cup of dried blueberries (or really just about any type of dried fruit) into the oatmeal.
Chocolate Almond Oatmeal: Mix in 2 tablespoons of chocolate chips and almond slices.
Peanut Butter and Jelly Oatmeal: Stir a tablespoon of peanut butter into each serving. Top with a bit of strawberry jam.
Cinnamon Raisin Crunch Oatmeal: Stir in 1 to 2 tablespoons of raisins and 2 tablespoons of your favorite granola.
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Apple Slow Cooker Oatmeal
Equipment
- Crock pot
Ingredients
- 2 cups Steel Cut Oatmeal
- 7 cups Water
- 2 large Apples peeled cored and chopped
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon Pure Vanilla Extract
- 1 teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon Ground Ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon Ground Nutmeg
Instructions
- Add all of the ingredients to a 4 quart or larger slow cooker and stir everything together to mix.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 6 – 8 hours.
- Serve and enjoy.
Notes
Nutrition
You might also enjoy these breakfast recipes:
Or these slow cooker recipes:
Slow Cooker Cajun Chicken and Sausage
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