When my friend, Paige, told me she was making her Slow Cooker Steel Cut Oats, I was instantly intrigued! I jumped on it right away – and her simple recipe below, along with a few hints, is pure perfection! (Long post alert – use the jump to recipe, below, if you want!)
Over the years, I’d given up on Slow Cooker Steel Cut Oatmeal. I turned to my Instant Pot, and this recipe for Best Instant Pot Slow Cooked Oatmeal. And I never looked back…until now! Because the only thing better than making Steel Cut Oats in the Instant Pot is to have them waiting for you in the morning, straight from the slow cooker.
About Steel Cut Oats:
Before we get into Steel Cut Oats in the Slow Cooker, let’s back up. Why Steel Cut Oats and what makes them so special?
Steel Cut Oats bring something to the table that your plain old Instant or Rolled Oats can’t deliver. People are passionate about them and here’s why:
- Properly cooked, Steel Cut Oats are soft and creamy, retain their distinct shape, and have just a bit of texture and a touch of chewiness.
- Their flavor is incredible, described as slightly “nutty.” More than once, I’ve seen them described as “delightful,” a term I’ve never heard describing plain old everyday oatmeal.
- Others praise Steel Cut Oats for being more filling and keeping you satisfied longer, probably because your body takes a little longer to digest them, according to WebMD.
- For those convinced that Steel Cut Oats are better for you than Rolled or Instant, all oats have similar nutritional values, but Steel Cut Oats contain slightly more fiber and are lower on the glycemic index. Steel-cut oats rank at 53, Rolled Oats at 57, and Instant Oats at 84.
- Unlike some superfoods, humble oatmeal has stood the test of time as a healthy option in many diets. There are way too many to list on this page. Check out what Healthline has to say about Oats.
Steel Cut Oats
What Are Steel Cut Oats:
Many people are surprised that all oats are made from the groats (the kernel with the inedible husk removed). All are considered whole grains.
Here’s a quick lowdown of the varieties of oats we can commonly find at the store:
- Steel Cut: cut with steel blades into two or three pieces so they cook faster. Sometimes called Irish, pinhead, or coarse oatmeal.
- Scottish Oats: very similar to steel cut; usually stone ground rather than cut. May be harder to find than steel-cut oats.
- Rolled Oats: made by steaming and pressing the groats with rollers so they will cook faster.
- Instant Oats: are steamed longer and rolled thinner than rolled oats.
Why Make Slow Cooker Steel Cut Oats:
Now that I’ve sold you (hopefully) on oats, let’s start on the recipe! Steel Cut Oats are not hard to cook on the stovetop and take 25 to 30 minutes. They have to be stirred often, and more often towards the end. That’s more time, energy, and attention than many people want to invest on any given morning.
And don’t forget the sticky (and possibly scorched, if you aren’t paying enough attention) pot that has to be scrubbed.
Enter the Slow Cooker Steel Cut Oats, tossed together and cooked overnight, ready to be served up in the morning. Every time I’ve made them using this recipe, they’ve turned out great. (There’s still the liner to wash, but that’s easy.)
This Slow Cooker Steel Cut Oats recipe uses coconut milk, and it not only makes an exceptionally creamy and delicious breakfast (the coconut flavor is barely discernible), but it’s also part of the reason the oats come out beautifully. Read up more on Coconut Milk at Medical News Today.
It was an aha moment when I realized the greater amount of fat and the lesser amount of sugar in the coconut milk was the reason that this recipe works so well. This has been perfect every time. We love the slight bit of caramelization from the coconut milk.
7 hrs has a bit of caramelization, 8 hours a little more, both far from burnt and both were delicious.
Make Ahead or Leftovers:
Slow Cooker Steel Cut Oats can be refrigerated for 3 to 5 days. They are dense, so refrigerate promptly in a shallow container so they cool quickly.
Reheat in the microwave; some liquid will probably need to be added to loosen them up.
These freeze well in portions. Add a liner to a cup, freeze it, then remove it from the cup and seal it. When reheating, simply remove from the lining and drop into the cup. Defrost for a couple of minutes, then add a little liquid and microwave to heat.
Line a cup, freeze then remove and wrap; reheat in the same cup.
The Flavorings:
- The coconut flavor is fairly neutral, but that flavor can be played up with add-ins to drive that flavor home: tropical flavors, nuts, and coconut flakes.
- That coconut flavor is still neutral enough that it plays well and doesn’t overwhelm other add-ins. The bowl of Steel Cut Oats with Blueberries, Almonds, and Coconut was delish!
Other Easy Oatmeal Breakfast Recipes You Might Like:
Here are a couple of other oat recipes on my site; these are made with Old Fashioned Rolled Oats.
Make Ahead Apple Baked Oatmeal – make it up the evening before and bake it off in the morning for an easy oatmeal option.
Make Ahead Apple Baked Oatmeal
Strawberry Cream Oatmeal Smoothie – We loved this recipe at our house, and it is going to help you feel full all morning.
Strawberry Cream Oatmeal Smoothies
Saving Money on Groceries:
What you pay for groceries depends not only on WHERE you shop, but WHEN. Be strategic and stock up at rock-bottom prices.
- The best sales are before holidays; check out Win at the Grocers. Use these sales not just for your holiday, but to stock up at a low for the coming weeks to months.
- Take advantage of discount stores like Aldi or Lidl. The pricing at Buyer’s clubs is not always the lowest, but can trump in quality; be selective.
The best way to save money on this or any recipe is to have a well-stocked pantry, fridge, and freezer full of sale-priced items.
Oatmeal:
- Oatmeal will be a bit lower in price in late summer and fall when the warehouses are full, but you’ll generally see the price rise over the winter.
- You’ll find some of the best pricing of the year during January, National Oatmeal Month, and those sales often extend into February.
- Do check the bulk bins at the store and compare them to the boxes in the organic and/or cereal areas if your store offers these options.
- Give your oatmeal a sniff when you buy it – the fat content means that steel-cut oats can go rancid. Store in an airtight container at home for up to two to three months or freeze for up to a year.
Coconut Milk:
Coconut Milk varies in price and quality. Look for full-fat with no stabilizers or gums.
- At the grocery store, compare pricing in the Asian, Indian, and Latin American aisles. Check the discount bins. Stores serving diverse population areas usually sell coconut milk (and other “ethnic” items for less. (The same day Target sold coconut milk in the burbs for $3.19, the same brand was $1.99 in the city.)
- Check Markets and discount stores. At the grocery, it was $3.49 a can, the Asian market, $1.29, and Lidl, $1.00 a can on sale.
- Stock up at rock bottom; dates have little meaning; coconut milk keeps for years, properly stored in a cool, dark cupboard. Separation is normal.
Hello, all, if for any reason, your Slow Cooker Steel Cut Oats don’t turn out perfectly the first time, they are well worth another try. I’ve given some suggestions at the bottom of the page. Happy cooking!
Mollie
Slow Cooker Steel Cut Oats
Slow Cooker Steel Cut Oats
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: varies
- Total Time: 0 hours
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Breakfast or Brunch
- 1 cup steel-cut oats
- 1 can coconut milk + water (see recipe)
- salt as desired (suggest 1/2 teaspoon)
Very generously spray the slow cooker or use a liner.
Add oats and salt to the slow cooker. Add the can of coconut milk to a a 4 cup measuring cup, and add enough water to make 4 cups of liquid total. (I don’t have a four-cup measuring cup, so I add coconut milk to a two cup measuing cup, top off with water to the two-cup mark, and then add 2 full cups of water.)
Stir together and cook on low for 7 to 8 hours or on high for 3 1/2 to 4 hours.
