Slow Cooker Pumpkin Oatmeal
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Pumpkin Slow Cooker Oatmeal is a delicious fall breakfast. Secretly healthy, the slow cooker does all the work for these cozy pumpkin oats!
These slow cooker pumpkin oats are the cozy, hearty fall breakfast of your dreams! They’re packed with pumpkin flavor, and super easy to make thank’s to the crockpot.
Perfect for meal prep or a make ahead breakfast, this is a must try for fall!
liz’s tips for pumpkin slow cooker oatmeal
- Watch your crockpot – If your crockpot tends to be very hot or does not default to shut off after the time you set it, you will need to watch your crockpot. These oats can easily over cook and they will be a mushy mess if you don’t stop them from cooking after 4 hours. Some crockpots may only need 3 hours, while some may need 5. Every crockpot is different
- Spray crockpot with cooking spray – My crockpot is pretty great, and most things do not stick to it, but I find that the starches in the oats sometimes can leave a sticky mess. You can spray the base of your crockpot with coconut oil or your favorite cooking spray to prevent this.
- Don’t try this with other types of oats – This recipe will not work with old fashioned rolled oats or quick cook oats. This will also not work with quick cook steel cut oats. You will wind up with a gooey mess.
- Stir if you can – I’d recommend stirring this every hour if you can. Just like when you cook oatmeal on the stove, the starches in the oats can rise to the top and stick. Stirring will prevent that and will also help disperse the spices, which can also get stuck at the top while cooking!
Ingredients
Substitutions
Oats: Don’t try this with other types of oats – This recipe will not work with old fashioned rolled oats or quick cook oats. This will also not work with quick cook steel cut oats. You will wind up with a gooey mess.
Old Fashioned Oats: If you have old fashioned oats, try our baked pumpkin oats, pumpkin overnight oats or pumpkin breakfast cookies.
Pumpkin: Sub pumpkin with banana or applesauce if you don’t have it or don’t want to use pumpkin. If you have leftover pumpkin try our Healthy Pumpkin Muffins! If you love pumpkin, you have to try these 40+ Healthy Pumpkin Recipes!
Fruit: Add in whatever fruit you’d like to this recipe. You can add raw apples into the crockpot and let them cook with the oatmeal. If you are going to add berries, I would wait to add them until after this has cooked so they don’t get too mushy. You can also add dried fruit like cranberries or raisins while it’s cooking or after!
Nuts/Seeds : Pumpkin seeds, pecans, walnuts, hemp seeds or chia seeds all go great on top of this! Feel free to add whatever nuts/seeds you like.
Sweetener : You can sub maple syrup with honey. You can also use less maple syrup or add it after it has cooked to your taste
Milk: You can use whatever milk you like in this.. dairy, non-dairy milk, oat, soy, unsweetened almond milk, etc.. they’ll all work!
Warm Spices: You could also try adding pumpkin pie spice instead of the other spices for the same flavor.
Baked Steel Cut Oatmeal – You can make steel cut oatmeal in the oven. Check out this recipe for Baked Steel Cut Oats.
How to make pumpkin slow cooker oatmeal
- Put everything in the crockpot
- Stir until combined
- Set to low. That’s IT!
It really doesn’t get any simpler than this. I also included stove top instructions in the post below if you’d prefer to follow those!
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How to Serve:
These oats are delicious as is, but I like to add:
- chopped pecans
- nonfat Greek yogurt (stir in 1/2 a cup for a protein packed oatmeal!)
- with an slice of Sausage Egg Muffins or Egg White Frittata
- alongside a Healthy Pumpkin Spice Latte
Storage
Fridge: These pumpkin crock pot steel cut oats leftovers will store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. They reheat perfectly on the microwave or stovetop. I recommend putting them in mason jars for storing/reheating!
Freezing: These oats freeze really well! We like these containers for freezing. Allow the oats to cool and then freeze in 1/2 cup portions for another day!
Other healthy oatmeal recipes:
If you love oatmeal check out these other Healthy Oatmeal Breakfast Recipes! Here are some of our favorite healthy oatmeal recipes
Slow Cooker Steel Cut Oats
Ingredients
- 2 cups water
- 2 cups milk regular or nondairy
- 1 cup steel cut oats
- ⅔ cup pumpkin puree
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground ginger
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ⅛ teaspoon ground cloves
Instructions
Crockpot Ingredients:
- Add all of the ingredients into the base of the crockpot and stir to combine.
- Cover the crockpot + cook on low for 4 hours. It's best to stir every hour if you can, but if not – it will cook just fine!
Stovetop Instructions:
- In a large pot, add all ingredients. Stir to combine.
- Cover the pot and bring to a boil. Once boiling, reduce to medium heat and cook for 25-30 minutes, stirring every few minutes until oats have absorbed most of the liquid and are thick.
can you tell me can I use regular oats instead STEEL oats?
this is covered in the post – Don’t try this with other types of oats – This recipe will not work with old fashioned rolled oats or quick cook oats. This will also not work with quick cook steel cut oats. You will wind up with a gooey mess.
This sounds so good. Can I substitute the milk for water?
I haven’t tried this but I’m sure it will work. Definitely wont be as creamy!
Hi – This looks amazing and cozy! What size crockpot do you use?
The crockpot I used is linked in the blog post! It’s 6 quarts
Thank you! Also, do you recommending rinsing steel cut oats? I have heard mixed reviews?
I have never rinsed steel cut oats but I’m sure you could if you want to!
This turned out fantastic, so cozy and filling, perfect for cold winter mornings! Thank you!
Happy to hear it!
Hi
Do you think I could add egg whites to this to make it higher in protein like you egg white oatmeal recipe?
Thanks
Hi Carly – I’m not sure. I haven’t tried it but I think it might work. I would stir it in at the end before you eat it
THIS is life!!! I make this once a month and take it to school with me. It makes my home smell amazing and it’s so quick when done in a instant pot! I’ve shared this recipe with so many people.
So glad you like it, Amy!