Pumpkin Slow Cooker Steel Cut Oats are a delicious fall breakfast. Healthy & vegan – these pumpkin oats can be made in the crockpot or on the stovetop! This post was made in partnership with NOW.
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These pumpkin steel cut oats are the cozy breakfast of your dreams. Hearty, comforting, and SO easy to make.
Slow cooker steel cut oats are easily customizable and can be made all year long beyond just pumpkin season. Once you try them, you’ll fall in love!
I didn’t think breakfast in the crockpot could happen.. but here we are! It’s no secret that I freaking LOVE my crockpot. I personally think it’s one of the best inventions of all time.
If you love your crockpot too, grab my free paleo crockpot ebook here.
I use the crockpot for anything and everything I can. Lemon Rosemary Whole Chicken, Paleo Turkey Chili, Healthy Pulled Pork are a few of my favorite recipes, one of which I usually make every week (that’s how good they are!)
While I make dinner in my crockpot all the time, I can honestly say I’ve never made breakfast in it.. because up until a few weeks ago I didn’t even know what kind of breakfast I could possibly make in it!
If you love pumpkin, you have to try these 40+ Healthy Pumpkin Recipes!
I can’t believe I didn’t think to try cooking steel cut oats in the crockpot sooner. The oats came out SO delicious – rich, creamy, and perfectly cooked. Plus, they were so easy to make!
This would be a great recipe to meal prep while you’re at home on a Sunday, or to throw in the crockpot before bed for the next day!
P.S. – If you love crockpot recipes, check out these 45 Healthy Crockpot Recipes!
Ingredients for Crockpot Steel Cut oatmeal:
You’ll only need a few pantry staples to make these slow cooker steel cut oats.
- pumpkin puree
- cinnamon, ground ginger, nutmeg, ground cloves
- almond milk
- maple syrup
- steel cut oats
- crockpot
You can find substitutions for all of these ingredients below in the green shaded substitutions box.
How to make slow cooker steel cut oats:
Making these pumpkin steel cut oats is SO easy.
- 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!
I used NOW Real Food Organic Steel Cut Oats in this recipe. We love to use NOW products in ALL of our recipes. Our pantry is filled with their ingredients, from flours to nut butter, to protein powders and more.
I personally visited their facilities a few years ago and saw the rigorous testing and quality standards that they have in place.
Substitutions for Crockpot Steel Cut Oats:
These crockpot steel cut oats are easily customized to whatever flavor/dietary needs you’d like.
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.
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!
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, 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, oat, soy, etc.. they’ll all work!
Baked Steel Cut Oatmeal – You can make steel cut oatmeal in the oven. Check out this recipe for Baked Steel Cut Oats
Tips for slow cooker steel cut oats:
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, 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. You could also use a crockpot liner.
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!
How to store cooked steel cut oats:
These pumpkin crockpot steel cut oats 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: I haven’t tried freezing these steel cut oats but I think it might work!
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
- 1.5 cups NOW Real Food Organic Steel Cut Oats
- 1 cup pumpkin puree
- 1 tablespoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 3 tablespoons NOW Real Food maple syrup
- 4 cups water
- 2 cups unsweetened vanilla almond milk can sub with regular milk or other nondairy alternative
Instructions
Crockpot Ingredients:
- Add all ingredients into 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.
Amy says
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.
The Clean Eating Couple says
So glad you like it, Amy!
Carly says
Hi
Do you think I could add egg whites to this to make it higher in protein like you egg white oatmeal recipe?
Thanks
The Clean Eating Couple says
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
Chloe McKeown says
Hi – This looks amazing and cozy! What size crockpot do you use?
The Clean Eating Couple says
The crockpot I used is linked in the blog post! It’s 6 quarts
Chloe says
Thank you! Also, do you recommending rinsing steel cut oats? I have heard mixed reviews?
The Clean Eating Couple says
I have never rinsed steel cut oats but I’m sure you could if you want to!
Chloe says
This turned out fantastic, so cozy and filling, perfect for cold winter mornings! Thank you!
The Clean Eating Couple says
Happy to hear it!
Pat says
This sounds so good. Can I substitute the milk for water?
The Clean Eating Couple says
I haven’t tried this but I’m sure it will work. Definitely wont be as creamy!
Marilyn Chimokosky says
can you tell me can I use regular oats instead STEEL oats?
The Clean Eating Couple says
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.