Prep these easy single-serve slow cooker oatmeal jars at night and wake up to a delicious breakfast! Choose your favorite mix-ins and toppings for a classic hearty breakfast that you can eat at home or take on the go.
We eat a lot of oatmeal in our house. It’s simple, real food, it’s inexpensive, and I can dress it up in a million different ways so none of us get bored with it.
Apple Pie Overnight Oats are delicious right out of the refrigerator. Homemade Instant Oatmeal Packets are an easy option for the kids to grab and make themselves. And I’ve made oatmeal in the Instant Pot plenty of times.
BUT I’m all for a slow cooker making me breakfast while I sleep. (Aren’t we all?)
I’ve been to potlucks where someone brought oatmeal in the crock pot. But the whole slow cooker oatmeal thing? It kind of grosses me out. It’s goopy, sloppy and the fact that you scoop it out with the slap of a serving spoon makes it utterly unappetizing.
If I’m going to make slow cooker oatmeal, it needs to not do any of that!
Friends, allow me to proudly introduce you to Single Serve Slow Cooker Oatmeal.
Goop, slop, and slap gone – consider your breakfast routine revolutionized.
SLOW COOKER OATMEAL RECIPE
Slow cooker oatmeal is sure to become a regular in your breakfast rotation because it’s:
- Easy. Just prep your jars, set it, and forget it.
- Quick. Okay, it cooks for a few hours overnight, but the actual hands-on time is very minimal with easy clean up.
- Prep ahead. If your mornings are already rushed, this is the perfect breakfast for you!
- Customizable. Everyone can pick their own flavors and they all cook at the same time! Plus it’s gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegan!
- Frugal. Oatmeal is one of our favorite frugal breakfasts.
- Yummy! I love a bowl of oatmeal with all sorts of toppings mixed in!
Homey + healthy + simple + affordable + a combination that everyone in the family can agree on? Sign me up.
INGREDIENTS FOR OATMEAL IN THE CROCK POT
Gather up your breakfast supplies. Oats are obvious, but think of your favorite toppings too, like fruit (fresh or dried), seeds, and sweeteners…
The flavor combination for crock pot oatmeal that I’m totally addicted to right now:
- Apples, chopped into small pieces
- Raisins
- Ground cinnamon
- Pecans, chopped
- Maple syrup
- Old-fashioned oats
If that’s not your flavor choice, I’ve got plenty of mix-ins and topping ideas down below so you can make delicious slow cooker oats too!
JARS FOR CROCKPOT OATMEAL
To make crockpot oatmeal, we need to start with some glass jars. Here are the requirements:
- One jar per person you’re serving
- Need to hold at least 16 ounces
- Must fit in your slow cooker
- Must be wide enough to comfortably eat out of
I’ve found that these wide-mouth mason jars are a perfect fit. I can easily get 4 in my slow cooker, but I bet I could get 6 if I tried. Plus, since they’re wide-mouth like my quart-sized jars, they have the same size lids and rings, which is helpful for keeping my kitchen organized.
HOW TO MAKE CROCK POT OATMEAL
Making oatmeal in the crock pot is pretty simple.
Step 1. Line up your jars on the kitchen counter and layer your ingredients.
- fruit #1 (chopped apples)
- ¼ cup oats
- fruit #2 or seeds (raisins)
- spices and sweetener (cinnamon and maple syrup)
- ¼ cup oats
You don’t HAVE to layer it all, but it makes it a bit more pleasant to eat in the morning. If you’re in a no-fuss mood, feel free to dump in everything but the nuts. I won’t tell.
Step 2. Add enough water JUST to cover the oats. Honestly, I always eyeball the water.
If you like thick slow cooker oatmeal, you want the water just to cover the oats. If you like runnier oats, add an extra tablespoon or two.
Step 3. Place all your jars in the slow cooker. Fill the slow cooker – not the jars – with water so that the water line is at the top of the oats in the jar.
Make sense? The jars of oatmeal are now taking a bath in the slow cooker.
Step 4. Put on the cover and set the slow cooker on low for 4 hours. If you set the slow cooker before you go to bed, breakfast will already be done for you!
Note: It’s totally fine for your slow cooker to turn off OR kick over to the keep warm setting. It won’t affect the oatmeal in any way. In fact, it’ll still be warm when you wake up!
Alternatively, you can prep this at night but cook it in the morning instead. Assemble the oatmeal and jars in the slow cooker and add water to the slow cooker but NOT to the oats. Add that water in the morning and cook on high for 60-90 minutes.
Step 5. Serve the overnight slow cooker oatmeal. Remember that the jar has been sitting in a bowl full of fairly warm water, so be careful when you take the jar out. Use a towel just in case and wipe down the sides and bottom so you don’t get wet as you’re eating breakfast.
SLOW COOKED OATMEAL CROCK POT TIPS
Add nuts to your slow cooked oatmeal just before serving. They tend to get soggy if you add them right away.
If your slow cooker oats are a little bit dense after cooking, add a tablespoon or two of your milk of choice. We like coconut milk or almond milk in oatmeal. Oats keep absorbing water even after they’re done cooking, so this is especially helpful if you leave the crockpot on all night long, or if it’s on the keep warm setting for more than a few minutes.
This is the perfect breakfast for on-the-go (as in, taking it out of the house, and not just taking it to the table). Pop a lid on the jar and you’ve got an easy meal to transport – just don’t forget a spoon!
Cooking for one? You can make several jars of slow cooker oatmeal and have breakfast for the whole week. Let the jars cool, and then refrigerate them for up to 5 days. Reheat an individual crock pot oatmeal in the microwave.
Did you make too much? Save the leftovers in an airtight container and make Leftover Oatmeal Cakes!
INDIVIDUAL CROCK POT OATMEAL VARIATIONS
Now that you know how to make crock pot oatmeal, what mix-ins will you choose?
- Fruits or dried fruits: Chopped apples or pears, blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, chopped peaches, applesauce, dried cranberries, raisins
- Nuts or seeds: Walnuts, pecans, peanuts, slivered or sliced almonds, pepitas, flaxseed (remember to add the nuts just before serving)
- Spices and flavorings: Cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, vanilla extract, almond extract
- Sweeteners: Maple syrup, honey, brown sugar
- Add-ins for cooked oatmeal: Peanut butter, chocolate chips, almond milk, collagen, chia seeds, sliced bananas, cocoa powder – stir these into the oatmeal just before serving.
I think pears, pecans, ginger, and maple syrup might be my next flavor experiment.
Or maybe crock pot oatmeal with strawberries, flaxseed, almonds, and honey? Yum!
Part of the fun is that everyone can choose their own flavors – the only problem is deciding what to try first!
SLOW COOKER OVERNIGHT OATMEAL FAQS
Can you make oatmeal in the crock pot overnight with milk?
I would stick with water for cooking, but you could stir in a tablespoon or two of milk before serving if you’d like. Even though the oatmeal is cooked in water, it doesn’t taste watery at all.
Can you cook different kinds of oatmeal in the crock pot?
We typically use old-fashioned oats (aka rolled oats) for slow cooker oatmeal. I haven’t tried this method with steel-cut oats, but they would probably need a longer cooking time, and I wouldn’t recommend using quick oats for this method, as they would turn into a mushy texture.
How long should oats be cooked?
This slow cooked oatmeal crock pot method takes 4 hours on low, or 60-90 minutes on high, using old-fashioned oats.
MORE MAKE-AHEAD BREAKFAST OPTIONS
- Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Muffins
- Caramelized Banana Bread
- Breakfast Sausage
- Breakfast Sandwiches
- Cinnamon Oatmeal Blender Waffles
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Granola
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Single Serve Oatmeal in the Slow Cooker
Prep these easy single-serve slow cooker oatmeal jars at night and wake up to a delicious breakfast! Choose your favorite mix-ins and toppings for a classic hearty breakfast that you can eat at home or take on the go.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 hours
- Total Time: 4 hours 5 minutes
- Yield: 1 serving 1x
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Slow Cooker
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Instructions
Step 1. Line up your jars on the kitchen counter and layer your ingredients.
1. fruit #1 (chopped apples)
2. ¼ cup oats
3. fruit #2 or seeds (raisins)
4. spices and sweetener (cinnamon and maple syrup)
5. ¼ cup oats
You don’t HAVE to layer it all, but it makes it a bit more pleasant to eat in the morning. You can also just dump in everything but the nuts.
Step 2. Add enough water JUST to cover the oats. If you like thick slow cooker oatmeal, you want the water just to cover the oats. If you like runnier oats, add an extra tablespoon or two.
Step 3. Place all your jars in the slow cooker. Fill the slow cooker – not the jars – with water so that the water line is at the top of the oats in the jar.
Step 4. Put on the cover and set the slow cooker on low for 4 hours. It’s totally fine for your slow cooker to turn off OR kick over to the keep warm setting. It won’t affect the oatmeal in any way. In fact, it’ll still be warm when you wake up!
Step 5. Serve the overnight slow cooker oatmeal. Remember that the jar has been sitting in a bowl full of fairly warm water, so be careful when you take the jar out. Use a towel just in case and wipe down the sides and bottom so you don’t get wet as you’re eating breakfast.
Notes
- Alternatively, you can prep this at night but cook it in the morning instead. Assemble the oatmeal and jars in the slow cooker and add water to the slow cooker but NOT to the oats. Add that water in the morning and cook on high for 60-90 minutes.
- Add nuts to your slow cooked oatmeal just before serving. They tend to get soggy if you add them right away.
- If your slow cooker oats are a little bit dense after cooking, add a tablespoon or two of your milk of choice.
Nutrition
- Calories: 501
Haven’t tried it bc I don’t have a slow cooker. Can I make this in an instant pot?
HI Linda! Yep!!! Here’s an Instant Pot oatmeal recipe! Enjoy! https://dontwastethecrumbs.com/instant-pot-oatmeal/
Thanks, Tiffany! Just popped my six jars in the crockpot and have a mix of flavors. Here’s to a week’s worth of breakfasts already portioned out! I echo the goop-aversion you feel, but love having oats in the crockpot. Great solution!
You’re welcome LaKendra!!
Looking forward to trying this recipe using steel cut oats. Most likely will make this part of my Sunday meal prep routine. Thanks so much! I’m giving it five stars even though I haven’t actually made this yet. I’m optimistic!
I hope you enjoy it Renee! I LOVE waking up to breakfast already done, and the fact that my kids can choose their flavors? Priceless! 🙂
Love this idea. I have a recipe I love for crock pot oatmeal that uses steel cut oats. But I love the single serve idea. I might try it with steel cut too. I have both so I can compare! Thanks, Tiffany!!
You’re welcome Wendy!
I just tried this today, prepping two jars(small c.p.) last night and leaving it on low for 8 hours. The oatmeal turned out pretty dense for my taste, and I didn’t detect much difference although I had more liquid in one jar. I’m guessing it could be because it was cooking for so long. I stirred in some milk and that did the trick for me. Will definitely make this again.
The oats continue to absorb water even when they’re done cooking, but like you said, adding some milk (or other preferred liquid) will do the trick. Glad you enjoyed the recipe Andreas!
I just boil water, and pour it over oatmeal-assembled jar(s), cover to steam…when it cools I add other toppings (yogurt, etc) and store in fridge, or eat it fresh 🙂 Much faster in my opinion and comes out great
That’s awesome! Easier for me to clean up.
Will this work with an old crock pot that does not automatically switch to warm and no timer? Otherwise, I would need to get up at 3AM to make oatmeal for breakfast, when I could just make it in 10 minutes when I get up.
Will this work with an old crock pot that does not automatically switch to warm and no timer? Otherwise, I would need to get up at 3AM to make oatmeal for breakfast, when I could just make it in 10 minutes when I get up. Thanks
Hi Vera – I’ve tried this with the setting on low all night and didn’t have any issues. 🙂
Can Almond milk be used in place of the water? Doesn’t the water make the oatmeal taste “watery”?
Sure, you can substitute Patty! I don’t think it tastes “watery” at all. The oats soak it all up, and it tastes like oatmeal!
I want to make these tonight for my husband who has to get up early with no time to make breakfast. My crockpot turns to warm either after 4 hrs on high or 8 hrs on low. I value my sleep too much to want to get up and turn it on low for four hours before he gets up. Would it be better to leave it at low longer than the four hours? Or would it be better to have it on high for four?
I’d go with the on low for 8 hour option. I think cooking on high and then turning to warm might overcook the oatmeal. My slow cooker turns to warm too and it always turns out fine!!
This recipe turned out GREAT for me! Both my husband and I commute into the city for work/school. We were able to carry these in our lunch bags and eat them at work/school once we arrived. Thanks for the recipe. Also, we have an older crockpot without a timer on it. I plugged it into the timer for my living room lamp and set it to start in the middle of the night so it would be ready when we needed to leave in the AM – it worked perfectly!
Awesome idea Janet! So glad you liked the oatmeal, and that it was perfect for your lunch bags and ready when you were. Thanks for sharing your success!
I’m so glad to hear this, since I am hoping to try it for school. Since COVID-19, I teach, and I will be going in for three days a week and would like something that “sticks with me” a little better than most breakfasts. Of course, being healthy for me is good as well!
Ooopppss! That should be 5-6 jars, not 56!!!!!
Great idea! No milk of any kind while in the slow cooker…or do you add it in the morning? As I live alone 56 jars would be my breakfasts for almost a week. Does this store well in the fridge?
Yes it does! I had leftovers this morning (from 3 days ago) and it was just fine. 🙂
Great idea! No milk of any kind while in the slow cooker…or do you add it in the morning?
Nope, we don’t add milk to our oatmeal!
You don’t add milk to your “yogurt”, Tiffany? Interesting! 😉
Oh goodness. That’s what I get for multi-tasking!
Noooo, why did you correct it? The other way was more fun 😉
LOL, for YOU! 😉
Awesome idea but I sleep a lot longer than 4 hrs! Does your slow cooker have a timer on it? Mine cooks for 8 or 10 hrs on low and then clicks over to warm. Any ideas?
LOL – mine kicks over to warm too and it works just fine. Still set it to low for 4 hours, and then it’ll just sit until you wake up. 🙂