Savory Slow Cooker Steel Cut Oats

Wake up to a hot, ready-to-eat breakfast with these savory slow cooker steel cut oats. With a one-minute prep time and only two ingredients, these oats are surprisingly full of flavor. Enjoy them as-is, or with a variety of delicious topping suggestions. 

I was never much of an oatmeal fan for two reasons:  I prefer savory breakfasts over sweet ones, and I find the mushy texture of oatmeal unappealing. Despite my reservations, I can't deny the health benefits of oats, and my wife frequently encourages me to include them in my diet. So, I set about making a recipe that had both texture and the savory goodness that I was looking for. These savory steel cut oats were the perfect solution.

Why This Recipe Works

1. Hearty steel-cut oats can tolerate hours of slow cooking without turning into a soggy, mushy mess.
2. All of the prep is done in the evening. The oats cook as you sleep, allowing you to wake up to a finished hot breakfast
3.  The varieties are endless. This recipe can easily be made gluten-free, dairy-free, or vegan with minimal alterations. Then, customize the toppings to your personal tastes to create the perfect breakfast bowl. 
4. Steel-cut oats have a lower glycemic index than rolled oats, and they typically contain more fiber, making them an excellent healthy breakfast option. Learn more about the difference between steel-cut oats and rolled oats here.

How To Make Savory Slow Cooker Oats

Add oats to the slow cooker.

Then add your preferred combination of liquid using either chicken broth, milk, or heavy cream. For 2 cups of oats, you will need 8 cups of liquid. For the lighter option, use all chicken broth. For more rich and creamy oats, add up to ½ cup of heavy cream. Give them a good mix and cook on LOW for 6-8 hours. At 6 hours, the oats will have a chewy texture. At 8 hours, the oats will be very soft. Again, it really is a matter of preference as to how long you cook them. Serve them in a bowl and eat plain or topped with a vegetable medley.

Expert Tips

1. Customize the toppings to your needs.  Sauté your favorite veggies, or add more protein by topping with a fried egg or crispy bacon crumbles. Some people even add crumbled sausage. 
2. To make this an easy, wake-up-and-go breakfast, prepare the toppings the night before. Store in a sealed container in the fridge, then reheat toppings for a few seconds in the microwave when ready to serve. Some toppings, such as diced tomatoes and herbs, require no reheating.
3. If pressed for time, you can skip the toppings completely. When eating these without toppings, we prefer to make them creamier by adding ½ a cup of heavy cream before cooking. Add the cream when you add the broth.
4. To make this recipe vegan, simply substitute vegetable broth for chicken broth.
5. To make this recipe gluten-free, purchase gluten-free steel-cut oats. We use Bob's Red Mill Gluten-Free Steel Cut Oats.
6. Leftover steel-cut oats can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Leftover oats are often a bit thicker, so I recommend adding a splash of broth to the bowl before reheating. 

FAQs

Can I use old-fashioned oats instead of steel-cut oats? This recipe was specifically developed for steel-cut oats. The cook time and liquid ratio for old-fashioned oats would be quite different. For that reason, we recommend using a recipe specifically written for old-fashioned oats. We do not currently have a recipe for old-fashioned oats in the slow cooker.

Can I make these sweet? While this recipe is specifically for savory oats, yes, you may make them sweet. Sub water for the broth, and add as much sugar as desired. Then, top with your favorite fruit or sweet mix-ins. 

Can I use water instead of broth? Yes, however, you will need to add salt to taste.

More Breakfast Recipes:

• Ratatouille Frittata – Whole30, Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free
• Healthy Breakfast Cookies – Made with Oats, Cheerios, and Flax
• Instant Pot Baked Oatmeal with Peanut Butter and Chocolate Chips
• Instant Pot Eggs en Cocotte (French Baked Eggs)

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Savory Slow Cooker Steel Cut Oats

Wake up to a hot, ready-to-eat breakfast with these savory slow cooker steel-cut oats. With a one minute prep time and only two ingredients, these oats are surprisingly full of flavor. Enjoy them as-is, or with a variety of delicious topping suggestions. 

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Course: Breakfast

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 8 hours hours

Total Time: 8 hours hours 5 minutes minutes

Servings: 8

Calories: 192kcal

Author: Gary White

Ingredients

• ▢ 2 cups steel-cut oats
• ▢ 8 cups chicken broth

Instructions

• Add oats to the slow cooker. Then add chicken broth, or your prefered liquid. For a vegan option, use vegetable broth. For rich and creamy oats, add ½ cup of heavy cream and reduce the amount of broth to 7 ½ cups. For the lighter option, use all chicken broth.
• Give oats a good mix and cook on LOW for 6-8 hours. At 6 hours, the oats will have a chewy texture. At 8 hours, the oats will be very soft. Again, it really is a matter of preference as to how long you cook them.
• Serve them in a bowl and eat plain or topped with a vegetable medley.

Notes

Topping Suggestions:

While we often eat these oats plain, we love to add variety with different toppings. Here are a few topping ideas:

• A basic mirepoix. 
• Your favorite sauteed veggies. We chose sliced sweet peppers and spinach with minced garlic.
• Diced tomatoes and your favorite herbs, such as parsley or basil.
• A fried egg.
• Crispy bacon crumbles.
• Sausage crumbles.

Expert Tips

1. To make this an easy, wake-up-and-go breakfast, prepare the toppings the night before. Store in a sealed container in the fridge, then reheat toppings for a few seconds in the microwave when ready to serve. Some toppings, such as diced tomatoes and herbs, require no reheating.
2. If pressed for time, you can skip the toppings completely. When eating these without toppings, we prefer to make them creamier by adding ½ a cup of heavy cream. Add the cream with the broth, reducing the amount of broth by ½ cup.
3. To make this recipe vegan, simply substitute vegetable broth for chicken broth.
4. To make this recipe gluten-free, purchase gluten-free steel-cut oats. We use Bob's Red Mill Gluten-Free Steel Cut Oats.
5. Leftover steel-cut oats can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Leftover oats are often a bit thicker, so I recommend adding a splash of broth to the bowl before reheating. 

FAQs

Can I use old-fashioned oats instead of steel-cut oats? This recipe was specifically developed for steel-cut oats. The cook time and liquid ratio for old-fashioned oats would be quite different. For that reason, we recommend using a recipe specifically written for old-fashioned oats. We do not currently have a recipe for old-fashioned oats in the slow cooker.

Can I make these sweet? While this recipe is specifically for savory oats, yes, you may make them sweet. Sub water for the broth, and add as much sugar as desired. Then, top with your favorite fruit or sweet mix-ins. 

Can I use water instead of broth? Yes, however, you will need to add salt to taste.

Nutrition

Calories: 192kcal | Carbohydrates: 29g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 71mg | Potassium: 203mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 1g | Calcium: 29mg | Iron: 2mg

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