Overnight Steel Cut Oats Recipe made with steel-cut oatmeal and quinoa in the slow cooker. Top with fresh berries and a splash of milk for a breakfast the whole family will love.
author’s note
Wake Up to the Best Overnight Steel Cut Oats!
A few years ago, I tried to make oatmeal overnight in my slow cooker and woke up to a pot of mush. After some trial and error (and many early mornings of testing), I finally cracked the code.
This Overnight Steel Cut Oats Recipe is the result of all that experimenting. Similar to overnight oats, it’s creamy but not soggy, hearty but not heavy, and the quinoa gives it the best nutty texture. I love that I can toss everything into the slow cooker at night and wake up to a warm breakfast the whole family devours with no morning rush required.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- No morning prep. Toss it together in under 10 minutes at night.
- Perfect texture. Creamy without turning mushy.
- Customizable. So many topping options!
- Feeds a crowd. Great for family breakfasts or meal prep.
Ingredients
| Ingredient | What It Does | Swaps & Tips |
|---|---|---|
| Steel-Cut Oats | Holds up overnight cooking, stays chewy instead of mushy | Don’t use rolled or quick oats—they’ll turn to paste |
| Quinoa | Adds protein, texture, and nutty flavor | Rinse well to avoid bitterness; no real swap recommended |
| Almond Milk | Creamy, slightly sweet, doesn’t curdle overnight | Oat milk or cashew milk work well; avoid cow’s milk (curdles) |
| Sweetener | Adds balance and depth of flavor | Use maple syrup, honey, or brown sugar; adjust to taste |
| Spices | Cinnamon and vanilla warm up the flavor | Add nutmeg or cardamom for variety |
Toppings
The toppings are where this overnight steel cut oats recipe really shines.
- Banana Nut: Sliced bananas, cinnamon, nut butter
- Berry Burst: Fresh or frozen berries, splash of milk, almond butter
- Apple Cinnamon: Diced apples, cinnamon, drizzle of maple syrup
- Strawberries & Cream: Fresh strawberries, splash of cream, nut butter
- Nut & Seed Crunch: Chopped nuts, pumpkin seeds, dried fruit
Overnight Steel Cut Oats Recipe Cooking Options
- Overnight (Regular Steel-Cut Oats): Cook on low for 1 hour, then switch to warm for 8–9 hours.
- Overnight (Quick-Cooking Steel-Cut Oats): Cook on low for 30 minutes, then switch to warm for 6–7 hours.
- Morning Brunch: Cook on low for 2½–4 hours.
More Delicious Breakfast Ideas
Desserts
Cinnamon Roll Cake Recipe
Breakfast
French Toast
Breakfast
Peanut Butter Overnight Oats
Breakfast
Dutch Baby Recipe (German Pancakes)
Overnight Steel Cut Oats Recipe
Overnight Steel Cut Oats Recipe, made with oatmeal and quinoa in the slow cooker, is a healthy, hands-off breakfast. Just add fresh berries and a splash of milk to serve!
Video
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1-1/2 cups steel-cut oatmeal see note 1
- 1/2 cup white quinoa
- 5 cups unsweetened vanilla almond milk or water; I prefer almond milk!
- 4 tablespoons brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- Toppings as desired see note 2
Instructions
- Spray slow cooker generously with cooking spray or line with a slow cooker liner. In a mesh strainer, rinse quinoa under cold water for about 30 seconds to 1 minute. Let dry.
- Combine steel-cut oats, rinsed quinoa, almond milk, brown sugar, maple syrup, salt, vanilla extract, and cinnamon (if desired) in the slow cooker.
- Stir everything together, place the lid on the slow cooker, and set it to low for 1 hour. Then, without opening the slow cooker or disturbing it (otherwise heat escapes!), switch the dial to the warm setting. Allow to cook overnight for 8–9 hours (longer than that and it becomes mushy; see note 3).
- Once you wake up, immediately turn it off and stir in the oats. They may still have some liquid, but it continues to soak in as they are served (I like them better with extra liquid rather than dry and mushy/gummy!) These oats are intended to be creamy.
- Check the post above for more serving suggestions, but add your favorite toppings such as fresh fruit, an extra splash of milk, additional brown sugar, honey, or maple syrup, and a big scoop of nut butter (peanut butter, almond butter, etc.).
Final step! Please let us know how it was by leaving a review.
Recipe Notes
Note 1: Do not use regular old-fashioned, rolled, or quick oats—they won’t work. If you use instant or quick-cooking steel-cut oats, (Be sure to check the package—sometimes it’s hard to tell if they are instant steel-cut oats), it will be done in about 6–8 hours. For best results, I recommend regular steel-cut oatmeal.
Note 2: Optional toppings: 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon, fresh berries, a splash of milk, and additional sugar for topping.
Note 3: Different cooking options:
- For morning brunch: Cook on low for 2-1/2 to 4 hours. I don’t recommend cooking overnight steel-cut oats on the high setting.
- Overnight—with quick-cooking steel-cut oats: Cook on low for 30 minutes, then turn to warm for 6–7 hours.
- Overnight—with regular steel-cut oats: Cook on low for 1 hour, then turn to warm for 8–9 hours.
- Note that not all slow cookers cook the same. If your slow cooker has a tendency to cook quicker, it may be done sooner than the times indicated. If it is left in the slow cooker too long, it will likely become mushy and gummy. If your slow cooker cooks slower and oats/quinoa aren’t tender, turn the slow cooker back on to low for 30 or so minutes in the morning.
Nutrition
Serving: 1serving | Calories: 387kcal | Carbohydrates: 67g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 358mg | Potassium: 139mg | Fiber: 8g | Sugar: 14g | Calcium: 291mg | Iron: 3mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Overnight Steel Cut Oats Recipe Tips
- Use a 6-quart slow cooker. Smaller ones haven’t been tested.
- Grease or line well. Makes cleanup easier.
- Keep the lid on. Don’t peek or it won’t cook right.
- Use only steel-cut oats. Rolled or quick oats turn mushy.
- Choose almond milk. Adds creaminess and won’t curdle overnight. Water works in a pinch, but skip cow’s milk.
I enjoyed this recipe. I cut it in half because I use 1.5 qt crockpot. I used flaxseed milk and added tart cherries to it for the cooking process. Cooked it on low for about 7 hours. Perfect warm breakfast for a cold morning.
So happy to hear this was a hit! Love that you added tart cherries 🙂
I’ve made this several times and its terrific. I take food to my 94 year old mom and am always looking for good healthy breakfasts that she will enjoy. I like to add raisins and pecans 1/2 cup hemp hearts (really nutritional) and replace some of the brown sugar with raw honey. Thanks Chelsea for a great recipe!
I’m so happy to hear you guys enjoy this! You sound like a great daughter! Thanks Kathy! 🙂
Can I use half water and half whole milk?
I wouldn’t recommend cows milk; it will curdle!
I have a mini slow cooker for 1 serving. No heat adjustment so I use a on/off timer-set it, plug in wall,add slow cooker and great breakfast ready.
Perfect! 🙂
I tried this on the high setting on my crockpot and it was perfect in 2 hrs. Great when you forgot to put it on the night before or are crunched for time.
So glad to hear that! Thanks for sharing Kathy 🙂
Made this for my bible study’s Christmas brunch-it was the favorite item on the buffet!! I used equal parts canned coconut milk and water and only the maple syrup. At the brunch I put brown sugar and dried cranberries on the side. Plenty sweet and they LOVED it! Thanks?
Oh and I doubled it! It cooked according to the same time recommendations.
I’m so happy it was a hit at the Christmas brunch; thank you so much for sharing! 🙂 Happy holidays Jeanne! 🙂
How long until this goes bad? I eat some everyday with breakfast.
It should be good 4-6 days 🙂
Could this be cooked on a stove top?
I’m sure it could! I would just use the recommended amounts of water on the packaging though because it won’t need as much liquid as the crockpot. Good luck 🙂
I dont know if its because I have a sweet tooth or not but i need a sufgestion for making it a tad sweeter???
You can add more sweetener to taste! 🙂 More brown sugar or maple syrup would be great!
Can I double the recipe? Will the cook time be the same? I’d like to make this for a big group reception on Sunday! I’m guessing it will fit in my crock. Thank you!
I’m sorry Rita, I’ve never tried doubling this so I’m not certain how it would work out. I don’t see why it wouldn’t work, but I don’t think you’d want a longer cook time as it would likely become mushy. Wish I could be of more help!