Overnight Slow Cooker Steel Cut Oats in a Jar
Overnight Slow Cooker Steel Cut Oats in a Jar- only a few minutes to prep and you wake up to a warm and healthy breakfast that’s portable and ready-to-eat! (vegan + gluten-free)
Is there anything better than waking up to a warm bowl of oatmeal on a cold and gloomy winter morning?
It’s nourishing, satisfying and you get to top it with all of your favorite things like sliced bananas, walnuts, and creamy vanilla almond butter.
Okay, maybe those are my favorite things. By the way, as long as we’re on that topic, it can’t be just any kind of oatmeal. It has to be steel cut oats. I tried them a few years ago and after that, there was no turning back.
I prefer to use Bob’s Red Mill Steel Cut Oats because I can always count on them being the highest of quality and 100% whole grain. I still like old fashioned (or rolled oats) for baked oatmeal and flourless muffins, but when it comes to traditional preparation, steel cut has definitely my heart.
They’re less processed than rolled oats which gives them a delightfully chewy texture and nutty flavor. In addition, they’re slightly lower and calories and they have a marginally lower Glycemic Index, meaning they won’t spike your blood sugar as high after eating them. I mean, not that rolled oats spike your blood sugar through the roof but when you’re comparing apples to apples, that’s one of the minuscule differences.
In the past, I prepared them with this 5-Minute Overnight Method that I shared with you guys last year, but since then I discovered something even better, Slow Cooker Steel Cut Oats in a Jar!
The jars make clean up a total breeze (no scrubbing oatmeal off the side of the pot or slow cooker!) and they’re portable which makes them great to take with you on a busy weekday morning.
I like to make mine with almond milk for an extra creamy texture but you can also use water, if that works better for you. I’ve listed the two different ways that I’ve tried them; one plain cooked with vanilla almond milk, and one banana bread style made with a ripened mashed banana and cinnamon, which is what you see pictured in this post.
Feel free to try whichever way you prefer, just don’t forget to add a few toppings for a little more texture and flavor. Seasonal fresh fruit, seeds (my favorites are hemp or pepitas), and nuts are all great options to add more nutritional value!
Overnight Slow Cooker Steel Cut Oats in a Jar
Yield: 4 servings
Prep Time: 5 mins
Cook Time: 3 hrs
Total Time: 3 hrs 5 mins

Ingredients:
For Plain Steel Cut Oats
- 1 cup Bob’s Red Mill Steel Cut Oats
- 4 cups unsweetened vanilla almond milk (or water)
- 2 cups filtered water
- 4 pint jars
For Banana Bread Steel Cut Oats
- 1 cup Bob’s Red Mill Steel Cut Oats
- 4 cups unsweetened vanilla almond milk (or preferred milk)
- 2 cups filtered water
- 3 tablespoons coconut sugar (or pure maple syrup)
- 1 ripe banana
- 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 4 pint jars
Directions:
For the plain version: Place 1/4 cup of the steel cut oats into each jar then pour 1 cup of the almond milk and 1/2 cup water into each. Transfer the jars to the slow cooker and add water until the outside of the jars are covered about 3/4 from the top. Cover and cook on low for 3 hours, plus 3 additional hours on the warm setting.*
When they are done cooking, the tops will look a little funny but all you have to do is give them a good stir. If you want to store them for later, allow to cool completely then seal with the lid and store in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. When reheating, it helps to pour in few tablespoons of almond milk beforehand. Then microwave them for about 1 minute and stir well prior to adding desired toppings.
For the banana bread version: Combine the almond milk, water, coconut sugar, banana, sea salt and cinnamon in a blender and blend until smooth. (You can also mix it together by hand if not using a banana). Add 1/4 cup steel cut oats to each jar then pour 1 and 1/2 cups of the banana mixture into each jar. From here, follow the same steps as above (fill the slow cooker with water, cover and cook for 3 hours on low).
*My slow cooker automatically goes to the keep warm setting when it’s done cooking. If yours doesn’t have this feature, I would cook the oats on high for 3 hours and then allow it to shut off and cool. Reheat in the microwave when ready to eat.
Did you try this recipe? Please let me know how it turned out by leaving a comment below or sharing a picture on Instagram with the hashtag #makingthymeforhealth. I love hearing your feedback!
This post was created in partnership with a brand that I have used and loved for years, Bob’s Red Mill. As always, all opinions and text are entirely my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that help make it possible for me to bring you quality content!
Whoa! This is the coolest thing ever! It also makes me wish that I ate oats right now! :(
Aw man! :(
This looks so perfect! I’ve actually never gotten steel cut oats before, but it does sound like they’re way better. I’ve literally been eating the same breakfast for two straight weeks now haha, so it’s probably time to switch it up soon.
You have to try them, Kelly! The texture is so much better!
OMG jars in the slow cooker is the most brilliant idea!
Now this is so cool! Sarah I am so using this mason jar in the slow cooker trick. The possibilities are endless!
I need to knock out 2 in one! I’ve never made steel-cut or used the slow cooker for oats!
Oh you have to try steel cut, Rebecca! They’re so good!
I think only 2 jars would fit in my slow-cooker; would I half the cooking time as well as all of the ingredients to just prepare 2 jars? Can’t wait to try this!
Hi JD! Yes, you would need to half the amount of ingredients (only 1/2 cup oats, 2 cups almond milk and 1 cup water) however the cooking time will remain the same. I hope you enjoy them! Have a great day! :)
Yum!!! Sarah that looks SO good! I definitely need to hop on the overnight oats train!
Good golly this is brilliant!! I’m all about slow cooking AND overnight oatmeal and love that this is double whammy-ing the two. The oatmeal looks like it turns out so nice and thick and creamy. I wanna make this asap! Hope you had a great weekend, girly!
Now I’ve had overnight oats and crock pot oats – but never ever have I had or thought of making overnight oats in a jar in a slow cooker! Dang this is simply brilliant! Waking up wouldn’t be hard on a Monday morning with this waiting for me!
It is so nice to have breakfast ready and waiting! Thanks Shashi! :)
I’m so with you! Steel cut oats are the absolute best! This is so smart with the jars! I’ve never thought about that before!
Thanks Ashley! Steel cut FTW! ;)
Not sure if my earlier comment went through, so trying again! I love how cute these oats are in their adorable individually portioned jars- and yay for under 200 calories :)
Sorry you’re having trouble with the comments, Medha! Let me know if it happens again so I can try to help!
Sarah, you’re a genius. I’ve made oatmeal every way possible (or so I thought), and then I see this! I love that these are already portioned AND there’s no clean up. Love it!
Nothing beats steel cut oats for breakfast, nothing! I have to try making them like this in a slow cooker, that sounds so easy and delicious!
It is so easy! Thanks Rachel! :)
I totally know what you mean about steel cut oats — the chewy texture has my heart as well <3 But I usually resort to using quick or regular oats in the morning because i'm too lazy to wait for steel cut to cook :lol: And I seriously LOVE how you made each serving in a little individual jar so that there's no need for any messy clean up. Now if only I had a crock pot… I know!
I LOVE overnight oats, but normally I make only 2-3 servings. This is great idea to make batches for the whole week for both my husband and I. Thanks for sharing!
I cannot get over how brilliant this is – seriously meal prep heaven! I’m with you in the fact that I love rolled oats for baking, but if I’m going traditional it is steel cut oats all the way. Can’t wait to try this method!
Thank Les! :)
This is such a neat idea! I tried making steel cut oats in my slow cooker once, but my slow cooker is just too hot/fast so the oats were overcooked and stuck to the side of the slow cooker when I woke up. I’d love to try this technique sometime though!
These are genius!! I love that you bypassed the cleaning of the crockpot and they’re already in reusable individual containers. I knew you could use a crockpot similar to a double boiler and this is such a fun way to do that.
They look delicious and I can’t wait to the banana bread version – I had the steel cut oats out already for cooking up a week of breakfasts :)
Thanks Marisa! :)
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I have Trader Joe’s quick cook steel-cut oats I’d like to use for this recipe, do you know if that would work too? Or should I use the regular cooking ones?
Hi Kim! They should work, I’m just not sure if the amount of liquid would be the same. Let me know if you end up giving it a try!
I’m really intrigued about trying this recipe but I don’t have a slow cooker. What might be some alternatives?
Very very smart woman you are. My macros call for me to have 30g carbs, 24g protein, 15g fat and tons of fiber. This is the base for my perfect breakfast, plan to use water to soften oats and add cinnamon, vanilla and a drizzle of honey for taste. And no cleaning the slow cooker pot makes this perfect for my stress free morning routine. Add in a boiled egg or two to reach my fat/protein macros and it’s all good.
Finally tried the recipe twice. The first time I used 1/4 cup of steel cut oats and 1.5 cp water. Came out too watery, then I tried it again last night using 1/4 cup of steel cut oats and 3/4 cup of water. It was too thick but once I added my 2 tbs of evaporated milk and it got creamier so I added 2 more tbs of EM and it came out deliciously creamy. So I think when using water only the combination should be 1/4 cup oats and 3/4 cup of water plus 3 tbs of water. I have an older slower cooker without the new features so I set it at 300 degrees at 10pm last night and it cooked all the way til 10am when I got up to eat. No warm or auto-warm feature.
Thank you so much for the feedback!