This Slow Cooker Maple Cinnamon Oatmeal recipe is the perfect alternative to your typical cold cereal! Without involving much time, ingredients, or prep, you can put together a satisfying morning meal.
You’ll love making this oatmeal in large batches ahead of time! Save it in single-serve containers for a whole week of quick, hearty breakfasts.
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💚 About This Recipe
Looking for an alternative to cold cereal that doesn't involve a lot of time, ingredients, or complicated prep in the morning? This hearty maple syrup oatmeal is the perfect way to start your day on a cozy and delicious note!
Made with rolled oats, sweet maple syrup, and warm fragrant cinnamon, this easy slow cooker rolled oats oatmeal recipe is a breeze to prepare. Just toss the ingredients into your crockpot and wake up to a yummy bowl of comforting oatmeal that's packed with flavor and nutrients.
Whether you're a busy parent looking for a convenient morning meal or a breakfast enthusiast seeking a nutritious start to your day, this slow cooker porridge is a breakfast game-changer. Serve it with a Healthy Acai Smoothie for a real breakfast treat!
For a fast and easy way to make oatmeal, check out this recipe for Instant Pot Steel Cut Oats. It's ready in just 30 minutes!
🧂 Ingredients Needed
- old fashioned oats - because old fashioned rolled oats aren't as sturdy as steel cut, I recommend using the latter if you want to make these in the crockpot overnight.
- milk - you can use either regular milk or your favorite non-dairy based milk.
- water - allows the oats to absorb liquid and expand, creating the creamy texture of oatmeal.
- maple syrup - this is a delicious way to provide a more natural sweetness that's healthier than straight up sugar.
- cinnamon - provides a warm, comforting spice flavor that complements the maple sweetness.
- salt - adding salt is the secret trick to emphasizing and accentuating sweet flavors.
🔪 Instructions
- Combine oats, milk, water, maple syrup, cinnamon, and salt in your slow cooker.
- Set to low and cook 4 hours.
- Halfway through cooking, mix the cinnamon into the rest of the mixture and replace the lid.
❔ FAQs
Oatmeal of any kind is rich in fiber, which means it will keep you full for longer and provide longer-lasting energy. This is great if you're trying to lose weight or eat less, or just want more reliable energy throughout the day. Oatmeal can also help regulate blood pressure and lower cholesterol.
Absolutely! So long as you're getting other varieties of nutrients from other foods throughout the day, oatmeal for breakfast is a fantastic way to stay full and start your day with a yummy food that can lower your risk for certain diseases and help your gut health as well.
In relation to adding another kind of sweetener to your oatmeal, maple syrup is among the healthier options. It does still have sugar and calories, but maple syrup has the added benefit of certain antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals as well!
💭 Expert Tips and Tricks
- Avoid oats that will cook quickly, as they will likely become mushy in the slow cooker.
- Lightly grease the bottom and sides of your slow cooker to prevent the slow cooker porridge from sticking.
- Aside from the stir to incorporate the cinnamon halfway through, avoid stirring the oatmeal as this can also lead to a mushy result.
- Make your oatmeal creamier by adding more milk and less water.
- Add more milk if the oatmeal becomes too thick for your liking as it cools.
- This recipe can also be made into cold overnight oats--simply combine the ingredients in a jar or other container and leave it overnight in the fridge.
- Prepare your oatmeal ahead of time and separate into single-serve containers for quick and easy breakfasts all week!
📌 Sweet and satisfying, this Slow Cooker Maple Cinnamon Oatmeal is the perfect option for a simple breakfast the whole family will love. Great for serving large crowds without spending too much time in the kitchen in the morning!
💡 Substitutions and Variations
- Use another natural sweetener like agave syrup or honey if you don't have maple syrup or prefer another flavor. Brown sugar is another great way to add rich, sweet flavor.
- If you'd like to use additional ingredients like nuts, dried fruit, berries, bananas, and more, simply wait until about 30 minutes before the oatmeal is cooked and give them a light mix in.
- Topping ideas: chopped walnuts, chopped pecans, chopped almonds, dried cranberries, raisins, sliced bananas, dried fruit like strawberries, fresh berries.
🔊 What readers are saying...
"This is a real keeper and will now be made probably once weekly to every couple weeks at least. Leftovers will be handy for a quick next day breakfast or an anytime snack and won’t last long at my house."
- Gracie
🥫 Storage and Reheating
Keep your oatmeal in an airtight container in the fridge for 4-5 days. You can easily pop it in the microwave and heat until it's your desired temperature.
You can also freeze leftover maple syrup oatmeal for up to 6 months. Either let it thaw in the fridge before heating, or add some extra time in the microwave.
🍴 What To Serve With This Dish
Looking to turn your slow cooker rolled oats oatmeal into part of a breakfast feast? Serve it alongside a Baked Egg Frittata with Ham or these Crispy Air Fryer Potatoes if you like a savory companion. For something sweet, try a Berry Salad or Strawberry Smoothie Bowls!
✔️ More Oatmeal Recipes You'll Love
- Cinnamon Coffee Microwave Oatmeal - If you're really in a rush, this oatmeal with a kick of caffeine can be made right in the microwave!
- Pumpkin Overnight Oats - Perfect for fall, this overnight oatmeal is loaded with festive fall flavor.
- No Bake Peanut Butter Oatmeal Balls - Everybody loves chocolate for breakfast! Enjoy the sweet flavors of PB and chocolate together with these homemade protein balls, great for an on-the-go breakfast.
- Apple Cinnamon Stovetop Oatmeal - Love the flavors of apples in the summer and fall? This yummy oatmeal from Sugar Dish Me is perfect for you!
Maple Syrup Oatmeal
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📋 Recipe Card
Slow Cooker Maple Cinnamon Oatmeal
Ingredients
- 3 cups old-fashioned oats
- 2 cups milk (regular or plant-based)
- 4 cups water
- ⅓ cup pure maple syrup
- 2 tablespoons cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in the slow cooker. The cinnamon should be wet but will float on top.3 cups old-fashioned oats, 2 cups milk, 4 cups water, ⅓ cup pure maple syrup, 2 tablespoons cinnamon, ½ teaspoon salt
- Cook on low for about 4 hours. About 2 hours into cooking, lift the lid and stir to mix the cinnamon in, then replace the lid and continue cooking for the remainder of the time.
Notes
- Old-fashioned oats work best for slow cooker oatmeal because they hold their shape and texture well during the long cooking process. Quick-cooking oats will become too mushy.
- To prevent the oatmeal from sticking to the sides and bottom of the slow cooker, lightly grease it with cooking spray or a small amount of butter.
- You can use other sweeteners like honey, brown sugar, or agave syrup instead of the maple syrup. Adjust the sweetness to your liking.
- You can add other spices like nutmeg or a pinch of cloves for extra flavor.
- Resist the urge to stir the oatmeal more often than once, as additional stirring can cause the oatmeal to break down too much and get mushy.
- About 30 minutes before the oatmeal is done, you can add various toppings and add-ins like chopped nuts, dried fruits, fresh berries, or sliced bananas. This adds texture and extra flavor.
- For creamier oatmeal, use more milk and less water.
- If the oatmeal become too thick as it cools, simply add additional milk.
- If you want to have oatmeal ready in the morning without using the slow cooker, you can prepare overnight oats by combining all the ingredients in a jar or container and leaving it in the refrigerator overnight.
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Nutrition
Nutritional information is an estimate. The nutritional values for your final dish may vary based on measuring differences and products used.
Update Notes: This post was originally published in March 2016, and was republished with tips, step by step photos, and a recipe change in July 2023.
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Happy cooking!
SeattleGracie says
I just made this this today for breakfast since I’m up about 4am each day.
I had to adjust one thing and that’s because I’ve got no real maple syrup at the moment which I usually have a bottle at all times in the fridge from Costco and I highly recommend the Kirkland brand real maple syrup from Costco for a great price for those of you that have a membership to shop there.
I took a chance and used half a cup of brown sugar.
I did everything else exactly as the recipe calls for.
This will be a keeper at my house since I’m always on the hunt for hassle free and very few ingredients recipes and always have Quaker old fashion oats stocked up with at least a few big cans at any given time never to run out of those.
We absolutely love and almost live on fruit baked oatmeal like blueberry and many others to tossing uncooked oatmeal in our morning smoothies a few times a week to cooking it on the stove.
This is a real keeper and will now be made probably once weekly to every couple weeks at least.
Leftovers will be handy for a quick next day breakfast or an anytime snack and won’t last long at my house.
I did slice fresh bananas over along with a splash of milk, no need to add extra sugar or butter or a thing.
This turned out excellent.
I’ll let the crockpot soak in hot soapy water the rest of the day because even with spraying before adding the ingredients it most definitely ended up with some stuck on, but I find most the crockpot recipes end up sticking some even when sprayed well, so I usually just soak for a day or so and wash out fairly easy after.
Thanks so much for sharing this most wonderful recipe with us.
I hope to find more of your delicious cooking and easy recipes online.
This is definitely a hit with my small family.
Kristin says
That's great to hear, thanks so much for your thoughtful comment! 🙂
Carrie says
Do you have to grease or oil the crock pot for these? If I accidentally bought the 3-minute quick Quaker steel cut oats, how would you suggest altering cooking time?
Kristin says
Hi Carrie, I think the quick oats may get kind of mushy, but I have never tried it so I can't say for sure, sorry! I am guessing you would want to cook them for less time, but you would have to keep an eye on it as I can't speak to the adjustment that might be needed. I personally don't grease the crock pot, but I admit that I do have some sticking that I have to clean up so if you want to avoid that you can certainly grease it before you put the oats in. I hope you enjoy the oatmeal and thanks for stopping by!
Miranda says
If I wanted to make it dairy free would I just replace the milk with the same amount of water?
Kristin says
HI Miranda! Yes, it's a direct swap. 🙂
Chris says
Does old fashioned oats really taste too mushy?
That’s all we have here at the moment, so I will probably just give it a try. I want to start now, but afraid it will cook too fast. Wish my crock pot had a timer. Do I add raisins right away or in the am? Thanks!
Kristin says
Old-fashioned oats will definitely be mushy if you cook them all night. That being said, they will still be tasty, they just don't have the normal oatmeal consistency. You may also need to add some extra milk if they get too thick. If you are going to add raisins, I would add them just before serving. I hope that helps! Happy cooking and I hope you enjoy! 🙂
Annika says
Good morning,
we just got our slow cooker.. so we do not have many experience yet. Here in Germany slow cooker are not really popular.
Do you think we could add banana? Maybe at the end? Or should we add it after it is done.
Many thanks for your answer!
Kristin says
Hi Annika! If you want the banana to remain like a banana and not get incorporated into the oatmeal, I would definitely add it at the end or even just scatter chunks on top when serving. Good luck with the slow cooker! I hope you enjoy it! 🙂
denise says
Hi, I am making this now. Would you suggest adding apples or frozen blueberries? Thanks!
Kristin says
Hi Denise! Those sound awesome, I would definitely try either one. Let me know how it turns out!
Stephanie says
Can these be cooked in crock pot for 8hrs on low vs. 4 hrs on high?
Stephanie says
*if you use steel cut oats?
Kristin says
Hi Stephanie! I haven't tested this recipe with steel cut oats, so I can't say for sure. But, that seems like a reasonable thing to try, as I know steel cut oats take longer to cook than the rolled oats. If you give it a shot, I would be interested to hear how it turns out for you! Thanks for stopping by! 🙂
Chelsea says
Love the simplicity of this recipe! I want to try it but my husband is lactose intolerant. Do you think it’s possible to use just all water? 6 cups of water instead of 4 cups of water and 2 cups of milk?
Kristin says
Hi Chelsea, you can definitely use all water, although I would suggest trying a soy milk or almond milk instead. I bet vanilla almond milk would be awesome! Let me know what you do and how it turns out! 🙂
Mary says
I am not a professional when it comes to cooking, so sorry if this is a dumb question... I really want to make this recipe but I'm vegan. Can I use almond milk?
Kristin says
Hi Mary! Yes, absolutely. I think it would be delicious with almond milk. Let me know how it turns out! 🙂
Jann Olson says
Perfect way to start the day! I did this once and we loved it. I need to do it again. Thanks for sharing with SYC.
hugs,
Jann