For years now, I have regularly turned to apple cinnamon oatmeal for a healthy filling breakfast option. I most often choose oatmeal as the weather cools and I want comfort in a bowl.
Oats have great nutritional value, and when combined with milk, fruit, and nuts is a complete nutrition powerhouse. Also, I simply enjoy tasty food. A couple of months ago I decided to pair healthy meal prep with this deliciously healthy breakfast option.
As the holidays roll around, I see the potential of this recipe for feeding large groups of people as well. The beauty of slow cooker meals is the ability to dump and go. When I make this recipe, I usually dump everything in the slow cooker at night, and when I wake up my whole place smells of delicious warm apples and cinnamon spice.
My puppy is usually the first to get curious and sniff the air until she finds the slow cooker. It really smells that good!
This recipe is also perfect for children because you do not have to chop much at all, and the measurements are minimal. Most people will have these ingredients lying around their homes.
Fall & Winter are the perfect seasons for this recipe because Apples are best in the colder months. I have tried this recipe with green apples, but I find red apples work best. Some of the sweeter varieties, a la anything except Red Delicious. I prefer Fuji or Gala apples for this recipe, and I also use fresh uncooked apples to top the finished result for a little crunch and because the cooked apples will be pretty mushy once done. Also, you must use Steel Cut Oats, rolled oats are not a viable substitute.
The length of time it takes to cook steel-cut oats is an asset in this recipe, whereas the rolled oats will just burn. I do not soak the oats because the cooking time is a substitute for that step.
I make this recipe with unsweetened almond milk or soy milk, but any liquid will due. Butter is also a regular component of this recipe, but I find it unnecessary. I also just do not like the finished flavor with butter, but depending on your taste, it may be worth trying that addition to the recipe.
Lastly, I slow cook the oats for 5 or 6 hours if I want a crust to form, but if you need more cooking time, add one more cup of liquid to the recipe and you will gain one more hour of cooking.
Slow Cooker Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal
Prep time: 5 Minutes
Cook Time: 5 or 6 hours
When I meal prep this recipe, I let the oats cool completely and store in 8 oz Ball Glass Mason Jars.
Ingredients
3 Medium Red Apples cubed
1 ½ cups Water
1 ½ cups Milk
¼ tsp Salt
1 c Steel Cut Oats
1 tbsp Vanilla Extract
1 tbsp ground cinnamon
2 tbsp Mape Syrup
Instructions
- Place all ingredients into the slow cooker
- Cook on low for 5 hours
- Serve with fresh-cut apple slices
Notes
- For wet oats cook for five hours, for drier oats cook for six hours
- If you need to cook for longer, add an additional cup of liquid to the recipe (do not add more oats)
- Add 1 tbsp of unsalted butter for a more fatty flavor
Nutrition Facts
Servings 5
Calories per serving 149
Carbs 31g
Fat 2g
Protein 2g
I top my oatmeal with nut butter, nuts, and/or seeds alongside fresh apple slices to beef up the calories and nutrients in this recipe. To reheat the remaining servings, I add a little almond milk to the oatmeal before warming. Trust me when I tell you that this delicious healthy oatmeal is just the quick recipe you are looking for.
I love oatmeal and I usually buy the quick or regular oats, but admit to being curious about steel cut. Have you tried the overnight oats? I make them for me and my daughter. I eat mine cold but she puts gets in the microwave for about a minute.
I am going to pull out the slow cooker or perhaps the Instapot and make this recipe. Thanx.
Over night osts are weird to me. I forced myself to eat them every morning for a week and I couldn’t get past that. I find it not only hard but odd to eat oatmeal cold; that’s just me though.
Author
I feel the same. They still taste raw to me.
I love apple cinnamon everything.
I will have to try this recipe, because the last time I tried slow-cooker oats was a disaster. I’m trying something healthy for my kids breakfast options.
I absolutely LOOOOVVVVEE steel cut oat meal, it’s the best breakfast hands down. Who would’ve thought to use a slow cooker for oatmeal though?!? And it’s apple cinnamon?? Absolutely perfect especially now with the holidays about. My house is going to be smelling so delicious. Thanks for sharing!
I love oatmeal especially with Apple slices and cinnamon.
The best combo
This sounds really good! I would probably top mine with a little caramel drizzle, to satisfy my sweet tooth lol.
Author
Sounds delicious ?
This looks delicious, I love oatmeal. I definitely want to try it this way instead of the stove.
I love cold oats, I got into them last year my favorite is with greek yogurt, peach keifer, oats, mixed nuts, and bananas!
So filling and easy to prep a few at a time.
Crockpot oats? Yes this is perfect for the fall/winter months! I never considered this since my family would rather me use the crockpot for roast but definitely will be trying. I love oatmeal, but sadly on buy/make the instant one. I will let you know how it turns out.
LOL. The different texture of the overnight oats is what I love!