CrockPot Steel Cut Oats with Maple Syrup and Pecans
CrockPot Steel Cut Oats with Maple Syrup and Pecans show how easy it is to cook steel cut oats in the crockpot if you haven’t tried that!
Pin CrockPot Steel Cut Oats with Maple Syrup and Pecans!
One of my favorite carb-splurge breakfasts is Peanut Butter Oatmeal, which I usually make with Extra Thick Rolled Oats cooked in the microwave, a method I learned from my blogging friend Alanna. I’ve been wanting to try steel cut oats, but I wasn’t sure about the longer cooking time, reported to be as much as 45 minutes on the stove.
Then I heard about cooking steel cut oats in the crockpot, and when I tried it, I loved the crockpot version of steel cut oats.
I made these CrockPot Steel Cut Oats with Maple Syrup and Pecans, and they were so, so good. I originally made this with agave nectar, but now I would use Sugar-Free Maple Syrup (affiliate link) which reduces the carbs, although this will never be a low-carb dish. But if you’re someone who eats oatmeal occasionally, this is definitely worth a try.
What ingredients do you need?
(This is only a list of ingredients; please scroll down for complete printable recipe. Or if you use the JUMP TO RECIPE link at the top of the page, it will take you directly to the complete recipe.)
- Steel Cut Oats (affiliate link)
- water
- salt (do not skip the salt)
- Sugar-Free Maple Syrup (affiliate link)
- pecans
What are Steel Cut Oats?
Steel cut oats are oat groats that have been chopped into smaller pieces, making them easier to cook. They are less processed and higher in fiber than rolled oats.
Here are the different types of oats:
- The least processed form of oats are oat groats. However, they need soaking, and take a very long time to cook.
- Steel cut oats are oat groats that have been chopped into smaller pieces.
- Rolled oats are steamed and rolled into flakes so they cook more quickly.
- Quick oats are thin pieces of oatmeal that cook in a few minutes.
- Here’s a great post on all the different varieties of oats.
More Recipes for Steel Cut Oats:
There’s a great collection of Recipes for Steel Cut Oats on my other site, Slow Cooker or Pressure Cooker.
How to Make Steel-Cut Oats with Maple Syrup and Pecans:
(This is only a summary of the steps for the recipe; please scroll down for complete printable recipe. Or if you use the JUMP TO RECIPE link at the top of the page, it will take you directly to the complete recipe.)
- Here’s what the steel cut oats look like before they’re cooked. I used Bob’s Red Mill Steel Cut Oats (affiliate link) for this recipe.
- I used a 2.5 quart Crockpot to cook 1 cup of steel cut oats, and it took me a few tries to get the amount of thickness and chewiness I wanted. (You can definitely double the recipe if you have a large slow cooker. Just keep extra servings in the fridge and microwave to eat later.)
- I decided that 5 cups water and just over three hours cooking time gave the best results with my crockpot. Newer crockpots cook much hotter than the older “slow cooker” models, and different sizes of crockpots also cook differently, so you may have to experiment a little to get the best result.
- Steel cut oats are great reheated, so make some extra and keep them in the refrigerator, then microwave for a few minutes for an extra quick breakfast.
CrockPot Steel-Cut Oats with Maple Syrup and Pecans
If you haven't tried cooking steel cut oats in the crockpot, these CrockPot Steel-Cut Oats with Maple Syrup and Pecans are amazing!
Ingredients
- 1 cup steel cut oats
- 5 cups water (or less for extra thick oats)
- 1/2 tsp. salt (do not skip the salt)
- 1/4 cup sugar-free maple syrup
- 1/2 cup pecans, coarsely chopped with knife
Instructions
- Combine steel cut oats, water, and salt in crockpot. (I sprayed the crock with non-stick spray to prevent sticking.)
- Cook on low, stirring every hour or so.
- After 3 hours start checking to see if the oats are as done as you'd like.
- I cooked the oats in these photos for 3 hours and 15 minutes, but a larger batch or an older model crockpot will take longer.
- Put one-fourth of the hot cooked oats in a bowl, drizzle with maple syrup and sprinkle nuts over.
- If you're reheating extra steel cut oats later in the microwave, you may want to add a few tablespoons of water before you microwave them.
Notes
Recipe created by Kalyn.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
4Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 249Total Fat: 12gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 10gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 336mgCarbohydrates: 31gFiber: 5gSugar: 1gProtein: 7g
Nutrition information is automatically calculated by the Recipe Plug-In I am using. I am not a nutritionist and cannot guarantee 100% accuracy, since many variables affect those calculations.
Low-Carb Diet/ Low-Glycemic Diet / South Beach Diet Suggestions:
Steel cut oats with sugar-free maple syrup and nuts would be a great breakfast option for phase 2 or 3 of the original South Beach Diet, but this is too high in carbs for low-carb diet plans.
Find More Recipes Like This One:
Use Slow Cooker to find more recipes like this one. Use the Diet Type Index to find recipes suitable for a specific eating plan. You might also like to follow Kalyn’s Kitchen on Pinterest, on Facebook, on Instagram, on TikTok, or on YouTube to see all the good recipes I’m sharing there.
Historical Notes for this Recipe:
This recipe for CrockPot Steel Cut Oats was first posted in 2009! The recipe was last updated with more information in 2023.
41 Comments on “CrockPot Steel Cut Oats with Maple Syrup and Pecans”
I didn't read all the comments so forgive me if this has been mentioned already but if you only have a larger crock-pot, you can put the oatmeal mixture in a smaller glass bowl that fits into the crock pot. Fill the crock pot with water up to within an inch or so of the top of the bowl so it makes a water bath around the bowl of oats. Cook on low overnight. 🙂 They won't burn around the edge and just pour out the water and your crock pot is clean!
Jamie, I don't see a serving size for oats in the latest book, but most grains seem to 1/2 cup serving.
I'm going to try making this tonight! I love oatmeal! Quick question: do you know what the SB approved serving is for cooked oats? I can't find it anywhere but sort of remember reading some place that it is only 1/2 cup. I just started phase 2 and don't want to get ahead of myself by adding too many starches in 🙂 Thanks!!
Steel cut oats are so much better (and better for you) than instant or quick rolled oats. We haven't made them in a crockpot, may try it! To make a really fabulous oatmeal, instead of using all steel cut oats, we use about half steel cut, and half Bob's Red Mill Scottish Oats – a fine, porridge variety, and use milk for half the cooking liquid. It makes a much creamier tasting oatmeal, punctuated by nuggets of the crunchy steel cut oats. Cooking times, liquid, and additions (maple, raisins, etc) all about the same as the rest of the recipes.
I do steel cut oats in a rice cooker using the porridge setting. I can also program it to be ready in the morning.
Makes my day much easier, I recommend getting one.
Rosemerry, thanks for that great tip! I hadn't thought of freezing them, but for someone with a big crockpot, you could make a few weeks worth if you have the freezer space!
This is the time of year I start making steel cut oats in my crock pot and thanks to Kaylyn, adding peanut butter is the only way to go for me. I just wanted to let you know that the oatmeal freezes beautifully too! I make mine on the thicker side and get 5 servings out of a cup of oats. I eat one serving out of the crock pot, then put the remaining in a casserole dish. When it cools, I put it in the fridge. Then I cut what's left into 4 portions and freeze them. Can't tell the difference from the fresh or thawed!
kbw, thanks for the tip about oat groats. I'll definitely try that, either on the stove or in the crockpot. I have a feeling I'll like them too.
thanks for the info re slow cooker….i cook the oat groats for one hour on the stove…or following heidi swanson's recipe from 101 cookbooks combine equal portions oatgroats and spelt berries…on the stove for same time. i'm getting very fond of oat groups even over steel cut oats. will have to try this combo in slow cooker.
I just made steel cut oatmeal as well! Great list. I referred someone to your crockpot steel cut oatmeal recipes.
You got me at agave! I love these simple recipes/ideas. I'm a busy mom who loves to cook but is more likely to make something like this any day unless I have a day-time babysitter!
Susan, I think I’m turning into an oatmeal junkie too. I loved them!
Christy, great tip!! I just put some in the crockpot and thought about doubling the recipe. I was wondering how they would freeze.
I cook steel cut oats ahead of time and freeze in a silicone muffin pan. Once froze, pop them out and put into baggies to keep in freezer. Get out a serving when ever you need. They microwave quickly!
I really have to try this, Kalyn. I’m an oatmeal junkie. I eat it nearly every morning rain or shine.
Gourmet Mama, glad you liked it!
I loved the recipe. It was great. I have always loved oatmeal. What a treat.
My crockpot always burned my oatmeal. But I’ve started using my rice cooker (it has a timer) and I set it to start cooking everything about an hour before we get up. Perfect.
I love getting all the suggestions from readers. I can tell I’ll have fun trying all these ideas. Thanks everyone!
The nice thing about these kinds of recipes is you can stop buying commercial cereals and just make your own (well not really – but I think you know what I mean!). 🙂
This is my everyday morning bfast – almost. I love my instant oats with milk,apricots, pecans & raisins. Love it !