Cozy up with a warm bowl of Pumpkin Spice Slow Cooker Oatmeal! This easy breakfast recipe is the perfect way to prep your meals for the week ahead, or a simple fall brunch to feed a crowd -- and it only requires about 5 minutes of prep!
Optional toppings, such as nuts, shredded coconut, dried cranberries or raisins, almond butter, granola, yogurt or dairy-free yogurt alternative, maple syrup
Instructions
Spray inside of a 6-quart slow cooker with cooking spray.
Combine all ingredients in slow cooker and whisk to combine.
Cover and cook on LOW for 6-8 hours or on HIGH for 3-4 hours, stirring occasionally (if possible).
Notes
Cooking for a Smaller Family?Cut the ingredients in half to prepare 4 servings. The rest of the cooking instructions remain the same.How long does slow cooker oatmeal last?The oatmeal will keep well in an airtight container in your refrigerator for at least 4 days. To reheat, stir in additional almondmilk to reach desired consistency, cover and microwave on high for 1-2 minutes.Cook's Tips:
If you're home when your oatmeal is in the slow cooker, give it a stir a few times while it's cooking.
If you cook your slow cooker oatmeal overnight, allow the pot to switch to the "warm" setting when it's done cooking. This will keep the oatmeal warm until you need it, without over-cooking the oats. In my slow cooker, the oats only need about 6 hours on LOW, so I appreciate that "warm" setting while I get a couple more hours of sleep!
Only use steel cut oats in this recipe! Old fashioned rolled oats or quick oats will get mushy in a slow cooker.
Adjust the sweetness and seasoning to suit your taste. This pumpkin oatmeal offers a nice base to appeal to a crowd -- it's not too spicy and it's not too sweet. That's why I like to offer additional pumpkin spice or cinnamon and additional maple syrup for guests to stir into their bowls, as needed.
Don't forget the toppings! Some of our favorites include chopped nuts (like pecans, walnuts, or almonds), a drizzle of almond butter, dried cranberries or raisins, shredded coconut, toasted pumpkin seeds, additional maple syrup, yogurt or dairy-free yogurt alternative, and granola.