Pumpkin Overnight Oats Slow Cooker Recipe Wellplated Com

Simple, healthy, and endlessly versatile, steel cut oats will forever be one of my favorite breakfasts. Although I take a breather from oatmeal in the summer when our house reaches rain forest levels of humidity, during the crisp fall and winter months, I crave the way it warms me to my core. As the temperature drops and the sun rises later, having a cozy breakfast to look forward to helps me climb out of bed in the morning, when our house is chilly and dark. Not only do these healthy pumpkin overnight oats motivate me to kick off the covers, but they also fill our entire house with a warm, cinnamon-y smell that’s so tantalizing, I practically leap out of bed to serve myself a bowl as soon as I wake up. This healthy breakfast recipe uses steel cut oats. The one (dare I say only?) downside to using steel cut oatmeal is that it takes longer to cook.

My solution: cook the steel cut oats in a crock pot while I sleep (I use this trick in my Overnight Slow Cooker Steel Cut Oats too)!Just dump the ingredients into the slow cooker before bed, cover, and then in the morning, breakfast is ready to serve.

How to Make Pumpkin Overnight Oats

These healthy pumpkin overnight oats are positively PACKED with pumpkin flavor. The recipe calls for a whole can of pumpkin puree, along with a heap of warm spices that will make your house smell heavenly when you wake. (If you only have part of a can of pumpkin to spare, try this Pumpkin Oatmeal or one of my other healthy pumpkin recipes.)

The Ingredients

Steel Cut Oats. Unlike their pulverized instant oatmeal cousins, the grains in steel cut oats are left more whole, allowing them to retain their flavor and texture. Forget the mushy, mucky oatmeal you’ve eaten in the past. Steel cut oats are delightfully nutty, chewy, and more filling than instant oatmeal.Water + Milk. The liquid sources for our oatmeal. You can use any milk you have on hand. Pumpkin Puree. Takes the oatmeal from bland to a fall-flavored dream. Since pumpkin puree is low in calories and rich in vitamins, these overnight oats can be good for weight loss. Maple Syrup. Natural sweetness that perfectly complements the pumpkin flavor. Ground Flaxseed Meal. Thickens the oatmeal, adds a hint of nuttiness, and boosts the overall nutrition. Flaxseed meal gives these pumpkin overnight oats protein, fiber, and vitamins.

Vanilla. Makes the oatmeal taste extra warm and cozy. Spices. This recipe uses the A-team of fall spices! Ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, and ground cloves are just what the pumpkin needs to shine.

The Directions

Storage Tips

To Store. Overnight steel cut oats can be refrigerated for up to 1 week.To Reheat. To reheat, top desired amount with a few tablespoons of water or milk, then warm in the microwave or in a small saucepan until hot.To Freeze. Freeze leftovers in an airtight freezer-safe storage container for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.

Recommended Tools to Make this Recipe

Programmable Slow Cooker. It is not bad to eat overnight oats every morning, and this slow cooker will help you enjoy them as often as you’d like. (See the recipe notes if your slow cooker is not programmable.)Measuring Spoons. Perfect for measuring the spices. Spatula. An all-purpose, heat-resistant spatula.