Pumpkin Oatmeal
Published 9/14/2023
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Nothing screams fall like a warm bowl of Pumpkin Oatmeal. Add steel-cut oats, pumpkin puree, almond milk, and some autumnal spices into your slow cooker, and let the magic happen over 8 hours.
There is something about oatmeal in the fall that makes breakfast so much more cozy. I love love love this slow cooker steel cut oatmeal variation so much. It’s made with hearty steel-cut oats and all of your favorite fall flavors.
Making steel cut oats in the slow cooker is so easy because the slow cooker does all the work! Once everything is cooked you can store it in the fridge for the entire week or serve a crowd.
What You Need for Pumpkin Oatmeal
- Steel-Cut Oats: For a hearty texture.
- Almond Milk: Unsweetened and plain, it’s your dairy-free base.
- Pumpkin Puree: For that unmistakable fall flavor.
- Pumpkin Pie Spice: A spice mix that embodies the season.
- Maple Syrup: For a touch of natural sweetness.
- Craisins: For a sweet and tart contrast.
- Toppings: Pecans, Cashew Butter, and extra Craisins.
Variations and Substitutions
- Milk Options: Feel free to sub in oat milk, coconut milk, or regular dairy milk.
- Sweeteners: Swap maple syrup with honey or agave nectar.
- Spices: Use individual spices like cinnamon and nutmeg if you’re out of pumpkin pie spice.
Stovetop Directions: No slow cooker? No problem! Use a 1:3 oat-to-liquid ratio and simmer on low heat for 25-30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Instant Pot Directions: Place all ingredients into your Instant Pot, close, and seal. Cook on high for 10 minutes with a quick release. It will take some time for your pressure cooker to heat up, but it will eventually start counting down from 10.
FAQ
Absolutely! Adjust the cooking time to around 1.5-2 hours in the slow cooker.
Yes, as long as you use plant-based milk and make sure your maple syrup is vegan.
Add chia seeds, hemp seeds, or even a scoop of your favorite protein powder for a protein boost.
Storage
This pumpkin oatmeal recipe stores beautifully in the fridge for up to 5 days. Place it in an airtight container and reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave when you’re ready to dive back in.
Serving Suggestions
We loved topping this oatmeal with nut butter such as cashew or peanut butter. Dried fruit such as cranberries or raising is also delicious. Last, try adding nuts like pecans or even granola for an epic crunch!
Pumpkin Pie Slow Cooker Oatmeal
Ingredients
- 1 cup steel cut oats
- 3 cups plain, unsweetened almond milk
- 1.5 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
- 1/2 cup unsweetened pumpkin puree
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- 1/4 cup crasins
Toppings
- Pecans
- Cashew Butter
- Crasins
Instructions
- Place all ingredients in a slow cooker and mix well.
- Turn the slow cooker to low and cook for 8 hours OR turn the slow cooker to high and cook for 4 hours. If you cook your oats on high, we recommend stirring every hour.
- Top with pecans, cashew butter, and crasins.
- Enjoy!
Tips & Notes
- The ratio of normal steel cut oats to liquid is 1:5. So for every cup of steel cut oats you use, you need 5 cups of liquid.
- Stovetop Directions: No slow cooker? No problem! Use a 1:3 oat-to-liquid ratio and simmer on low heat for 25-30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Instant Pot Directions: Place all ingredients into your Instant Pot, close, and seal. Cook on high for 10 minutes with a quick release. It will take some time for your pressure cooker to heat up, but it will eventually start counting down from 10.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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This may be a silly question but if I meal prep this in mason jars, would I eat it cold from the fridge or put it in the microwave to warm up?
You could do either! But I would suggest warming them up!
Hi knee I want to make this tonight for tomorrow. Can it be cooked on low? And if so how long?
Thanks
I had wanted to know this also. Based on her other oatmeal recipes I would say 6 to 8 hours on low is fine. I ran it on high and then once I turned the heat off and let it sit for an hour or two it looked a lot better as well, so maybe do that if nothing else!
This looks DELISH! Is there an instant pot version by chance for those of us that are inpatient!?
Would any adjustments be necessary for using plain old rolled oats? I normally do overnight oats, but you intrigue me with the prospect of slow cooker oats…
I would also like to know about this! 🙂
We have a tree nut allergy in the family. Would swapping in whole milk still work?
That should work just fine!
This oatmeal is UH-MAZING! I never made oatmeal in the crockpot before, but it got super creamy. And love me some pumpkin any time of year!!! ???
This looks so delicious! I cook for my husband and two kids only but I think my kids would love this and am hoping I could reheat any leftovers the following day. Yum!
Hi Lee! I love this recipe so much, just had a question. I make this recipe quite frequently, and a while back, I was at the grocery store, and got home with quick cooking steel cut oats! I used a little bit with regular steel cut and they did fine, but kind of want to finish the bag now that it’s open. Does cutting the cook time in half sound like a good estimation? Thanks!
Hey Melissa! I would say Better Oats Instant Steel Cut Oats is the equivalent to quick cooking steel cut! So following this recipe as is would be your best bet!
Thanks Lee very much
This looks so good – I am a massive sucker for oatmeal! x
Izzy |http://www.pinchofdelight.com
Hi! I was just wondering how long I should cook the oats if I do not use instant steel cut oats?
Hi Anne! You might need to add additional liquid to this recipe if you are using normal steel cut oats. We haven’t tested it yet. I would suggest 1 more cup of milk. It will also take longer to cook, more like 3-4 hours on high or 6-8 on low!