No Time To Make Real Oatmeal? Try This
31 
March 6, 2013
Do you have time to make real oatmeal? I didn’t think so.
So, what to do? Oatmeal is a great solution to my healthy breakfast dilemma. It is whole grain, no sugar added, and four grams of fiber per serving.
There is instant oatmeal, of course, but it doesn't taste as good as old fashioned rolled oats, or steel cut oats. Also, many of the packets have added sugar and flavors that may or may not be delicious. And, it costs more per serving than a regular box of rolled oats.
The solution: Buy a slow cooker and mix your oats and water at night. In the morning, your oats are ready to go! It is SO ridiculously easy and (for you college students out there), you don't even NEED a stove.
Some tips:
- Get your hands on some rolled oats or steel cut oats from the bulk section of your supermarket. They are cheaper and more delicious than Quaker (trust me, I have tried them all).
- Use a small slow cooker (1.5 - 2.5 quart). I used my large one and it really made a mess to clean up. Picture crusty oatmeal glued to my cooker. The small ones are perfect for this task.
- Change what you mix in to your oatmeal. You can get bored with oatmeal if you eat the same thing every day. Add different things and look forward to the meal.
Sweet things to add to oatmeal:
maple syrup, brown sugar, honey
cinnamon, nutmeg, ground cloves
Raisins, dried apricots, dried cherries
Strawberries, Blueberries, Raspberries
Banana, Apples, Pear
frozen berries
apple butter
Savory things to add to oatmeal:
soy sauce and scallions
salsa
crumbled Hard Boiled Egg
peanut butter, almond butter, etc.
cooked vegetables from last night
grated cheese
How do you fit oatmeal into your life?
printOvernight Oatmeal Recipe
(serves 4)
2 cups old fashioned rolled oats
4 3/4 cups water
or (serves 2)
1 cup steel cut oats
4 cups water
Mix oats and water in slow cooker and set for 8-9 hours. Amounts can be doubled or halved depending on the size of your cooker. These recipes will work in a 1 1/2 - 2 1/2 quart capacity slow cooker.
For one serving without mixins: 155 calories, 2.7 g fat, 0.0 g saturated fat, 27.7 g carbohydrates, 0 g sugar, 5.4 g protein, 4.1 g fiber, 17 mg sodium, 4 PointsPlus
Snack Girl receives a small percentage of sales from links to Amazon.com.
Crock-Pot 5025WG 2.5-Quart Slow Cooker
$24.99 $23.82
Other posts you might like:
 | Make Your Own Instant Oatmeal And Other Great Ideas From "The Homemade Pantry" I spend a lot of time looking at cookbooks to find good ones. This one made me smack my head and wonder why I hadn't thought of it..... read more |
 | The Healthiest and Easiest Breakfast (Bye-Bye Breakfast Cereal) Cereal is the most amazingly simple breakfast to serve. All you do is pour from a box.... read more |
Get new posts by email (it's free)
First 20 Comments: [ see all 31 ]
Will have to get a small crockpot. My friend uses one (1.5 qt)to melt chocolate for dipping her pretzel sticks that she makes at Christmas time.
Sue on March 6, 2013
That's it. I've been toying with getting a small crockpot just for this very thing. I'm getting one today. Thanks for the post! #goodbyequakeroats
Monica on March 6, 2013
I use my rice cooker. I put the oats & water (1:2 ratio) and a touch of salt in the cooker at the same time I make my morning cup of coffee, and by the time I get ready for the day....breakfast is ready. Easy clean up too.
Grace on March 6, 2013
If you don't have a small crockpot, you can spray it with cooking spray before adding your ingredients. This really helps with the steel cut oats by keeping them from getting glued to the pot. I just got a recipe a few weeks ago for this and have already made oatmeal got the week twice!
Stephanie on March 6, 2013
I grind up rolled wholegrain oats in a blender ahead of time, then mix about 1/4 cup with 1/2 cup almond milk, and cook in the microwave on 50% power for 2 minutes. You can add berries, rasins, etc. I also throw on a tablespoon of ground flax seed. Super fast and easy.
Summer on March 6, 2013
Cocoa powder and 1 Tablespoon of peanut butter is great to throw in oatmeal! It's like eating cookies for breakfast!
janey on March 6, 2013
Eating oatmeal as I read this! I haven't tried crock pot version, but use the microwave with old fashioned oats all the time.
Today's favorite: Slice a banana in a bowl. Add 1/2 c. rolled oats, add about 2/3 c. skim milk, sprinkle with cinnamon. Cook in microwave for about 2 min 20 sec, and sprinkle with a couple of those yummy sugar-glazed pecans. Really filling & about 6 WW points (and includes milk serving).
The only trick is to use a deep bowl, as this bubbles up a bit while cooking.
Maria on March 6, 2013
So simple! I ve never thought of that, I think I will try it with apple chunks!
Erin on March 6, 2013
I have a question...maybe I missed it in the post, but in the recipe, by letting it set, do you mean on low? Thanks in advance!
Deb
Debbie Caraballo on March 6, 2013
I use a wide mouth thermos to make an individual portion overnight. 1/4 cup steel cut oats, dried fruit (so they plump up overnight), 1 cup boiling water. That's it. Next morning I throw it into a bowl and if it's not hot enough I nuke it for a minute and then add my other toppings. Voila! This morning it was craisins, brown sugar, walnuts, and cinnamon.
Jennifer on March 6, 2013
Awesome idea Jennifer - thanks for the tip about making oatmeal in a thermos. I'm going to try it tonight!
janey on March 6, 2013
i use the slow cooker liners and it makes clean up SO easy! there is never a nasty crust on my crock pot that i have to scrub off!
Nichole on March 6, 2013
Invest in slow cooker bags! They take care of the cleanup mess in your crockpot. Some folks rinse them out and reuse them. Some folks spray vegetable oil (misto sprayer) inside the crockpot to keep themess at a minimum.
Georgie on March 6, 2013
This just gave me an Easter basket idea for my young adult daughters! A small crock pot filled with this recipe, some oats, and maybe some nuts and dried fruit. Thank you!
Patti on March 6, 2013
I have an even lazier -- er, more efficient -- way of making oatmeal. Here's my daily version:
In a microwave-safe bowl, add:
2 T chia seeds
1/4 c steel-cut oatmeal
1/3 c rolled oats
1 T cinnamon powder
1 T raisinsstir dry ingredients together
add 6 oz of water if you like concrete oatmeal, 8 oz if you like watery oatmeal
stir again
place in refrigerator 8-12 hours.
The next morning, I dice an apple and a banana and stir the fruit into the oatmeal (I like cinnamon, so I add some more then, too).
I microwave the entire bowl on 50% power for about five or six minutes (I use the low power so it doesn't explode on to the roof of the microwave), give it a stir, and yummmmmmmm.
(A friend of mine pointed out that most coffee is brewed using high heat and short time, but if you have no heat, and lots of time, you can "brew" coffee overnight in the fridge. (I think it helps reduce acid and whatnot. I don't know; I don't drink coffee.) He referred to that as "swamp coffee", so I call mine "swamp oatmeal".)
Andy D on March 6, 2013
To keep from having to clean out my crock pot in the morning, I put my oats, water, and spices in a glass bowl inside my crock pot. Then I pour water into the crock pot around the glass bowl, which becomes an island of oatmeal deliciousness, and let it cook overnight on low.
Once we've eaten the oatmeal, the bowl goes into the dishwasher.
Elizabeth M Thompson on March 6, 2013
Like Maria above, I microwave rolled oats all the time. I use 1/2 c oats, 1 Tbs brown sugar, 1 mounded Tbs peanut butter, and a smidge less than 1 c water. Microwave for 1 min 15 seconds (or however long it takes in your microwave), and it's done!
Shanna on March 6, 2013
I make steel cut oats in my rice cooker, too! I set it up, turn it on and then walk my dogs. When I come home, it's hot and ready. I got a new larger rice cooker recently and now I do three days worth, and then microwave the left overs for the next two days. I always add cinnamon, apple, dried cranberries, dried mango... so delicious.
Kathryn on March 6, 2013
I microwave my old fashioned oats with a bit of almonds milk for sweetness foot about 2 min 15 sec and I'm done. Throw on fruit and I have a great breakfast in minutes!
Mandy @ fat girl gone healthy on March 6, 2013
Jennifer @ Peanut Butter and Peppers on March 6, 2013