Lessons learned from shooting the photos for this recipe: Oatmeal is not naturally pretty. It isn’t very photogenic either. I’m not very good at making oatmeal look delicious. Sometimes things that don’t look pretty or delicious still taste freaking fabulous. Don’t judge a book by its cover. Oatmeal has feelings too.
Ok, I’m getting a little off track. The point is, my dear friends, that oatmeal can taste really really good. I’m an oatmeal lover through and through. I grew up eating it on the regular and for me, it’s a very comforting breakfast. Most non-oatmeal fans that I know associate oatmeal with gummy, tasteless goop. But if you prepare oatmeal correctly, and add a few tasty things, it can be amazing.
Steel cut oats are my favorite kind of oats. However, making steel cut oats on the stovetop takes a damn long time. And this girl ain’t got time to stir stuff for 20+ minutes in the morning. I must also be doing something wrong, because my oats still ain’t creamy after 20+ minutes of cooking and stirring those oats. Yes dear friends, I had almost given up on steel cut oats altogether.
And then I discovered crockpot steel cut oats! Not only does the crockpot help us achieve that wonderful creamy texture, but it also does all of the work for us! I’m talking dump the ingredients into the crockpot, set and it and forget it, get your beauty rest, and wake up to a hot, comforting breakfast that will hold you over until lunch. Are you with me?
Let’s give breakfast duty to the crockpot so we can get a little more shuteye. More sleep + a hearty breakfast = a good day ahead! Happy Tuesday, friends!
Pear and Almond Crockpot Steel Cut Oats
Makes four generous servings. This recipe is easy to adapt to your personal tastes. Other delicious options include substituting an apple in for the pear, a pinch of nutmeg for the cardamom, and adding a 1/4 cup of raisins instead of the almonds. Or try using blueberries in place of the fruit, and adding in a 1/2 tsp. of vanilla instead of the cardamom. Basically, as long as you stick with the oats to liquid ratio, the options are limitless! The sweetener is completely optional – I love brown sugar in my oatmeal – but if you’d prefer to use maple syrup or honey or stevia, or leave it out completely, go for it!
1 cup steel cut oats
1 1/4 cups unsweetened vanilla almond milk (or cow’s milk/milk of choice)
3 cups water
1 pear, cored and chopped small
3 TBSP. sliced almonds
4 TBSP. ground flax seed
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. ground cardamom
2 TBSP. brown sugar (optional)
Pinch of salt
Place all ingredients in your crockpot before you hit the hay. Stir well. Cover and cook on low for 7 hours. Wake up to breakfast! Top with additional milk, sliced almonds, and fresh fruit. Enjoy! Portion leftovers into containers and re-heat in the microwave with a little bit of milk.
I know, oats are so hard to take pictures of! Especially in oatmeal form when they have gone all mushy. Regardless, I think this looks amazing!
Thanks Mallory! 🙂
I am a newly converted oatmeal lover. It is healthy and easy for me to whip up and eat while standing in the kitchen when Andy is sleeping. Phew! Also, I agree that most things that are delish, like beef stew, are sooooo not photogenic!
You should totes throw this in the crockpot before you go to bed. Then you just scoop yourself a bowl, and enjoy! You might even have time to sit down and enjoy them. 😉
My kiddo (and I) loooove steel cut oats, so much better than rolled oats since they have more of a bite. But I totally agree that the 20 minutes of stirring is kind of a dealbreaker. I usually make them in the microwave, but they ALWAYS boil over and make a huge sticky mess. I need a crock pot. Obviously. And I think you totally made these look delish
Yes, I resisted getting a crockpot for a few years, but it’s been so helpful with a variety of different meals! You can make a large amount of oats and portion them out for breakfast all week! PS. Thanks!
You did actually make it look delicious!
I’m glad you think so – thank you!
I dont know what your talking about! This oatmeal looks off the chain.
Thanks Nicole! 🙂
Your oatmeal IS gorgeous! I love the pear and almond combo AND that it makes 4 generous servings! Making this asap!
Thank you Laurie! I hope you have the chance to give this recipe a try!
Oats are a tough cookie to photograph, but you’ve made them look very inviting and that’s the way I love to start my weekdays 🙂
Thank you friend, I’m glad you think so! 🙂
Looks so healthy and so yummy!
Thanks Marie!
Anytime where I can get more sleep plus a yummy breakfast makes me one happy gal!
Pamela, I could not agree more! Thank you!
By golly, I love this so hard, I can barely stand it! I’ll have to crock it Friday night so that I can be eeeeeeeextra lazy on Saturday morning. AAAG so good!! xoxo
YES! I totally appreciate how you’re maxing out on the laziness factor here! 🙂
Well, you did darn fine job because those oats look so delicious and comforting. I will have to try this version yet.
Thanks Cheri! Let me know how you like ’em!
Oh that looks so yummy. Tutu loves oatmeal and apples we will have to try this recipe.
http://www.highheelsandtutus.com
I hope you enjoy it Jodi!
I’m with you. Hardcore oatmeal fan, and yes, it does have feelings! No matter how many newfangled fancy trendy ancient grains come into my kitchen, I will almost always prefer a big bowl of plain hot oatmeal, with plenty of cold almond milk to add to it. It’s so perfect.
Yep, you can’t go wrong with a bowl of oatmeal and milk. And a little brown sugar too! 😉
Oh this looks so good for a cozy Sunday morning. Going to have to stop at the grocery store for pears today so I can make for tomorrow! Glad I saw this.
Yes! Sounds like the perfect start to Sunday. Let me know how you like it!
Hello, Amanda! 🙂 This is a fabulous idea! I do like to eat oatmeal on weekdays, but definitely like to find ways to jazz it up, so this is perfect. Thanks!
I’ve been waiting for this recipe! I wish i had checked your blog before going grocery shopping today… now I’ll have to wait till monday (cue world’s tiniest violin). I’ve been dying to try it since I saw it on your Instagram feed. Let you know how it goes!
First world problems. 😉 And yes, let me know what you think!
What size crockpot do you recommend using?
Hi Emily – I have a 6-quart crockpot which worked just fine, but was way bigger than necessary. I’m sure you could get away with something as small as 2 quarts. Good luck!