Filled with warm cinnamon apples, this slow cooker apple cinnamon oatmeal is the perfect breakfast for cold mornings. It’s easy to make, serves a crowd, and leftovers keep well in the fridge for days.

White bowl of slow-cooker apple cinnamon oatmeal with sautéed apples, pecans, and maple syrup on top on a dark wood plate with a gold spoon.

One of the biggest complaints I hear from people when they are trying to eat healthier is a lack of time. Whether they’re too busy, can’t seem to get organized, or just find themselves scrambling at the last minute, it seems people are always looking for ways to make healthy eating more efficient and less time-consuming. Enter, slow cooker oatmeal.

Made with minimal ingredients and prepared in a matter of minutes, this crockpot apple cinnamon oatmeal is a great way to eat a healthier breakfast without much effort. It’s full of fiber, fruit, and flavor, and something the whole family can enjoy.

A crockpot filled with cooked slow cooker apple cinnamon oatmeal with sautéed apples on top with a wood serving spoon with milk, brown sugar, fresh apple, and tea towel on the side on a wide background.

Why You’ll Love It

Easy to Make – This dump-and-go recipe requires minimal effort but yields maximum flavor.
Great for Crowds – This recipe makes 8 servings, making it perfect for gatherings and holidays.
High in Fiber – The steel-cut oats and fresh apples combine high-fiber foods to provide 6 grams of fiber per serving.
Keeps Well – This slow cooker apple cinnamon oatmeal keeps well in the fridge and freezer, making it a great meal prep idea for busy mornings.

Jug of milk, fresh apples, bowl of brown sugar, bowl of steel-cut oats, bowl of salt, and jar of ground cinnamon on a white background.

Ingredients + Substitutions

Steel-Cut Oats – To make the oats and add some complex carbohydrates. Old-fashioned rolled oats, quick oats, and instant oats are not recommended for this recipe.
Apples – To add some fiber and micronutrients. I used Gala apples, but any fresh apples will work.
Cinnamon – To flavor the oats. The recipe calls for ground cinnamon, but a teaspoon of apple pie spices will also work well. See the notes section of the recipe card for details.
Brown Sugar – To sweeten the oatmeal. The recipe calls for brown sugar, but you can use maple syrup if preferred. See the notes section of the recipe card for details.
Salt – To season the oats.
Water – To cook the oats. The recipe calls for water, to keep the sugar content down, but you can use apple juice if desired. See the notes section of the recipe card for details.
Milk – To add some protein to the oatmeal and create a creamy texture.
Butter – To grease the slow cooker and prevent the oats from sticking.

Dietary Adaptions

To Make it Gluten-Free: Use certified gluten-free oats.

To Make it Dairy-Free: Swap the milk for almond milk and butter for coconut oil or cooking spray.

A slow cooker with steel-cut oats, diced apples, brown sugar, ground cinnamon, and salt.

A slow cooker with steel-cut oats, diced apples, brown sugar, ground cinnamon, salt, and water stirred and well combined.

Red’s Nutrition Tip

Since steel-cut oats are the most minimally processed form of oats. They are made by toasting and chopping oat groats (whole oat kernels) into smaller pieces using a steel blade, which makes them quicker and easier to cook, resulting in a coarser, chewier texture than rolled oats. Steel-cut oats are one of the most filling foods, one of the best high-protein grains, and a great source of long-lasting fuel.

Serving Suggestions

This slow cooker apple cinnamon oatmeal is a good source of carbohydrates and fiber. To make it a more balanced meal, I recommend serving it with a source of protein and healthy fats. It can also be adapted to suit your personal macro or calorie needs, for example:

To make it higher in protein, top the apple cinnamon oatmeal with a dollop of Greek yogurt or skyr.
To make it higher in fat, top the cooked oatmeal with chopped nuts such as pecans or almonds.
To make it higher in fiber, top the cooked oatmeal with more chopped apple or fresh fruit.
To add some sweetness, add 1/2 cups of raisins or dates to the recipe, and/or top the cooked oatmeal with a sprinkle of brown sugar or drizzle of maple syrup.

Crockpot filled with cooked slow cooker apple cinnamon oatmeal.

Storage + Reheating

To Refrigerate: Once cooked, allow the slow cooker apple cinnamon oatmeal to cool completely, then transfer it to an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.

To Freeze: Once cooled, transfer the leftover oatmeal to an airtight container and store it in the freezer for up to 3 months.

To Reheat: If frozen, allow the oatmeal to thaw completely. To reheat the oats on the stovetop, add the oatmeal to a pot with a little milk or water (to help rehydrate the oats) and reheat on low-medium heat, stirring frequently, for 5 minutes or until warm. To reheat the oats in the microwave, add the oatmeal to a microwave-proof bowl with a little milk or water, stir to combine, and warm for 1-2 minutes with additional 30-second increments as needed until warm.

Two bowls of crockpot apple cinnamon oatmeal with sautéed apples and pecans on top and on the side with a cup of coffee and slow cooker on a white background.

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