The Easiest Slow-Cooker Breakfast For Weight Loss

By Jenny Sugar

If you want a heartier — and healthier — bowl of oatmeal, choose less-processed steel-cut oats. The only issue is that they take much longer to cook — at least 40 minutes. Making a big batch to freeze is a great option, but if you didn't have time to do that over the weekend, this is the quickest, easiest way to wake up to a warm, comforting bowl.

POPSUGAR Photography/Jenny Sugar

All you need is a slow cooker and a good night's sleep. Just pop a few ingredients in, turn it on before bedtime, and the cinnamony smell will lure you out of bed into your kitchen. This is a pretty basic recipe, so you can dress it up however you like. Below, you'll find nutritional info for a few flavor combinations, but feel free to get creative. This recipe makes four servings, so if you don't have anyone to share it with, just save the rest in the fridge. Then in the morning, with a few beeps of the microwave, you'll have breakfast waiting for three more days that week.

Slow-Cooker Steel-Cut Oatmeal

Cook Time8 hours
Yield4 servings
Calories176

From Jenny Sugar, POPSUGAR

INGREDIENTS

  • 1 cup steel-cut oats (do not use rolled oats or quick oats)
  • 1 tablespoon flaxmeal
  • 2 cups water
  • 2 cups unsweetened vanilla almond milk
  • 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon

INSTRUCTIONS

  1. Give the slow cooker a quick spray with cooking oil to prevent sticking.

  2. Add all the ingredients, and secure the lid.

  3. Cook on low for eight hours or overnight.

  4. In the morning, scoop out one quarter of the oatmeal, and add your favorite toppings.

  5. Leftovers can be stored in the fridge and reheated throughout the week in a microwave-safe bowl.

  6. 1/4 slow-cooker steel-cut oats: 176 calories, 5.5 grams fiber, 5.9 grams protein

  7. 1 teaspoon maple syrup: 17 calories, 0 grams fiber, 0 grams protein

  8. 1 small banana, sliced: 89 calories, 2.6 grams fiber, 1.1 grams protein

  9. 8 salted cashews, chopped: 72 calories, .4 gram fiber, two grams protein

  10. 1/4 slow-cooker steel-cut oats: 176 calories, 5.5 grams fiber, 5.9 grams protein

  11. 1 teaspoon maple syrup: 17 calories, 0 grams fiber, 0 grams protein

  12. 1/4 blueberries: 21 calories, .9 gram fiber, .3 gram protein

  13. 1/4 cup mango: 25 calories, .7 gram fiber, .3 gram protein

  14. 20 pistachios: 79 calories, 1.4 grams fiber, 3 grams protein

  15. 1/4 slow-cooker steel-cut oats: 176 calories, 5.5 grams fiber, 5.9 grams protein

  16. 1 teaspoon maple syrup: 17 calories, 0 grams fiber, 0 grams protein

  17. 1/2 apple, chopped: 47 calories, 2.1 grams fiber, .2 gram protein

  18. 1 Medjool date, chopped: 66 calories, 1.6 grams fiber, .4 gram protein

  19. 8 pecans, chopped: 78 calories, 1.2 grams fiber, 1.2 grams protein

  20. 1/4 slow-cooker steel-cut oats: 176 calories, 5.5 grams fiber, 5.9 grams protein

  21. 1 teaspoon maple syrup: 17 calories, 0 grams fiber, 0 grams protein

  22. 1 tablespoon unsweetened shredded coconut: 45 calories, 2 grams fiber, 1 gram protein

  23. 10 raw almonds, chopped: 69 calories, 1.4 grams fiber, 2.6 grams protein

  24. 1 tablespoon (23) dairy-free chocolate chips (I used Ghirardelli Semi-Sweet Chips): 50 calories, 0 grams fiber, 0 grams protein

Notes

To increase the protein, replace almond milk with unsweetened soy milk. Note that this oatmeal is very soft and liquidy when it first comes out of the slow cooker, but after 20 minutes or so, it firms up as it cools.