This creamy slow cooker pumpkin steel-cut oats is precisely what you need in your life. You have never tasted steel-cut oats this good before. The best part is that they are straightforward to make too!
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Warm pumpkin and gluten free steel cut oats with hints of vanilla bean, cinnamon, and coconut sugar. They are just the perfect amount of sweetness to start your day.
Chia seeds give the oats a wonderful texture, and topping them with almonds gives a surprising crunch too. This recipe is also vegan, refined sugar-free, and dairy-free!
If you love breakfast as much as we do, you will want to check out all of my gluten free breakfast recipes!
Chilly days mean pumpkin everything! Granted, you can eat pumpkin any time of year, but it just seems to taste the best when the hot summer has gone away. Basically, it's sweaters, fall decorations, and pumpkins as soon as the feel of autumn hits the air.
Why these slow cooker pumpkin oats are great:
One of the things I love most about this slow cooker pumpkin oats recipe is how easy it is to make. There is no pre-cooking needed. Dump all of the ingredients into your slow cooker. A few hours later, you have a ready-made breakfast.
You can freeze the extras, so you have an easy breakfast any time!
Plus, the aroma of this cooking pumpkin steel-cut oats is out of this world. Your mouth will water as soon as you take in that wholesome smell.
A note on oats and cross-contamination:
If you are gluten free, it is critical to make sure your oats are certified gluten free!! Oats are naturally gluten free, but they are usually grown near wheat fields. Oats can get cross-contaminated all along with processing.
Some of my favorite brands are Quaker Gluten Free Oats, Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free Oats, and Trader Joe's.
This is the slow cooker I own. I bought it a couple of years ago, and it is still going strong! This Crock Pot can hold a whole 3-pound chicken and does a great job cooking!
- Holds a lot of food
- Easy cleanup
- Cooks evenly
- It doesn't have an auto-switch from high to low temp
Recipe step-by-step directions:
Step 1: Add all of the ingredients to your slow cooker.
Step 2: Turn the slow cooker on high for 3 hours or low for 5 hours.
When the oats are ready, you can add milk and stir it up to make them nice and creamy! (Sorry, this photo isn't great, the steam from the heat made getting a photo tough!)
Stovetop Directions:
- Bring the water to a boil.
- Add in all of the ingredients.
- Reduce the heat to low and simmer with the pot covered for 15-20 minutes.
- Stir frequently.
Toppings:
While I topped my steel-cut oats with almonds and pumpkin seeds, you can actually use several other ingredients in this versatile recipe. Try some of these ideas out:
- Nuts - I love the flavor combination of almonds and oats, but you can actually use any kind of nut you like. Walnuts, pecans, and hazelnuts are just a few ideas.
- Chocolate Chips - Pumpkin and chocolate go hand in hand together, so it makes sense that a few chocolate chips would taste great in this recipe.
- Raisins - They add a delightful sweetness without adding refined sugar. Try it out!
- Bananas - Slice a few bananas and toss them on the cooked oats. Tastes amazing and fills you up.
Tips and Recipe FAQ:
I think a 4 to 1 ratio is best. I did 2 cups of oats to 8 cups of liquid in this recipe.
Steel-cut oats are oats that have been less processed than rolled oats. Even though steel-cut oats and rolled oats start out as the same thing, you can tell right away that they have a huge difference in taste and texture.
If you love the texture of your breakfast, steel-cut oats usually remain firm after cooking and will give you a lovely nutty taste. If you want to cook a bowl of steel-cut oats for breakfast, you will find that they take a lot longer than minute oats to cook! They are full of nutrients and a fantastic addition to your diet.
No, this is why steel-cut oats are my very favorite! When you make these slow-cooker pumpkin steel-cut oats, they will not be slimy at all!! I know that leaving them in the slow cooker all night might lead you to believe they will overcook, but they will be perfect.
That is why it's essential to use steel-cut oats instead of old-fashioned ones. They are intended to be much more firm when you eat them.
These oats will keep up to 4 days in an air-tight container, or up to 4 months in the freezer.
More Easy Gluten Free Pumpkin Recipes:
Here are some of my go-to recipes for you to try out. I truly have a lot of gluten free pumpkin recipes because I love pumpkin all year long! I use canned pumpkin puree, but you can easily make your own pumpkin puree too.
- Everyone loves this Easy Gluten Free Pumpkin Bread recipe.
- This is truly The Perfect Gluten Free Pumpkin Cheesecake recipe
- Pumpkin candy is fun for Halloween Candied Pumpkin Chocolate Cups Candy
- If you have leftover candy, make this easy Halloween Candy Gluten Free Pumpkin Bundt Cake recipe.
📖 Recipe
Slow Cooker Gluten Free Pumpkin Steel Cut Oats
Ingredients
- 2 cups gluten free steel cut oats
- 1 cup pumpkin puree
- ⅓ cup coconut sugar
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons coconut oil
- 8 cups water
Instructions
- Add all of the ingredients to your slow cooker.
- Cover with the lid and cook on low for 4 hours.
Notes
- It is critical to use certified gluten free oats if you are Celiac. Cross-contamination runs high in regular oats.
- This oatmeal will keep up to 4 days in an air-tight container, or up to 4 months in the freezer.
SPECIAL NOTE
Please know that every gluten free flour blend has a different starch to grain ratio. If you use a blend I didn't test, you may need to adjust your moisture levels in your baked goods.
Nutrition
Nutrition Disclaimer
Nutritional information is an estimate provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the actual nutritional information with the products and brands you are using with your preferred nutritional calculator.
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Karena
If you have leftovers, can you refrigerate and reheat?
Sandi Gaertner
Hi Karena, Yes...we refrigerate and then reheat this often.
Love Keil
This looks super delicious! Cant wait for pumpkin season!
Sandi Gaertner
Thanks Keil
Jenn
These oats are so warm and comforting, perfect for a cozy fall breakfast!
Sandi Gaertner
They really are!