Blueberry Slow Cooker Oatmeal Recipe

Wake up to breakfast already made and the smell of warm, comforting blueberry oatmeal wafting through the house. This blueberry slow cooker oatmeal is the perfect start to any morning. With only 5 minutes of prep time required, making this oatmeal recipe couldn’t be easier, and you can adapt the ingredients to include your family’s favorites!

Why I Love This Recipe

My family loves oatmeal. Which is a good thing, because I make a lot of oatmeal recipes! But one of our favorite recipes is this easy, overnight slow cooker berry oatmeal loaded with fresh blueberries.

It’s the perfect recipe to prep in advance for busy mornings or for when you have overnight guests. Set your slow cooker, go to bed and the next morning all you have to do is set out a little toppings bar and breakfast is served!

You can also easily adapt the ingredients to include your favorite berries or additional toppings like seeds and nuts or more fresh berries!

• 5 minutes of prep time
• You likely have all the ingredients in your kitchen 
• Set your slow cooker, go to bed and in the morning, breakfast is served!
• Great way to use fresh blueberries
• My whole family absolutely loves this healthy breakfast
• Great for when guests are over - no need to get up early to prepare breakfast

Blueberry Slow-Cooker Oatmeal Ingredients

This slow cooker steel cut oats recipe only requires a few simple ingredients you probably already have on hand.

Oats - Steel-cut oats hold up best for this recipe. You can use old-fashioned oats, but steel cut oats have a firmer texture than regular rolled oats. You can usually find these coarse oats in the grocery store near the instant oats and quick oats.

Milk - Any variety from whole milk to almond milk. 

Brown sugar - Replace any portion of sugar with honey or maple syrup.

Cinnamon - Replace a portion with nutmeg or allspice if desired.

Vanilla - Omit if desired or replace with almond extract for a flavor twist.

Salt - Any variety works great.

Blueberries - Fresh or frozen will both work. 

How to Make Blueberry Crockpot Oatmeal 

Prepare this easy recipe in just a few simple steps and 5 minutes of prep time.

Step 1

Generously coat the inside of the slow cooker with cooking spray or line with a crockpot liner. 

Step 2

Add all the recipe ingredients, stir well to combine, and cover with the lid.

Step 3

Cook on low heat for 7-8 hours. 

Step 4

Spoon individual servings into bowls and add additional blueberries and desired toppings before serving.

Recipe Notes

• Spray the inside of your slow cooker bowl very well or use a crock pot liner for easier clean up.
• Use steel cut oats for the best results, but old-fashioned oats can also be used
• Fresh or frozen blueberries will work. Frozen berries may bleed a little more color, but that just means more flavor!
• Any type of milk can be used 
• Check the package if you need to use gluten free oats
• ​Switch out the vanilla for almond extract for slow cooker blueberry almond oatmeal

What to Serve with Blueberry Oatmeal

You can enjoy this blueberry oatmeal on its own with some fresh fruit or as part of a larger, complete breakfast. Serve it alongside some blueberry muffins, or with the classic scrambled eggs and bacon. 

You can also set out the oatmeal with a toppings bar so everybody can choose their own. See the section below for some great ideas!

What To Add To Blueberry Oats

There are almost limitless options for how to top your oatmeal. Use your favorite mix-ins to add a personal touch to your oats.. These are just a few of my favorite additions.

• Crunchy or creamy peanut butter, almond butter, or other nut butters
• Unsweetened coconut flakes
• Lots of fresh fruits and berries
• Raisins, dried cherries, or other dried fruits
• Nuts - crushed cashews, peanuts, or almonds are great additions for a little crunch
• Seeds - sunflower seeds, organic pumpkin seeds, organic chia seeds or flax seed, etc

Substitutes for Blueberries

Did you know there are over 400 kinds of berries! So I won’t be mentioning all of them here. There are so many types of fruits and berries you can use in place of blueberries for a wonderful unique flavor combination. These are just some of my favorite alternatives for blueberries.

• Huckleberries
• Lingonberries
• Acai Berries
• Black or Red Raspberries
• Tayberries
• Loganberries
• Boysenberries
• Black or Red Currants
• Mulberries
• Wineberries

How To Use Slow Cooker Liners

Crockpot liners are a great resource for easy clean up, especially with a recipe like this. Here are a few time-tested tips on how to use, and how not to use, a crockpot liner when cooking.

• Put the crockpot bowl in the slow cooker.
• Place your hand inside the liner bag and open it fully.
• Place the bag inside the slow cooker, making sure the crease on the bottom is in the middle, and use your hand to line the crockpot with the bag and smooth it out a little.
• Fold any excess liner over the edges of the pot. Never tuck the bag between the bowl and the heating element.
• Add your ingredients, put on the lid, and cook according to your recipe’s instructions.
• Don’t lift the food out of the crock pot in the liner. The bag can rip and cause a huge mess or burn.
• Don’t store leftovers or attempt to freeze food in the cooking liner. That’s not what it’s made for. It’s a cooking liner. Always freeze and store leftovers appropriately to avoid spoilage or bacteria.

Steel Cut Oats vs Old Fashioned Oats

Steel cut oats - also called "coarse oats" or sometimes "Irish oats" - are less processed oat groats than rolled oats. Because of this they do take longer to cook and will absorb less liquid. 

Fun fact, steel cut oats are the least processed type of oats, so that makes them closer to the whole grain and all the health benefits that come with that. They also have a firmer, chewier texture and a more robust, nutty flavor than old-fashioned oats.

How Long Does Cooked Steel Cut Oatmeal Last in the Fridge    

Leftover oatmeal will be food for up to 5 days when refrigerated in an airtight container. Store in a container that leaves the smallest amount of extra space so air doesn’t accumulate. Watch for severe liquid separation or mold for obvious signs of spillage.

You can also freeze cooked oatmeal for 3 months. Allow the oatmeal to cool completely, then place in a freezer safe bag and remove as much air as possible before sealing. 

How to Reheat Steel Cut Oats

To reheat cold oats, add a little bit of water or milk to the cold oatmeal and reheat in the microwave on high for 1 minute. Stir and heat again in 30 second bursts until warmed to your liking. You can also reheat the oatmeal in a small pot over medium low heat on the stovetop.

More Oats Recipes

Steel Cut Oatmeal Bars
Banana Blueberry Overnight Oats
Strawberry Shortcake Overnight Oats
Mulberry Overnight Oats