Name: Overnight Oatmeal
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 480 min
Ingredients: 8 cups water; 2 cups steel-cut oats, (see Ingredient note); 0.33333334326744 cup dried cranberries; 0.33333334326744 cup dried apricots, chopped; 0.25 teaspoon salt, or to taste

Overnight Oatmeal

3.9

(23)

23 Reviews

Here is an easy way to serve a crowd a hearty breakfast before facing the elements for a day of winter sports. You can assemble it in the slow cooker in the evening and wake up to a bowl of hot, nourishing oatmeal. The slow cooker eliminates the need for constant stirring and ensures an exceptionally creamy consistency. It is important to use steel-cut oats; old-fashioned oats become too soft during slow-cooking.

EatingWell Test Kitchen

Updated on August 16, 2019

Cook Time:

5 mins

Additional Time:

7 hrs 55 mins

Total Time:

8 hrs

Servings:

Yield:

8 cups

Nutrition Profile:

Heart Healthy Low-Calorie Low Fat High Fiber Dairy-Free Diabetes Appropriate Gluten-Free Vegetarian Vegan Low Sodium Low Added Sugars

Jump to Nutrition Facts

Ingredients

8 cups water
2 cups steel-cut oats, (see Ingredient note)
⅓ cup dried cranberries
⅓ cup dried apricots, chopped
¼ teaspoon salt, or to taste

Directions

Combine water, oats, dried cranberries, dried apricots and salt in a 5- or 6-quart slow cooker. Turn heat to low. Put the lid on and cook until the oats are tender and the porridge is creamy, 7 to 8 hours.
Stovetop Variation
Halve the above recipe to accommodate the size of most double boilers: Combine 4 cups water, 1 cup steel-cut oats, 3 tablespoons dried cranberries, 3 tablespoons dried apricots and 1/8 teaspoon salt in the top of a double boiler. Cover and cook over boiling water for about 1 1/2 hours, checking the water level in the bottom of the double boiler from time to time.

Tips

Ingredient Note: Steel-cut oats, sometimes labeled “Irish oatmeal,” look like small pebbles. They are toasted oat groats--the oat kernel that has been removed from the husk--that have been cut in 2 or 3 pieces. Do not substitute regular rolled oats, which have a shorter cooking time, in the slow-cooker oatmeal recipe.

For easy cleanup, try a slow-cooker liner. These heat-resistant, disposable liners fit neatly inside the insert and help prevent food from sticking to the bottom and sides of your slow cooker.

People with celiac disease or gluten-sensitivity should use oats that are labeled “gluten-free,” as oats are often cross-contaminated with wheat and barley.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

188	Calories
3g	Fat
34g	Carbs
6g	Protein

Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 8
Serving Size 1 cup
Calories 188
% Daily Value *
Total Carbohydrate 34g	12%
Dietary Fiber 9g	31%
Total Sugars 6g
Protein 6g	12%
Total Fat 3g	4%
Vitamin A 225IU	5%
Vitamin C 0mg	0%
Sodium 80mg	3%
Calcium 30mg	2%
Iron 2mg	9%
Magnesium 2mg	1%
Potassium 197mg	4%

Nutrition information is calculated by a registered dietitian using an ingredient database but should be considered an estimate.

* Daily Values (DVs) are the recommended amounts of nutrients to consume each day. Percent Daily Value (%DV) found on nutrition labels tells you how much a serving of a particular food or recipe contributes to each of those total recommended amounts. Per the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the daily value is based on a standard 2,000 calorie diet. Depending on your calorie needs or if you have a health condition, you may need more or less of particular nutrients. (For example, it’s recommended that people following a heart-healthy diet eat less sodium on a daily basis compared to those following a standard diet.)

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a special diet for medical reasons, be sure to consult with your primary care provider or a registered dietitian to better understand your personal nutrition needs.