Slow Cooker Steel Cut Overnight Oats (with Bulgur Wheat)

There’s nothing like waking up to the warm, comforting smell of breakfast already made! This slow cooker steel cut oats with bulgur wheat recipe is my secret to a cozy, no-fuss morning. It’s hearty, healthy, and the best part? You throw everything into the slow cooker the night before, and by morning, you’ve got a creamy, delicious breakfast waiting for you. It’s the kind of meal that fuels you up for the day without any stress or rushing.

When the weather gets cooler, I replace my yogurt breakfasts with oatmeal. I love hot oatmeal and have cooked it on the stove-top, baked it, and now my new favorite, in a slow cooker.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Slow Cooked Overnight. When I was young(er), I would often stay overnight with my grandmother. We would snuggle and talk about what we would fix for breakfast the next morning. My wish was always the same, oatmeal with a slice of her toasted bread! She used the old-fashioned rolled oats that I still love, but I really like steel-cut oats. Cooking steel cut oats can take a little longer to cook unless you let them cook while you sleep!

That sweet bulgur wheat flavor and texture. Adding bulgur to our overnight oats recipe adds a natural sweetness with a hint of cinnamon. In this recipe, we flavor the steel cut overnight oats and bulgur with cinnamon, vanilla, and honey, then throw it all in the crockpot and let it cook. The next day all we have to do is give it a good stir, add our favorite toppings and we’ve got a delicious easy breakfast.

Steel Cut Oats, Rolled Oats, Bulgur

What’s the difference between Steel Cut Oats and Rolled Oats? Both are made from Whole Oat Groats but they’re processed differently. Steel cut chop each groat into 2 or 3 pieces whereas rolled are steamed and then flattened. Steel cut oats have a nice chewy texture and rolled are softer and creamier. Steel-cut oats are also known as Irish oats, coarse-cut oats, or Scottish oats.

What is Bulgur? Bulgur is cracked whole grain from different varieties of wheat. It’s parboiled unlike cracked wheat making it cook quicker than other wheat grains. Most commonly it’s used in dishes like Tabouli Salad but we like the nutty tastes so much that we’ve used it in our Skillet Sausage Recipe. It can be used as a substitute for rice or other whole grains. Because steel cut oats have a longer cooking time, they work great in overnight steel cut oatmeal recipes.

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Ingredients for Steel Cut Overnight Oats

• Steel Cut Oats. Do not use quick oats, because they will be too mushy using this method.
• Bulgur Wheat. I use coarse #3 for just the right texture in this recipe.
• Water.
• Almond Milk. Any milk of choice or water will work. I love the flavor of almond milk or coconut milk.
• Unrefined Coconut Oil or Butter.
• Honey. For sweetness, you could use brown sugar or granulated sugar instead.
• Salt. Just a pinch will bring out the sweet nutty flavor.
• Vanilla Extract. Almond extract would also work.
• Cinnamon. This is optional.

How to make Overnight Steel Cut Oats

Prep the crock bowl.

Use a slow cooker liner or spray your crock with nonstick cooking spray.

Combine the ingredients in.

Combine all of the ingredients in a crockpot and cook on low for 8 to 10 hours.

Let it rest.

Turn off the heat and stir until smooth. Allow to cool uncovered for 15 minutes stirring occasionally. It will thicken as it cools.

Serving Overnight Steel Cut Oats Recipe Variations

We had fresh peaches and slivered almonds on ours. The beauty of making unflavored oats is that you can customize them to your taste. Every member of the family can add their own toppings!

Stir in a handful of mini chocolate chips for the kiddos.

Up the fiber by adding hemp seeds, chia seeds, or ground flax seeds.

If bulgur isn’t in your pantry, you can use all steel cut oats.

Add a variety of spices to dress up your oatmeal. Spices are better cooked, so add these during the cooking process. Try pumpkin spice, or nutmeg in place of the cinnamon.

Add dried fruit such as raisins, apples, apricots, or nuts such as walnuts or pecans. 

Add a drizzle of maple syrup, milk or cream, or even a dollop of Greek yogurt. Either way, it’s a delightful, comforting, and filling breakfast.

Canned pie filling can be used to dress up oatmeal. Just heat the canned fruit on the stovetop in a saucepan until bubbly, then scoop out a little on each serving of oats. If you are reheating leftovers, you can add a scoop of the filling cold and it will heat up with the oats in the microwave. This adds so many flavor options!

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I store leftover steel cut oats?

We store individual portions in the refrigerator in microwave-safe airtight containers which makes a healthy breakfast on busy mornings. You can use your leftovers for 5 days by keeping them in the refrigerator and reheating them in the microwave. 

Can I freeze leftover slow cooker steel cut oats?

Yes, you can freeze individual servings of slow cooker steel cut oats for quick and easy breakfasts.

How do you reheat leftover overnight steel cut oats?

Whether refrigerated or frozen, the oats will heat up nicely in the microwave or on top of the stove with a bit of milk to thin it out.

I hope you enjoyed this delicious recipe as much as we do. Drop me a comment below, and don’t forget to give it a star rating. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐. Your comments and ratings help others decide if this recipe is for them too.

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Originally released on September 15, 2016, this overnight steel cut oats recipe has undergone updates to enhance our readers’ experience, including simple details and new images. No changes were made to the actual recipe.