Slow Cooker Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal: Unbelievably Easy
Slow Cooker Apple Cinnamon Oats make a healthy, hearty breakfast with little work.
I don’t know about you, but I’m not very good at cooking first thing in the morning.
I’m still bleary-eyed myself, and I guess I figure that I might catch the house on fire by doing something dumb before the cobwebs are cleared from my brain!
But, my kids eat a LATE lunch at school (we’re talking 1pm kind of late), so I try to give them something in the morning that really fills them up and keeps them full as long as possible.
That’s why oatmeal is one of my favorite breakfast options. It’s very versatile, delicious, filling, and EASY!
Oatmeal is super easy to add variety to – you can make fruity and change up the fruits, add nuts, add milk to it, add different spices and more.
Importance of eating a healthy breakfast
Eating a healthy breakfast provides a good start to the day in many ways!
According to WebMD, eating a good breakfast:
- fuels the body and the brain
- helps maintain healthy body weight
- keeps you from getting hangry and eating the wrong kinds of foods
- helps keep your blood sugar from spiking and plunging, which also helps stabilize your mood
- is good for heart health
But whether you are trying to catch a few extra Zzzzzz’s or you are like me and resemble a sloth in the mornings, more and more people are skipping breakfast because there isn’t enough time.
I’m not at all suggesting that you take the time to cook some bacon, scramble some eggs and make some pancakes!
Instead, I suggest “making” time by preparing breakfast ahead of time so all you have to do is whip it out (maybe nuke it) and eat it before rushing out the door.
The work is already done, and you can reap the benefits!
Great Prepare Ahead Breakfast Ideas
Bacon, Spinach, & Potato Frittata Muffins
Healthy Cereal Alternatives
Irresistible Crustless Quiche
Healthy Breakfast Sandwich
Scrumptious Fruity Baked Oatmeal
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Oatmeal is Healthy
Oats are one of the healthiest grains on the planet, according to Healthline.
Some of the benefits that oat provide:
- naturally gluten-free (but you DO have to check that the oats you are buying are gluten-free, as they are often processed in the same plants as gluten so can contain cross contamination)
- good source of carbs
- great for soluble fiber
- contain more protein & fat than most grains
- loaded with important vitamins & minerals
- contain powerful antioxidants
These are just a few of the benefits that oats provide! You can find even more on the Healthline website.
Oatmeal Is Very Versatile
I personally LOVE how versatile this healthy (cheap) grain is!
As a morning hot cereal, oats taste delicious with a variety of fruits, nuts, spices and other flavors!
Classically, we make ours with milk and add butter, a dash of brown sugar, and banana and raisins (or craisins). Our current favorite flavor is apple cinnamon!
Not only do I use it as a morning porridge, but I also make baked oatmeal that my entire family loves.
I also frequently make granola and use oats in cooking and baking (like my crazy good apple crisp or peach crisp).
Benefits of Cinnamon
Cinnamon is one of my all-time favorite spices! And I absolutely LOVE putting it into my oatmeal!
Here are a few of the reasons you should eat more cinnamon:
- it has antioxidants
- possesses anti-inflammatory properties
- may cut the risk of heart disease
- lowers blood sugar levels
- may have a positive effect on neurodegenerative diseases
- may protect against cancer
- helps fight bacterial and fungal infections
Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal – Healthy Done-For-You Breakfast Loaded With Benefits!
Bringing it all together…
Oatmeal plus cinnamon plus apple means a powerhouse breakfast full of health benefits. Plus, it’s yummy to your tummy, and your entire family will beg to have it again!
But my favorite part about this slow cooker apple cinnamon oatmeal is that it uses all natural ingredients and feels like no work at all.
The slow cooker does all the heavy lifting, allowing you to get up and eat a hot healthy breakfast without any cooking first thing in the morning!
Put your slow cooker to work and enjoy this delicious breakfast!
Seriously…trust me and make this slow cooker apple cinnamon oatmeal!
Tell us in the comments below – what is your favorite fast, healthy homemade breakfast?
| Servings | Prep Time |
| 4-6 people | 15 minutes |
| Cook Time |
| 6-8 hours |
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Mornings can be hectic, so this make-ahead recipe means one less thing you need to do before you start your day. As an added bonus, this healthy and delicious overnight breakfast recipe will have your house smelling like freshly baked apple pie when you wake up in the morning.
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 6-8 hours
Serves: 4-6
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- 1 cup steel cut oats
- 3 cup water
- 1 cup fresh apple cider
- 2 medium apples cored and diced
- 1 1/2 Tbsp honey preferably local
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1/2 tsp ground allspice
- 1/2 tsp salt to taste
- To serve:
- 1 medium apple cored and diced
- 1/2 cup pecans chopped
- real maple syrup
- Add oats, water, cider, apples, honey, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and salt to greased or lined slow cooker crock and stir to combine.
- Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours. Actual cooking time will vary depending on your slow cooker, so check for doneness after 5 hours and adjust cooking time accordingly.
- To serve, allow to cool slightly before spooning into bowls and topping with fresh chopped apples, pecans, and some real maple syrup, if desired.
Important Tips:
- Do not substitute any other type of oats for this recipe.
- Cooking times are based on using steel cut oats only.
- It very important to either line or heavily grease the sides of your slow cooker crock before preparing this recipe. If you skip this step, the oats will stick to the sides and will be very difficult to remove
- (if you forget and need to remove those cooked oats, soak the slow cooker in hot soapy water for at least 30 minutes before scrubbing).