Strawberries and Cream Oatmeal
The ultimate comfort food for chilly mornings, Strawberries and Cream Oatmeal combines creamy oats and fresh strawberries into a delicious dish that will make your mornings brighter. Easy to prepare and perfect for meal prep, it’s a delightful way to start your day!
Equipment
- Slow Cooker
Ingredients
- 2 cups steel-cut oats no substitution
- 4 cups water
- 3 cups milk any variety
- 1.5 cups strawberries + more for serving
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 dash sea salt
- 0.25 cups maple syrup or honey
- 1 cup plain Greek or regular yogurt
Instructions
- Grease the inside of your slow cooker with melted butter, coconut oil, or a non-stick spray to make clean-up easier.
- In the slow cooker, combine 2 cups steel-cut oats, 4 cups water, 3 cups milk, 1 ½ cups strawberries, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, ¼ cup maple syrup, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, and a dash of sea salt. Stir everything together gently to ensure the ingredients are well mixed.
- Place the lid on the slow cooker. You can either cook on low for 6 hours for a firm texture or 8 hours for a softer texture. Alternatively, cook on high for 3 to 4 hours.
- When the time is up, carefully remove the lid. The oatmeal should be thick and creamy, and the strawberries will have broken down into a luscious mixture.
- Before serving, stir in 1 cup plain Greek or regular yogurt to add creaminess and flavor.
- Serve warm, scooping the oatmeal into bowls and topping with additional strawberries if desired.
Notes
- Milk: Use any milk you like for this oatmeal recipe.
- Note on Burning: I have never had an issue with the steel-cut oats burning in my slow cooker. However, each slow cooker is different. If your slow cooker burns the bottom of the oats, just don't stir the burnt bottom into the remaining oatmeal and you can eat the rest of the strawberry oatmeal. In the future, cut back cooking time by 2 hours.
- Strawberries: Feel free to use ANY fruit you like for this slow cooker steel-cut oats recipe. Blueberries, peaches, and raspberries have all been huge successes at my house.
- Thicker or Thinner Oatmeal: If you would like your oatmeal thinner, use 8 cups of liquid (5 cups water, 3 cups milk). If you would like thicker oatmeal, use 6 cups of liquid (4 cups of water, 2 cups of milk).
- For Stovetop Prep: Bring 6 cups of water to a boil. Once boiling, reduce the heat to a simmer, add in 2 cups milk, the oats, strawberries, and a dash of salt. Cook for 20 minutes, stirring frequently, or until thickened and oats are tender. Remove from the heat and stir in the maple syrup, vanilla extract, and yogurt. Serve immediately.
- Storage: Store leftover oatmeal in an airtight container for up to 5 days in the refrigerator. Reheat individual servings as desired.