6 Slow Cooker Porridge Recipes That Will Make Your Mornings A Breeze

Cooking steel-cut oats on the stove takes about 40 minutes, which is about 35 more than you can spare most mornings. But that's about to change.

Don't worry, we're not going to tell you to start waking up earlier. But we are going to suggest that you start making steel-cut oats in your slow cooker. All you have to do is dump your ingredients in the pot before bed, hit power and then hit the hay. Come morning, you'll have a big batch of creamy, cooked-to-perfection oats.

Best of all, the flavour combinations are pretty much endless. No matter what kind of oats you're in the mood for, there's a way to make them in the slow cooker. Just take a look at these easy, tasty recipes.

Photograph courtesy of Spicy Southern Kitchen

Crock Pot Peaches and Cream Oats

Spicy Southern Kitchen's steel cut porridge will taste like peach crumble for breakfast. Cooking the peaches with the oats (instead of adding them on top) infuses floral peach flavour into your porridge. A drizzle of milk at the end balances the sweetness and adds a velvety texture.

Photograph courtesy of Five Heart Home

Overnight Apple Pie Slow Oats

Actual pie for breakfast is really only appropriate for holidays. But apple-pie scented oats? That's another story. Five Heart Home cooks her steel-cut oats with chopped apples, milk and apple juice, and a generous helping of warming spices like cinnamon and nutmeg. Placing the mixture in a baking dish and pouring a little bit of water in the slow cooker keeps the edges of the oats from burning.

Photograph courtesy of Foodie Crush

Slow Cooker Baked Oats with Bananas and Nuts

Surprise—your slow cooker can make oat cakes too, says Foodie Crush. Using less liquid gives these banana, raisin and nut-filled oats a thick, chewy texture that's more cake than porridge. Try it with a dollop of plain yogurt, or break it into pieces and have it in a bowl with milk, just like cereal.

Photograph courtesy of Hummusapien

Crockpot Blueberry Pie Steel Cut Oats

You can never go wrong when you cook your porridge with tart, juicy blueberries. But Hummusapien takes an extra step toward deliciousness by adding nutty flaxseeds, ground cinnamon and a secret ingredient: store-bought muesli. It adds sweetness, so you don't need to use another sweetener. Plus, it keeps some of its crunchiness even after cooking, giving your oats extra texture.

Photograph courtesy of Brittany Mullins/Eating Bird Food

Slow Cooker Pumpkin Pie Oats

Adding canned pumpkin to your porridge doesn't just make it taste like a Pumpkin Spice Latte. It also ensures that your porridge stays super moist and creamy. Eating Bird Food amps up the flavour with cozy pumpkin pie spice and maple syrup, creamy almond milk and crunchy pecans.

Photograph courtesy of Eat Yourself Skinny

Slow Cooker Berry Breakfast Quinoa

If the day ever comes when you get bored with oatmeal, try making breakfast quinoa instead, like Eat Yourself Skinny does. Cooking the quinoa with frozen berries and mashed banana adds natural sweetness along with an extra shot of fibre. Use milk instead of water for more protein, or finish your oats with a spoonful of almond or cashew butter.