Crock Pot Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal Recipe

Oatmeal is the perfect cozy breakfast to start the day. One way to make breakfast even easier is by using a crock pot. This crock pot apple cinnamon oatmeal recipe is perfect with warm spices and sweet apples. Keep reading to see just how simple this recipe is to make.

If you are looking for other oatmeal recipes, I have a few others you will like. Brown sugar oatmeal is a classic oatmeal that everyone loves, as is this recipe for cinnamon spice oatmeal. One of my favorite recipes for oatmeal is this blueberry oatmeal.

What makes this recipe work?

Simplicity comes to mind first. If you are not a morning person, why not prep everything ahead of time and be done with it?? Mix everything together, set it to cook, and in the morning the oatmeal is done and ready to serve. It is perfect for those busy mornings when you don't have a minute to spare for cooking a homemade breakfast. It is an easy recipe that even someone with no cooking skills can make. If this is your first time making oatmeal, you are going to be so surprised at just how easy it is.

Using the fresh apples created a dish that tastes almost like apple pie in oatmeal form. Apple season is the perfect time to make this dish.

Crockpot apple cinnamon oatmeal is a healthy breakfast idea. It is made with heart-healthy oats, no refined sugar, and fresh apples.

Ingredients

• Steel-cut oats- There are several types of oats you can use, but I recommend steel-cut oats as they hold up the best. Instant oats (quick oats) will turn into mush in no time. Regular oats are better, but still don't hold up as well to the Crockpot as steel-cut oats do. Oat groats are great too if you can access them.
• Fresh apples- my favorite kind of apples to use are Honeycrisp and Granny Smith apples. Fresh fruit is so much better than canned apples.
• Spices- I use cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and ginger. Pumpkin pie spice will also work in place of
• Milk- Vanilla unsweetened almond milk is my preferred milk to use. You can also use coconut milk if you are sticking with plant-based milk, or you can use cow's milk if you want.
• Pure maple syrup- You can also use brown sugar if you prefer, but I like pure maple syrup as a more natural sweetener.
• Salt- it only takes a little bit, but it is worth it. Kosher salt is my go-to salt.
• Vanilla- Vanilla extract is better for cooking than pure vanilla. Pure vanilla is more expensive and will cook out, unlike vanilla extract.
• Toppings- I always serve mine with a touch of butter, milk, and chopped walnuts or pecans. That's a personal choice though, top yours with what you like.

How to make the apple cinnamon crockpot oatmeal

Prepping your crockpot- I like to spray mine with cooking spray (pan release). I know of other people who love using a slow cooker liner. This makes for a much easier clean-up, I just don't keep them on hand.

Mix together- Add the chopped apples and everything together in the crockpot, then mix well.

Cooking time- Cover the crockpot. Set it for 6-8 hours on high or 8-10 on low.

Serving the Oatmeal- My favorite way to serve my oatmeal is with a little pat of butter, a splash of milk, and some chopped walnuts.

Leftovers- Be sure to store the leftovers in the fridge in an airtight container. They will hold well for up to a week.

Meal prep

This is a large batch recipe, which means you can easily use this for meal prep. Make this on the weekend and it is ready to go for the week. Be sure to store it in an airtight container and it will hold well in the fridge for up to 7 days!

This easy slow cooker oatmeal recipe can also be frozen as well. Check out this post I wrote all about how to freeze oatmeal. Freezing the oatmeal is a great way to extend the

life of the oatmeal by adding at least a month!

Read this article all about how to reheat oatmeal. It is easy to do in the microwave or even the cooktop.

Top tips and tricks

• Be sure to spray the crockpot before cooking in it. I like to use pan spray, this really helps keep the oatmeal from sticking. If not spraying, you can also use the crockpot liners too.
• Different slow cookers cook in different ways. If your crockpot runs a little hot, be sure to cook this recipe on low. High will burn the oatmeal, especially around the sides. Also, be sure your Crockpot has a warm setting. You want the crockpot to keep the oatmeal at a safe temperature after it has cooked and before serving.
• My recommendation for using Honeycrisp and Granny Smith apples is just a personal preference. There are so many great really good varieties of apples to use. You will want an apple that gets soft when it is cooked, but not mushy. I really like the apples that are sweet and a bit tart, they really have the best flavor when they are cooked. If you don't like Honeycrisp or Granny Smith, you can also try Braeburn, Pink Lady, Golden Delicious, or Jonagold apples. Using a combination of these apples is also a great way to get a really great flavor.
• I like to top mine with the butter and nut combo, but these aren't the only option. There are also pumpkin seeds, chia seeds, flax seeds, and sesame seeds. The possibilities really are endless.
• You might need to add a little milk when you are serving the oatmeal as the liquid might all be absorbed.

This healthy oatmeal recipe has got to be one of the easiest recipes out there. Combine all the ingredients and the next day it is ready to serve with no effort. This slow cooker apple cinnamon oatmeal recipe is the best thing on a cold morning.