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Slow Cooker Pumpkin Oatmeal

Slow cooker pumpkin oatmeal is a great breakfast for the fall season. There’s nothing quite like waking up to a warm and comforting bowl of pumpkin oatmeal. This autumn delight not only fills your kitchen with the aroma of fall spices, but also offers a hearty and nutritious start to your day. Instructions to make this hassle-free oatmeal recipe in the Instant Pot are also included. 

overhead shot of pumpkin oatmeal in a white bowl with raisins on top, almond milk, and a silver spoon

Ingredients For Crock-Pot Pumpkin Oatmeal

There are only 6 ingredients in this easy slow cooker oatmeal recipe. 

  1. Steel Cut Oats
  2. Pumpkin Puree
  3. Milk (I use almond milk)
  4. Maple Syrup
  5. Vanilla
  6. Pumpkin Pie Spice

How To Make Pumpkin Oatmeal In The Crockpot

Making pumpkin oatmeal is very easy, especially when you use the slow cooker or Instant Pot. 

Slow Cooker

  1. Spray slow cooker generously with cooking spray.
  2. Add all ingredients to the slow cooker. Stir to mix well.
  3. Cook HIGH 3-4 hours or LOW 6-8 hours.
  4. Stir well before serving.

Instant Pot

  1. Spray the Instant Pot generously with cooking spray.
  2. Add all the ingredients. Stir gently to mix well.
  3. Close lid and seal valve. Set high pressure for 4 minutes. When cooking time is complete, let the pressure release naturally before opening.
  4. Stir well before serving.
overhead shot of uncooked pumpkin oatmeal in a white slow cooker

before

What Is Oatmeal

Oatmeal is a term used to describe a porridge made from ground, steel cut, or rolled oats. Each of these terms just means that the oat has been removed from a husk and is ready to cook! Oatmeal may also be called hot cereal, which also covers cream of wheat and grits, but we are just going to focus on making oatmeal today.

Most people are familiar with the quick oatmeal that you can get in many flavors and from many brands at your local grocery store, but what many people don’t know is how cheap and easy it is to make your own oatmeal at home. You can even copy your favorite flavors from the name brands! When you make oatmeal at home, you can add a variety of healthy ingredients to it like fruits and nuts to increase the benefits you get from your morning meal! Oatmeal is a whole grain, too, so you can feel better about making it for your children over sugar filled breakfast cereal.

overhead shot of cooked pumpkin oatmeal in a white slow cooker

after

Is Pumpkin Good For You

In addition to pumpkin being packed with vitamin A (one serving is 245% of your recommended daily amount), it is also filled with other vitamins and nutrients. For example it has a decent amount of vitamin C and potassium as well as antioxidants. Pumpkin’s nutrients can help boost your immune system and might even help protect your eyesight even better than carrots can.

Steel Cut or Rolled Oats?

Slow Cooker or Instant Pot oatmeal is best made with steel-cut oats. Steel cut oats are one of the healthiest grains; they’re minimally processed, and contain more fiber than rolled oats. Personally I always use steel-cut oats for my oatmeal and rolled oats for baking or making oat flour. If you’re using the slow cooker and intend for this to be an overnight oatmeal recipe, you cannot use rolled oats, they will turn to mush during the long cook time. Having said that, yes you can use rolled oat if you must but you will need to make adjustments. For the slow cooker, the cook time will be 1-2 hours on high or 2-4 hours on low. For the electric pressure cooker (Instant Pot), the cook time remains the same but you have to change the oat/liquid ratio.

Liquid/Oatmeal ratio for slow cooker or pressure cooker:
Steel cut – 3 cups liquid to 1 cup oats
Rolled – 2 cups liquid to 1 cup oats

This recipe does not work with instant oatmeal.

side, close up view of pumpkin oatmeal in a white bowl with raisins on top, almond milk, and a silver spoon

How Much Pumpkin To Use

First off, I should clarify that this easy pumpkin oatmeal recipe uses pure pumpkin puree not pumpkin pie filling. You can make your own  pumpkin puree or buy it from a can. I use 1/2 cup of canned pumpkin. Personally I don’t find the pumpkin to be overpowering at all. But if you think that you might, for your first time making this oatmeal, start with 1/4 or 1/3 cup.

Water or Milk?

For the liquid in this oatmeal, you can use the milk/water ratio I list in the recipe card or you can use all water or 3 cups of your preferred milk. Milk will make the oatmeal creamier than plain water. For this recipe to be vegan, you have to use either water or something like a nut milk or coconut milk. Personally I use almond milk. For the sweetener, in order for this to be a vegan oatmeal recipe, you will need to use maple syrup. If you’re not worried about that, you can use honey. The measurements and cook time will remain the same regardless of which sweetener you decide to use.

side, close up view of pumpkin oatmeal in a white bowl with raisins on top and almond milk

FAQs & Tips 

  • It’s important to spray the slow cooker or Instant Pot generously with cooking spray to help keep the oatmeal from sticking. The oatmeal will still probably stick to the sides a bit but it won’t be nearly as bad as it would if you didn’t spray.
  • Top your oatmeal with your preferred toppings. Suggestions include additional sweetener, chopped nuts, fruit, granola, etc.
  • Oatmeal is a recipe that can be tailored to your taste buds. If you like oatmeal sweet, use more sweetener. Do you like your oatmeal thick or thin? If thin, add more liquid. If thick, use less. Please note that the oatmeal will thicken as it cools.
  • Be mindful about what ingredients you use as toppings for oatmeal. Sticking to natural and whole ingredients like fruits and nuts will make sure you are making healthy meal choices. 
  • Need to cook pumpkin oatmeal for a larger crowd? You can double or triple the recipe without having to make adjustments to the cook time. The oatmeal will still cook for 8 hours or 4 minutes (slow cooker vs pressure cooker), you will just need a larger appliance.
  • Refrigerate your cooked oatmeal for 5-7 days. To reheat the oatmeal, add some milk or water, before heating in the microwave or on the stove top.
  • I used a 2.5-quart slow cooker for this recipe. 

Oatmeal Recipes

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side, close up view of pumpkin oatmeal in a white bowl with raisins on top, almond milk, and a silver spoon

Slow Cooker Pumpkin Oatmeal (Vegan)

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Slow cooker pumpkin oatmeal is a great breakfast for the fall season. There’s nothing quite like waking up to a warm and comforting bowl of pumpkin oatmeal. This autumn delight not only fills your kitchen with the aroma of fall spices, but also offers a hearty and nutritious start to your day. Instructions to make this hassle-free oatmeal recipe in the Instant Pot are also included.

  • Total Time: 4 hours 10 mins
  • Yield: 4 servings 1x

Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 1 cup steel cut oats
  • 1/2 cup pure pumpkin puree
  • 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice (or 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon)
  • 2 cups milk of your choice (I used almond milk)
  • 1 1/4 cup water
  • 2 tablespoons maple syrup or honey (or more)
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

Slow Cooker

  1. Spray slow cooker generously with cooking spray.
  2. Add all ingredients to the slow cooker. Stir to mix well.
  3. Cook HIGH 3-4 or LOW 6-8 hours.
  4. Stir well before serving.

Instant Pot

  1. Spray the Instant Pot generously with cooking spray.
  2. Add all the ingredients. Stir gently to mix well. Select manual setting. Adjust pressure to high, and set time for 4 minutes.
  3. Allow for pressure to natural release.
  4. Stir well before serving.

Notes

Your oatmeal will thicken slightly as it cools.

Cook time calculated using slow cooker.

  • Author: Shannon Epstein
  • Prep Time: 10 mins
  • Cook Time: 4 hours

Nutrition

  • Serving Size:
  • Calories: 184
  • Sugar: 6.8 g
  • Fat: 3.8 g
  • Saturated Fat: 0.4 g
  • Carbohydrates: 32.2 g
  • Fiber: 4.4 g
  • Protein: 5.6 g
  • Cholesterol: 0 mg

 

This post contains affiliate links which means if you click on one of the product links, I might receive compensation. For more about my disclosure policy see here: https://fitslowcookerqueen.com/about/disclosure-policy/.

Slow Cooker Pumpkin Oatmeal
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JC

Wednesday 6th of October 2021

I am brain-dead in the morning, so waking up today to the scent of pumpkin pie was amazing! The kids gobbled this up. Wondering if one could sub in oat milk for almond? Wanted to forward to a friend whose kid has a nut allergy.

Shannon Epstein

Wednesday 6th of October 2021

Absolutely! You can use your preferred oat, nut milk or regular milk. Enjoy!

Claudia

Sunday 22nd of October 2017

I made a batch of this tonight as meal prepped breakfasts and my house smells yummy! Can't wait to dig into it tomorrow. Thank you!!

Fit SlowCooker Queen

Monday 23rd of October 2017

I hope you enjoy it!!

jkadventures1421

Monday 9th of October 2017

Looks delicious! I'll have to try this this weekend!!

Lorenzo

Sunday 8th of October 2017

I get up early to train every day, usually mindlessly shovelling some oatmeal in me half asleep. Now finally, I have something to look forward to! This sounds like a delicious "hack" on old faithful oatmeal, and I bet it smells amazing 1st thing in the morning. Thanks FSCQ!

Candice

Friday 6th of October 2017

This sounds amazing! I bet it would make your house smell sooooo good!