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Steel Cut Overnight Oatmeal

Snejana Andreeva - 1

By Snejana Andreeva

on Nov 29, 2024, Updated Jan 14, 2025

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Let me clue you in on one of the best breakfasts: set-it-and-forget-it , creamy, warm overnight oats 🥣. Steel cut oats are a nutrient powerhouse , loaded in fiber, protein, iron and more. I love to start my morning with a cozy, satisfying bowl, loaded with my favorite toppings, like berries, crushed nuts, and honey 🍯. And with this super easy method, you can enjoy steel cut oats daily with minimal effort👌. Steel cut oats are the least processed variety of oats, giving them the most nutrition (compared to instant, rolled, bran, etc.) This often means long cook times spent stirring a pot. Not anymore! Check out this hands-free recipe for the easiest, chewiest, creamiest oats.

  • Why You’ll Love Steel Cut Overnight Oatmeal
  • How to Prepare
  • Nonna’s Tip🧂
  • Variations and Substitutions for Steel Cut Overnight Oatmeal
  • Similar Recipes
  • All About Steel Cut Oats
  • Best Served With
  • Common Questions
  • Steel Cut Overnight Oatmeal Recipe
A bowl of steel cut overnight oatmeal topped with fresh raspberries, blueberries, seeds, and a drizzle of honey on a wooden honey dipper. The berries add vibrant red and blue colors, contrasting with the creamy oatmeal and sprinkled seeds. - 3

Why You’ll Love Steel Cut Overnight Oatmeal

Breakfast just got upgraded 🚀. If you love the exceptional texture of steel cut oats, and the high levels of fiber, protein, and iron per serving, but hate the idea of stirring a pot for 30 minutes, I’m about to change your world. My set-it-and-forget-it method allows you to simply boil the oats for one minute , and leave them overnight ⏳. The next morning, you’ll have perfectly tender, chewy oats , that simply need to be warmed through for about 2 minutes. All that stands between you and the perfect breakfast, is 1 minute of prep time. Let’s go 🏃‍♀️!

How to Prepare

💧 In a pot , add 4 cups of water and salt.

🫧 Let it come to a boil, add in the steel cut oats, reduce the heat to low, and simmer for 1 minute.

Water being poured into a stainless steel pot on a stove, with bubbles forming as it heats up. - 4

🌙 Then, turn off the heat and put a lid on the pot. Leave it overnight.

🥣 The following morning, all you have to do is heat the pot over low heat, pour the oats into your bowl, and then add your favorite toppings such as brown sugar, maple syrup, honey, cinnamon, berries, nuts, and seeds.

A hand lifts the lid off a metal pot containing a liquid. The pot is on a white surface with natural light streaming in from the background. Water droplets are visible on the lid. - 5

Nonna’s Tip🧂

Do NOT skip the salt . Salt is really important here as it enhances the flavor of the oats, making sure they don’t taste bland.

A bowl of steel cut overnight oatmeal topped with fresh raspberries, blueberries, and dark cherries, sprinkled with seeds and nuts. A honey dipper rests on the edge with droplets of honey. The oatmeal is set on a light-colored cloth. - 6

Variations and Substitutions for Steel Cut Overnight Oatmeal

  1. You can add 3 cups water and 1 cup milk instead of just water to make this more rich.
  2. Alternatively, you can add all milk instead of water. As long as you keep the ratio as 1 cup oats to 4 cups liquid, feel free to use any liquid of choice.
  3. Get creative with toppings , such as fruits, nuts, shredded 🥥 coconut, granola, nut butter, jam, or whatever you’d like!
  4. Feel free to experiment with flavored extracts in your oatmeal, such as coconut extract, almond extract, or maple extract.

Similar Recipes

A bowl of creamy custard oatmeal topped with fresh raspberries, seeds, and a drizzle of honey, served in a shallow ceramic bowl on a light-colored table in bright natural light. - 7 A bowl of creamy custard oatmeal topped with fresh raspberries, seeds, and a drizzle of honey, served in a shallow ceramic bowl on a light-colored table in bright natural light. - 8

Custard Oatmeal

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A close-up of a jar filled with creamy tiramisu, topped with swirls of mascarpone, cocoa powder, and coffee-soaked ladyfingers, with a spoon scooping out a portion. Coffee beans are scattered nearby. - 9 A close-up of a jar filled with creamy tiramisu, topped with swirls of mascarpone, cocoa powder, and coffee-soaked ladyfingers, with a spoon scooping out a portion. Coffee beans are scattered nearby. - 10

Tiramisu Oatmeal

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A spoon taking a bite out of a chocolate dessert in a white dish, topped with swirls of melted chocolate. Oats are scattered around the dish on a light surface. - 11 A spoon taking a bite out of a chocolate dessert in a white dish, topped with swirls of melted chocolate. Oats are scattered around the dish on a light surface. - 12

Chocolate Oat Cake

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Two glass jars filled with overnight oats, layered with sliced strawberries and topped with granola, yogurt, and more strawberries. Each jar has a spoon inside and sits on a wooden board with oats scattered around. - 13 Two glass jars filled with overnight oats, layered with sliced strawberries and topped with granola, yogurt, and more strawberries. Each jar has a spoon inside and sits on a wooden board with oats scattered around. - 14

Strawberry Overnight Oats

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A spoonful of chocolate overnight oats with strawberry slices is held above a glass jar filled with more oats, topped with chocolate chips and a strawberry, on a wooden surface. - 15 A spoonful of chocolate overnight oats with strawberry slices is held above a glass jar filled with more oats, topped with chocolate chips and a strawberry, on a wooden surface. - 16

Chocolate Overnight Oats

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Two glass jars filled with creamy tiramisu overnight oats, topped with a layer of cocoa powder and coffee beans, are placed on a wooden surface with scattered oat flakes and a spoon nearby. - 17 Two glass jars filled with creamy tiramisu overnight oats, topped with a layer of cocoa powder and coffee beans, are placed on a wooden surface with scattered oat flakes and a spoon nearby. - 18

Tiramisu Overnight Oats

4 hrs 10 mins

All About Steel Cut Oats

Steel cut oats are made by cutting whole oat groats into small pieces with steel blades 🔪. Unlike rolled or quick oats, they are minimally processed, so they contain more fiber and nutrients. They have such a great nutty flavor and are nice and chewy (not mushy!) so they make a really satisfying and hearty ☀️ breakfast option.

Steel-cut oats differ from rolled oats, which are steamed and flattened, and quick oats, which are processed even further so they cook super fast. While steel cut oats take longer to prepare and require more 🥛 liquid, their health benefits (including being rich in fiber, protein, and essential nutrients), texture, and taste make them my top choice!

A dish of steel cut overnight oatmeal topped with vibrant toppings, including red raspberries, sliced nuts, and crushed pistachios, drizzled with honey. The oatmeal is served in a rustic, shallow bowl on a light-colored wooden surface. - 19

Best Served With

  • Serve this for breakfast with your favorite protein, such as 🥓 bacon or my hearty Homemade Breakfast Sausages .
  • Serve Steel Cut Overnight Oatmeal with a side of 🍳 eggs, like my Poached Eggs , Cheesy Eggs , Over Medium Eggs , or Baked Feta Eggs .

Common Questions

Yes, you can use milk, or a combination of milk and water, for a creamier texture. As long as you have 4 cups of liquid, anything will work.

Yes, leaving the oats overnight allows them to absorb the liquid and soften without additional cooking time.

Simply warm the oats on the stove over low heat. Add a splash of water or milk to loosen the consistency, if needed.

Absolutely! You can add vanilla, cinnamon, brown sugar, honey, or maple syrup to the pot for extra flavor. You could even add finely chopped apples, crushed berries, or a nut butter.

The topping options are really endless. Try sliced fruit, fresh berries, a sprinkling of seeds or chopped nuts, or a drizzle of nut butter.

Store the steel-cut oats in an airtight container in the refrigerator for about 4 to 5 days. Make a big batch and then reheat portions as needed.

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Video

Equipment

  • ▢ Measuring Cups + Spoons
  • ▢ Medium Pot
  • ▢ Liquid Measuring Cup

Ingredients

  • ▢ 4 cups water , a combination of milk + water can also be used
  • ▢ ½ teaspoon salt , do not skip
  • ▢ 1 cup steel cut oats , organic
  • ▢ Toppings of choice such as: honey, brown sugar, nuts, seeds, berries, apples, etc!

Instructions

  • ▢ In a pot, add the water and salt. Let it come to a boil, add in the steel cut oats, reduce the heat to low and simmer for 1 minute.
  • ▢ After 1 minute, turn off the heat and put a lid on. Leave it overnight.
  • ▢ Note: if you want to add vanilla, cinnamon or finely chopped apples to the mixture you are more than welcome to do so. I leave mine plain and add my toppings the following morning.
  • ▢ The following morning, the oats will be ready for you to enjoy! All you have to do is heat them up on the stove and add your favourite toppings such as: brown sugar, maple syrup, honey, cinnamon, vanilla, berries, apples, nuts, seeds, nut butters, and more!

My Notes

Nutrition

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Steel Cut Overnight Oatmeal

Equipment

  • Measuring Cups + Spoons
  • Medium Pot
  • Liquid Measuring Cup

Ingredients

  • 4 cups water a combination of milk + water can also be used
  • ½ teaspoon salt do not skip
  • 1 cup steel cut oats organic
  • Toppings of choice such as: honey, brown sugar, nuts, seeds, berries, apples, etc!

Instructions

  • In a pot, add the water and salt. Let it come to a boil, add in the steel cut oats, reduce the heat to low and simmer for 1 minute.
  • After 1 minute, turn off the heat and put a lid on. Leave it overnight.
  • Note: if you want to add vanilla, cinnamon or finely chopped apples to the mixture you are more than welcome to do so. I leave mine plain and add my toppings the following morning.
  • The following morning, the oats will be ready for you to enjoy! All you have to do is heat them up on the stove and add your favourite toppings such as: brown sugar, maple syrup, honey, cinnamon, vanilla, berries, apples, nuts, seeds, nut butters, and more!

Video

Nutrition

Steel Cut Overnight Oatmeal https://themodernnonna.com/steel-cut-overnight-oatmeal/ November 29, 2024