Overnight Steel Cut Oats Only 5 Minutes Prep! (+ Video) (2024)

Try this simple overnight steel cut oats recipe for a healthy, delicious breakfast! Use this easy-to-prepare method, and finish with your favorite sweet or savory toppings.

I helped my kids learn to love oatmeal, like these Homemade Instant Oatmeal Packets, early on. But I’m always looking for variations on a theme, and oatmeal is the perfect launching pad for breakfast creativity.

Now, our rotation of perfect breakfast foods, including Homemade Breakfast Sausage, Perfect Chocolate Peanut Butter Granola, and Tex-Mex Migas, has grown to include these overnight steel cut oats.

HERE’S WHY I LOVE THIS PARTICULAR STEEL CUT OATS RECIPE:

• Simple. There are only 4 basic ingredients, plus toppings.
• Healthy. Steel cut oats are unprocessed whole grain and packed with nutrition.
• The perfect crunch. Forget those mushy, gray oats of days past. These oats are toasted just slightly to give them the ideal texture.
• Fast. Nothing beats a breakfast that cooks in 5 minutes and, while you sleep, magically turns into a breakfast that’s nearly ready to serve.
• Easy to personalize. The endless variations of toppings ensure a delicious meal every time you make it, even for your picky eaters.
• By double batching this simple recipe I can save time and have breakfast for days!

OVERNIGHT STEEL CUT OATS INGREDIENTS

This overnight steel cut oats recipe only has 4 ingredients, and one of them is water. Talk about simple!

• Steel Cut Oats (not quick cooking steel cut oats)
• Butter
• Salt
• Water
• Toppings as desired

That’s it!

Note on Oats. I use Bob’s Red Mill steel cut oats, but also found store brands for good prices at ALDI, Walmart, and Kroger. Yes, you can use rolled oats, but steel cut oats are minimally processed and cost about the same (just 4 extra pennies) as their more highly processed counterpart. And since you’re cooking them overnight, they only require 5 minutes of hands-on cooking.

I know, I was hesitant to give them a try, too. But trust me here. They are delicious.

Psst! If you’re going to add salt, I highly recommend Ava Jane’s Kitchen. You may think all salt is created equal, but unfortunately, 90% of the salt produced around the world contains microplastics (gross, right?). Ava Jane’s Kitchen is an exception. Their salt is 100% microplastic-free, and it’s SO GOOD! Plus, you can get a bag for just 1¢!! (Get your penny bag of salt on this page.)

THE SECRET TO PERFECT STEEL CUT OVERNIGHT OATS

I have a secret to making perfect overnight steel cut oats that are delicious and crunchy and will forever change the way you think about oatmeal as a whole.

A cast iron skillet.

Yep, a little bit of butter in a warm cast iron skillet (I have this one) turns plain Jane steel cut oats into an incredible bowl of oatmeal that looks nothing like the grey mushy bowls you’re used to.

This cast iron skillet is my favorite size. It’s perfect for Cornbread, Skillet Blondies, and Pan-Fried Sweet Potatoes!

Plus, toasted oats means better leftovers for future breakfasts, and who is going to turn down the option to cook less? Certainly not me.

See Also

54 Self Reliant Living TipsThe Disappearing Art of Homemaking - One Homely House10+ Healthy Cherry Smoothies - Delicious Smoothie Recipes to Try!How To Make Ice Cream In A Vitamix (the Healthy Kind)

HOW TO COOK STEEL CUT OATS

Follow these easy instructions to make the best steel cut oats on the stovetop!

Step 1. Measure water into a medium saucepan with a lid and bring to a rapid boil. (I like to use this Dutch oven).

Step 2. Meanwhile, melt butter over medium low heat in the cast iron skillet. Add the steel cut oats and toast until they’re darker in color and fragrant, about 5 minutes.

Step 3. When the water has come to a rapid boil, add the steel cut oats and salt and stir. Set the timer for 1 minute and allow the oats to cook.

Step 4. When the timer goes off, cover the oats and turn off the stove. Set the oats aside until morning.

Step 5. In the morning, reheat the oats until they are at the desired temperature and top with desired toppings.

STEEL CUT OATMEAL TOPPINGS

Steel cut oatmeal can go either sweet or savory. You get to choose your favorite flavor toppings!

SWEET TOPPINGS FOR STEEL CUT OATS

• One of my favorites is apples + walnuts + maple syrup. Just like how I top my Single Serve Slow Cooker Oatmeal.
• Similarly, top your oats with this sweet Slow Cooker Apple Butter. Add a handful of flaxseeds or chia seeds for a bit of crunch.
• My son adores peaches and cream, using real peaches and real cream (because that’s the real food equivalent to dried up and shriveled peaches with powdered “cream”) Almond Milk or Coconut Milk also works!
• My daughter likes strawberries and cream and once asked if she could put Nutella on top. A girl after my own heart.
• Swirl in some Nut Butter or almond butter for a boost of protein and top with dried fruit, bananas, blackberries, blueberries, pecans, or walnuts.
• Make a batch of this Homemade Yogurt and add it in. Slice fresh fruit and save half for some delicious yogurt parfaits the next day!
• Got leftover canned pumpkin? Add some to your oatmeal, along with cinnamon or Pumpkin Pie Spice.
• You could even go traditional with butter and brown sugar (make your own if you’re out!)

SAVORY STEEL CUT OATS TOPPINGS

I’ve also heard that savory steel cut oatmeal is a trend. And while I’ve never tried it that way, these combinations have me thinking maybe I should.

• Oats topped with a fried egg with prosciutto, Parmesan, and sun-dried tomatoes
• Add in some smoked salmon with cream cheese and capers
• Top with a poached egg and a handful of arugula lightly dressed with oil and vinegar. Finish with a sprinkle of salt and pepper.

Oh my. This is going to be seriously tasty!

HOW TO STORE STEEL-CUT OATMEAL

If you followed my advice above and made a big batch of steel-cut oatmeal to last for several days’ worth of breakfasts, here’s how you can store your extras.

Refrigerator. Choose either one large airtight container, or single-portion glass bowls, and store them in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. I like the individual bowls, because then in the mornings, each person can grab theirs, heat it up, top it, and eat.

Freezer. If you would rather freeze your cooked steel cut oats, you can put them in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 3 months. I recommend freezing individual portions in containers like these, so it’s easy to grab as few or as many as you need.

To reheat, add your oats plus a splash of liquid (water or milk) to either a microwave-safe bowl or a small saucepan and heat through. The oatmeal will expand slightly as it soaks up the additional liquid.

STEEL CUT OATS FAQS

MORE YUMMY OATMEAL RECIPES

• Blueberry Baked Oatmeal
• Oatmeal Peanut Butter Energy Bites
• Oatmeal Pancakes
• Marathon Training High Protein Oatmeal
• Soft Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies
• Leftover Oatmeal Cakes
• Cinnamon Oatmeal Waffles

WATCH HOW TO MAKE PERFECT OVERNIGHT STEEL CUT OATS

Steel Cut Oats

Print Recipe

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5 from 6 reviews

Try this simple overnight steel cut oats recipe for a healthy, delicious breakfast! Use this easy-to-prepare method, and finish with your favorite sweet or savory toppings.

• Author: Tiffany
• Prep Time: 1 minute
• Cook Time: 5 minutes
• Total Time: 6 minutes + 8 hours hands-off
• Yield: 4 servings 1x
• Category: Breakfast
• Method: Stovetop
• Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Scale

• 1 cup of Bob’s Red Mill steel cut oats
• 2 Tbsp butter
• ½ tsp Kosher salt (or ¼ tsp table salt)
• 3 cups water
• toppings as desired

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

1. Measure water into a medium saucepan with a lid and bring to a rapid boil. (I like to use this Dutch oven.)
2. Meanwhile, melt butter over medium low heat in the cast iron skillet. Add the steel cut oats and toast until they’re darker in color and fragrant, about 5 minutes.
3. When the water has come to a rapid boil, add the steel cut oats and salt and stir. Set the timer for 1 minute and allow the oats to cook.
4. When the timer goes off, cover the oats and turn off the stove. Set the oats aside until morning.
5. In the morning, reheat the oats until they are at the desired temperature and top with selected toppings.

Notes

There are endless possibilities when it comes to delicious oatmeal toppings. Some suggestions:

• apples + walnuts + maple syrup
• peaches and cream, using real peaches and real cream
• strawberries and cream with a scoop of Nutella
• savory oatmeal with a fried egg, sprinkled parmesan, a handful of arugula, or smoked salmon with cream cheese and capers

This recipe is easy to make in larger batches and keeps well in the fridge so you can have leftovers!

Nutrition

• Serving Size: ¼ cup dried oats
• Calories: 128