How is your Back-to-School menu planning going? We have already tweaked ours a bit. One example: leftovers are always an acceptable substitute for any meal listed on the “plan.” To be reminded of all the benefits of the weekly meal plan check out my previous post. Here is a blank one if you want to fill one out for your family. School Week Menu copy

If you need some inspiration, here is our plan.As you can see, Thursday breakfast is oatmeal. Well, this turned out to be fortuitous as just yesterday my daughter started clarinet. Via Zoom (lord help me). Clarinet begins at 7:15. IN THE MORNING!  I mean, I’d be mad if it was 7:15pm too because that’s too late but I can’t handle instruments being played in my home at that hour.  But she isn’t playing, she is LEARNING and that is a huge difference (rage)!  

Anyway, thank goodness for these overnight steel cut oats! Because she can scoop up her own bowl and be on her way (to the basement).

This oatmeal is so simple to make and so good for you. It is gluten free (though pretty much all oatmeal is gluten free) and just happens to be vegan. It will easily feed a family of at least 6. The ingredients are just water, steel cut oats, coconut milk and a dash of salt.

Night before

In the morning after a stir

I also added a cinnamon stick the night before and some mashed up banana in the morning but you don’t have to.  You don’t have to add the coconut milk either but it makes it nice and creamy without adding any dairy.  It does not make it taste “coconutty” so if you are hoping for that, sorry.  But, each person can add the toppings of their choice to make their own perfect bowl.  So if you want it to taste like coconut, add some flakes at the end.

E and I love all oatmeal and like this straight out of the slow cooker. A likes “regular” oatmeal but isn’t as much a fan of steel-cut oats so she doctored hers up a bit.

I highly recommend you give these overnight steel cut oats a try.  They are perfect anytime but especially on busy fall school mornings.  Enjoy!

Slow Cooker Steel Cut Oats (Overnight)

Serves 6

Ingredients:

4 c Water

13.5 fl oz can Coconut Milk*

1 c Steel Cut Oats

dash of Kosher Salt

1-2 Cinnamon Sticks (optional)

2 Ripe Bananas, mashed (optional)

Combine first 5 ingredients in a slow cooker and stir to combine.

Turn the slow cooker on low and cook for 8 hours (overnight).

In the morning, give it a stir. If desired, add the mashed bananas and stir to combine.

Dish into bowls and eat as is or add whatever additional toppings you like!

*If you don’t want to use coconut milk increase the water or other milk by 13.5 oz or about 1 2/3 cups.

Print Recipe

Slow Cooker Steel Cut Oats (Overnight)

Perfect for any day of the week, especially an early fall school morning

Prep Time2 minutes mins

Cook Time8 hours hrs

Course: Breakfast

Cuisine: American, Irish

Keyword: Breakfast, Easy, Fall, Gluten Free, Oatmeal, Overnight, Slow Cooker, Vegan

Servings: 6 People

Author: Emily ~ Garlic & Olive Oil

Ingredients

• 4 c Water
• 13.5 fl oz can Coconut Milk*
• 1 c Steel Cut Oats
• dash of Kosher Salt
• 1-2 Cinnamon Sticks optional
• 2 Ripe Bananas, mashed optional

Instructions

• Combine first 5 ingredients in a slow cooker and stir to combine.
• Turn the slow cooker on low and cook for 8 hours (overnight).
• In the morning, give it a stir. If desired, add the mashed bananas and stir to combine.
• Dish into bowls and eat as is or add whatever additional toppings you like!

Notes

*If you don't want to use coconut milk increase the water or other milk by 13.5 oz or about 1 2/3 cups.