Overnight Steel Cut Oats

This recipe for overnight steel cut oats is the perfect solution for a quick and easy breakfast on busy mornings. By preparing the oats the night before, all you have to do in the morning is heat them up and add your favorite toppings.

Wanting to start your day with steel cut oats but struggling to find the time to cook them?

In this blog, we share the best (and fastest!) method for cooking steel-cut oats, that involves minimal cooking time!

With 10 years of experience in the food industry, I’ve tested out all different ways to cooking steel-cut oats and this one is definitely the creamiest and fastest, but perhaps most importantly, it is food-safe!

Many overnight steel cut oatmeal recipes leave a pot sitting out overnight which is both unsafe and poor cooking technique. I’ll teach you how to get the same affect without waiting over the stove-top for 30 minutes!

What is Steel Cut Oatmeal?

Steel cut oats, also known as Irish oats or pinhead oats, are made by cutting the whole oat kernel (groat) into smaller pieces using steel blades, resulting in a chewier and nuttier oatmeal. They are considered to be less processed than rolled oats and retain more of their natural nutrients.

They are a good source of dietary fiber, protein, and healthy fats, and have been linked to a variety of health benefits such as improved blood sugar control and cardiovascular health.

The main difference between steel cut oats and rolled oats is the way they are processed. Steel cut oats are made by cutting whole oat groats into small pieces with steel blades, while rolled oats are made by steaming and rolling whole oat groats to flatten them. This also means that steel cut oats typically take way longer to cook (20-30 minutes) while rolled oats are closer to 5-10 minutes. Steel cut oats have a chewier, nuttier texture that is delicious!

Can You Make Overnight Oats with Steel Cut Oats?

Yes, it is possible to make overnight oats with steel cut oats, but it will require a little more preparation and planning than using rolled oats.

Since steel cut oats take longer to cook than rolled oats, they need to be pre-cooked before being mixed with the other ingredients for overnight oats. Unfortunately, you cannot just soak steel cut oats with liquid and let them sit overnight (as is the case with rolled oats).

Doing and pre-cook before storing in the fridge ensures that your steel cut oats are cooked all the way through when you’re ready to eat them the next morning.

TLDR; The benefit of making overnight steel cut oats is that you ultimately cut down on cook time as you don’t have to wait the full 20-30 minutes for your steel cut oats to cook. Doing the 1 minute pre-cook and then storing in the fridge cuts down massively on time and is considered food-safe (unlike some sites which suggest you can just let it soak overnight on the stovetop).

Ingredients in Steel Cut Overnight Oats

• Steel Cut Oats – most grocery stores carry steel-cut oats in the cereal aisle or bulk section. You can also purchase them online.
• Almond Milk – You could also use any other kind of non-dairy milk
• Water -filtered is ideal but tap water is fine
• Cinnamon – omit if you don’t like the taste or feel free to add in any other spices
• Salt – brings out the flavor
• Sweetener – maple syrup or honey or whatever sweetener you prefer.

How to Make Creamy Overnight Steel Cut Oatmeal

STEP 1: COOK OATS

Place steel cut oats, almond milk, water, cinnamon and salt in a large pot and bring to a boil. Stir well and then lower heat to a simmer for 1 minute. Stir in sweetener of choice. Turn off heat and allow to cool.

STEP 2: STORE OATS OVERNIGHT

Move your oats from your saucepan to an airtight container or individual mason jars. Allow to sit overnight in the refrigerator or for at least 6 hours. In the morning you can either heat up or eat cold with desired toppings.

Can You Let Your Oats Sit Overnight On the Stove top?

While I’ve seen recipes that say you can just place the lid on your pot and let it sit overnight, from a food safety standpoint this is not a great idea. Just take the extra step to place in a big bowl with a top or large container and let sit in the refrigerator overnight. Yes it’s an extra step and more dishes but no one wants to get sick from food that’s been sitting out too long!

Bring on the Toppings!

• Fresh fruit – bananas, apple, strawberries, blueberries, respberries or any other kind of fruit.
• Peanut Butter – or any other nut butter like almond butter.
• Almonds – or any other kind of nuts (pecans, walnuts, hazelnuts, coconut etc..)
• Chocolate chips – because when is chocolate ever a bad idea?
• Chia Seeds – or other nutritious seeds like hemp seeds or flaxseeds.

More Overnight Oatmeal Recipes to Try

• Banana Nut Overnight Oats
• Mocha Overnight Oats recipe
• Chocolate Almond Butter Overnight Oats
• Peaches and Cream Overnight Oats
• Gingerbread Overnight Oats
• Pumpkin Spice Latte Overnight Oats
• 5 Healthy Overnight Oat Recipes

My Favorite Steel Cut Oats Recipes

• Slow Cooker Steel Cut Peach Cobbler Oatmeal
• Slow Cooker Apple Pie Steel Cut Oats
• Honey Nut Steel Cut Granola
• Instant Pot Peaches and Cream Steel Cut Oatmeal

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