Slow Cooker Porridge
Rolled oats, milk and water cooked overnight on low so a creamy porridge is ready in the morning. Four servings.
Before You Start
Use steel-cut oats for a creamy, not mushy, porridge.
Grease the pot so the oats do not stick.
Check the first time you try it, as pots vary.
Stir in milk to loosen leftovers.
How to Make Slow Cooker Porridge
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Grease the slow cooker with the butter. Add the oats, milk, water, salt and cinnamon and stir.
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Cover and cook on low for 8 hours overnight. If your slow cooker runs hot, cook for 6 hours instead.
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Stir the porridge well in the morning and loosen with a splash of milk if it is stiff.
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Serve with the sugar and sliced banana.
Why It Works
This is porridge for people who would rather sleep than stir. Put the oats in the slow cooker before bed, and by morning there is a pot of creamy porridge that has needed no attention at all.
Steel-cut oats suit a slow cooker best, since they hold their texture over eight hours where rolled oats turn to paste. If you only have rolled oats, cut the cooking time to 4 hours and cook on low, and check it first thing.
The ratio is 1 part oats to 4 of liquid, half milk and half water. Grease the sides of the pot with butter before you start. Porridge sticks to the walls and the base of a slow cooker, and the butter makes washing up easier.
A pinch of salt is important. It brings out the flavour of the oats and stops them tasting flat. Stir the porridge in the morning and add a splash of milk. It thickens as it stands, so serve it at once with brown sugar, fruit or a spoon of honey.
Leftovers, Reheating and Keeping
Keeps in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat with a splash of milk.
What to Serve Alongside
- Berries
- Chopped nuts
- Honey
- Yogurt
Common Questions About Slow Cooker Porridge
How long does Slow Cooker Porridge take to make?
About 8 hours 5 minutes in total — 5 minutes of preparation and 8 hours of cooking. The recipe serves 4.
What are the key tips for making Slow Cooker Porridge?
Use steel-cut oats for a creamy, not mushy, porridge. Grease the pot so the oats do not stick. Check the first time you try it, as pots vary. Stir in milk to loosen leftovers.
What should I serve with Slow Cooker Porridge?
Berries; Chopped nuts; Honey; Yogurt.
How should Slow Cooker Porridge be stored?
Keeps in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat with a splash of milk.
Is Slow Cooker Porridge suitable for a special diet?
This recipe is vegetarian. Those labels are checked against the ingredient list, so a dish is only marked when nothing in it contradicts the claim.
How many calories are in Slow Cooker Porridge?
About 374 kcal per serving, with 11 g protein, 60 g carbohydrate and 10 g fat. The figures are calculated from the ingredient list and are an estimate.
The Numbers per Serving
Per serving, calculated from the ingredient list. Treat these as an estimate — brands and cuts vary.
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Written and tested by Turab
One person, one kitchen — no test kitchen, no team. How every recipe on this site is checked before it goes up.
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