Overnight Steel Cut Oats {Topping Ideas}

Name: Overnight Steel Cut Oats
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 485 min
Ingredients: 1 ½ cups steel cut oats; 3 cups water; 3 cups almond milk; ½ teaspoon Kosher salt; 1 banana (sliced); 2 tablespoons peanut butter; 1 tablespoon peanuts (chopped); Dash of cinnamon; 4-5 strawberries (sliced); 2 tablespoons nutella; 1 tablespoon hazelnuts (chopped); 1 tablespoon maple syrup; 1/2 green apple (sliced); 2 tablespoons caramel sauce; 1 tablespoon pecans (chopped); Dash of cinnamon; 2 ounces chocolate bar (chopped); 2 tablespoons almond butter; 2 dates (chopped); 1 tablespoon honey

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Did you know you can make overnight oatmeal using steel cut oats? My overnight oats recipe is so popular and one that I make for breakfast often by soaking rolled oats with milk. The same principle can be applied here for the steel cut oat version with a few differences that I’ll share below, plus many topping possibilities!

4 bowls of overnight steel cut oats with different toppings

What is steel cut oats?

Steel cut oats are less processed compared to rolled oats. The oat groat (or whole oat) is cut into pieces rather than being pressed and rolled. They have a chewier and nuttier texture and hold their shape once cooked. They don’t get mushy after being cooked, making them ideal for make-ahead breakfasts.

Collage of two images showing steel cut oats before and after cooking

How to make overnight steel cut oats

Stir the oats into boiling milk and water.
Turn off the heat and cover with a tight fitting lid and leave the pot at room temperature overnight. It’s ready for serving the next morning at room temperature or heated again.

Pot of steel cut oats with milk before and after stirring

Oatmeal topping ideas

Peanut Butter Banana: In this version, slice some bananas, top it with off with creamy peanut butter and then add crushed peanuts (to enforce that peanut taste). Finish it off with a dash of cinnamon to add some warmth.

Bananas and peanut butter over oatmeal in yellow bowl

Strawberry Nutella: Slice some fresh strawberries to place on top of your oatmeal and add some Nutella and chopped hazelnuts. Finish it off with a drizzle of male syrup or honey.

Sliced strawberries, nutella and hazelnut over oatmeal

Caramel Apple: Slice a green apple to add to the steel cut oatmeal, add some chopped pecans for texture and drizzle with caramel sauce. If you don’t have caramel sauce, maple syrup works well. Finish it off with a sprinkle of ground cinnamon or nutmeg.

Sliced green apples, caramel sauce and pecans over oatmeal

Chocolate Almond Butter: Add some chopped chocolate, a couple of tablespoons of almond butter and a couple of pitted chopped dates. Finish with a drizzle of honey and coconut flakes if you’d like. When you stir this one together, it looks like chocolate steel cut oatmeal – my kids’ favorite!

Almond butter, chocolate, dates and coconut over oatmeal

Tips for making overnight steel cut oats

Heat water and milk before adding oats. There are methods of making overnight steel cut oatmeal where no heat is applied and the oats just soak the liquid. However, in my experience, the consistency is more creamy and thick when the liquid is heated first.
Don’t skip the salt. Just a little really does make all the difference. It brings out the natural sweetness and nuttiness of the oats and it can taste quite bland if you don’t use it.
Use a mixture of water and milk. I find that this creates that wonderfully creamy texture without adding too many calories or fat. You can use all milk or all water if you prefer.
Heat for a thicker consistency. When you first take a peak in the pot the next morning, you might notice some liquid still in the pot. Stirring it will allow the oats to absorb more of that liquid. But reheating is will help most. Plus it’s already in a pot, so it’s a quick convenience step.

Frequently asked questions

How long should steel cut oats sit overnight to soften?

Steel oats are much tougher than rolled oats, so you need to let them sit in the liquid for at least 8 hours.

Is it safe to leave the oats with milk overnight like that?

Yes, as long as your kitchen temperature is not too hot, it’s completely safe to leave the oats soaking overnight at room temperature, especially since they are covered in a pot with a lid.

How long does it keep?

Steel cut oatmeal will keep well for up to a week in the fridge. In the morning, place the cooled oatmeal into an airtight container and you can reheat portions of it throughout the week. It’s great to batch cook for easy and quick breakfasts.

4 varieties of overnight steel cut oatmeal in 4 bowls with different toppings

Try this method of soaking steel cut oats with hot liquid overnight and you will probably never find yourself cooking steel cut oats on the stove top again!

More oatmeal recipes:

If you’ve tried this healthy-ish feel good Overnight Steel Cut Oats recipe or any other recipe on FeelGoodFoodie, then don’t forget to rate the recipe and leave me a comment below! I would love to hear about your experience making it. And if you snapped some shots of it, share it with me on Instagram so I can repost on my stories!

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