Pumpkin Oatmeal

It’s amazing how easy it is to whip up this pumpkin spice oatmeal recipe. If you want to wake up to a delicious-smelling house with hints of fall (hello, pumpkin spice!)—and a bowl of hot oatmeal—mix these ingredients in a slow cooker before you go to bed. There’s a reason we named this one among our top pumpkin breakfast recipes.

Even with the sweet notes, thanks to the pumpkin, this is a healthy recipe. In fact, studies show that high-in-fiber steel cut oats help to reduce cholesterol. The oats are also a good ingredient for diabetics who want a hearty breakfast without raising their blood sugar, because they’re a low-glycemic index food.

Ingredients for Pumpkin Oatmeal

• Pumpkin: This is the same can of pumpkin puree you buy to bake pumpkin pie or pumpkin bread. You’ll need one can, which is typically 15 ounces, for this pumpkin oatmeal recipe.
• Steel-cut oats: The reason you want steel-cut oats and not rolled outs is that they’re dense and cooked with a lighter ratio of liquid. Once they’re cooked, the portions are large.
• Brown sugar: Brown sugar should be packed and not loose when measured, so that you have the exact amount needed. This also removes air pockets. In oatmeal, brown sugar has a molasses-like effect, acting as a sweetener.
• Pumpkin pie spice: Sold in the spice aisle, this blend includes cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and allspice.
• Ground cinnamon: Use cinnamon in a spice jar, not a cinnamon stick.
• Milk: In this recipe, 2% milk—which is reduced-fat, but not fat-free—works best. It’s a healthier milk while also containing a little bit of fat, which helps this recipe be successful.
• Optional toppings: Toasted chopped pecans and ground cinnamon, plus additional brown sugar and milk, can be added atop finished bowls of oatmeal, as you like.

Directions    

Step 1: Combine the ingredients

ERIC KLEINBERG FOR TASTE OF HOME

In a large bowl, combine the pumpkin, oats, brown sugar, pumpkin pie spice, cinnamon and salt. Stir in the water and milk.

Editor’s Tip: If you don’t have pumpkin pie spice in your pantry or want to make your own, use our easy pumpkin pie spice recipe.

Step 2: Slow-cook the oatmeal

ERIC KLEINBERG FOR TASTE OF HOME

Transfer the mix to a greased 3-quart slow cooker. Cook the oatmeal, covered, on low for five to six hours or until the oats are tender, stirring once. Serve the oatmeal with toppings, as desired.

ERIC KLEINBERG FOR TASTE OF HOME

Pumpkin Oatmeal Variations

• Add maple syrup: If you like your oatmeal sweet, even just a tablespoon of pure maple syrup (healthier than syrups with artificial flavors) stirred into your oatmeal will satisfy.
• Sweeten with chocolate chips: Who cares if this is the first meal of the day? Chocolate chips added to anything warm, including this oatmeal, make for a nice treat, particularly on the weekends.
• Make gingerbread oatmeal: If you’re enjoying this around the winter holidays, all you have to do to make gingerbread oatmeal is replace half the brown sugar with molasses and sprinkle the oatmeal with candied sugar.

How to Store Pumpkin Oatmeal

Because the essence of this recipe is to combine the ingredients overnight, or at least five hours prior to heating and serving, it’s designed to be stored. Just make sure, whether it’s in the fridge or the freezer, that it’s in an airtight container with a lid or cover.

Can you freeze pumpkin oatmeal? 

If you envision having this on mornings when you don’t have time to make breakfast but still want something hot and delicious, there’s a solution. Bake the oatmeal all the way through, then after it has cooled, freeze it in a muffin tin. After it’s frozen solid, move the oatmeal portions to a resealable freezer bag. Frozen oatmeal lasts for three months in the freezer.

How long does pumpkin oatmeal last?

If it’s stored in the fridge in the slow cooker with a lid or in another covered container, the oatmeal stays fresh for five days.

Can you make pumpkin oatmeal ahead of time?

Because this recipe is already designed to be made the night before, the good news is that you’re already set with less prep!

How do you reheat pumpkin oatmeal?

Once you remove the oatmeal from the fridge, spoon however much you plan to eat into a bowl and pop it in the microwave for a minute on high.

Pumpkin Oatmeal Tips

ERIC KLEINBERG FOR TASTE OF HOME

What’s a healthier sweetener than maple syrup?

Agave nectar is a natural sweetener derived from the agave plant.

Can I make this dairy-free?

Absolutely! Swapping out the 2% milk for a plant-based milk (soy, cashew, hemp, almond, oat or coconut) won’t change the flavor at all.

How can I increase the pumpkin flavor?

While the recipe calls for a 15-ounce can of pumpkin puree, if that’s not adding enough pumpkin flavor to your oatmeal, simply increase the amount. We don’t recommend adding more than a quarter of a can more to the recipe, however. Too much pumpkin might make the finished oatmeal mushy.