Breakfasts You Can Make In The Slow Cooker
Be honest. How many times have you skipped breakfast just because you don't have time in the morning to make anything more complicated than a granola bar? That probably means you're starving by the time lunch rolls around, and that's never a good way to spend the morning. Fortunately, there's an easy solution. If you've never considered putting breakfast in the slow cooker and letting it bubble away all night so it's hot and ready for you first thing in the morning, you're missing out. Here are some fun ideas to get you started!
A breakfast casserole
If you're looking for something you can put on before you go to bed so it's hot, ready, and waiting for you when you wake up, this is the go-to idea for you. As an added bonus, it's not so much a recipe as it is an idea, and it can easily be adjusted for any sort of meats or veggies you feel like adding on any particular day. This can also be a great way to use up some leftovers from dinner right away. If you have some extra sausage, chicken, or really anything, don't wrap it up and leave it to sit in the fridge until you need to throw it out. Put it right into the slow cooker with some eggs for the next morning!
For a good recipe that will form the basis of your casserole, check out this one from Food Network. Made with a dozen eggs, sausages, peppers, onions, and hash browns, it might sound like a lot. But all that is going to take between seven and eight hours to cook, and that means it's perfect to let slow cook while you're sleeping.
From there, the sky is literally the limit when it comes to deciding what you want to include in your casserole. Have some leftover pieces of ham from dinner? Throw them in! Experiment with different types of sausage, add chorizo and onions, or try a variety of cheeses for an entirely new spin on what's sure to become an old favorite. Have a craving for something with more veg? Try this casserole from Apple of My Eye for a breakfast mix filled with peppers and broccoli. With this recipe, there's no reason for any leftovers to go unused!
Banana nut oatmeal
Making oatmeal from scratch is a pain. It takes a long time to get going, and when it does you have to stir it constantly and it's next to impossible to multitask. For most of us, multitasking is a must — but there's no reason a healthy breakfast of steel-cut oats needs to be a weekend-only sort of treat.
The Lemon Bowl gives us this amazing recipe for banana nut oatmeal, prepped at night and turned on low for the next eight hours. Not only are steel-cut oats, bananas, and walnuts all good for you, but prep is so easy that it's literally piling everything into your slow cooker and turning it on. Few things go together better than bananas and nuts, and with a touch of cinnamon, vanilla, and nutmeg (and maybe a pinch of brown sugar), this is one hot and hearty breakfast that's sure to motivate you right out of bed in the morning.
Granola
Making granola in your slow cooker is a great idea for a few different reasons. Not only is it great for breakfast, but it's a healthy snack that you'll find yourself reaching for no matter the time of day. Make a big enough batch and (if it lasts until the next day) the cooled granola will make a great topping for your morning yogurt. With all the different variations on this idea, you're never going to get tired of it, that's for sure!
For an all-around tasty granola that's sure to be a hit with the whole family, try this version from Barefeet in the Kitchen. Since you need to stir it a couple times, you're going to have to keep an eye on this one, but once it cools, it's going to change your morning yogurt forever. And, if you're wondering about those variations, you'll have to try this slow cooker blueberry coconut vanilla granola from Foodie with Family. Blueberry, coconut, and vanilla are flavors that can't go wrong no matter how they're combined, and this is one granola that's as tasty as it is healthy. If you're craving something that's a little bit autumn-inspired, The Seasoned Mom has an amazing recipe for slow cooker salted caramel almond granola. Those words will make you hungry just thinking about them. Fortunately, there's no guilt associated with this one, either!
Quiche
Quiche is another versatile slow-cooker breakfast idea with endless possible variations. If the idea of whipping up a breakfast quiche sounds intimidating, Simply Stacie has done all the trials, made all the mistakes, and come up with a working recipe for a slow-cooker spinach and feta quiche. It's another one that needs to cook for seven or eight hours, and for this kind of breakfast, that's just right. And it's a great, tasty way to get a helping of vegetables (in a way you're going to love) to start your day off right. You can't go wrong putting this in your breakfast rotation.
If you're looking for something with a different sort of flair, The Cookie Rookie has a tasty recipe for a healthy sausage Mediterranean quiche that gets its flavor from ingredients like sun-dried tomatoes, spinach, feta, and Italian herbs, all delivered alongside breakfast favorites like egg and sausage.
Sticky buns
Being an adult is tough a lot of the time, and one of the only perks is being able to have something that's sweet and delicious for breakfast. There's maybe nothing better with your morning cup of coffee than a piping hot sticky bun, and there are a couple different ways you can use your slow cooker to make sure you're starting your day off right.
While a lot of slow-cooker recipes take hours and hours to work their magic, sticky buns will be done fairly quickly, even in a slow cooker. That can be a good thing, especially if you like your coworkers and have a special reason to treat the workplace to something extra special. How many cakes have you had for someone's birthday or pretty much any other holiday? Why not mix it up by bringing your slow cooker to work and cooking up a batch of delicious sticky buns for your coworkers? There might be no better way to get brownie points than this!
If you're looking for something to keep the office's healthy eaters happy, try this recipe from Amy's Healthy Baking. These slow-cooked sticky pecan buns are made with nonfat milk and whole wheat flour, making them as healthy as sticky buns ever get! If you're looking for something with a little more of a spicy kick, The Shady Porch has shared this recipe for slow-cooker sticky buns that includes a whole lot of pecans and a cinnamon and sugar mix that's sure to be an office favorite. And remember, it's not like you need to make these at work. You can just hog them for yourself at home. No one can judge you if they don't know about it.
Rice pudding
If you're looking for something a little different than a traditional oatmeal but still want all the warm, hearty goodness of a big bowl of oatmeal, you might want to try rice pudding. The cooks over at Uproot Kitchen decided it was about time Western families started looking at rice as a possibility for breakfast; this slow cooker breakfast rice pudding with golden raisins is going to make you a firm believer in the benefits of rice pudding for breakfast. Made from brown rice and getting a natural sweetness from coconut and almond milk along with the golden raisins, this sugar-free breakfast can be chilled and reheated, meaning that none will be going to waste.
There's plenty of variations on this idea, too, and if you're looking for something that's a flavorful reminder of warm summer days, try this slow cooker coconut rice pudding from With Style & Grace. For something that's a little more traditional for breakfast, don't be afraid to top with some fresh fruit or cinnamon!
Caramelized apple slow cooker oatmeal
If you've needed an excuse to have apple pie for breakfast, this recipe from Nourishing Joy is exactly what you're looking for. It's sweet enough to convince even the staunchest of oatmeal haters to dig into a piping hot bowl before heading out the door. It's chock full of apples, brown sugar, and cinnamon — you might even forget you're eating oatmeal. But oatmeal lovers in the family won't be complaining, either, not when the smell of fresh, hot, fruity goodness starts wafting through the house.
The recipe mentions that if apples aren't your cup of tea (or if this becomes such a family favorite that you're looking to mix it up a bit), it's just as good with almost any other type of fruit. If you have some peaches approaching their use-by date, or even blueberries or cherries that you need to use up, this is a great way to do it. Blueberry-apple oatmeal, even? Yes, please!
French toast casserole
French toast might be one of those favorites that you just don't have often enough. It's tough to get it right, and it takes time. Fortunately, your slow cooker can solve all your problems!
First, here's an option that's on the healthy side, from Skinny Ms. This slow cooker French toast casserole isn't your standard French toast, and it also calls for a healthy helping of diced apples and raw pecans. If you're looking for something that's a completely different twist on this old favorite, try this creamy banana French toast from Diethood. It might be good for you, filled with things like honey, bananas, walnuts or pecans, and skim milk, but you'd never know it by the sweet, creamy goodness that comes out of your slow cooker when this one's finished.
Once the autumn months start to roll around, that's the time for all things pumpkin and pumpkin spice. It's a flavor that just can't be beat, and that makes this recipe for slow cooker pumpkin French toast (from Moms with Crockpots) the perfect way to get your pumpkin fix, whether it's actually autumn or if you're just craving something that tastes like those few fall months before the chill of winter sets in.
Hash browns and breakfast potatoes
Sometimes, you don't want healthy for breakfast. Sometimes what you're craving is heavy, hearty, cheesy goodness. If that's the case, Damn Delicious has a recipe that's going to satisfy even the hungriest faces at the breakfast table. These slow cooker cheesy breakfast potatoes are filled with cheddar cheese, andouille chicken sausage, cream of chicken soup, peppers, and onions, for a hearty breakfast that would keep anyone going all day.
If you're thinking that hash browns and potatoes sound like a good idea but you're not a fan of using canned soups as a base, check out this recipe from Chelsea's Messy Apron. Here, there's no shortage of cheddar cheese, and it's all bound together with milk, sour cream, and a dash of butter. Whether you're using these as a side or as a stand-alone breakfast, no one is going to leave the house disappointed!
Grits
Grits will never, ever go to waste, and one of the great things about this Southern classic is that they're great for any meal. It's all about how you make them and what you serve them with, and that means they're great for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
They're tough to make for breakfast for the same reason steel-cut oats are tough: it's a huge time investment. Who has that kind of time in the morning? Fortunately, they're well-suited to cooking overnight in the slow cooker, and Spicy Southern Kitchen gives all the details you need to make sure you wake up to a hot, steamy, creamy bowl of grits in the morning with this recipe. Top with some cheddar cheese and serve with some hot toast or an English muffin on the side, and you'll have a healthy breakfast that won't weigh you down as you tackle whatever the morning throws at you.
Energy bars
That's right! Pick up a box of energy bars at the grocery store, and if you take the time to check the ingredients and nutritional information, you're probably going to be horrified by what you find. Fortunately, you can absolutely make a batch of energy bars in your slow cooker, and not only will they be better for you than anything that comes off the shelf, you're going to know exactly what's in them.
Sugar Free Mom has a recipe for slow cooker personalized baked oatmeal bars that's sure to be a hit, and like the name suggests, the base recipe can be experimented with for a taste everyone in the family is sure to love. The original version calls for things like banana, cinnamon, eggs, and rolled oats for the base of the bar, but the toppings are up to you. The options are endless, and from dried fruit and raisins to coconut and chocolate chips, you can literally dress this one up with whatever you happen to have on hand, and they still can be healthy! If you're a fan of quinoa and just can't seem to find enough ways to use it, Taylor at Food Faith Fitness has a recipe for quinoa energy bars that you can — of course — make right in your slow cooker. Almond butter, almond milk, raisins, dried apples, and chia seeds come together for these bars, and you just might find yourself grabbing these for a snack as well as for breakfast.
This is also great for those of you who are still a little skeptical about finding time to actually sit down and eat breakfast before getting everyone up, ready, and out the door. You won't want to skip breakfast ever again.
Yogurt
Even if yogurt is a long-time breakfast staple in your house, you've probably stood in the grocery store and wished there was something just a little bit different. If you look for the healthy stuff, you're probably wishing for something different every single time you find yourself in the dairy aisle. Fortunately, there's a solution for that: you can make your own yogurt in the slow cooker.
Joyfully Thriving gives a great run-down of everything you need to know in order to make your own yogurt. While it might seem a bit counterproductive, one of the first ingredients is store-bought yogurt. What you're actually doing is using a small amount of store-bought yogurt as a source for the cultures that make yogurt so good for you, and really, you only need to buy a pot of yogurt once. Once you make your first batch in the slow cooker, you can always set aside a bit to start the next batch. But there's nothing wrong with starting from scratch each time, using a bit of vanilla or plain yogurt, and getting completely crazy with all kinds of flavors. Mix in anything from a dash of honey to a handful of hazelnuts, and you're never going to have boring yogurt again.
Even better, you can make your own Greek yogurt. Either one is going to be amazing when you add some of that slow cooker granola you made. Breakfast is going to be a meal you'll want to get out of bed for!