Overnight Steel Cut Oats

I am not a morning person. Therefore, I stay in bed as long as I can, then rush around like a crazy person to get ready in less than 20 minutes. Because of my tight timeline, preparing breakfast can’t take more than 5 minutes. Usually this means a quick bowl of cereal or a granola bar, but with this recipe, I can have a wholesome, filling breakfast in 5 minutes!

Steel cut oats are the king of the oatmeal family. They are higher in fiber and protein than regular oats, and have a lower glycemic index than instant oatmeal, causing a lower spike in insulin. The texture is a little chewier than regular oats, and they have a bit of a nuttier taste to them, but they are delicious! They typically take about 30 minutes to make, but when you soak them overnight, they only need to cook for 5-10 minutes. It’s hard to beat a healthy, hot breakfast that keeps you full all morning ready in less than 5 minutes! This is really a bare bones recipe – you can add whatever you like to your oats. I like to eat mine with a banana and some walnuts.

Overnight Steel Cut Oats
Yields: 3-4 servings

Ingredients:
1 cup steel cut oats
1 3/4 cups fat free milk
2 tablespoons brown sugar
4 ounces all-natural applesauce
1 teaspoon cinnamon
pinch of salt

Suggestions for mix-in’s – banana, diced apples, nutmeg, peanut butter, nuts, almond butter, nutella, chocolate chips, etc. – The list is endless!

Directions:
In a nonmetal bowl, combine oats, brown sugar, applesauce, cinnamon and salt and stir to combine. Stir in milk; cover and chill for 8 to 24 hours.

To serve, transfer oatmeal mixture to a medium saucepan. Heat the oats just until it begins to boil, then reduce the heat to low. Simmer, uncovered, for 5 minutes or until oatmeal is done, adding additional milk if desired and stirring occasionally.

Remove from heat. Add your favorite mix-ins, and serve with additional milk, if desired.

Adapted from: Good Life Eats as seen on The Novice Chef