This Sweet Potato Oatmeal recipe is a healthy breakfast dish that has all of the flavors of classic, warm pie. Top this with pecans, granola, honey, maple syrup, or any of your favorite toppings.
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If you’re out of ideas for meal prep and breakfast you will love the flavors of warm classic sweet potato pie in this recipe.
What Type of Oats to Use
You can use old-fashioned rolled oats or steel-cut oats in this recipe. You cannot use quick or Instant Oats (unless you use the stove top method).
Do You Have to Peel the Sweet Potatoes?
This is up to you and is a matter of preference. Peeling the sweet potatos will result in a creamier texture. Sweet potato skins are loaded with tons of nutrients so it’s beneficial to leave them on if you wish. This skin is full of potassium, manganese, and vitamins A, C, and E, all of which may help improve your health. Eating the skin will reward you with anti-inflammatory and anticancer benefits as well.
How to Make Sweet Potato Oatmeal (Two Ways)
Detailed measurements and full instructions can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- Stovetop
- Slow Cooker or Crockpot
If you want to use an Instant Pot for this recipe, check out my Instant Pot Apple Steel Cut Oats recipe.
Cook Time and How Long to Cook
For the stovetop method you will need to use fully cooked, mashed sweet potatoes. You can bake your sweet potatoes (425 degrees for 60 minutes or more until tender), air fry (35-50 minutes on 400 degrees or until tender), or boil them (15-20 minutes or until the potatoes are tender). Once you have cooked and mashed your sweet potatoes, add it to the oatmeal.
For the slow cooker method, rolled oats will need to be cooked for 2 1/2-3 hours on High or 5-6 hours on Low.
For steel-cut oats cook for 3-4 hours on High or 6-8 hours on Low. Your cook time will vary based on the slow cooker you use (they all cook at different speeds!) and how you like your oatmeal. If you like it thick you will need to cook it a little longer.
Dice the Sweet Potatoes
If you are using rolled oats and the slow cooker method, it’s imporate to dice the sweet potatoes into 1/2-1 inch chunks. This will make it easier for them to cook and soften in the Crockpot without overcooking the oats.
If you are using steel cut oats you will cook the oatmeal longer using the slow cooker method and the size of the sweet potatoes makes less of a difference
Toppings and Ideas for Add-Ins
- Nuts and pecans
- Protein powder (my favorite add-in! I love to add 3/4-to a full scoop to make it a protein filled meal)
- Monkfruit Maple Syrup
- Honey
- Yogurt
- Bananas
- Blueberries
- Shredded Coconut
- Granola
How to Store
Leftovers can be stored in the fridge tightly covered and sealed for 3-4 days.
Freezer Tips
You can freeze oatmeal tightly covered and sealed for up to 6 months. Defrost overnight in the fridge.
More Oatmeal and Breakfast Recipes
Slow Cooker Crockpot Apple Oatmeal
Instant Pot Apple Steel Cut Oatmeal
Pumpkin Crisp Recipe
Healthy Sugar Free Apple Crisp
Fried Potatoes and Onions
Hashbrown Breakfast Casserole
Pumpkin Baked Oatmeal
Chocolate Chip Banana Protein Muffins
More Sweet Potato Recipes
Sugar Free Sweet Potato Pie
Southern Sweet Potato Casserole
Mashed Sweet Potatoes with Brown Sugar
Sweet Potato Beef Chili
Sweet Potato Cornbread
Sweet Potato Avocado Toast
Sweet Potato Soup
Sweet Potato Oatmeal
Ingredients
- 1 medium sweet potato Mine weighed 13 oz. Peeled and diced into chunks 1/2-1 inch thick
- 1 cup oatmeal Steel cut or rolled oats
- 2 cups milk Any milk will work, milk of choice.
- 1 cup water Can be substituted for milk.
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
- 2 tablespoons sweetener or sugar Adjust to suit your taste.
Instructions
Slow Cooker Instructions
- Spray the slow cooker with cooking oil to prevent sticking. Add all of the ingredients to the slow cooker.
- For rolled oats cook for 2 1/2-3 hours on High or 5-6 hours on LowFor steel-cut oats cook for 3-4 hours on High or 6-8 hours on Low. Your cook time will vary based on the slow cooker you use (they all cook at different speeds!) and how you like your oatmeal. If you like it thick you will need to cook it a little longer.
- Open the pot and mash the sweet potatoes.
- Taste repeatedly and add additional sweetener if necessary. You can thin out overly thick oatmeal with additional milk or water until it reaches your desired texture.
Stovetop Method (Uses cooked and mashed sweet potato)
- If cooking your oatmeal on the stove, follow the measurements and instructions on your packaging. Disregard the liquid measurements noted above.
- Once your oatmeal is cooked, add in the vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, sweetener or sugar, and cooked sweet potato. Stir and serve.
Crystal
Sunday 10th of November 2024
So delicious and really easy to make, especially in a crockpot. It's a great recipe to add to the oatmeal rotation.
staysnatched
Thursday 14th of November 2024
I'm glad you enjoyed it!
Sara
Saturday 18th of February 2023
I did this in my slow cooker with gluten free oats and almond milk. I am very pleased with how it turned out! I’ve never been much on oatmeal but thought I would give it a try with the sweet potatoes. Having this prepped on the days I can’t make my usual breakfast is going to be so helpful! Thanks, Brandi!
staysnatched
Saturday 18th of February 2023
I'm glad you enjoyed it.
Shannon
Sunday 5th of February 2023
Delish! Perfection! Nailed it! I’ve made this four times in 2023 and found my go to breakfast. It heats up great to enjoy all week! Thank you so much!
staysnatched
Sunday 5th of February 2023
You're welcome! I'm glad you enjoy it!
Anne D
Thursday 12th of January 2023
So yummy and easy. I did the variation with steel cuts oats on low in the slow cooker for 8 hours. I let it go ~9 hours since I let it cook overnight. The steel cut oats had a creamier consistency because they cooked for so long. I am not sure I would recommend going over the time Brandi specified because the sweet potatoes floated to the top and were starting to char. It was still so delicious! My husband was a little skeptical about the sweet potatoes, but texted me from work how delicious the oatmeal was, and that it "didn't need any sugar!" I made 1 and 1/2 batches and froze some in souper cubes and had the rest for breakfast all week. Will be making this again next week!
staysnatched
Thursday 12th of January 2023
So glad to hear it!
Sydney
Sunday 18th of September 2022
I don’t normally like oatmeal, but I gave this to try and it was amazing! So flavorful and makes for an easy week now that breakfast is already prepped
staysnatched
Monday 19th of September 2022
I'm glad you enjoyed it.