Slow Cooker Banana & PB Oatmeal
- March 24, 2021
- Ashley Tyrner
Prep
5 mins
cook
2 hrs
serves
6
If there is one kitchen tool that has truly made my life easier, it would be my slow cooker. I’ve discovered there are so many deliciously diverse recipes you can prepare in a time-friendly manner using it, which has made it a weekly staple in my household. I find that it is best to use when preparing large quantities and wanting to make them in batches to freeze and enjoy at a later time. Simply toss your ingredients into the slow cooker, and allow the device to do all the work for you while you go about your day. You’ll return home in the evening with a delicious aroma and your meal all ready to go!
One thing I love to use my slow cooker for is preparing large breakfast recipes. I’ll do this on a Sunday or Monday as part of my meal prepping efforts, and then I have a healthy breakfast already made for the week. On the mornings of, it’s as effortless as heating up a serving and you’re done! Peanut butter banana oatmeal has always been one of my favorite recipes because it is satisfying, nutritious, and always holds me over with steady energy until lunchtime. We’ll jump into the recipe further down, but first let’s go over what makes this breakfast so nutrition-packed!
Why we should all be eating more bananas
Firstly, I totally understand that bananas are really a hit or miss type fruit. While some people love them and wouldn’t mind eating several a day, there are also the people sensitive to the smell or the peel alone. I get it. But as someone who really enjoys bananas, what I love is that they are so incredibly versatile, and not to mention the perfect treat for satisfying a sweet tooth. They are tasty raw and as is (personally I prefer them when they are a little more spotty and much sweeter.) Frozen they make an amazing ice cream alternative, whether they are again just eaten as is, or served as the base to the most life changing dairy-free nice cream recipe. Ripe and mashed up they make a great egg substitute in baking, and of course they are a necessity to any rich, creamy smoothie recipe. Plus when it comes to the health benefits of bananas, there are almost too many to list!
Along with being low in calories and high in fiber, one medium-sized banana contains potassium, vitamins B6 & C, magnesium, copper, manganese, and even a small amount of protein!
Additional Benefits Include
- Moderating blood sugar levels
Bananas rank low on the glycemic index chart, which is a simple measure of how quickly certain foods cause spikes in blood sugar levels. Because of this positioning, eating this fruit contributes to a more stable blood sugar.
- Improving digestion
The two types of dietary fiber found in bananas, both pectin (found in the fruit when ripe) and resistant starch (present when unripe) helps feed healthy gut bacteria that can contribute to improved digestion.
- Helping you to feel more full
The fiber provided by ripe and unripe bananas may help to reduce appetite levels and leave you feeling more full and satisfied. This is super important for people wanting to consume more raw fruits and veggies but who feel like they are never entirely satiated after. Bananas are a wonderful nutritionally-dense and yet low calorie snack for in between meals, or when wanting to add some healthy bulk to your fruit bowl, or even better, when you want to add some more vitamins and minerals to your oatmeal!
On the topic of feeling more full, this is one reason why one of my go-to breakfast meals is definitely peanut butter banana oats. I’ve experimented with this recipe in my search to find the best one and although I love my peanut butter and banana overnight oats, this slow cooker recipe tops it. I think that because of the heat involved in the process, all of the flavors really have the chance to warm and melt into each other. Plus the smell filling your house during the cooking time is all the more a treat!
Oats are one of my favorite grains and can be considered one of the healthiest due to their impressive nutrition stats. These whole grains provide a solid source of carbohydrates, fiber, and antioxidants to your diet. Just some of the nutrients found within these little flakes are manganese, magnesium, iron, zinc, and vitamins B1 & B5. And because there are several different oatmeal variations you can make like muffins, loafs, cookies, and even milk, it’s simple to incorporate them into your daily diet. Talk about a pantry must-have!
In today’s banana & PB oatmeal recipe, we are going to let the slow cooker pose as the star of the show. No prep involved here, gather all of your ingredients, toss them in, and go about your day! Cook up a large batch of this stuff, and your breakfasts are meal prepped for the week. Just heat it up in the morning and add some more fresh banana on top. The fruit gives it a sweetness, the peanut butter offers some plant-based protein, and the oats will have you feeling satisfied and fully focused on conquering the day ahead of you!
Be sure to try out this recipe and tag us at @FarmboxRx and using the hashtag #FarmboxRx so that we can find your creations.
Ingredients
1 cup steel cut oats
4 cup coconut milk
3 medium bananas, 1 for topping
5 tbsp peanut butter
6 tbsp pure maple syrup
1 tsp cinnamon
¼ tsp nutmeg
Pinch of salt
Directions
- Add oats, coconut milk, two bananas, peanut butter, maple syrup, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt to the slow cooker and stir until combined.
- Cook on high for 2 hours, or low for 4 hours, stirring occasionally, or until steel cut oats are thick and creamy.
- Top with the third banana and stir in. Serve warm, or reheat with a splash of coconut milk throughout the week!
Slow Cooker Banana & PB Oatmeal
Print Recipe Pin RecipeEquipment
- Slow cooker
Ingredients
- 1 cup steel cut oats
- 4 cup coconut milk
- 3 bananas medium, 1 for topping
- 5 tbsp peanut butter
- 6 tbsp pure maple syrup
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp nutmeg
- 1 pinch salt
Instructions
- Add oats, coconut milk, two bananas, peanut butter, maple syrup, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt to the slow cooker and stir until combined.
- Cook on high for 2 hours, or low for 4 hours, stirring occasionally, or until steel cut oats are thick and creamy.
- Top with the third banana and stir in. Serve warm, or reheat with a splash of coconut milk throughout the week!
1 thought on “Slow Cooker Banana & PB Oatmeal”
What can you use if your allergic to coconut in substitute of coconut milk