Make breakfast with these 20 mouth-watering slow-cooker recipes

Apple coffee cake? We like all three of those words. We also like that this mouth-watering breakfast recipe from Get Crocked can be made in a slow cooker. Peeling the apples can be a pain (we know) but this recipe only asks for four, and the rest of the process is a snap! So, how do you like them apples?

Looking for something quick, easy, and pleasing for all? This Betty Crocker banana bread recipe is just what you need. It only requires six ingredients and 15 minutes of prep. Even after that, the time in the slow cooker is minimal – just 3.5 hours – making it perfect for brunch-time.

This ain’t your mother’s French toast. Diethood recommends using French bread, bananas, cream cheese, honey, and chopped nuts (optional) to add to the typical recipe ingredients like eggs, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla, and milk.

Who would’ve thought that biscuits and gravy can be made in a slow cooker? B-Inspired Mama, that’s who. Although the recipe doesn’t use whole biscuits, the technique is actually quite brilliant, because it turns biscuits and gravy into a side dish, so there’s still room for eggs, hash browns, or any other breakfast items.

As you can tell, this bread isn’t really black, it’s brown, thanks to the addition of molasses, cocoa, and (surprise!) Starbucks instant coffee. Kleinworth & Co. gets all the credit for this breakfast bread, which can be eaten plain or smeared with jam, jelly, or butter (more on those toppings later).

We could all use a bit more jamming in the morning, so be sure to try this blackberry jam recipe from Healing Tomato. There are a lot of variations out there, but we prefer this one because it calls for fresh blackberries and freshly squeezed lime juice. After all, all you need is sugar and nutmeg!

Not only do these breakfast burritos come packed with eggs, cheese, sausage, and hash browns, but the dish is also low fat and gluten-free. Oddly enough, this specific recipe doesn’t come from a major recipe publication, but instead from a list of braces-friendly meals from Northern Colorado Orthodontics. Oh well, whatever works!

Sure, this breakfast potato beauty might seem like just a side dish, but when mixed with peppers and onions, it could easily become a meal on its own. Requiring only 15 minutes of prep, this recipe from Well Plated could also become one of your go-to meals.

Grits? Good. Cheese? Great. Bacon? Even better. Although this recipe from Spicy Southern Kitchen doesn’t actually call for bacon, it also doesn’t say you shouldn’t add bacon, so we did. And with seven hours of time in the Crock Pot, this dish is the perfect thing to make right before bedtime. (Bonus: You’ll wake up to the smell of bacon cooking, just how Michael Scott likes it.) Add some shrimp too!

Packed with protein, vitamins, and fiber, steel-cut oatmeal is by far the healthiest variety—but it doesn’t have to be bland and boring. This version from Running to the Kitchen uses a chocolate and cherry base, with a topping made of cherries, water, and almond extract. If you don’t have the last ingredient, just slide and dice cherries and some almonds and throw them right on top.

Don’t worry about heating up the oven; if you wake up early, these cinnamon buns can be put into the slow cooker – simply set it and forget it. But don’t go too far, because these sweet and sticky treats from Martha Stewart only take 90 minutes to cook.

Cooking in a Crock Pot isn’t just about meals and sides, there are also snacks, like this granola recipe from Barefeet in the Kitchen. It combines oats, almonds, and raisins with peanut butter, honey, coconut oil, cinnamon, and vanilla for some midday munchies that we’re certain won’t last very long.

Not only does this ham and potato casserole hit the spot when prepared according to this recipe from The Spruce, but the folks over there even threw in some variations. For instance, you could swap out the ham for vegetarian sausage or bacon, you could add some green or red peppers for extra flavor, or even throw in a Cajun or Creole seasoning to spice things up. 

Pumpkins are definitely a cold-weather food, so we wanted to be sure to include them in Hot Breakfast Month before the temperatures start rising. As for now, the only rising temps will be in your slow cooker, which can make this pumpkin butter from Practical Stewardship with just five ingredients and five minutes of prep. Once it’s done, swirl it into yogurt, spread it on butter, or heck, just eat it right out of the jar!

Quinoa in the morning, quinoa in the evening, quinoa at suppertime… and unlike pizza bagels, this meal is actually healthy! Get the recipe from ifoodreal, which includes quinoa, coconut milk, maple syrup or honey, and any fruits and nuts you’d like on top.

Not a morning person? Perhaps you need to start treating breakfast like it’s a fiesta. Taste of Home can get you started with this Southwestern breakfast casserole recipe that blends eggs, cheese, ham, black beans, corn, and pico de gallo. Or mix it up and add chorizo in place of ham for a real treat. 

“Sticky pecan buns” sort of sounds like what would happen if you accidentally sat on a plate of candied pecans, but it’s actually the name of a recipe from Amy’s Healthy Baking. And boy, is it accurate. These rolls are so gooey on top that you can barely recognize what’s underneath. Not that that’s necessary; your taste buds will recognize the flavor right away. It’s the flavor of absolute heaven.

Our old friend oatmeal is back again! This recipe from A Mind”full” Mom combines the oats with strawberries, milk, Greek yogurt, cinnamon, and vanilla for a sweet and creamy start to the day. The prep only takes five minutes, and then it all goes into the slow cooker for eight hours – exactly the amount of time you should spend sleeping.

Our friends at Dietist are at it again. This time, they deliver a veggie omelette containing broccoli, red pepper, yellow onion, and tomato. Of course, that’s not everything that goes into this Crock Pot classic, so be sure to consult the recipe for the exact details.

Did you know you can make large batches of yogurt in your slow cooker? Not only is this true, it’s also easy! You just need two ingredients and 12 hours of time. That might sound like a lot, but the prep is a minuscule five minutes, with your slow cooker doing the rest of the work for you. Bless This Mess has the details here.