• Home
  • About
  • Blog
  • Services
  • Resources
  • Contact
  • Shop
    • Shop Now
    • Cart
    • Checkout
    • Return Policy
    • My Account
  • Food
  • Family
  • Finances
  • Fundamentals
You are here: Home / Food / Crock Pot Granola

by Stacy  64 Comments

Crock Pot Granola

Crock Pot Granola. The crockpot makes short work of the cooking process, and it’s harder to burn the granola this way.

I just have to tell you that I love my friend, Jill, from The Prairie Homestead. She’s such a sweetheart…and now she’s given me a way that makes it harder to burn granola. She’s a saint I tell ya…a saint.

I really admire those moms (and dads!) who whip up a big breakfast every single day of the week…

As much as I love cooking, breakfast at my house is pretty ho-hum. Since my morning routine involves rushing out the door to do chores and milk the cow before my 2 year- old wakes up, my morning “cuisine” is usually quite simple… (And boring.)

Because I haven’t purchased any sort of boxed cereal for several years now, I usually rotate between oatmeal, scrambled eggs, or yogurt… It gets old after a while.

So, whenever I find a make-ahead recipe that allows me to cook once and still have a decent breakfast for a couple days of my week, I’m thrilled!

I love granola, but rarely make it since I’m excellent at burning it to a crisp.

No matter how much I promise myself that I won’t leave the oven unattended, I do…

Food dehydrators also work for making granola, but my machine tends to heat up my house like crazy. With our recent triple-digit temps, that’s the last thing I need.

So, considering how much I love my slow cooker, I stumbled across several crockpot granola recipes and figured they were definitely worth giving a try.

I really enjoyed this recipe, and I think you will too. Believe it or not, the crockpot makes short work of the cooking process, and it’s harder to burn it this way. (Burning it IS still possible, just more difficult…)

Granola in your Slow Cooker

  • 5 cups old-fashioned rolled oats (not the quick oat kind)
  • 1/2 cup ground flaxseed (optional- see note below)
  • 3/4 cup coconut oil or butter
  • 3/4 cup honey
  • 2 Tablespoons vanilla extract
  • 2 Tablespoons cinnamon
  • 1 1/2 cups unsweetened, shredded coconut
  • 1 cup chopped nuts of your choice
  • 1 to 2 cups dried fruit, chocolate chips, or other mix-in of your choice
  1. In a small saucepan, melt the coconut oil or butter.
  2. Once it has turned into a liquid, mix in the honey.
  3. Mix the oats, flaxseed, coconut, and nuts together in your slow cooker.
  4. Add the honey mixture as well as the vanilla and cinnamon. Stir thoroughly.
  5. Allow the granola to cook on low for 2-4 hours. Give it a quick stir every half hour or so to keep it from burning around the edges. Leave the lid slightly cracked to allow moisture to escape (this prevents soggy granola).
  6. Cooking times will greatly vary depending on your slow cooker. Mine cooks very hot, so 2 hours was almost too long. As the granola gets closer to being finished, it will have a tendency to burn faster, so keep an eye on it.
  7. Allow to cool, then mix in the dried fruit and/or chocolate chips.
  8. Store in the refrigerator in an air-tight container for several weeks.

Top with cold milk, yogurt, or fresh fruit for a quick, easy, and healthy breakfast!

Kitchen Notes:

  1. I usually recommend using raw honey in most of my recipes. However, since you’ll be heating it, it’s not as important in this application.
  2. I like using flax seed since it’s full of healthy Omega-3 fats and it keeps me feeling full longer. However, flaxseed can go rancid very quickly, so I recommend only purchasing whole flax seed and then grinding it as you need it. I simply use a cheap coffee grinder for this task. But if you don’t have it on hand, just leave it out.
  3. This recipe does not require exact measurements. It’s more of a “eyeball-it” sort of deal.
  4. Feel free to substitute to your heart’s content. That’s the best thing about homemade granola- there is really no right or wrong way to make it!

So there you have it- a healthy, yet quick alternative to sugary, store-bought cereals… And, a welcome change from scrambled eggs at my house! 😉

Jill writes from the homestead she shares with her husband, daughter, and ever-changing assortment of animals. When she’s not in the kitchen preparing traditional foods, you’ll find her outside riding horses, growing vegetables, milking her cow, and building fence. She blogs at The Prairie Homestead, where she enjoys encouraging readers to return to their roots, no matter where they may live.

Share this:

  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)

Other Posts You Might Like

About Stacy

Stacy is a Homemaking and Business Mom Mentor, the author of two cookbooks, creator of multiple e-courses, seasoned life coach, and comedian extraordinaire. Her first priority is her husband and her children - family first. She presses on each day because her calling is to teach, train, and mentor other ladies to have their dreams. She believes if it’s not easy, you won’t do it – because she’s lived it. She’ll bring YOU the awesome so that you can get your home back into control and watch your business soar. For tips and easy strategies, you can follow her on Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram.

Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the content above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase an item, I may receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Comment Policy: I love reading your thoughts and input on what you read here. I'm sure we'll disagree sometimes and that's okay! In those cases, do what's right for you and yours. As with any form of communication, only post comments that move the discussion in a positive direction.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Comments

  1. Cat says

    September 26, 2017 at 10:27 am

    I want to thank you for this recipe — it’s become a “go-to” in our house. I throw all kinds of things in (sunflower seeds, chia seeds, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, millet, raw quinoa, all kinds of nuts, hemp hearts…) and often give jars to friends who have had new babies or might need an easy homemade snack. Now everyone wants a jar of the “Kitchen Sink Granola.” I frequently make a nut-free version for the kids to take to school as well. My kids (3 and 6) can almost make this themselves too and they like helping me make it.

    Reply
    • Julie Chittock says

      October 7, 2017 at 8:15 pm

      It’s just such a versatile recipe, isn’t it? I love that it’s easy to customize for different tastes, allergies, budgets, etc. I’m so glad y’all love it too 🙂 Thanks for commenting, Cat!
      Julie, HH Team

      Reply
  2. Evangeline Burkhardt says

    February 7, 2017 at 7:13 am

    This looks delicious… Can’t wait to try

    Reply
  3. lorenztl says

    September 5, 2015 at 11:15 pm

    I have a large stainless steel mixing bowl a friend gave to me; my granola recipe is similar and I used the “overnight in the silver mixing bowl with oven on low ” method. Turn it on, go to bed. Wake with house smelling wonderful. I use the large box of old fashioned oatmeal, sweetner (THM-approved) mixed with bit of black strap molasses, coconut oil, dash of salt, good dashes of cinnamon. When finished I drop some vanilla on and cool, storing in sealed container. Yum. I serve hubby over vanilla yogurt/fruit. I eat with almond mix occasionally.

    Reply
    • Stacy says

      September 7, 2015 at 3:51 pm

      Well, who knew?! That’s super cool! 🙂

      Reply
  4. Melanie says

    July 11, 2014 at 8:56 am

    What size crockpot did you use? I used a 4-qt and it was still going at 4 hours. I ended up putting it on a pan in the still hot oven from baking bread and leaving it to cool. It’s great now, but was really going to take way longer than 4 hours for me. I have a 5-qt and two 6-qts I could use instead.

    Reply
  5. Robinakagoatmom says

    January 26, 2014 at 4:46 pm

    Made this yesterday while doing a lot of batch cooking and bread baking. Easy and delicious. Made essentially as you wrote used coconut oil, half honey and maple syrup, added golden raisins, craisins, dried cherries and blueberries. It’s our favorite granola so far. Burning and turning messiness had been my nemesis in making granola and your recipe solved those problems. Thanks so much for sharing this!

    Reply
    • Stacy says

      January 28, 2014 at 3:45 pm

      Oooooh. Dried cherries are super yum!

      Reply
  6. Kayla says

    April 25, 2013 at 7:40 pm

    I was wondering if you can taste the coconut, i’m not really a coconut person.

    Reply
    • Stacy says

      April 26, 2013 at 8:21 am

      Yes – you could just leave the coconut out or substitute the bulk by using more of the other add-ins.

      Reply
  7. BreeAnna Mcmanus says

    April 19, 2013 at 7:56 pm

    Do you have a porch or an outside outlet to run the dehydrator? As long as it is not raining or snowing then using it outside would be fine and it won’t heat up the house!

    Reply
    • Stacy says

      April 20, 2013 at 7:01 am

      Mine is in our basement. Hooray!

      Reply
  8. Reba Heizer says

    March 19, 2013 at 3:01 pm

    Stacy: Your 10 things I don’t do link doesn’t work!?

    Reply
    • Stacy says

      March 19, 2013 at 4:52 pm

      Thanks! I’ll fix it. 🙂

      Reply
  9. Madison says

    February 9, 2013 at 3:49 pm

    I tried this and it turned out beautifully. Thank you.

    Reply
    • Stacy says

      February 10, 2013 at 8:20 am

      Hurray! I wish I had a big ole bowl right now.

      Reply
  10. Alma says

    February 5, 2013 at 9:09 am

    I loved the flavor of it while I was prepping it. Then I got impatient, put the crock pot on high, and burned it. Yes, I burned probably the best tasting granola ever!!! Now I have to wait a few weeks until I can make it again. The good thing is that I added chocolate chips and the kids love it, well done and all!! Thanks Stacy. I am going to try to make the crock pot yogurt today. Prayerfully it will go well.

    Reply
    • Stacy says

      February 5, 2013 at 10:52 am

      I’m sure it will go great! 🙂 Put the yogurt and granola together and you’ve got a true treat!

      Reply
  11. Bethany says

    September 11, 2012 at 2:20 pm

    Could you use whole flax seed? I haven’t done a whole lot with flax seed but I do have some on hand right now…I don’t have a Coffee grinder…any other suggestions?

    Reply
    • Jill says

      September 11, 2012 at 4:27 pm

      Hmmm… I’m actually not sure. I personally have never used whole flax seed in anything, so I’m not certain how it would turn out. I can’t help but think that it might be a little tough to chew? Do you have a mortar & pestle? That might work for grinding.

      Reply
      • Rebekah says

        December 20, 2014 at 12:05 am

        I know I’m late on this conversation, but for future reference, I grind my flax seeds in a blender (Magic Bullet with the blender blade) and it works fine!

        Reply
  12. Michele says

    September 10, 2012 at 11:22 pm

    I’ve been making homemade granola for quite sometime now. I have 5 boys still at home, and it certainly doesn’t last weeks at our house. More like DAYS!! I have to make granola about every 3 days because they scarf it up so quickly! I substitute maple syrup for the honey because honey is so expensive. I recently canned some plum & peach syrup, & I’m going to try using that next time I make granola. My boys are already salivating & can’t wait to sample the results!!

    Reply
    • Stacy says

      September 11, 2012 at 6:18 am

      Plum syrup? Yes please!

      Reply
  13. Diana says

    September 5, 2012 at 3:58 pm

    What is the appropriate way to store and how long does coconut oil last once opened?? Thanks!

    Reply
    • Stacy says

      September 6, 2012 at 6:09 am

      I just store mine at room temperature. If I buy in quantity, I keep the rest in a cool place (my basement). I’ve never had any go bad…it has a LONG shelf life. It should last at least a year.

      Reply
  14. Diana says

    September 5, 2012 at 3:56 pm

    I just have to let you and others know that I prepared to make this recipe and realized that I dont own a coffee grinder but since I did have whole flax seed I tried my magic bullet and it ground the flax seed beautifully!

    Reply
    • Stacy says

      September 6, 2012 at 6:09 am

      It’s magic! 🙂 Sorry, could not resist.

      Reply
  15. alice says

    August 9, 2012 at 7:06 pm

    Just had to say- this was AMAZING stuff… I’ve never made my own granola before, but this was super easy to make and turned out perfectly. Much better than the boxed stuff. I made as directed except I ommitted the coconut (couldn’t find unsweetened) and I substituted some of the honey for maple syrup. Thanks!

    (A side note- I’ve always kept my flax seed in the pantry without any problems. After reading this recipe I looked on the bag and it does say that it will keep longer in the refrigerator- but I’ve had the same bag for a few months and it’s fine).

    Reply
    • Stacy says

      August 10, 2012 at 6:55 am

      I’m going to have to make a big batch of this – and freeze it to have on hand when The Bean arrives. 🙂

      Reply
  16. Danielle @ More Than Four Walls says

    August 8, 2012 at 1:34 pm

    I gotta say, the recipe gets better every time I make it. I’ve made 4 batches (yes, we eat that much) since you published. Each time I tweak just a bit, pinch more cinnamon, add nutmeg, etc, etc.

    It is so versatile!

    thank you!!

    Reply
    • Stacy says

      August 8, 2012 at 2:26 pm

      Hey – it’s good for you…crock away, baby!

      Reply
  17. susan gurgul says

    July 28, 2012 at 9:53 am

    Instead of flaxseed could chai seed be used? To my knowledge the chai seed do not go ranscid so I’m wondering if that would be an option. Otherwise I can’t wait to try this, I Love Granola, but I don’t like buying it.

    Reply
    • Stacy says

      July 28, 2012 at 12:54 pm

      I don’t like buying it either….and I would think chai seed would work just fine. 🙂

      Reply
  18. Susan says

    July 23, 2012 at 11:47 am

    Hi, I’ve made this twice now and it’s delicious. Thanks for sharing! On a side note, do you think it’s necessary to keep it in the refrigerator? My batch last night made three full quarts and they take up quite a bit of space in there.

    Thanks!
    Susan

    Reply
    • Stacy says

      July 23, 2012 at 12:47 pm

      I think it’s necessary to keep the flax from going rancid. But if you leave the flax out I would think it would be fine. 🙂

      Reply
    • Darlene says

      July 21, 2016 at 12:57 am

      The flax seed won’t go rancid before you eat it up, unless you don’t eat it very often and want it in storage – So then I would use an oxygen absorber in each jar and then put a lid and ring and tighten.

      I have flax seed in my kitchen cupboard (it’s whole seeds, not milled) in a mason jar with a lid on it and it’s still not rancid 2 years later.
      hth

      Reply
  19. Anne @ Quick and Easy Cheap and Healthy says

    July 16, 2012 at 8:14 am

    LOL, I am the weird exception who finds it easier to burn granola in the crock pot than in the oven. I tried a few times and gave up; usually I cook it at 200 in the oven for a couple hours and it turns out perfectly. I think my crock pot must cook really high.

    Reply
    • Stacy says

      July 16, 2012 at 2:13 pm

      My mom has one of those….it’s funny how every single crock pot is different.

      Reply
  20. Adrienne @ Whole New Mom says

    July 14, 2012 at 1:29 pm

    Thanks!! I am so glad in this HOT weather to have this option! Jill’s great. I’m sharing on my facebook page.

    Reply
    • Stacy says

      July 14, 2012 at 3:24 pm

      Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
  21. Lois says

    July 14, 2012 at 1:23 pm

    Living with no stove, my slow cooker is my main way of cooking, but I had never thought of making granola in it. Thanks for the recipe.

    Reply
    • Stacy says

      July 14, 2012 at 3:25 pm

      Crock pots are such a great option for those with limited cooking capabilities! 🙂

      Reply
  22. Brenda says

    July 14, 2012 at 11:35 am

    I’m looking forward to giving this a try. I just have one question…I thought it was import to soak oats before using them? Do you start with dry oats?

    Reply
    • Stacy says

      July 14, 2012 at 3:31 pm

      I will let Jill answer for how she does it, but our family doesn’t soak grains. 🙂
      See this post – http://www.stacymakescents.com/why-i-dont-soak-grains

      Reply
    • Jill says

      September 11, 2012 at 4:29 pm

      I start with dry oats. It really depends on who you talk to… I used to soak everything quite religiously, but it didn’t really make a difference for my family. But, I’m sure you could definitely use soaked oats in this recipe if you prefer.

      Reply
  23. patti says

    July 14, 2012 at 10:20 am

    Hi and Thank You for this wonderful recipe…
    I like using molassas, also, in my granola. Great Health benefits and moderate on the glycemic scale for us Diabetics…
    Can’t wait to try this.

    PS I keep my ground flax seed in the frig (I just checked the date as I label everything…it’s been there since 2008 and still not rancid. I, obviously, don’t use it a lot !!! )

    Reply
    • Stacy says

      July 14, 2012 at 4:04 pm

      Molasses lends such a unique taste!

      Reply
  24. Deb says

    July 14, 2012 at 8:59 am

    This is so awesome! I used this method last night, but just used my own granola recipe. I cooked it for 2 hours on low, stirring every 30 minutes. It wasn’t quite done at that point, but it was bedtime so I switched it to the warm setting and went to bed. 8 hours later it was perfectly crisp and toasty. AND we had hot granola for breakfast, which is super good!
    Bonus: It’s way easier to stir in the crock pot than it is on pans:)
    Thanks for such a fantastic idea, Jill!

    Reply
    • Stacy says

      July 14, 2012 at 4:13 pm

      I’m not sure about Jill….but stirring is my biggest problem with granola – not burning! I always stir it out and get it everywhere. LOL

      Reply
  25. Danielle @ More Than Four Walls says

    July 14, 2012 at 8:36 am

    It’s in the crock put now and I must say…..it smells heavenly and tastes great too. (I couldn’t resist a sampling) 🙂

    Reply
  26. Danielle @ More Than Four Walls says

    July 14, 2012 at 4:58 am

    Not only is this awesome but it is timely. Today’s list of kitchen activities includes making granola and i’m going to give this a try.

    I’ll let you know how it works!

    Reply
    • Stacy says

      July 14, 2012 at 7:19 am

      Woohoo! I love posts that work out like that. 🙂

      Reply
  27. Stefani Longo says

    July 13, 2012 at 10:04 pm

    Just wanted to tell you how much of an encouragment you have been to me and my dear mom. We would love to see more about your cow!!!

    Irene and Stefani Longo

    Reply
  28. Jami Leigh says

    July 13, 2012 at 6:10 pm

    Oh that looks fantastic!! Im really boring with breakfasts too. And lunch lol

    Reply
  29. Nina Nelson says

    July 13, 2012 at 12:48 pm

    Awesome, thank you! I’m definitely an eyeball it sort of cook. I’ll be making some in the next few days with this method. (and keeping my fingers crossed that I don’t burn it this way, too). Have you tried making it with maple syrup instead of honey?

    Reply
    • Stacy says

      July 13, 2012 at 4:09 pm

      I’ve never tried Jill’s method, but I have successfully switched out honey for maple syrup in tons of other granola recipes. 🙂

      Reply
    • Jill says

      July 13, 2012 at 6:57 pm

      I haven’t tried it with maple syrup, but I’m betting that it’d work just great!

      Reply
  30. Jamie says

    July 13, 2012 at 9:07 am

    Wow, I can’t wait to try this! Is the pot hard to clean afterward? (Yes, I’m that lazy, lol!)
    Do you think it would work for grain-free granola as well? (Nut pieces instead of oats.)
    I’m of a like persuasion regarding honey. Why use expensive raw if it’s just going to be cooked? I like to get cheaper honey for cooking and save the raw for truly raw recipes and for the kids to get unpleasant things down. 🙂
    Also, I never thought of adding flax seed and keeping the granola in the fridge. Great tips. Thanks!!!

    Reply
    • Stacy says

      July 13, 2012 at 4:15 pm

      I can get just about anything off my pot by letting it soak in baking soda water. 🙂

      Reply
    • Jill says

      July 13, 2012 at 6:56 pm

      The pot isn’t hard to clean at all- thankfully! 🙂
      And, I think that it should work just fine for grain-free granola, too.

      Reply
  31. [email protected] says

    July 13, 2012 at 8:44 am

    I love making homemade granola, and I’m so pumped to try it in the crock pot! Thanks for sharing your recipe, Jill! Pinning this one for sure!

    Reply
    • Stacy says

      July 13, 2012 at 4:16 pm

      Jill rocks my face off.

      Reply
  32. Nickie says

    July 13, 2012 at 6:16 am

    Hi, can you give me some things to look for to know when this is nearing “done”? I am new to cooking granola. I am assuming I am trying to dry it out/incorporate the butter/oil into the oats? Thanks!

    Reply
    • Stacy says

      July 13, 2012 at 6:43 am

      It should start to look a golden brown and be dry. You don’t want it TOO brown because it will continue to crisp as it cools. 🙂

      Reply


Hello! I’m Stacy!

I believe God created you to be the hero of your home. You CAN manage your home instead of it managing you. That’s why I empower women with simple solutions for their homemaking needs – because if it’s not easy, you won’t do it. {Read More…}

As Featured on the Dave Ramsey Show

Stuff You Really Should Check Out

home management course

© 2023 Myers Family Brands LLC · All Rights Reserved. · Privacy Policy