The BEST low-carb keto chocolate granola that's cooked in the slow cooker (with a hint of orange zest).
This easy healthy breakfast meal prep takes only 5 minutes to prepare and is only 2.9 grams net carbs per serving.
Discover how to cook chocolate granola in the slow cooker. Perfect for hot summers when you don't want the oven on in a hot kitchen.
You will love the chocolate flavor and all the different textures (thanks to the coconut flakes).
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How to meal prep for a healthy breakfast
Granola recipes are the perfect healthy breakfast meal prep.
Make a big batch of breakfast granola while you're cooking dinner and that's breakfast meal prep done for the next 2 weeks.
You can cook homemade granola baked in the oven or in the slow cooker. Both will be crunchy and delicious.
On busy mornings you can serve a scoop with unsweetened yogurt, low-sugar berries, and coconut cream. Throw some protein powder on top if you are on a high-protein low-carb diet.
Homemade granola ingredients
Luckily, slow cooker grain-free granola uses simple pantry ingredients you probably have in your cupboard right now. And the recipe is so adaptable, that you can easily swap the ingredients for another seed, nut, or flavor.
Have fun experimenting with your favorite flavors, but this is what I recommend as a good starting point for a dark chocolate granola:
See the keto chocolate granola recipe card below for quantities.
- Cacao nibs - sugar-free chocolate chips
- Cocoa powder - any type of dark unsweetened cocoa powder will enhance the chocolate flavors
- Coconut oil - this is a fantastic source of healthy fats and is a dairy-free alternative to butter
- Shredded coconut - use unsweetened coconut flakes
- Pumpkin seeds - full of fiber and protein, these seeds are also low-carb
- Sunflower seeds - these add a natural nuttiness to the granola
- Orange zest - this brightens the granola and gives it a boost of vitamin C
- Slivered almonds - they add a delightful crunch and a bit more protein too
- Sweetener - use a granular sweetener or liquid sweetener or a maple syrup replacement.
Which keto sweetener is best?
The most popular sugar replacements to use are sweeteners that taste like real sugar but don't raise blood sugar.
The most commonly used sweeteners in the keto sweeteners guide are granulated erythritol, powdered erythritol, allulose, stevia powder, stevia drops, xylitol, and monk fruit.
Certain sweeteners such as maltitol and some sugar alcohols should be avoided. Also avoid adding brown sugar, coconut sugar, agave nectar, or regular maple syrup.
How to make granola in the slow-cooker
You'll mix and make everything right in the bowl of the slow cooker, so you don't even need a large mixing bowl or even two mixing bowls for the wet ingredients and dry ingredients. Hooray for fewer dishes! I love this recipe.
Simply place all the ingredients into the slow cooker and then stir the mixture evenly until all the seeds, nuts, and coconut flakes are coated in cocoa powder and coconut oil.
Turn the slow cooker to HIGH and cook for 2 hours, stirring every 15 minutes.
Alternatively, turn the slow cooker to LOW and cook for 4 hours. Stir every 30 minutes.
Each slow cooker will vary considerably. So adjust your cooking time and frequency of stirring as needed to prevent burning.
What to serve with keto granola
The chocolate granola is usually served when cooled to room temperature. However, it can be served hot from the slow cooker with heavy cream for a quick and easy keto porridge recipe.
You will love the chocolate flavor and that it is naturally sweetened by the coconut and orange zest.
Keto granola can be served with:
- Unsweetened plain Greek yogurt
- Homemade yogurt
- Stir in your favorite nut butter - almond butter, peanut butter, or "keto Nutella"
- Coconut cream
- Low-sugar berries
- Extra coconut flakes or coconut chips sprinkled on top
- Sugar-free keto maple syrup
- Whipped heavy cream and some sugar-free chocolate chips for a quick lazy keto dessert
Storage
Allow the chocolate granola to cool completely before storing it in an airtight container.
You can store chocolate granola in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a month, in the fridge for up to two months, and you can even freeze chocolate granola in a freezer-safe airtight container or Ziplock bag for up to 3 months.
Substitutions
Are certain ingredients stopping you from making this granola recipe? Below you will find our recommendations for common substitutions for this healthy chocolate granola recipe.
- Melted coconut oil - use either melted butter or ghee but you will have to store the granola in a fridge.
- Orange zest - replace with the zest from any type of citrus fruit. Try it with lemon or lime or both.
- Cacao nibs - Allow it to cool completely before you add sugar-free dark chocolate chips at the very end.
- Nuts and seeds - you can completely adjust which variety of nuts and seeds you use to make your chocolate granola depending on your preferences and allergies
The above substitutions are great alternatives that will keep your chocolate granola keto, low-carb, and gluten-free.
Variations
Take your keto chocolate granola up a notch with these tasty recommendations below. Make your homemade granola zesty, with bits of chocolate, or fruity!
- Dark chocolate granola - dark chocolate chips or dark cocoa powder
- Fruity - use (sparingly) a few dried fruit like dried cherries or blueberries. Just make sure to watch the carb count and only use unsweetened versions!
- Baked - use the oven, place the ingredients on a baking sheet covered in parchment paper and bake at low heat for 2 hours.
- Vanilla - add a teaspoon of vanilla extract (vanilla essence) for a richer flavor.
- Salty - make chocolate sea salt granola by adding a teaspoon of sea salt.
- High-fiber - chia seeds are a fantastic addition.
Expert recipe tips
- To stop the grain-free granola from burning whilst cooking in the slow cooker, you must stir occasionally.
- Each slow cooker will vary, so be guided by your own instruction manual.
- Turn your slow cooker onto a LOW setting and stir every half hour.
- Alternatively, cook on HIGH, but be prepared to stir more frequently. I recommend stirring about every 15 minutes. Just set your timer so you don't forget! You'll also get some free exercise getting up-down-up-down.
- While you wait you can plan some meals (or get keto meal plans made for you)
FAQs about keto chocolate granola
Yes, this recipe is much healthier than other granola recipes and the kind you buy from the store. On the keto diet, always avoid rolled oats, steel-cut oats, or sweeteners like maple syrup, honey, agave syrup, brown sugar, or coconut sugar. This wonderful recipe is made with whole foods that are full of protein, fiber, and vitamins.
No, maple syrup is not a keto-friendly sweetener. Neither is coconut sugar or brown sugar. If you want this chocolate granola to be sweetened naturally, add more cocoa powder and orange zest.
The suggested serving size (portion size) of chocolate granola is ½ cup. Serve with unsweetened yogurt, homemade yogurt, Greek yogurt, heavy cream, coconut cream, or unsweetened almond milk.
You can also use it to top a simple low-carb sundae. It adds a lovely crunch when sprinkled over as a garnish.
You can add as much sweetener as you prefer to the chocolate granola recipe. If you are an absolute beginner you may need twice the amount of sweetener that's in the recipe card.
Yes, you can make the same chocolate granola recipe in a large mixing bowl the spread evenly over a large baking sheet. Place in a preheated oven and bake on medium heat (180C/350F) for 20-30 minutes. Baking time depends on your oven and the size of your baking sheet. Cool completely before storing.
Granola must be cooled and at room temperature before putting into a storage container. It can be stored in your pantry, fridge, or freezer.
No, making homemade granola recipes is quick and easy and takes minimal prep time which is why so many readers love this recipe.
The recommended serving size is half a cup. If you are eating the granola recipe as a snack or as a lazy keto dessert then you need to make sure it still fits into your daily carb allowance and your fat, carb, and protein goals from the keto calculator.
Most people on the low-carb diet or keto diet usually avoid rolled oats because they are high in carbs. They are low GI but this only means that oats are a slow-release carbohydrate and the carbs will be released slower than other simple carbohydrates. But oats will keep your blood sugars elevated for longer.
Many brands will use the names interchangeably. Cocoa powder is treated at a much higher temperature. You can use either in this chocolate granola recipe.
Always read nutrition labels to make sure there is no added sugar and unnecessary carbs.
Granola is usually a mixture of rolled oats, nuts, and seeds. Keto granola is made with coconut flakes, nuts, and seeds.
More granola recipes
If you love to make homemade granola, the whole family will love these granola recipes and granola bars.
- 9 best homemade granola recipes (kids will eat)
- Quick keto chocolate granola (oven baked recipe)
- The original homemade basic granola recipe (sugar-free, low-carb, and gluten-free)
- Grain-free granola bars (quick blender recipe)
📖 Recipe
Please rate this recipe.
Best Keto Chocolate Granola (Slow Cooker Recipe)
Recipe Video
Calculate ingredients
Ingredients
- 500 g (5 cups) desiccated/shredded coconut unsweetened
- 50 g (⅓ cups) sunflower seeds
- 50 g (⅓ cups) pumpkin seeds
- 150 g (1 cup) almonds (whole) chopped
- 25 g (¼ cup) cacao nibs
- 70 g (2.5 oz) coconut oil
- 2 tablespoon granulated sweetener of choice or more, to taste
- 4 tablespoon cocoa powder (unsweetened) unsweetened
- 2 tablespoon orange zest
Equipment
Instructions
- Place all the ingredients into the slow cooker. Stir.
- Turn the slow cooker to HIGH and cook for 2 hours, stirring every 15 minutes.
- Alternatively, turn the slow cooker to LOW and cook for 4 hours. Stir every 30 minutes.
- Each slow cooker will vary considerably. So adjust your cooking time, and frequency of stirring, to prevent burning.
Notes
Slow Cooker Grain-Free Granola -
- Nutrition values will vary widely for this recipe depending on which seed/nuts you add and how much.
- Use the nutrition panel as a guide only.
- I have calculated the values using a ½ cup (43g) but will depend on how much you use for breakfast (maybe more) or as a dessert on berries (maybe less).
- Store in an airtight jar for 3-4 weeks.
5-INGREDIENTS COOKBOOK
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YOUR HOLIDAY PANTRY & GIFT GUIDES
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Approximate nutrition information is provided for convenience and as a courtesy only. For the most accurate nutritional data, use the actual ingredients and brands you used in your preferred nutrition calculator.
Leonie Johnston
I’ve become a huge fan of this granola recipe for brekky and was wondering if some modifications/additions to the recipe could make it possible to make granola bar snacks.
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com
Leonie, I have just the recipe for you - here are my grain-free granola bars. You could even substitute the coconut, seeds etc for your favourite grain-free granola. Yum.
Suzette
This looks so good and I've been looking for more recipe/snack ideas. Any suggestions on what I can substitute the orange zest with?
Suzette
I meant breakfast/snack ideas.....LOL!
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com
This recipe really needs the orange zest to make it Jaffa = chocolate + orange. Alternatively you could try my fennel granola, cinnamon granola or chocolate granola.
Alexandr Lorvinus
Tried to cook it. It turned out only the second time, but the taste is delicious. I have a big request for you – to write an article on the recipe for a slow cooker, I know for sure that some sweets can be made in it. I do not really like the recipes that I found on the Internet.
al
Hi, I am new to making my own low-carb granola! I love the idea of Jaffa flavours but I don't have a slow cooker, would it be possible to do this recipe in the oven instead? Thanks 🙂
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com
Yes, all my other grain-free granolas are cooked in the oven. You can cook all my grain-free granolas either way. I like to use the oven in the winter and the slow cooker in the summer, when I don't want my house over heating.
Kym
Hi Libby
Im on a tight budget so dislike the idea of buying citrus just for zest (no psckaged alternative). If i omited sweetener could i use something like orange liquid stevia?
Thanks
Holly
Could this slow cooker method be used for the other granola recipes on your website, specifically the chocolate grain-free granola? Please advise, thank you!
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com
YES 🙂 I use this method all the time in the summer here. I just have to remember to jump out of my chair to stir it occasionally so it doesn't burn/catch on the bottom of the slow cooker dish.
Holly
Awesome! We'll be using our Instant Pot, any experience using one of those for the granola? It seems, from previous experience using it as a 'slow cooker' that it might not be as hot as a slow cooker, when set to low/high, so we'll have to see how it goes. Do you have any tips as to how to know when the granola is done? We find it tricky with the chocolate grain-free granola as the cocoa powder colours the ingredients, so it can be tricky to see when things have browned. Thanks!
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com
I'm afraid I don't have an Instant Pot, it's next on my shopping list. Then I can make a whole new set of easy and quick low-carb recipes 🙂
UPDATE 2021 - I now have an Instant Pot and now have an entire One Pot, Instant Pot, slow-cooker, recipe index.
Alicia
Making this right now in the slow cooker but I have a couple of questions:
-I have my slow cooker up to high but I'm unsure if that means I leave it for the full 6 hours (or is it 4? two different times in your recipe!) or it needs a shorter time span?
- lid on or off the slow cooker? because moisture is gathering inside and I'm not sure that's good for developing the crunch.
also I didn't have any oranges so I stuck some cinnamon and ginger in instead and it is smelling torturously good inside this house right now.
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com
Oooh, I love the sound of cinnamon and ginger - yummm!!! The cooking times are using LOW and cook for 6 hours. Stir every 30 minutes. Alternatively, turn the slow cooker to HIGH and cook for 4 hours, stirring every 15 minutes. I keep the lid on whilst cooking, and each time I lift the lid to stir, enough moisture comes out to let the granola crisp up nicely. Enjoy 🙂
Leonie Johnston
The cooking time is still a bit confusing, Libby, because at the top of the recipe it says cook & prep time is 2 hrs 5 mins then the instructions say 4 hours on Low or 2 hours on High. In your reply above you say 6 hours on Low or 4 hours on High. Does this mean the length of cooking is not really crucial? How do you know if it’s done?
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com
Apologies for the confusion, and you are correct in concluding the time is not crucial. It is HIGH for 2 hours or LOW for 4 hours. After much trial and error, I felt the 6 hours on LOW really was not necessary and produced the same results than if it were to be cooked for only 4 hours at LOW.
Vince
I haven't heard the term jaffa in a while. My New Zealander friend used to say it all the time but that's about it. The chocolate orange flavor gets overlooked so often but it can be really amazing. I love your take on it - and it's nice to see the word jaffa used once again 🙂
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com
I'm an Aucklander, so a true Jaffa 🙂 I love chocolate-orange flavour, it's always a hit around here.
Terri F
That's cool!