Instant Pot Steel Cut Oats

March 22, 2024

This Instant Pot Steel Cut Oats recipe is unbelievably delicious! Creamy, hearty and so easy to make! Lightly sweetened steel cut oats topped with fresh fruit and nuts is the perfect way to start your day!

We love oats so much we put them in smoothies! Try my Pear Ginger Cinnamon Oat Smoothie and Strawberry Oatmeal Smoothie!

This Instant Pot Steel Cut Oats recipe is the epitome of a hearty, tasty and easy breakfast. With just a few ingredients and an instant pot you’ll be enjoying it in no time.

Say goodbye to mushy oatmeal! Properly cooked steel cut oats are nutty, a little chewy and so thick and creamy – totally delicious and unlike any instant oatmeal you’ve ever had. You’re going to love this Instant Pot breakfast!

Oats are so good for you and are an especially terrific way to start your day. We love oats so much we even put them in smoothies! (Try my Pear Ginger Cinnamon Oat Smoothie and Strawberry Oatmeal Smoothie)

Steel Cut Oats vs Old Fashioned Oats

We are using steel cut oats in this Instant Pot Oatmeal recipe today. You’ll see both of these types of oats in the grain or cereal aisle at your local grocery store but there are some notable differences.

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Old fashioned (or rolled) oats are flaky and flat and are what we like to use when we make these Monster Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies. They take about 5 to 10 minutes to cook and are softer.

Steel Cut Oats (also known as Irish Oatmeal) are whole oats that are literally cut into small pieces (hence the name) with a steel mill and take much longer to cook, about 20 to 30 minutes, which makes them ideal for the Instant Pot. If you’ve ever wondered how to best cook steel cut oats, this is IT. Find out all about the different types of oats here.

More Oat Recipes To Love

Oats are delicious and perfect for breakfast or dessert! Here are a few of our favorites:

Overnight Apple Pie Slow Cooker Oatmeal

Blueberry Pistachio Oatmeal Cookies

4 Ingredient Strawberry Oat Crumb Bars

Monster Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies

Caramel Apple Oat Bars

Oatmeal Caramel Truffle Brownies

Ingredients Needed

You can find the full printable recipe in the recipe card at the end of this post. Let’s take a quick look at what you’ll need:

steel cut oats: I don’t recommend using the instant steel cut oats, but this recipe will work with them if needed.
water
vanilla almond milk: You can substitute your favorite milk here such as unsweetened almond milk, soy milk, whole milk, etc.
maple syrup: You can substitute honey, agave, brown sugar or granulated sugar for the maple syrup.
cinnamon – optional but trust me, you’re going to love it.
sea salt – don’t leave this out!

Optional garnishes:

Blueberries
Banana slices
Strawberries
Hemp seeds
Chia seeds
Ground flaxseeds
Pecans, walnuts or other nuts

How To Cook Steel Cut Oats

Add ingredients. Place the oats, water, almond milk, maple syrup, cinnamon, and salt in a 6-quart Instant Pot. Stir well.

Seal. Cover and seal the pot. Set the Instant Pot to cook on high pressure for 3 minutes.

Release pressure. After the timer goes off, leave the pot alone to rest. After 10 or 15 minutes, the Instant Pot will beep and start letting out pressure naturally. Let the pot set for another 10 minutes and then let out the rest of the pressure.

Stir. Remove the lid and stir. The oats will thicken as they cool.

Serve. Serve in individual bowls with your favorite garnishes, optional. Taste and adjust the sweetness according to your preference.

FAQs

How should I store my steel cut oats?

You can store any leftover cooked, cooled oatmeal in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 4 or 5 days. You can also pour equal portions into silicone muffin cups and freeze them. Once frozen you can pop them out and put them in a freezer-safe bag or container for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight and heat in the microwave. Ta-da! You have convenient single serving oats ready for use! You can also dehydrate or freeze dry your oatmeal. Keep dehydrated oatmeal in an airtight container in a cool, dry, and dark area for up to 3 months, and rehydrate with hot water. (Note: When reheating, you may need to add additional liquid to loosen up the oatmeal.)

Trish’ Tip: Try freezing in single portions for quick and easy meal planning!

How come we’re not using the porridge setting on the Instant Pot?

This recipe only takes 3 minutes to cook in the Instant Pot; the porridge setting will cook your oatmeal for 20 minutes. It’s a faster way of making your oats in the instant pot.

How are steel-cut oats different from regular quick or old-fashioned oats?

All oats are high in manganese, B and E vitamins, and have quite a bit of fiber and protein. Steel cut oats, though, have a little more fiber and are lower on the glycemic index, meaning that they will keep you full for a longer period of time and are much better for your blood sugar levels, especially when compared to instant oatmeal.

Steel cut oats also have more flavor and texture. They are a bit chewier (in a good way!) and have a nuttier flavor. They can take longer to cook but with this instant pot recipe you can have them ready in just 30 minutes!

Variations To Try

When it comes to Instant Pot oatmeal it’s all about the toppings. The process remains pretty similar but it’s how you flavor the oatmeal that can really set it apart. Here’s a quick look at some tasty variations:

fruit toppings: we love them all but fresh blueberries, strawberries, bananas, and crispy sweet apples are our favorites.
spices: you’ll see I added ground cinnamon to the top of the oatmeal but we also like to use pumpkin pie spice, apple pie spice, and a pinch of nutmeg.
nuts: pecans, walnuts and pistachios are great options.
milk: try you favorite variety of milk (almond, soy, oat)

More Breakfast Recipes

Homemade Biscuit Recipe

Fluffy Buttermilk Pancakes

Best Green Smoothie

Spinach Quiche

Breakfast Burritos

Hashbrown Breakfast Casserole

How To Cook Steel Cut Oats In Instant Pot

Instant Pot Steel Cut Oats

This Instant Pot Steel Cut Oats recipe is unbelievably delicious! Creamy, hearty and so easy to make! Lightly sweetened steel cut oats topped with fresh fruit and nuts is the perfect way to start your day!

Course Breakfast Cuisine American Keyword instant pot oatmeal, instant pot steel cut oats, steel cut oats in instant pot Prep Time 5 Cook Time 3 Pressure Cooker Heating Up / Release 20 Servings Calories 218kcal Author Trish – Mom On Timeout

Ingredients

1 cup steel cut oats
2 cups cold water
1 cup vanilla almond milk You can substitute your favorite milk here such as unsweetened almond milk, soy milk, whole milk, etc.
¼ cup maple syrup or honey, agave, brown sugar
½ teaspoon cinnamon optional
¼ teaspoon sea salt

Optional garnishes:

blueberries, banana slices, strawberries, hemp seeds, chia seeds, ground flaxseed, pecans, walnuts, pistachios, etc.

Instructions

Place the oats, water, almond milk, maple syrup, cinnamon, and salt in a 6-quart Instant Pot. Stir well.
1 cup steel cut oats, 2 cups cold water, 1 cup vanilla almond milk, ¼ cup maple syrup, ½ teaspoon cinnamon, ¼ teaspoon sea salt
Cover and seal the pot. Set the Instant Pot to cook on high pressure for 3 minutes.
After the timer goes off, leave the pot alone to rest. After 10 or 15 minutes, the Instant Pot will beep and start letting out pressure naturally. Let the pot set for another 10 minutes and then let out the rest of the pressure.
Remove the lid and stir. The oats will thicken as they cool.
Serve in individual bowls with your favorite garnishes, optional. Taste and adjust the sweetness according to your preference.
blueberries, banana slices, strawberries, hemp seeds, chia seeds, ground flaxseed, pecans, walnuts, pistachios, etc.

Nutrition

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