Instant Pot Steel Cut Oats (Base Recipe + Variations)

Wishing someone else would make you a healthy breakfast? Then these Instant Pot steel cut oats are a must-try! Just add your ingredients and let your pressure cooker do the work for creamy, comforting steel cut oats in only 30 minutes -- no stove-monitoring required. Leftover steel cut oats reheat beautifully, making this recipe meal prep perfection for busy mornings ahead!

this recipe

I'll always love my stovetop steel cut oats recipe, but I have to say, these Instant Pot steel cut oats have been a game changer for me in making warm and hearty breakfasts on chilly Wisconsin mornings in fall or winter. With only 30 minutes and a handful of simple ingredients, you can have a perfect, nourishing bowl of steel cut oatmeal at the ready -- a blank canvas for your favorite toppings.

Perhaps the best part about this oatmeal recipe is how the Instant Pot method is hands off. You toss in your ingredients, set the timer and pressure, and breakfast can be cooking itself while you get an extra 30 minutes to tidy your kitchen, fold a load of clothes, or enjoy coffee while reading a good book. Yes, please!

What's more is that steel cut oats reheat like a dream, so making a big batch once can set you up with a hearty breakfast for the next few days. Let's make them!

What Are Steel Cut Oats?

Steel cut oats are a whole grain that comes from whole oat groats (the least processed type of oats) that have been cut into pieces using steel blades. Since they're not broken down as much, they take a bit longer to cook than old-fashioned oats or quick oats, which are rolled into a flatter shape that helps them cook more quickly. When cooked, steel cut oats have a wonderfully creamy and chewy texture, and can be made even creamier by serving with a splash of milk. Yum!

​If you're looking for a healthy breakfast, steel cut oats are an excellent option because they're an incredible source of prebiotic fiber and resistant starch. Studies about the consumption oats associate these qualities with a healthy gut microbiome and low glycemic index.

Ingredients

• Steel cut oats - For this recipe, we want regular steel cut oats (not quick-cooking!). I love buying mine from the bulk section of my local co-op to reduce plastic packaging!
• Water
• Milk
• Salt
• Cinnamon
• Maple syrup
• Optional - Vanilla extract to stir in after cooking.

Please see the recipe card for quantities.

Substitutions & Topping Ideas

• Milk - Dairy milk, plant-based milks, or just water will all work in this recipe. For 6-quart Instant Pot, you need 2.5 cups of liquid per 1 cup of steel cut oats, so whatever you choose should fit into that ratio.
• Sweetener - Feel free to omit the maple syrup or swap for another sweetener, such as honey, agave, dates, or brown sugar. I also love a sprinkle of ginger molasses granola or coconut chia granola for sweetness and crunch.
• Nut butters - I love topping a warm bowl of oatmeal with peanut butter or almond butter for delicious flavor and added protein and nutrients. If you're allergic to nuts, feel free to try a seed butter instead.
• Nuts, seeds, and dried fruit - I love pepitas, hemp seeds, chia seeds, flaxseeds, walnuts, and sometimes dried cranberries or cherries for little juicy bursts of sweetness. You can also use goji berries or cacao nibs for a more superfood action!
• Fresh fruit - I love using seasonal fresh fruits in oatmeal. In winter, when we're usually eating warm oats instead of overnight oats, you can use pomegranate seeds, diced apple or pear, or banana slices. In summer when fresh berries are more widely available, I tend to use those more often. Thawed frozen fruit is also great!

How to Make Steel Cut Oats in an Instant Pot

1. Step 1: Place the water, milk, steel cut oats, salt, cinnamon, and maple syrup in the bowl of your Instant Pot. Stir lightly to fully submerge the oats in the liquid. Secure the Instant Pot lid and ensure the valve is turned to "Sealing".

2. Step 2: Set the Instant Pot to high pressure for 4 minutes of cooking time. Pressure will build for approximately 10 minutes before the 4-minute timer starts. Once those 4 minutes are up, allow natural pressure release for at least 15 minutes (more is okay). After 15 minutes, release any remaining pressure by turning the steam release valve all the way towards "Venting", and remove the lid.

3. Step 3: Give the oats a stir to reveal thick and creamy results! If using vanilla extract, stir it in at this time. Divide oats into bowls and top with whatever your heart desires! See general topping ideas above plus a list of variations below for more inspiration.

Success Tips

These are some tips I personally use and recommend to get the most of out these Instant Pot steel cut oats.

1. Reheating - Steel cut oatmeal gets even thicker as it cools, so when you take leftovers out of the fridge, it helps to loosen it up a bit with more water or milk. I actually love this aspect because you get more volume out of the batch you made, so more oats for less! What can I say? I'm a thrifty girl at heart.
2. Big batch - Meal prepping or serving guests? You can double the recipe as written for an even bigger batch. If you're waiting for folks to dish up, you can keep the oats covered with the Instant Pot lid, and use the 'keep warm' setting. Stir before serving!
3. Pressure cooker size - This recipe was tested multiple times in both a 6-quart Instant Pot and a 5-quart Ninja Foodi multi-cooker, so these sizes work great for this recipe. Other sizes may need different ingredient ratios, so I don't recommend them with this particular recipe.

More Flavor Variations

If you're looking for some flavor ideas, feel free to try one of these!

1. Banana Bread - Add sliced bananas, walnuts, and an extra dash of cinnamon and drizzle of maple syrup to the top of your oats.
2. Apple Pie - Add some chopped sautéed apples or fresh chopped apples with cinnamon, pecans, and optional drizzle of maple syrup. Pears would be good, too!
3. Berries & Cream - Add a splash of milk or cream to your bowl and add your favorite fresh or frozen berries.
4. Superfood - This is my go-to! Flaxseeds, pumpkin seeds, chia seeds, hemp seeds, fresh berries or pomegranate seeds (here's a tutorial on how to remove pomegranate seeds).
5. Peanut Butter Chocolate - For my indulgent friends! Drizzle with peanut butter and top with cacao nibs, chopped dark chocolate, or chocolate chips.
6. Savory - Use broth instead of milk or water, and omit cinnamon and maple syrup. Top savory oats with a jammy egg, green onions, sautéed greens, cheese, and/or hot sauce.

Steel Cut Oatmeal FAQs

Related Recipes

If you loved these oats, you might like some of our other oat recipes!

Did you try these Instant Pot steel cut oats? Don't forget to leave a star rating 🌟 and comment below, and tag me on Instagram and Pinterest so I can see what you made!