• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
A Mind "Full" Mom
  • Recipe Index
    • Breakfast Recipes
    • Main Courses
      • 30-Minute Meals
      • Easy Pork Recipes
      • Beef Recipes
      • Soup, Stew, and Chili Recipes
      • Sandwiches, Burgers, and Wraps
      • Vegetarian Recipes
    • Slow Cooker Recipes
    • Instant Pot
    • Appetizers
    • Beverage Recipes
    • Breads and Muffins
    • Allergy Friendly Recipes
      • Dairy Free
      • Gluten Free
      • Paleo
      • Vegan
      • Low Carb
    • Pasta
    • Snacks
    • Side Dishes
    • Desserts
  • Instant Pot
    • Start Here: Instant Pot 101
    • All Instant Pot Recipes
    • Healthy Instant Pot Recipes
    • Sign Up for Instant Pot Tips and Recipes
  • About Me
    • Contact
    • Work With Me
    • Cystic Fibrosis
  • Free Instant Pot Secrets
  • Free Meal Plans
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipes
  • Instant Pot
  • About Me
  • Subscribe to Newsletters
  • Free Instant Pot Secrets
  • Free Meal Plans
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×

    Home » Real Food » Instant Pot » Instant Pot Oatmeal

    Instant Pot Oatmeal

    By Kristen Chidsey | 139 Comments | Published February 19, 2018 | Updated December 6, 2021 *This post may include amazon links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Pin
    Share
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Instant Pot Oatmeal makes for a fast, easy, and healthy breakfast. Prepared in minutes, old fashioned oats cook up to a perfectly creamy consistency and can be topped in a variety of ways for endless variations. Oatmeal made in the Instant Pot is a hands-off way to prepare a hearty breakfast that is gluten-free and egg-free and can easily be made dairy-free and nut-free, making this simple breakfast perfect for anyone that has multiple food allergies. 

    Instant Pot Oatmeal makes for a fast, easy, and healthy breakfast. Prepared in minutes, old-fashioned oats cook up to a perfectly creamy consistency and can be topped in a variety of ways for endless variations. 

    Oatmeal made in the Instant Pot is a hands-off way to prepare a hearty breakfast that is gluten-free and egg-free and can easily be made dairy-free and nut-free, making this simple breakfast perfect for anyone that has multiple food allergies.

    White bowl filled with oatmeal topped with banana next to an instant pot and honey pot

    This recipe for Instant Pot Oatmeal is used nearly daily at my house. While I love Instant Pot Steel Cut Oats, my kids much prefer the texture of regular oatmeal. And given that I can prepare this so quickly and oatmeal is such a healthy breakfast option, it is a recipe I make again and again.

    While waking up to a slow cooker full of steel-cut oats is dreamy, and grabbing a jar of overnight oatmeal from the refrigerator is a great start to a hot summer morning, I am in love with Instant Pot Oatmeal for a few reasons.

    • Completely Hands-Off. No waiting for the water to boil. No stirring while cooking. Just set it and forget it.
    • Ready in less than 20 minutes from start to finish. I can set everything up for oatmeal in the pressure cooker when I wake up and by the time I have gotten my kids out of bed and dressed, breakfast is ready to be served. However, I often prep a batch on the weekend and just reheat on hectic weekday mornings.
    • Customizable. I can make a large batch of oatmeal that can be customized a million different ways to please everyone in my family--so the person who doesn't like bananas can have raisins and walnuts instead.
    • Healthy. Oats are a great source of fiber and whole grains and have a lower GI index, which can help regulate blood sugar. Instant Pot Oatmeal is a breakfast that will keep you full for HOURS.
    • Allergy-Friendly. This recipe can be made Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Vegan, Nut-Free, Egg-Free, and Soy-Free.

    What you Need

    • Instant Pot: Use any size instant pot you like. This recipe works for 3, 6, or 8-quart models.
    • Oats: This recipe is designed for old-fashioned rolled oats. Be sure they are gluten-free if needed.
    • Liquid: For oats to cook properly, you need to use a ratio of 3:2 liquid to oats. When cooking oats in your instant pot, much like rice, you will NOT need as much liquid as you do when cooking on the stovetop. This is because, when you cook oats on the stove, some of the liquid is evaporated, but in the pressure cooker, no liquid is evaporated. I prefer to use a mixture of dairy and water for creamy oats, therefore pot-in-pot Instant Pot cooking method must be used. If using water alone, you can cook your oats directly in the inner pot of the Instant Pot. Use any variety of milk or non-dairy milk you like.
    • Heat-Safe Bowl: To cook the oats in a mixture of water and dairy, you will need a heat-safe bowl to mixt the oats in. I recommend a stainless steel bowl, but a deep cake pan designed for the instant pot will work as well. When I first wrote this post, I suggested using an oven-safe glass dish, since then Pyrex has come out to say that their dishes are not safe in the Instant Pot, therefore I do not recommend using. 
    • Rack: Use a metal trivet to lift the bowl above the water.
    Instant Pot sitting next to clear container filled with old fashioned oats

    How to Cook Instant Pot Oatmeal

    Making old-fashioned oats in the Instant Pot is incredibly simple.

    RIDICULOUSLY SIMPLE.

    Step One: Place the trivet in the inner pot of your pressure cooker and pour in 1 cup cold water for 6-quart instant pots and 1.5 cups of water for an 8-quart Instant Pot.

    Step Two: In a heat-safe bowl, mix your oats and liquid together with a bit of flaxseed. The flaxseed is optional but adds omega fatty acids and fiber.

    glass bowl filled with milk, water and oats sitting on rack in instant pot

    Step Three: Put the lid on your instant pot, turn your valve to "sealed", and set your pressure cooker to cook on high pressure for 3 minutes.  I have found it takes anywhere from 5-10 minutes to come to pressure.

    Step Four: Allow your oatmeal to sit in the Instant Pot for at least 5 minutes before doing a quick release of remaining pressure--see my tips on doing a quick release in my Instant Pot 101.

    I would not release the pressure right away, because this may cause your oatmeal to spill out of your pot in pot.

    perfectly cooked oats in a glass bowl in the instant pot

    Step Five: Serve warm with any desired toppings.

    Instant Pot next to white bowl filled with creamy oatmeal topped with sliced bananas

    Flavor Varieties

    There are about as many varieties of oatmeal as there are people.

    One of the main reasons I love to make a big batch of plain Instant Pot Oatmeal is so that each person can flavor their oatmeal exactly as they desire.

    Here are a few of my favorite Instant Pot Oatmeal serving ideas. Each recipe is for one serving of oatmeal.

    • Vanilla Maple: ½ teaspoon vanilla extract and ½ tablespoon maple syrup
    • Chocolate Peanut Butter: 1 tablespoon cocoa powder, 1 tablespoon peanut butter,  and ½ tablespoon maple syrup.
    • Almond Joy: use coconut milk as your dairy or top cooked oatmeal with a bit of coconut milk before serving and top with mini chocolate chips, shredded coconut, and toasted almonds
    • Pumpkin Pie: mix in 2-3 tablespoons pumpkin puree, ½ tablespoon maple syrup, ½ teaspoon each of cinnamon, nutmeg, and ¼ teaspoon ground ginger.
    • Raisin Nut: top oatmeal with a dash of cinnamon and 1-2 tablespoons each of raisins and chopped walnuts.
    • Apple Pie: top oatmeal with chopped fresh apple, cinnamon, and honey or maple syrup.
    • Honey Nut: stir in 1 tablespoon honey and top with toasted nuts of any variety.
    • Pina Colada: top oatmeal with pineapple chunks, toasted coconut, and sliced bananas. Serve with a splash of coconut milk.
    • Savory Sausage and Cheese: add in ¼ cup cooked crumbled sausage and ¼ cup shredded cheese.
    • Savory Bacon and Egg: top oatmeal crumbled bacon and a fried egg
    • Berries and Cream: stir in ¼ cup fresh berries. ½ teaspoon vanilla and ¼ cup yogurt

    Do you have to cook Instant Pot Oatmeal using the pot in pot method?

    If you do not want to use dairy in your oats, there is no need to use the pot-in-pot cooking method. Simply, grease the inner pot with cooking spray and then mix in 2 cups of oats with 3 cups of water (or double the amounts) and then cook for 1 minute on high pressure with a natural pressure release.

    More Instant Pot Breakfast Recipes

    • Instant Pot Steel Cut Oats
    • Instant Pot Breakfast Casserole
    • Instant Pot Yogurt
    • Perfect Instant Pot Hard Boiled Eggs
    • Instant Pot French Toast Casserole

    If you enjoyed this recipe for Instant Pot Oatmeal, I would love for you to leave a comment and review below.

    up close bowl of oatmeal with sliced banana

    Instant Pot Oatmeal

    How to cook old fashioned oats in your pressure cooker for creamy, perfectly cooked oatmeal. 
    4.95 from 57 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Breakfast
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 2 minutes
    Cook Time: 3 minutes
    Pressure Time: 20 minutes
    Total Time: 25 minutes
    Servings: 6
    Calories: 160kcal
    Author: Kristen Chidsey

    Ingredients

    • 2 cups old fashioned oats
    • 1 cup water plus water for inside pressure cooker
    • 2 cups milk any kind
    • 1 tablespoon flaxseed
    Prevents your screen from going dark while preparing the recipe.

    Instructions

    • Insert the trivet into the Instant Pot. Pour in 1 cup cold water inside the inner pot for a 3 or 6-quart instant pot and 1.5 cups of cold water into an 8 quart instant pot.
    • Inside a 7-cup heat-safe bowl, mix together the oats, 1 cup water, and 2 cups milk, and flaxseed. Please note that Pyrex is NO longer approved for using inside and instant pot.
    • Place the bowl on top of the trivet and put the lid on Instant pot. 
    • Set Valve to "sealed" and set manual or time to 3 minutes on high pressure.
    • Allow to naturally release for 10 minutes before carefully releasing any additional steam by using a wooden spoon to turn valve to vent. 
    • Remove bowl carefully from pressure cooker and then serve with desired toppings or allow to cool and store in fridge to reheat as needed. 

    Equipment Needed

    • Electric Pressure Cooker (6 or 8 quart)
    • Stainless Steel Bowl

    Notes

    When I first wrote this post, I suggested using an oven-safe glass dish, since then Pyrex has come out to say that their dishes are not safe in the Instant Pot, therefore I recommend this stainless steel bowl. A glass bowl may need an additional 3-5 minutes of cook time depending on its thickness. 
    Total Time: 10 minutes to come to pressure + 3 Minutes Cooking Time + 5 Minutes Release= 18 total minutes. 
    Liquid:
    • You need a total of 3 cups liquid to 2 cups oats for oats to cook properly. If you want your oats to be really loose, use an additional ½ cup of dairy or water.
    • You can use all water or all dairy. In my experience all water is incredibly bland and using all dairy/non-dairy as your liquid doesn't result in oats breaking down into a creamy texture.
    • It is important to note if you are using a high-fat dairy (like coconut cream or whole milk) you MUST use only half full-fat dairy products with half water so the fat in your dairy will not separate.
    • You will also need additional water under the trivet for the Instant Pot to come to pressure. 
    Preparing Oats directly in Inner Pot: Grease the inner pot with cooking spray and add 2 cups oats and 3 cups water directly to the inner pot. Feel free to add in seasonings such as cinnamon, or granulated sugar. Cook for 1 minute on high pressure and let the pressure release naturally. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 160kcal | Carbohydrates: 22g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 8mg | Sodium: 41mg | Potassium: 218mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 130IU | Calcium: 113mg | Iron: 1.2mg
    Liked this Recipe? Tag me Today!Snap a picture and tag #amindfullmom on Instagram - I would love to see!
    Pin
    Share
    « Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Smoothie
    Peanut Butter Coffee »

    About Kristen Chidsey

    Hi, I am Kristen, creator of A Mind "Full" Mom. I believe that making a wholesome family meal does not need to be hard or expensive! I love nothing more than to share with you delicious solutions for your hungry family.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Margaret A Hileman

      March 23, 2022 at 10:46 am

      These recipes all sound good but I have a question instead. I'm lazy, old and set in my ways. Also my taste palate is limited. I live alone so a recipe for feeding an army is not an option. I like the maple & brown sugar instant oatmeal. The prescribed method does not get it done enough for me. What I would like to know is what adjustments do I need to make to prepare it in the Instant Pot and have it "DONE". Some may call it overdone. I like it soft. Don't want crunchy oatmeal or little chewy bits.

      Reply
      • Kristen Chidsey

        March 23, 2022 at 5:43 pm

        Hi Margaret. Instant Oatmeal packets use quick-cooking oats, so they are smaller and will have a softer texture. You can try using them for this recipe, or add 2 minutes of cooking time for softer oats.

        Reply
    2. Joshua

      March 20, 2022 at 9:16 am

      5 stars
      The kids love this, and it's so easy. Sometimes I mix in an egg for some proteiny goodness.

      Reply
      • Kristen Chidsey

        March 20, 2022 at 2:10 pm

        Great idea Joshua! Thanks for sharing.

        Reply
    3. Megan

      March 01, 2022 at 2:37 am

      5 stars
      This is officially my favorite way of making oatmeal. Turns out perfect every time.

      Reply
      • Kristen Chidsey

        March 01, 2022 at 6:51 am

        Thank you for sharing Megan! I love this hands-off method myself.

        Reply
    4. Dan

      December 22, 2021 at 10:54 am

      4 stars
      I ventured off of your oatmeal recipe. I used the inner bowl method without the milk, only water. It still turned out good. One question, how long is 'natural release'? I'm having trouble knowing when to open the lid. I released pressure 5 minutes after cook time completed, steam came out. Thanks for the advice on how to use the Instant Pot Duo 6 Qrt.

      Reply
      • Kristen Chidsey

        December 22, 2021 at 11:16 am

        Hi Dan! Natural release means to allow the float valve to float down on its own and the lid to unlock. This recipe specifies to allow natural release for 10 minutes before trying to release any remaining pressure.

        Reply
      • Cee

        January 02, 2022 at 11:29 pm

        Hi Dan! In my way of understanding; a natural release means that you either press cancel once the food is done, or you just leave it alone until the pressure bobbin drops on its own before opening the pot. Some recipes will designate a set amount of natural release time after the food is done cooking (like 10 minutes) before hitting the pressure quick release switch; then you just open it when the bobbin sinks.

        Reply
    5. Karen

      September 21, 2021 at 12:26 pm

      I got a burn notice. I was able to salvage enough oatmeal for breakfast, but won’t be doing that again.

      Reply
      • Kristen Chidsey

        September 21, 2021 at 3:09 pm

        Hi Karen! This recipe is designed for pot in pot, unless using only water as your liquid with the oats. That is to prevent a burn notice from happening.

        Reply
    6. Wendy

      September 14, 2021 at 12:51 pm

      5 stars
      I have fresh pears from my tree so I sautéed 2 small pears in water, then added 2 Tbls. pure maple syrup, 1 tsp cinnamon, 1/4 c. chopped pecans and a pinch of salt. Then I proceeded to add (1/2) recipe above, except I doubled the flaxseed.

      Reply
      • Kristen Chidsey

        September 15, 2021 at 7:24 am

        That sounds like an incredible combination! Thanks for sharing!

        Reply
    7. Carol R

      August 06, 2021 at 1:29 pm

      5 stars
      Absolutely love this recipe ❣️❣️ So quick and easy. I added Himalayan Pink Sea Salt and plenty of Cinnamon before closing the lid. Added half a banana and 2 tbs. Darigold French Vanilla Creamer…DELISH 😋

      Reply
      • Kristen Chidsey

        August 07, 2021 at 7:11 am

        I love your additions Carol! And thanks for taking the time to leave a review.

        Reply
    8. Heather Belisle

      March 30, 2021 at 1:19 am

      5 stars
      Hello!! How much is considered a "serving"? I didn't see anywhere how much the final recipe would yield.

      Thank you!!

      Reply
      • Kristen Chidsey

        March 30, 2021 at 7:10 am

        Hi Heather. Each serving is about 1 cup after cooking.

        Reply
    9. David Ferguson

      January 04, 2021 at 7:27 pm

      Just got my 8 qt Hot Pot. Oatmeal is the very first thing I am using it for....

      Just to be super clear....

      I am using a small stainless steel inner pot on top of the trivet instead of the pyrex. I need to pour water inside the 8 qt liner AND water in the oatmeal preparation pot too?

      Your recipe indicates 3-5 min on high, but the button on the pot shows 20 min for porridge. What is the 20 min recipe for?

      Reply
      • Kristen Chidsey

        January 05, 2021 at 6:55 am

        Hi David! Welcome to the world of Instant Pot Cooking! To answer your questions, yes you need water in the liner and in the stainless steel bowl as well. The water in the liner is what allows pressure to be build up and reached. And I do not recommend using the pre-set functions on the instant pot. They are not specific--just a guess. The instant pot does not know if you are cooking groats, oats, or steel-cut oats which are all types of porridge and cook vastly different. I talk more in detail about the functions on my post Instant Pot Settings. Hope that helps!

        Reply
    « Older Comments

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Meet A Mind "Full" Mom

    welcomeHi! I'm Kristen. I want to welcome you into my kitchen and my REAL, imperfect life. Let me share with you tips and tricks to help you make healthy eating a reality for your family in the chaos of life and on the constraints of a budget. Read more

    Instant Pot Favorites

    jar of plain yogurt next to instant pot

    Instant Pot Yogurt

    Perfect Hard Boiled Eggs Sliced Open on cutting board

    Instant Pot Hard Boiled Eggs

    Shredded Pot Roast with carrots and Potatoes in white bowl next to Instant Pot.

    Instant Pot Pot Roast

    Whole Chicken on cutting board

    Instant Pot Rotisserie Chicken

    Bowl of Cold Start Yogurt

    Instant Pot Cold Start Yogurt

    Inner pot of instant pot filled dried beans

    Instant Pot Beans

    4 chicken breasts cooked inside instant pot.

    Instant Pot Chicken Breast (Fresh or Frozen)

    How to use the instant pot as a slow cooker

    How to Use Your Instant Pot as a Slow Cooker

    Reader Favorites

    Bowl of Baked Meatballs.

    The Best Baked Meatballs

    slice of egg cheese overnight breakfast casserole with sausage

    Hashbrown Breakfast Casserole

    Creamy and Cheesy Chicken and Rice in yellow casserole dish

    Creamy and Cheesy Chicken and Rice

    Baked Potato on White Plate

    Instant Pot Baked Potatoes

    Chili seasonings labled on wooden board

    DIY Chili Seasoning

    Plate of chicken and bok choy stir fry topped with cilantro.

    Stir-Fried Chicken and Bok Choy

    Platter of Instant Pot Wings next to ranch dressing

    Instant Pot Chicken Wings

    Bowl of slow cooker oatmeal topped with maple syrup and nuts

    Slow Cooker Maple Brown Sugar Oatmeal

    Taco Meat in skillet with wooden spoon

    The Best Taco Meat Recipe

    Homemade Chicken Tenders on platter.

    Homemade Chicken Tenders

    FEATURED ON

    featured

    Footer

    Featured on:

    Websites AMind"Full"Mom has been featured on

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Work with me

    DISCLAIMER: THE SITE DOES NOT PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE AND IS FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY. IT IS NOT INTENDED TO BE A SUBSTITUTE FOR PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL ADVICE OR TREATMENT. AFFILIATE LINKS TO PRODUCTS I GENUINELY LOVE ARE OFTEN INCORPORATED IN MY POSTS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT.

    Copyright © 2020 · A MIND "FULL" MOM