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    Instant Pot Steel Cut Oats

    Instant Pot Breakfast Recipes Breakfast Recipes Gluten Free Instant Pot January 2, 2023 | By Kristen Chidsey | 93 Comments | *This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.

    Jump to Recipe
    This recipe for Instant Pot Steel Cut Oatmeal is a staple for busy mornings. It is a hands-off method for making a hearty, healthy breakfast.

    This recipe for Instant Pot Steel Cut Oats is a fool-proof, hands-off method for making creamy, tender steel-cut oats effortlessly.

    Bowl of Instant Pot Steel Cut Oats topped with sliced banana, chopped nuts, and blueberries.


    Oatmeal is one of my all-time favorite breakfast recipes. From slow cooker oatmeal to overnight oats to Instant Pot Steel Cut Oats, there are endless ways to prepare oatmeal, but the real reason that I turn to oats again and again for breakfast is that they are a powerhouse of nutrients. 

    Packed with whole grains, fiber, and vitamins, both rolled oats and steel-cut oats are exceptionally healthy and relatively cheap. 

    Unlike rolled oats, steel-cut oats have a chewier, heartier texture, which is fabulous if you don't care for mushy oatmeal. However, they do take longer to cook. 

    Enter the Instant Pot! 

    The Instant Pot cooks the steel-cut oats in minutes and the process is hands-off. Simply combine, press a button, and walk away to get ready for your day! 

    Instant Pot Steel Cut Oatmeal is a hearty, healthy staple for busy mornings! Not only is it incredibly simple to make, but it also fills you up with all the good things that will keep you going strong for hours. And because the topping flavor and combinations for steel-cut oats are endless, you will never tire of this simple breakfast recipe.

    Key Ingredients

    This recipe for Instant Pot Steel Cut Oats is cooked with both water and milk or non-dairy milk. This results in the creamiest, most delicious oatmeal and sets this recipe for Instant Pot Steel-Cut Oatmeal apart from the rest!

    Ingredients for Steel Cut Oatmeal labeled on counter.
    • Steel-Cut Oats: Be sure to use regular steel-cut oats, not quick-cook steel-cut oats or rolled oats, and select certified gluten-free steel-cut oats if needed. If you find yourself with rolled oats, follow my instructions for Instant Pot Oatmeal, not this recipe for steel-cut oatmeal. 
    • Liquid of Choice: I recommend a mixture of water and milk of your choice for the creamiest results. Use dairy or non-dairy milk such as almond milk, coconut milk, or soy milk. It is important to note if you are using a high-fat dairy (like coconut cream or whole milk) do not use more than 1 full cup of full-fat dairy, to ensure the fat in your dairy will not separate.
    • Flax Seed: This is an optional ingredient, but I like to add it to my oats for omega fatty acids and additional fiber.

    Keys to Remember

    Before I walk you through how to prepare steel-cut oatmeal, there are 3 key things to remember to achieve perfectly tender, perfectly creamy, and perfectly delicious Instant Pot Steel Cut Oats. 

    • Use Pot in Pot Cooking Method. If you are using a mixture of dairy and water to cook your oats, as I recommend, it is best to cook your oats in a separate stainless steel bowl placed on top of a trivet in the instant pot. This will prevent a burn notice and your milk from curdling when cooking. I have provided instructions below if you choose to cook your oats in water alone.  
    • Use a ratio of 1 cup of oats to 3 cups of liquid for perfect results every time. (***This does not include the water added inside the inner pot when using the pot-in-pot cooking method!) You will not need as much liquid when preparing steel-cut oats in a pressure cooker, as no liquid will evaporate while cooking, as it does on the stove. 
    • Allow the instant pot to release pressure naturally for at least 10 minutes. Do not do a quick release of pressure when cooking Steel Cut Oats. This will allow the oats to absorb the liquid and become perfectly tender. It will also help prevent oats from spewing out of your vent knob.

    How to Cook Steel Cut Oats in the Instant Pot

    • Pour 1.5 cups of cold tap water into the inner pot of your pressure cooker and place a metal trivet or rack inside the inner pot. 
    • In a stainless steel bowl, combine the oats, with water, milk of your choice, and flaxseed. 
    • Place the bowl of oats, uncovered, onto the trivet inside the inner pot. 
    • Place the lid on your instant pot, be sure the venting knob is sealed, and set to cook on high pressure for 8 minutes. 
    • Once the cooking time has elapsed, let the pressure release naturally for at least 10 minutes. This simply means to leave the instant pot alone. 
    • After 10 minutes, release any remaining pressure and carefully remove the inner pot. 
    • Dish up the oatmeal and serve with any toppings listed below, or one of your own creations.
    Side by side photo showing steel cut oats before and after cooking inside the inner pot.

    Flavor Varieties for Instant Pot Steel Cut Oatmeal

    One of the main reasons I love to make a big batch of plain Instant Pot Steel Cut Oatmeal, rather than flavoring the oats before pressure cooking, is so that each person can flavor their oatmeal exactly as they desire.

    Here are a few of my favorite flavorings for Instant Pot Steel Cut Oatmeal. Each recipe is for one serving of oatmeal and should be added AFTER the steel-cut oats have been pressure cooked.

    • Vanilla Maple: Stir ¼ teaspoon of vanilla extract and ½ tablespoon of maple syrup into a serving of cooked oatmeal.
    • Chocolate Peanut Butter: Add 1 tablespoon of peanut butter and a handful of chocolate chips to each serving of steel-cut oatmeal.
    • Almond Joy: Serve steel-cut oats with mini chocolate chips, shredded coconut, and toasted almonds.
    • Pumpkin Pie: Stir 2 tablespoons of pumpkin puree, ½ tablespoon of maple syrup, ½ teaspoon each of cinnamon, nutmeg, and ¼ teaspoon of ground ginger into each serving of oatmeal.
    • Raisin Nut: Top the prepared steel-cut oatmeal with a dash of cinnamon and 1-2 tablespoons each of raisins and chopped walnuts.
    • Apple Pie: Serve the steel-cut oats with chopped fresh apple, cinnamon, and a drizzle of honey or maple syrup.
    • Honey Nut: Top the oatmeal with honey to taste and toasted nuts of any variety.
    • Pina Colada: Top steel-cut oats with pineapple chunks, toasted coconut, and sliced bananas. Serve with a splash of coconut milk.
    • Savory Sausage and Cheese: Top each bowl of oatmeal with ¼ cup cooked breakfast sausage and ¼ cup shredded cheese.
    • Savory Bacon and Egg: Top the serving steel-cut oatmeal crumbled baked bacon and a fried egg or poached egg.
    • Berries and Cream: Stir in ¼ cup fresh berries, ½ teaspoon vanilla, and ¼ cup plain or vanilla yogurt into each serving of oatmeal.
    • Banana Chia Almond: Top steel-cut oats with sliced banana, 2 teaspoons chia seeds, and chopped almonds.
    Bowl of Instant Pot Steel Cut Oats topped with sliced banana, chopped nuts, and blueberries.

    Instant Pot Steel Cut Oats Made In Inner Pot

    If you want to prepare steel-cut oats directly inside the inner pot without using the pot-in-pot cooking method, you need to make two key modifications. 

    • Use ONLY water as your cooking liquid. Combine 1 cup of steel-cut oats with 3 cups of water inside the inner pot. Feel free to double for a larger batch of oatmeal.
    • Decrease the cooking time. Using a stainless steel pot inside the inner pot means the cooking time is a bit longer. If preparing directly in the inner pot, decrease the cooking time from 8 minutes to 6 minutes on high pressure. Be sure to still allow for 10 minutes of natural pressure release.  

     More Instant Pot Breakfast Recipes

    • Instant Pot Breakfast Casserole
    • Instant Pot French Toast Casserole
    • Instant Pot Oatmeal
    • Instant Pot Frittata

    If you enjoyed this recipe for Instant Pot Steel Cut Oats, please leave a comment and review below.

    Bowl of Instant Pot Steel Cut Oats topped with sliced banana, chopped nuts, and blueberries.

    Instant Pot Steel Cut Oats

    This recipe for Instant Pot Steel Cut Oats is a fool-proof, hands-off method for making creamy, tender steel-cut oats effortlessly.
    4.78 from 27 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Breakfast
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 2 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 8 minutes minutes
    Pressure Build-Up & Release: 15 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 25 minutes minutes
    Servings: 4
    Calories: 271kcal
    Author: Kristen Chidsey

    Ingredients

    • 1 cups steel-cut oats no exception!
    • 1 cup water plus more for cooking inside the inner pot
    • 2 cups dairy or non-dairy milk any variety*
    • dash kosher salt
    • ¼ cup ground flaxseed optional
    Prevents your screen from going dark while preparing the recipe.

    Instructions

    • Insert the trivet or rack inside the inner pot of your pressure cooker. Add 1-½ cups cold tap water to the inner pot.
    • Inside a 7-cup heat-safe bowl, mix together the oats, 1 cup water, 2 cups milk of choice, a dash of salt, and flaxseed if using. Please note that Pyrex is NO longer approved for use inside an instant pot.
    • Place the bowl on top of the trivet/rack and put the lid on Instant Pot. Set Valve to "sealed" and set the cooking time for 8 minutes on high pressure using the manual or pressure cook function.
    • Once the cooking time has elapsed, allow the pressure to naturally release for at least 10 minutes.
    • After 10 minutes, remove the bowl carefully from the pressure cooker and then serve with desired toppings.

    Equipment Needed

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

    Notes

    Steel-Cut Oats: Use regular, not quick-cooking steel-cut oats and select certified gluten-free if needed. 
    Milk: Use dairy or non-dairy milk like coconut milk, almond milk, or soy milk. It is important to note if you are using a high-fat dairy (like coconut cream or whole milk), use no more than 1 cup of the full-fat dairy product and 2 cups of water. This will prevent the dairy from separating in the instant pot.
    Doubling the Recipe: This recipe can easily be doubled as long as it fits inside your heat-safe bowl. 
    Cooking Oats in Inner Pot: Combine 1 cup of oats with 3 cups of water (no milk or non-dairy milk) and cook on high pressure for 6 minutes with a 10-minute natural pressure release. 
    Storage: Leftover steel-cut oatmeal can be stored in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
    Note On Heat-Safe Bowl: 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. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 271kcal | Carbohydrates: 41g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 1mg | Sodium: 40mg | Potassium: 184mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 165IU | Calcium: 147mg | Iron: 2.6mg
    Liked this Recipe? Tag me Today!Snap a picture and tag #amindfullmom on Instagram - I would love to see!

    This post was originally shared in 2018 but updated in 2023 with a new video and photos.

    « Healthy Overnight Oats
    Easy Baked Salmon »

    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.

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    1. TD

      March 05, 2023 at 12:17 am

      5 stars
      I followed your recipe, except cooked for 6 minutes. Came out perfect!!! Thank you.

      Reply
      • Kristen Chidsey

        March 05, 2023 at 6:47 am

        Wonderful! Thank you for sharing!

        Reply
    2. T

      October 18, 2022 at 11:11 am

      5 stars
      My go to recipe for steel cut oats. Comes out perfect every time. Recipe is well put together with pictures, step-by-step instructions and variations to the recipe. Kudos!

      Reply
      • Kristen Chidsey

        October 18, 2022 at 1:32 pm

        Thanks so much!

        Reply
    3. Linda Rife

      January 30, 2022 at 8:16 am

      5 stars
      I've made steel oats a few times on the stove. I felt I never got it quite right. I did this recipe this morning. When I first opened the instant pot, I thought they didn't cook long enough. Then I realized these are ready to serve - no additional milk needed. I was amazed. I loved the oats done this way. I just added some raw sugar and cut up strawberries. I did get the stainless steel bowl that was recommended and it worked great. This is definitely the only way I am making steel oats in the future.

      Reply
    4. Noelle

      January 09, 2021 at 9:55 am

      5 stars
      I just got my Instant Pot for Christmas. So far, I think my favorite things to make in it are oatmeal and risotto. This is a good base recipe on how to make steel cut oats with some dairy. I added dried cherries and dates, and frozen blueberries. It came out perfect. This version takes more time and patience than the rolled oats, so it’ll be saved for weekend mornings. I liked both versions just fine.

      Reply
    5. Loretta DeGregory

      January 06, 2021 at 6:30 pm

      I happen to have quick steel cut oats on hand. Can I use them by adjusting the time?

      Reply
      • Kristen Chidsey

        January 07, 2021 at 7:15 am

        Hi Loretta! I would not recommend it as the liquid ratio may need to be adjusted as well and I can not advise you on that without working it on it myself.

        Reply
    6. elizabeth r. tingley

      November 05, 2020 at 9:11 am

      What about a corning ware dish?

      Reply
      • Kristen Chidsey

        November 05, 2020 at 9:31 am

        I have used it with success, but I did have one person tell me theirs cracked.

        Reply
    « Older Comments

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