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This Instant Pot Steel Cut Oats recipe is a hands-off, foolproof method that makes creamy, tender oats in record time.
Reasons to Love Instant Pot Steel-Cut Oats
One of my go-to weekday breakfasts is Instant Pot Steel Cut Oats. With minimal prep, maximum nutrition, and record cooking time, this recipe checks all the boxes!
- Hands-Off Cooking. Thanks to the Instant Pot, breakfast is as simple as pressing a button. No babysitting the stove while I'm trying to get ready for the day.
- Nutritious & Budget Friendly. Steel cut oats are not only an affordable pantry staple, but they are packed with whole grains, fiber, protein, and vitamins.
- Endlessly Customizable: With so many topping options (think fruit, nuts, yogurt, or a drizzle of nut butter), it is impossible to get bored.
- Perfect Texture in Record Time. Instant Pot Steel-Cut Oats are creamy, chewy, nutty, and ready in a fraction of the time it take to prepare on the stove or in the slow cooker.
Happy Cooking! xo Kristen
What You Need
- Steel-Cut Oats: Be sure to use regular steel-cut oats, not quick-cook steel-cut oats or rolled oats. For rolled oats, follow my recipe for Instant Pot Oatmeal.
- Liquid: I use a combination of milk and water to cook the steel cut oats, which gives them a nice creamy texture, while boosting the protein and calcium content of breakfast. Use any variety of milk or non-dairy milk (coconut milk, almond milk, oat milk, etc.) you like.
- Flaxseed: Adding ground flaxseed is optional, but it is a simple way to help increase the added fiber.
- Stainless Steel Bowl + Metal Trivet: To use the pot-in-pot cooking method, you will need a stainless steel bowl and a trivet to lift the bowl over the water inside the inner pot. Do not use a glass bowl, as they can shatter under pressure. I find a deep 7x4-inch cake pan works well.
- Instant Pot This recipe is designed using a 6 or 8-quart sized Instant Pot. If using a 3-quart model, you will need to cut the recipe in half and use a 6x4-inch cake pan.
Note on Using Milk in Instant Pot
Adding milk to the inner pot of an Instant Pot is a NO-NO, as it will cause a burn notice. This recipe uses the pot-in-pot cooking method which prevents that from happening, while still ensuring the steel-cut oats turn out creamy. Plus clean-up is a breeze.
How to Make Instant Pot Steel-Cut Oats
If you are unfamiliar with cooking in an Instant Pot or the functions of your Instant Pot, be sure to start with my guide for using an Instant Pot for the best results on this and future recipes. You will find the full recipe in detail in the recipe card below.
- Prepare Instant Pot. Pour 1-½ cups of cold tap water into the inner pot of your pressure cooker and then place a metal trivet or rack inside the inner pot.
- Prepare Oats. Combine the oats, milk, water, flaxseed, and a pinch of salt in a stainless steel bowl or cake pan and place the oats, uncovered, onto the trivet inside the inner pot.
- Pressure Cook. Place the lid on your instant pot, be sure the venting knob is sealed, and set to cook on high pressure using the Pressure Cook or Manual function for 8 minutes.
- Let Pressure Release Naturally. Once the cooking time has elapsed, let the pressure release naturally for at least 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, carefully release any remaining pressure.
- Serve. Give the oats a stir and dish up and serve as desired.
Skip the Pot-in-Pot Method
No Added Dairy?
If you are not adding dairy or non-dairy milk, you can cook the steel-cut oats directly in the inner pot using the following instructions.
- Spray the inner pot with nonstick spray.
- Combine 1 cup of steel-cut oats oats with 3 cups of water and ground flaxseed directly inside the inner pot.
- Cook on HIGH pressure for 6 minutes with 10 minutes of natural pressure release.
Flavor Variations
Enjoy the steel-cut oats plain or with toppings of choice. I personally love adding Greek yogurt, berries, and hemp seeds for additional protein and fiber, but the options are endless. Find inspiration below.
- 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.
- 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 fresh berries and plain or vanilla yogurt into each serving of oatmeal.
- Banana Chia Almond: Top steel-cut oats with sliced banana, chia seeds, and chopped almonds.
- Peanut Butter and Jelly: Stir in 1 tablespoon each of peanut butter and your favorite jam before serving.
Meal Prep Tips
Instant Pot Steel Cut Oats is one of my favorite SIMPLE recipes to prep in advance and enjoy all week. I typically opt to enjoy the oats all week long, but if you like variety, you can freeze the oats to enjoy later in the month.
- Fridge-Friendly: Portion the oats into heat-safe containers (add toppings now if desired) and store in the fridge for up to 4 days. Add a splash of milk, reheat for 1-2 minute in the microwave, and then enjoy right from the container. Alternatively, cover the stainless steel bowl with plastic wrap, refrigerate, and dish out individual servings as desired.
- Freezer-Friendly: For longer storage, portion out the steel-cut oats into a silicone muffin tin or souper cubes, and freeze until solid. Remove from silicone molds, and place into a freezer-safe bag. Store in the freezer for up to 3 months. Defrost overnight in the fridge, and then reheat in a heat-safe bowl with a splash of milk or water in the microwave.
More Instant Pot Staples
- Instant Pot Hard Boiled Eggs
- Instant Pot Chicken Stock
- Instant Pot Whole Chicken
- Instant Pot Sweet Potatoes
- Instant Pot Baked Potatoes
- Instant Pot Brown Rice
Did you make this recipe?
If you enjoyed this recipe, please leave a comment with a 5-star review at the bottom of the post. Thank you!
Instant Pot Steel Cut Oats
Video
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*
- 1 dash kosher salt, optional
- ¼ cup ground flaxseed, optional
Instructions
- Pour 1 ½ cups cold tap water into the the inner pot and add the trivet inside the inner pot.
- Inside a 7-cup heat-safe stainless steel bowl or 7x4-inch cake pan, combine 1 cups steel-cut oats, 1 cup water, 2 cups dairy or non-dairy milk, 1 dash kosher salt, and ¼ cup ground 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 secure 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.
- After 10 minutes, carefully release any remaining pressure and remove the lid.
- Remove the bowl with the steel-cut oatmeal from the pressure cooker and serve with desired toppings.
Equipment
- 7x4-inch cake pan works perfectly!
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
This post was originally shared in 2018 but updated in 2023 with a new video and photos.
Newbie question: should I put a lid on the inner pot to prevent condensation getting in? I've never been quite sure with "inner pot" recipes!
Hi Jacob! I never worry about condensation for oats, but for something like a cheesecake or creme brulee or lasagna, I would cover with foil. Hope that helps.
Thank you for the recipe. Can you recommend an online site to order fresh steel cut oats?
Thanks
Hi Jennifer, I am not aware of any great company that ships FRESHLY cut steel cut oats. I purchase mine at a co-op where I buy my wheat grain too, but they don't ship. I do know that amazon has some great oats and I really like this brand: https://amzn.to/2WSshez. This brand is non-gmo and organic.
I need to make a batch of oatmeal for about 6 people. What amounts would you suggest. Also, can I do half 2% milk and 1/2 water (personally I make it in the microwave with only milk= super creamy). I got the IP just b4 Christmas and see many posts for 1 serving only...please help.
Hi Ercila. This recipe serves 6 and yes, you can use half 2% or even half whole milk. I hope you enjoy😊
Aha! I am excited to try this out! I’m going to get it set up minus the liquids tonight and add the milk/water in the morning. I tried making some from a different recipe last week and kept getting the burn notice in my 8 qt instant pot. This pot-in-pot should fix that issue.
Yes, this will fix that burn notice for sure!! Enjoy!!
I'm new to Instant Pot cooking. I tried the steel cut oats in the recipe booklet with a 2:3 ratio of oats to liquid. I didn't think that was enough liquid. Your 1:3 is perfect. I use water, so I put everything right in the ceramic pot. I make a double batch and after cooled a bit, spoon the oats into 12-count muffin pans. (Using the instant pot, I do not fill up both pans like I used to when using the stove method.) I put wax paper over the tops and put in the freezer. Once frozen (about 5 hours or overnight), I put them into gallon zipper freezer bags and keep them in the freezer. I take out 2 each morning, put them in the microwave for 2 1/2 minutes, add my almond milk, fruit, and eat!
Hi Linda! I absolutely LOVE that you freeze your oatmeal in individual amounts. That is a great tip for busy mornings and meal prep. Thank you so much for sharing that with us all 🙂
I used to make steel cut oats in crockpot overnight. Tried it in instant pot using 1 cup oats with 2 cups soy milk and 2 cups water. Noticed that via instant pot, it is not nearly as creamy and the steel cut are chewy and harder. I think I prefer crockpot. Did I do something wrong?
Hi Joanne, the recipe is for 1 cup of oats to 3 cups liquid--so that would explain why this did not turn out for you. I am sorry your wasted time and ingredients, but I bet if you tried the recipe as stated mad with 1 cup oats, 1 cup soy milk and 1/2 cup water, you would have much better results. Hope that helps.
Thanks for your quick reply! Yes, the error was mine. Somehow I read (late last night), ONE cup of oats, not two. Boo! The outcome: yes, there was excess liquid, but the oats were still SUPER chewy (more than al dente, let’s say). It’s hard to imagine that too much liquid results in harder oats rather than softer, but I suppose I need to try again. Or go back to slow cooker water bath, which works just fine 🙂
I have tried the steel cut oats with all fairlife milk and only about 1/2 cup of water several times and it always burns. I was searching how to use all dairy without burning and found you! Thank you! I am scared to put a pyrex bowl on my Instant pot....I am terrified of it exploding as my mother in law had a pyrex casserole dish explode in her oven once! Does Instant pot not sell a bowl to be able to do this in? Thank you!
Hi Amanda! So glad you found my recipe! I have never had issues with glass bowls-but certainly understand your hesitation. These stainless steel bowls have sizes that fit in your instant pot--so they may be great for you. https://amzn.to/2UJnviu Let me know if you try them!