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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.
Nutty and delicious. I’m a big fan of pot in pot cooking. For ease in clean up, I use pan spray in the stainless steel bowl I cooked the oats in. I don’t have the cake pan mentioned.. This reduces cooking time to 6 minutes or the oats start to stick to the lid. The note on full fat milk: water ratio is important for best results. Another reviewer mentioned quick cooking steel cut oats. It’s the same 1:3 oats:liquid ratio, 3 minute cook and 10 minute pressure release time for even tastier oats. I add protein powder, dried fruits, nuts, craisins after I cook the oats so they don’t get overly soggy. I cook my oats ahead and save in 1 quart soup saver with 1 cup sections for 4 servings oats. Pro tip - don’t use the silicone soup saver you used for chili and spicy soups. Enjoy!
Hi - I haven't tried this recipe yet but fully expect it to be as great as the many others of your's that I've tried.
I have a questions and a comment:
I noticed in your section marked "Skip the pot-in-pot method" that you refer to both steel cut oats and then rolled oats. Am I right in assuming that rolled oats is a typo?
Would this recipe/directions also work for Scottish (ground) oats?
Thanks for all the research and cooking you do to provide us with such great recipes and directions!
Thank you for calling that out! You are correct it is a typo and I am fixing now. As for using Scottish oats, they are finer than steel-cut oats so will cook a bit faster. I would cook for 6 minutes if using pot in pot method and 4 if cooking directly in the inner pot.
This is my go to steel cut oats, instant pot recipe. I use pot-in-pot. I add seven nutritional bombs into the IP prior to cooking. I add sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, walnuts, almonds, ground flax, ground chia, and some pitted dates. Gives the oatmeal a really wonderful flavor and texture. Checks off so many boxes on Dr Greger's Daily Dozen list. I cook up enough so I can have it for late brunch every day for 4 days. I start with 1 cup of dried steel cut oats. Oh, by the way, I have been adding in other grains lately, too. I put in whole oat groats, whole barley, and whole rye berries. Wow, it becomes a nutrition powerhouse to get the day going. I just turned 70 and am in the best health of my adult life! Thanks for a great recipe!
Truly a powerhouse of nutrition! I love it! And thank you so much for taking the time to share a review and comment. Cheers to staying strong!
I followed your recipe, except cooked for 6 minutes. Came out perfect!!! Thank you.
Wonderful! Thank you for sharing!
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!
Thanks so much!
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.
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.