If you’ve ever wondered how to make steel cut oats in an Instant Pot, this is the recipe you’re looking for! An easy & foolproof Instant Pot recipe for light and fluffy steel cut oats. Gluten free, vegan and you can customize it with your favorite fruit or berries!
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I am a big fan of oatmeal and thankfully so are my kiddos. While we love classic steel cut and rolled oats cooked on the stovetop, it’s fun to switch things up here and there by making variations of overnight oats or baked oatmeal.
(And if you’re looking to switch up the flavors for your Instant Pot – you can find all the recipes HERE.)
But my new favorite way to make it recently has been in my Instant Pot (an electric pressure cooker). This is the ONE I use..and you guys!! I am SO in love!!
And I’ve already made a TON of Instant Pot recipes HERE.
Some basic MUST-HAVE guides include How to make the perfect White and Brown Rice and How to cook the perfect Hard & Soft-Boiled Eggs.
If you’ve got kiddos and they are early risers that wake up hangry like mine, making steel cut oatmeal (and rice) in the Instant Pot is a total. GAME. changer! SO easy, no more stirring and totally foolproof and the perfect bowl with a creamy consistency every. SINGLE time.
HOW TO MAKE STEEL CUT OATS IN AN INSTANT POT
- To make steel cut oatmeal in an Instant Pot, you literally just toss in the ingredients and it takes ONLY 4 minutes of cooking time.
- The best part of all is that you don’t need to stir your oatmeal at 6 in the morning. It’s totally hands off! To avoid sticking, I usually lightly coat the inner pot with coconut oil (or you can use any other oil or butter if you prefer).
- Now if you are familiar with an Instant Pot, you do have to keep in mind that it takes the cooker some time to come up to pressure.
- This can take about 5 minutes. Plus you need to factor in the additional time it takes for the pressure to release naturally – about 12 minutes. So I would plan for 30 minutes start to finish for this oatmeal to be on your table.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF USING AN INSTANT POT TO COOK STEEL CUT OATS?
- completely hands-off & not having to stand at the stove to monitor the pot – just set and forget it
- no spilling over or waiting for water to boil
- keeps the oats warm after they are cooked
- the end results are totally worth it and completely foolproof! You’ll get oatmeal that cooks up perfectly light and fluffy.
WHAT OTHER TOPPINGS CAN I ADD TO STEEL CUT OATS?
This simple recipe contains just two main ingredients – almond milk and steel cut oats.
But you can certainly jazz up your oatmeal with sweeteners or any spices you like. Maple syrup, honey, coconut nectar or any other low carb sweetener like liquid monk fruit or stevia would work as well.
Finally, add your favorite toppings and you’re good to go!
HOW TO DOUBLE OR TRIPLE THE RECIPE FOR INSTANT POT STEEL CUT OATS:
**As per many readers’ request – I have also included instructions for doubling and tripling the recipe.
Please note that when you triple the batch, there is a tiny bit of crust that forms at the sides of the pot. I recommend making smaller batches if you want to avoid any crusting at all.
HOW TO MAKE ROLLED OATS (LARGE FLAKE) IN THE INSTANT POT
I’ve also included instructions for making Rolled Oats in the Instant Pot.
- Grease the inner pot as usual, add 3 cups of rolled oats, 5 1/2 cups of water and set for 4 minutes on HIGH Pressure and release naturally for 15 minutes after it’s done.
ARE STEEL CUT OATS HEALTHIER THAN ROLLED OATS?
So you’re probably wondering, what’s the difference between steel cut oats vs. rolled oats. Are steel cut oats healthier than rolled oats?
All oats start off as oat groats — the whole, unbroken grains so steel-cut and rolled oats actually have the same nutritional profile since they’re all made from whole oat groats.
The differences between the two oats is:
- Cooking times – steel cut takes longer to cook than rolled oats
- Texture – steel cut oats are heartier and chewier while rolled oats are softer since they absorb more liquid
- How much the oat groat has been processed – steel cut oats are chopped into pieces while rolled oats are steamed, pressed and then rolled flat
Click HERE for more Instant Pot Recipes
More oatmeal recipes you might like:
Healthy Breakfast Cookies – 12 Ways
6 Easy Oatmeal Bowls – Rolled Oats – Instant Pot or Stovetop
Instant Pot Steel Cut Oatmeal – light and fluffy steel cut oats cooked in an electric pressure cooker. Totally hands off cooking process and from start to finish takes about 30 minutes - see note below + ROLLED OATS.
- 1 cup steel cut oats use gluten free as needed
- 3 cups almond milk can also use water if you prefer
- Optional: cinnamon sweetener (honey, maple syrup) vanilla extract, pinch of salt
- Toppings of your choice: berries chia seeds, nut butter, splash of milk
- ground cinnamon
- sweetener honey, agave, or maple syrup
- pure vanilla extract
- pinch of salt
- berries
- chia seeds
- nut butter
- splash of milk
- Instant Pot (I use a 6 Quart DUO)
- To avoid sticking, lightly coat the inner pot of your Instant Pot with coconut oil or cooking spray.
- Add oats into the Instant Pot followed by milk.
- Secure the lid and close the vent.
- Press the MANUAL (or PRESSURE COOKER for newer Instant Pot models) button and set to 4 minutes.
- After the oats finish cooking, allow the pressure to release naturally (about 10-15 minutes).
- After the pressure releases, open the lid and give the oatmeal a good stir. Any extra liquid will absorb as it cools.
- Add cinnamon, sweetener or other additions you like.
- Top oatmeal with fresh fruit, nut butter, a splash of milk, or any other toppings you like.
I use 2 cups of Steel Cut Oats + 5 cups of milk or water and set to 5 minutes. I do NOT recommend making a larger batch at once as it causes the outer parts to burn when I tried.
3 cups of rolled oats + 5 1/2 cups of water - set for 4 minutes and allow to naturally release for 15-20 minutes. Stir.
***COOK TIME: Totally hands off 4 minutes of cooking process but it takes time for the pressure cooker to come up to pressure and to let the instant pot release naturally for at least 12 minutes. I would plan for 30 minutes start to finish for this oatmeal to be on your table.
Did you try this recipe?
Johnna -
We just got an Instant Pot and I love finding new recipes to make in it! Need to try oatmeal next!! Looks beautiful!
Melissa - Skinny Mom Loves Food -
My son wakes up hangry too so I really need an Instant Pot to make mornings smoother! Love how easy this is!
Monica -
Wow, I love learning you can make steel cut oatmeal so quickly in an instant pot. There’s another reason I need to think about getting one! I seriously can’t believe it takes 3 minutes and it really looks perfectly cooked. Thanks for sharing this, Kelly. Enjoy your week!
Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice -
I never used to like oatmeal, but now it’s growing on me, especially when the homemade kind. What a great way to use an instant pot, Kelly! I’ve been debating over whether I should get one for the longest time now, so I think I need to so that I can make this breakfast. Sounds so easy and SO good!
Sarah @Whole and Heavenly Oven -
This steel cut oatmeal looks SO unbelievably creamy, Kelly! Love that you use your instant pot! Easiest breakfast EVER.
[email protected]'s Recipes -
I love my instant pot! Isn’t that an amazing kitchen gadget?!! The oatmeal looks very comforting and tasty…perfect for breakfast!
Eva @ Eva Bakes -
It sounds like I need to purchase an instant pot – your oatmeal recipes always make me hungry, Kelly!
Sues -
I’m always looking for new ways to use my Instant Pot, so this post has been bookmarked!!
[email protected] -
Love making oats in the IP, so easy! this looks delicious Kelly!
Ritu Ahuja -
WOW!! I think I need to buy an instant pot. Your oatmeal recipes are awesome. Love it. Yummm
Pamela (BrooklynFarmGirl) -
So easy to make yet so delicious!
Jessica @ A Kitchen Addiction -
Love the idea of using the instant pot for oats in the morning! So easy!
Kelsie | the itsy-bitsy kitchen -
I’ll never find enough ways to eat oats (or to cook them)! I love this recipe! Anything that gives me a little extra time in the morning is a winner 🙂
[email protected] -
Steel cut oatmeal is a huge favorite of mine for breakfast! I wish I had a big bowl! I don’t have an instant pot but I am intrigued by them. Then again, I have zero space for any more appliances so there’s that haha
Emma -
3 minutes!!!! If only I had the room for another kitchen appliance…….
Woolval -
My wife bought me an Instant Pot. I got rid of my crock pot and my pressure cooker, so I actually ended up with one less appliance. And I’ve used the Instant Pot as a crock pot, works great. (don’t know why this is typing in all caps, I’m not really yelling)
Anita -
Have you tried doubling the recipe? If yes, does it work?
Thanks,
Anita
Sara -
Just made this for breakfast using coconut milk – delicious! Topped it with blueberries, brown sugar, and chopped almonds. So good and easy.
Kelly -
So happy to hear that. Thanks for letting me know, Sara! 🙂
Carrie -
Easy AND delicious! Had the Instant Pot less than a week and had to try – LOVED it! Thanks so much!
Shelby -
Just made this and the texture was PERFECT! Thank you for the recipe 🙂 I made mine with almond milk and topped it with maple syrup and cinnamon. I am interesting in doubling the recipe… have you ever done so? If so, would I just need to double the cook time on the instant pot (to 6 minutes)? THANK YOU! 🙂
Amber -
Are the steel cut oats required in this recipe the instant kind, or old fashioned? Thank you!
Gretchen -
in my mind there are only “old fashioned” but who knows what they can come up with. Old fashioned. Note that rolled oats are what most of us are familiar with and what comes in the Quaker Oats canister looking thing. Look like flat ovals. Steel cut, on the other hand, look like teeny pellets. The two cook very differently and cannot easily be substituted for one another.
Alyssa -
I made this today and really enjoyed it. Thank you so much for your post.
Question: Do you ever have problems with a bottom layer sticking to the pot? It is not quite burned, but it is going to take a long soak and scrubbing to get my pot clean again. I was just wondering if you had this issue too. I tried to cook the oats in a glass bowl inside my IP, but it just never came to pressure after three tries. I finally poured it all straight in the IP bowl and it cooked up but also made a mess too.
Kelly -
Hi Alyssa, it does stick but I give it a good soak in soapy water for about 2 minutes and everything comes out easily with a gentle scrub. Or you can try spraying or greasing the pot first with coconut oil or cooking spray. Hope that helps.
Alyssa -
Thanks! I’ll give that a go. I also just realized that when cooking it pot-in-pot, I probably should have added water to the bottom of the IP too. That is probably why it didn’t work the first time.
I also managed to get it all clean after soaking it in warm soapy water, giving it a scrub and then using white vinegar for another round of scrubbing.
Thanks again!
Robin -
Thank you! This is the best oatmeal I have made by far using my InstPot. The other recipe I used took the “double bowl” method. It took forever! This is quick like a bunny, and tasty.
Serena -
This was delicious. First time I used Almond Milk. I coated the bottom of the pot with Coconut Oil as suggested and it was perfect. I used the 5 minute Porridge setting on my Instant Pot and let it release naturally. I’ll definitely make this again. Thanks for the recipe!
Kelly -
Hi Serena, so happy to hear that! Thanks for letting me know!
Mallory -
Great recipe, really tasty! Love the texture of steel cut oats. And what a great way to use the Instant Pot. The only thing is that I think the serving # is wrong. One cup of oats is certainly enough for 4 people!
Kelly -
Hi Mallory! So glad you enjoyed this recipe, we make it all the time since my kids are big oatmeal fans. LOL, my 2 kids (6 and 3 years old) can actually finish 1 batch easily between the two of them, which is why I said serving size if for 2 🙂
Jenn -
Can Rolled Oats be used in place of Steel Cut oars?
Kelly -
Hi Jenn, Yes I’ve included the recipe for rolled oats as well. Use 3 cups of rolled oats and 5 1/2 cups water and cook on MANUAL or HIGH PRESSURE for 4 minutes. Allow to naturally release then stir well. Hope that helps!
Eileen -
Just used your recipe to make a double batch of steel cut oats in my IP. It was my first time trying steel cut oats in the IP so wasn’t really sure what to expect but they are PERFECTION. I used 3 cups of water, 1 cup of almond milk and a cup of home-made cashew milk plus a little salt and vanilla extract. Thanks so much for the recipe!
Nancie -
This is great. I set it up the night before on delay start so it’s ready and waiting in the morning. I love the texture when it’s cooked in the instant pot.
Suee33 -
1st not sure why this is in all Caps!!
Thank you for the post on delayed start.
My husband puts the ingredients for his steel cut oatmeal in an expensive brand of rice cooker – the night before. at but, has been eating teflon – ick!! So, he finally believes me about the teflon.
Looking for ALTERNATIVES.for him.
Thinking a 3qt instant pot – but he likes to make 2 serving for 2 days at one time, puts on timer and it cooks near morning, rice cooker holds it warm for 24 hrs and he eats the second serving the next day. IS it possible to do this in an instant pot?? Pressure or slow cooking? Any ideas
Joyce Stork -
After having a delicious version of steel cut oatmeal with cherries at my host’s home last weekend, I sought out a recipe that would be as good. This was it. I made the 2 cup quantity of steel cut oats with almond milk. I stirred in dried cherries, a couple Tbsp of brown sugar and a good shake of cinnamon. The results were perfect. I’ll now have leftovers ready to eat for another 5 or 6 servings. My host showed me that they reheat perfectly in the microwave. Thank you.
Katlyn Shute -
I’ve made this 3 times now and I love it! Thank you sonmuch for sharing your recipe!
Wondering if you have ever experimented wth Scottish Oats? Thinking of giving them a try but wondering about water/milk ratio…. any thoughts?
Elle -
Tried this recipe this morning so we could go on a family walk while our oatmeal cooked…it worked out so well! Thanks!
Carla -
Great recipe!
MD -
I make porridge in my instant pot mini (3 quart) several times per week using slow (Rolled) oats. I like the steel cut oats too but prefer slow oats.
1 cup of oats plus 1 cup of milk and 1 cup of water and a quick stir. I use the porridge pre-set for 3 minutes. It is enough for 2 servings.
Be absolutely sure that you turn off the “Keep Warm” function as this can cause burning.
Also, be sure to add flavors and fruits only after cooking.
The main advantage to using the IP for this is that it allows you to get on with other morning tasks while the IP works its magic. The final product is still hot 1 hour after starting if the lid is left on.
Kim -
Hubby Bought the ip for me a year ago. I was afraid of it so I had never used it until I stumbled unto your clear instructions/recipe for steel cut OATS. It works beautifully. Thanks!
Julia -
Love the recipe! Thank you for sharing!
I add dried cranberries during the pressure cooking process and they’re delicious.
Bev Barber -
i always wait to comment until i’ve trieD. I’m still a little intimidated by my Instant pot. I tried these today and not only were they drlicious, but so darn easy with easy cleanup. I followed One of tHe other comments and did 5 minutes on tHe porridge setting and it was perfect with no sticking. Thank you for your post.
Jayne -
Yum! Thank you.