Instant Pot Steel Cut Oats

These Instant Pot steel cut oats are great for a hearty breakfast! They cook quickly in the pressure cooker, and you can add your favorite toppings to turn this simple recipe into a breakfast your family will crave.

I’ve been loving steel cut oats and making them in the Instant Pot is a fast way to prepare them. When I first started eating steel cut oats, I would typically bake them in the oven, but making them in the Instant Pot is a nice way cook them quickly if I’m short on time. It’s easy to add all the ingredients to the Instant Pot and press start! These oats are great on their own, but you can also use them as a blank slate for your favorite toppings!

Ingredients & Substitutions

• Oats — Be sure to use steel cut oats. Regular oats can’t be substituted in this recipe. But if you’re looking for a tasty way to use rolled oats, try my vegan baked oatmeal!
• Sweetener — I typically use maple syrup, but you can also use honey or brown sugar. (Keep in mind that honey is not vegan.) Another option is to skip the sweetener and wait to add sweetener to each portion. Sometimes I like to use stevia in mine, but maple syrup in my toddler’s portion. Waiting until after the oats are cooked is a good way to customize the sweetener.
• Vanilla — A little vanilla adds a subtle hint of flavor to the oats.
• Salt — I like to start with a little salt and then add more as needed to each portion.

Why I Love Steel Cut Oats

Looking for a breakfast that will keep you full until lunchtime? Try oats! Because they’re a whole grain, they’re a good source of protein and fiber. This combination is satisfying, especially if you add a little healthy fat like almond butter or chopped nuts to your bowl of oats.

Oats are also a great budget-friendly breakfast. A container of steel cut oats only costs a couple of dollars and will last a long time! You can find steel cut oats at most major grocery stores — and I’ve even found them at Aldi, Target and Trader Joe’s.

What are steel cut oats?

Steel cut oats are the least-processed version of oats. They have more texture and flavor than rolled or quick oats, but they take the longest to cook. I don’t typically use these oats for a quick bowl of oatmeal in the morning because of their longer cook time, but thanks to the Instant Pot, these oats can be ready in about 20 minutes from start to finish.

Topping Ideas for Steel Cut Oats

These oats are good on their own, but I recommend adding toppings! Here are a few of my favorite mix-in combinations:

• Peanut butter and chopped strawberries (pictured in this post)
• Almond butter and coconut flakes
• Blueberries and chia seeds
• Granola and chopped apples
• Banana slices and peanut butter

How to Make Steel Cut Oats in an Instant Pot

• 

• 

• 

How to Reheat and Store Leftovers

Once the steel cut oats have cooled, transfer them to an airtight container in the refrigerator. They will stay fresh for up to 5 days. You can also store them in the freezer for up to 3 months. I recommend dividing the oatmeal into individual portions before freezing. When you’re ready to enjoy, microwave the individual portions for 20-30 seconds or until heated through. Top with an extra drizzle of maple syrup if you like and enjoy!

Frequently Asked Questions

• Are steel cut oats gluten-free? Yes, but sometimes they’re processed in a facility with other grains, so check the package if you have an allergy.
• Can I make this with less sugar? Yes! I recommend making the recipe without any sweetener and then adding sweetener to taste with each portion. Sometimes I sweeten my oats with stevia, but I want to use maple syrup for my toddler. So in those cases, I just make the oatmeal without any sweetener and then I add it to our individual bowls.
• Is this recipe vegan? Yes! This recipe doesn’t require any dairy or eggs, so it’s vegan.
• Can I freeze this recipe? Yes. I recommend dividing it into individual portions before freezing, so it’s easy to thaw one bowl at a time.
• What size Instant Pot do I need? I have a 6-quart Instant Pot, but this recipe should work in most pressure cookers.

More Oatmeal Recipes

• Vegan Baked Steel Cut Oats
• Banana Baked Steel Cut Oats
• Vegan Blueberry Baked Oatmeal

Print