I love starting my day with these Instant Pot steel-cut oats. They’re creamy and flavorful, hearty and wholesome. But best of all, they’re easy to make!
Am I the last person to discover the magic of Instant Pot steel-cut oats?! If you haven’t tried them yet, this is your PSA: these guys are hearty, wholesome, and so darn convenient. You can dump the oats and water in the Instant Pot, pop on the lid, and walk away. Half an hour later, come back to the kitchen, and a pot of creamy, perfectly al dente oats will be ready and waiting for you. On a chilly, hectic morning, when you want a hot breakfast but you don’t want to spend 20+ minutes standing at the stove stirring, these Instant Pot steel-cut oats are pretty much a miracle.
How to Make Steel-Cut Oats in the Instant Pot
To make these Instant Pot steel-cut oats, you’ll just need two ingredients: steel-cut oats and water. You’ll need 2 1/2 cups of water for every 1 cup of oats.
Heads up! For this recipe, make sure you have regular steel-cut oats, not quick-cooking ones. The water ratio and cooking time listed here will only work with regular steel-cut oats.
Place the oats in the Instant Pot and pour in the water. Secure the lid and cook for 10 minutes on high pressure.
When the cooking cycle is complete, allow the Instant Pot to release pressure naturally. This will take about 20 minutes. When the float valve drops, the oats are ready to eat!
When you remove the Instant Pot lid, the oats might look watery. That’s ok! If you give everything a good stir, the excess water will incorporate into the oats. They’ll have a nice creamy consistency and yummy al dente bite.
Enjoy them with your favorite toppings, or check out my serving suggestions below!
Instant Pot Steel-Cut Oats Recipe Tips
- Size matters. These ratios work best in a 6-quart or smaller Instant Pot. If you have a larger Instant Pot, scale up the recipe to prevent burning.
- Save the leftovers. Cooked steel-cut oats reheat perfectly! If you have leftovers, or if you’re making the oats for meal prep, store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Warm them on the stove or in the microwave, stirring in extra water or milk as needed to reach a creamy consistency. (The oats will have thickened in the fridge.)
Serving Suggestions for Instant Pot Steel-Cut Oats
Like any oatmeal, these Instant Pot steel-cut oats are best with toppings. Pile on your favorites, or experiment with something new! Here are a few ideas to get you started:
- Fruit! Fresh, dried, or frozen. A spoonful of jam, applesauce, or cranberry sauce is also delicious.
- Nuts and seeds. Sprinkle on chopped nuts like almonds, walnuts, or pecans or seeds like chia, hemp, or sunflower seeds. Not a nut or seed – but toasted coconut flakes also add nice richness and crunch.
- Nut butter. Drizzle on almond butter, peanut butter, or any nut butter you like. Seed butters, such as tahini, are great toppings too.
- Greek yogurt. Add a dollop for creamy texture and tart flavor.
- Spices. Dust the oats with warming spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom, and/or ginger. If you have some on hand, pumpkin pie spice or apple pie spice is also yummy.
- Honey or maple syrup. If you like your oats on the sweeter side, drizzle a little honey or maple syrup on top before digging in.
- A splash of milk or plant milk. If you like, loosen the oats with any type of milk. Oat milk and almond milk are my favorites.
The topping ideas above all lean in the sweet direction, but savory fixings are also fair game! Try dressing up the oats with roasted vegetables, pesto or chimichurri, and a soft-boiled egg. Avocado, tamari, and toasted pepitas are a fantastic combo too.
Let me know what variations you try!
More Favorite Breakfast Recipes
If you love this Instant Pot steel-cut oats recipe, try one of these wholesome breakfasts next:
For more healthy breakfast ideas, check out this post!
Instant Pot Steel Cut Oats
Serves 4
This Instant Pot steel-cut oats recipe is my favorite way to cook oatmeal! It’s quick, easy, and hands-off, and the oats turn out perfectly every time. Pile them with toppings like nuts and fresh fruit for a delicious healthy breakfast!
- 1 cup steel-cut oats
- 2½ cups water
- Desired toppings such as almond butter, blueberries, banana slices, chopped pecans, chopped almonds, and/or hemp seeds
- Maple syrup, for drizzling, optional
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Combine the steel-cut oats and water in a 6-quart (or smaller) Instant Pot. Secure the lid and Pressure Cook on High for 10 minutes.
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Allow the Instant Pot to release pressure naturally. This will take about 20 minutes. When the float valve drops, remove the lid and stir the oats (there will be some water separation – that’s ok).
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Serve with desired toppings. See the blog post above for suggestions.