Easiest Instant Pot Steel Cut Oats

hands holding a glass meal prep container filled with instant pot steel cut oats and berries

4.89 from 9 votes

These Instant Pot steel cut oats are ready in less time than stovetop, are perfectly creamy, nutritious, and easy to customize with your favorite toppings. With just four simple ingredients, you can have easy reheat breakfasts for the week.

Prep Time5

Cook Time2

Time to come to pressure + naturally depressurize40

Total Time47

Course: Breakfast

Cuisine: American, Meal Prep

Servings:

Calories: 184kcal

Author: Denise Bustard

Ingredients

1 cup steel cut oats
3 cups water
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
½ teaspoon cinnamon

After cooking

2 tablespoons maple syrup (or honey)

Instructions

Place all ingredients into the inner pot of an Instant Pot.
Put the lid on, set valve to 'sealed', and pressure cook (high pressure) for 2 minutes. It will take 15-20 minutes to come to pressure.
Allow pressure to naturally release (let the Instant Pot sit until the pin drops). This will take roughly 25-30 minutes (see notes *)
Stir in the maple syrup, then serve or portion out.

Storage

Cooked oats may be stored in an air tight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
To reheat- heat in the microwave until steaming hot. Stir in some almond or dairy milk and stir to 'loosen' up the oats. Top with syrup, berries, nut butter, or your favorite toppings.
To freeze- you can freeze directly in meal prep containers (make sure everything is cool before placing in the freezer), or in muffin trays before popping them out and transferring to freezer bags.

Video

Notes

* For chewier oats, try releasing the pressure after 15 minutes of natural pressure release.

**This recipe can be doubled and fit in either a 6 or 8 quart Instant Pot.

Variations

apple cinnamon- add 2-3 chopped apples in to cook with the steel cut oats; feel free to increase the cinnamon as needed
pumpkin- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg, ¼ teaspoon ground cloves, 1 cup pumpkin puree at the end of the cook time.
peanut butter- stir in 2-4 tablespoons peanut butter after cooking
chocolate- add in 1-2 tablespoons cocoa powder before cooking; serve with mini chocolate chips
citrus: add in some citrus zest- you can do this before cooking so the oats infuse with tons of citrussy flavor
change up the fruit; add in some apples, pears, kiwis, bananas, really anything you can think of!

Toasting the oats

Toasting your oats can add flavor to them.

Melt a tablespoon of butter or coconut oil using the sautee function on the Instant Pot.
Add your oats and toast for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. The oats are toasted when they are golden and you can smell a nutty flavor.
Turn off the sautee function, add in the rest of your ingredients, and pressure cook as directed.

Nutrition