Instant Pot Steel Cut Oatmeal Recipe

at a glance
Prep Time 2 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Servings 2 servings

Every item on this page was chosen by The Fed & Fit team. The site may earn a commission on some products (read more here).

Forget standing and stirring oats on the stove, this Instant Pot steel cut oats recipe is a quick and easy way to cook and enjoy your oats with minimal hands-on time!

White bowl with oatmeal topped with sliced strawberries, granola, mascarpone, and a drizzle of honey.

Steel Cut Oats Instant Pot Recipe 

Steel cut oats have the lowest glycemic index of all the types of oats (old-fashioned rolled oats, quick oats, instant oats), but take the longest to cook because they are sliced as opposed to flattened. The instant pot takes all the guesswork out of cooking and is a quick option to make a batch of perfectly textured steel cut oats. It is a true set it and forget it method, no need to worry about a pot overflowing on your stove!

Oatmeal has a bounty of health benefits, including soluble fiber. They act as prebiotic food and help prepare your gut for digestion. They also have anti-inflammatory effects. Steel cut oats are minimally processed and high in fiber and density, which results in one of the healthiest grains you can eat.

Oat groats for steel cut oats have been sliced into smaller pieces, while oat groats for old-fashioned oats have been flattened. What is an oat groat you ask? It is what you call the de-husked oat grain (or hulled kernels of the grain). 

Instant Pot Steel Cut Oatmeal Ingredients 

You just need a few simple ingredients to make your steel cut oats in the instant pot. Here’s what you’ll use:

Ingredients for oatmeal in the Instant Pot
  • Steel Cut Oats – the main star of the show, you’ll need 1 cup of steel cut oats.
  • Water – for the liquid component, use 2 ½ cups of water (you can substitute dairy-free milk, but avoid using dairy milk, as it often burns in the instant pot).
  • Salt – a pinch of salt seasons the oats.
  • Banana or Maple Syrup (optional) – for added sweetness and creaminess, add ½ of a ripe banana or 1 tablespoon of maple syrup to the pot.

Ingredients Modifications

  • Add a hint of sweetness – before cooking, add ½ of a ripe banana or 1 tablespoon of maple syrup for some sweet flavor.
  • Add spices – before cooking, add a pinch of cinnamon, nutmeg, turmeric, and/or cardamom for additional warmth and flavor.  
  • Use non-dairy milk – for the water, sub non-dairy milk (but steer clear of dairy milk, as it tends to scald in the instant pot) for creamier oats. 

Supplies Needed to Make Instant Pot Steel Cut Oats

How to Cook Steel Cut Oats in Instant Pot

Making your steel cut oats in the Instant Pot is really easy since everything is cooked at the same time. Here’s how you’ll do it:

220316_IP Steel Cut Oats-06
220316_IP Steel Cut Oats-08
220316_IP Steel Cut Oats-07
220316_IP Steel Cut Oats-13
  1. Add ingredients – to the instant pot, add your steel cut oats, water, salt, and optional mix-ins, and stir to mix together.
  2. Seal the Instant Pot – close the Instant Pot and turn the valve to seal. Set the Instant Pot to manual, high pressure for 10 minutes.
  3. Quick release – once the timer goes off, quick release the pressure by opening the valve to let the steam out.
  4. Stir to combine – once you remove the lid from your Instant Pot, there may still be some liquid on top of your steel cut oats. Don’t worry! Simply stir to combine everything together, using a fork to mash the banana (if added), and let the oats sit until they are cool enough to serve. If there is still too much liquid for your taste, you can set it to saute mode and give it a good stir while it warms up.
  5. Serve and enjoy – garnish with desired toppings and enjoy!
Top down view of oatmeal in a white mug topped with sliced strawberries, granola, mascarpone, and honey.

Ten minutes is all you need to cook the steel cut oats in the instant pot!

Oatmeal in a white mug topped with strawberries, mascarpone, granola, and honey with a honey pot, mug of coffee, and bowl of sliced strawberries in the background.
Cinnamon Maple Overnight Oats Fed and Fit-3

Just for You

Breakfast Recipes

Want more recipes like this?

Q What size Instant Pot is needed to make this Steel Cut Oatmeal recipe?
A

This recipe works with any size instant pot! If you increase the amounts for a larger batch, I would use a 6-quart pot or larger to make sure that the oats have enough room to expand.

Q What is the ratio of water to steel cut oats?
A

I have found that a 2½ cups of water to 1 cup of steel cut oats ensures that there is enough liquid in the instant pot to cook the oats and results in the best texture. 

Q Why does my oatmeal burn in my instant pot?
A

Oatmeal burns when there isn’t enough liquid in the instant pot. If you use the full 2 ½ cups of water or non-dairy liquid, your oats should be just fine!

Q How do you make sure your instant pot is sealed?
A

The cook time should begin, and the float valve at the top of the instant pot should pop up once the Instant Pot is to pressure.

Q How do you keep oatmeal from sticking to the pot?
A

The secret to keeping your oatmeal from sticking to the pot is to remove them while they are still warm. The longer they cool, the stickier they become, and the higher the likelihood that they will stick to the pot. 

Q How to store and reheat this Steel Cut Oatmeal Instant Pot Recipe
A

To store your oats, transfer them into a container (either individual serving sizes or one large container), allow them to cool completely, then store covered in the fridge for up to 5 days. To reheat, pop them in the microwave and heat to desired temperature, stirring halfway through. 

Q Can Steel Cut Oatmeal in Instant Pot be made ahead?
A

Yes! Since you don’t have to worry about boiling the liquid and constantly stirring the oats on the stove, this makes for a great make-ahead recipe. 

Shop Supplies

Silicone Spatula Shop Now
Instant Pot 6 Quart 6-in-1 Pressure Cooker Shop Now
glass meal prep containers
Glass Food Storage Containers Shop Now

Instant Pot Steel Cut Oats

By: Lindsay Bare
No ratings yet
Prep Time: 2 mins
Cook Time: 10 mins
Servings: 2 servings
Forget standing and stirring oats on the stove, this Instant Pot steel cut oats recipe is a quick and easy way to cook and enjoy your oats with minimal hands-on time!

Ingredients  

  • 2 1/2 cups water (or non-dairy milk)
  • 1 cup steel cut oats
  • pinch of salt
  • (optional) 1/2 ripe banana

Instructions

  • To the instant pot, add your steel cut oatmeal, water, salt, and optional add-ins and stir to mix together.
  • Close the Instant Pot and turn the valve to seal. Set the Instant Pot to manual, high pressure for 10 minutes.
  • Once the timer goes off, quick release the pressure by opening the valve to let the steam out.
  • Remove the lid from your Instant Pot and stir to combine everything together, using a fork to mash the banana, and let the oats sit until they are cool enough to serve. If there is still too much liquid for your taste, you can set it to saute mode and give it a good stir while it warms up.
  • Serve and enjoy – garnish with desired toppings and enjoy!

Nutrition Information

Nutrition Facts
Instant Pot Steel Cut Oats
Amount per Serving
Calories
169
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
2.9
g
4
%
Saturated Fat
 
0.5
g
3
%
Sodium
 
16.4
mg
1
%
Carbohydrates
 
29.4
g
10
%
Fiber
 
5.1
g
21
%
Sugar
 
2
g
2
%
Protein
 
7.4
g
15
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Recipe Notes

  • Avoid using dairy milk, as it easily scalds and burns in the Instant Pot.
  • Use ½ of a ripe banana or 1 tablespoon of maple syrup for some sweet flavor.
  • Add a pinch of cinnamon, nutmeg, turmeric, and/or cardamom for additional warmth and flavor.
Meet the Author
Lindsay Headshot

Lindsay Bare

Lindsay relishes in making the Fed & Fit vision come to life! She believes in sweating every day, putting her toes in the grass, baby snuggles are the best medicine, and dessert can come first.
Get to know Lindsay

Show us!

Did You Make This Recipe?

Share a photo and tag us! We can’t wait to see what you make!

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating