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Home » Recipes » Breakfast & Brunch

Instant Pot steel cut oatmeal

By: Kathryn Doherty | Last Updated: Mar 6, 2025 | Published: Jan 27, 2020
This post may contain affiliate links. See my 
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Instant Pot steel cut oatmeal is a really easy, hands-off way to cook steel cut oats. They come out perfectly tender and deliciously creamy every time!Instant Pot steel cut oatmeal served with cinnamon and banana slices and a spoon in the bowl

This post is sponsored by Bob’s Red Mill. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

You guys know I am ALL about the healthy oatmeal recipes, right?

We go through oats by the boatload at my house it seems. My kids, my husband and I all love oatmeal on its own and I incorporate it into a lot of muffins, snacks and treats as well.

So today I’m excited to share with you my new favorite way to make oatmeal: Instant Pot steel cut oatmeal!

These hearty oats are chewy, a little nutty and pack so much flavor in those creamy little morsels.

But they can be intimidating to cook, especially on busy mornings. (Which is why my husband and I usually just microwave our go-to rolled oats to make oatmeal.)

I’ve got the hack for you though - cook the steel cut oats in the Instant Pot!

They are unbelievable creamy. Like, luxuriously feeling creamy. And you can make a big batch once and have the extras to reheat throughout the week.

Bowlful of steel cut oatmeal with cinnamon and banana slices with berries and milk nearby

It’s totally fool-proof, too, since you just let them do their thing and come back to perfectly tender, perfectly cooked oatmeal.

Quick pause, though, because in the interest of full disclosure and being totally upfront, I have to say that cooking steel cut oats in the Instant Pot does not actually save you any time.

I know, I know, but keep reading cause it's still the best way.

When you factor in the amount of time it takes for the pot to come to pressure, then the 6 minutes of cook time, followed by the lengthy time it takes for the natural release, this isn’t any faster than cooking the oats stovetop.

I meticulously timed it the last time I made these and it ended up being 42 minutes start to finish for me.

However, it is totally hands off time. You don’t have to stand at the stove stirring the pot and making sure the oats don’t stick to the bottom or start to burn.

You set it and walk away. And that freedom is totally worth it to me!

Plus, these are really the creamiest, smoothest, most perfectly cooked steel cut oats. You will fall in love with them and start making them on the regular!

Cause oatmeal is such a great healthy breakfast.

Steel cut oats, in particular, are really hearty and filling. They’re more dense than rolled oats and give us that boost of satiety that’s helpful in making it through to lunch.

They’re also a great source of dietary fiber, which helps keep our digestive systems happy and is thought to lower blood cholesterol levels and stabilize blood glucose levels.

You can read more about the benefits of steel cut oats on the Bob’s Red Mill blog.

Bob's Red Mill steel cut oats and bowls of fresh berriesBob's Red Mill breakfast cups stacked up on a counter with fresh fruit nearby

Speaking of, I’m thrilled to be continuing my partnership with Bob’s Red Mill again this year.

They are one of my favorite companies, and I always have a variety of their oats and flours in our pantry.

They are employee-owned and dedicated to using the best ingredients in their products. It feels good to support a company that’s as wholesome as the products they make. ❤️

I also love keeping their oatmeal breakfast cups on hand in the pantry. (See the photo above. ) They are perfect for single serving breakfasts for my husband and I or the kids on a busy morning. (The blueberry hazelnut and pineapple coconut are soo good!)

The oatmeal cups also travel great, so they’re good to pack for a beach or mountain weekend. Or just a work trip or day at the office.

OK, back to the oatmeal at hand today.

Cooked creamy steel cut oats in the Instant Pot Spoonful of steel cut oatmeal being lifted out of the Instant Pot

I’ve got some notes, tips and substitutions coming up below on how to make steel cut oats in the Instant Pot. Just tryin’ to be helpful.

If you want to jump on down to the recipe, simply scroll right on through the rest of the text. The recipe card is near the bottom of the page, above the comments section.

Notes on Instant Pot steel cut oatmeal:

  • You can use any milk for these - 2%, skim, soy, etc. So they are easily made dairy-free and vegan.
  • Or if you’d like to skip the milk altogether, you can substitute more water in place of the milk.
  • The milk does not add much sweetness, so you can still use these oats for savory servings (which is what I prefer). Or you can add some brown sugar or honey like my husband and kids.
  • Keep in mind when you first open the Instant Pot after cooking that the oats will continue to thicken up as they cool. You can add additional liquid when you reheat them in smaller batches to get them to your desired consistency.

Instant Pot steel cut oatmeal served with cinnamon and banana slices

Also, a disclaimer: Instant Pot recipes often fail to mention the time it takes for the pot to come to pressure or to release it.

I have found it very misleading when trying to plan, so I wanted to be sure to include it here.

I’ve listed “additional time” as 25 minutes to account for the amount of time it will take for the pot to come to pressure and then the time for natural release. The exact amount of time for these will vary, but that’s at least a rough estimate.

Moving on, it’s ready to serve!

As is, this is a delicious, creamy and flavorful breakfast. But if you want to dress it up, here are some ideas for oatmeal toppings.

Topping ideas for steel cut oats:

  • Sprinkle of cinnamon
  • Sliced banans
  • Fresh berries such as strawberries or blueberries
  • Brown sugar or honey
  • Trail mix (or just a mix of your favorite dried fruit and nuts)

Use a combination of the above ideas and find your favorite!

(Side note: I prefer savory oats. I usually just sprinkle some sea salt on mine and dive in. If it’s the weekend, I scramble an egg and put that on top of my oatmeal. Seriously so good!)

Spoon resting in a bowl of creamy oatmeal with cinnamon sprinkled on top and banana slices in the bowl

Lastly, let’s talk about how to store leftovers. Cause the beauty of this is you can cook this once and have steel cut oats ready to heat and enjoy for the rest of the week.

Storing cooked steel cut oatmeal:

- The cooked oatmeal will keep in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. You can also freeze the leftovers in a freezer-safe plastic bag or container for up to 3 to 5 months.

- Store in either single-serve containers for a quick breakfast to reheat in the mornings, or store in bigger batches for the whole family.

- Thaw frozen oatmeal overnight in the refrigerator (it may take 2 days if it’s a really large batch) and then it’s ready to reheat and enjoy.

A spoonful of instant pot oatmeal being lifted from a serving bowl

How to reheat those leftovers when you want a quick breakfast? I’ve got some tips on that too.

Reheating steel cut oats:

- Reheating the cooked oatmeal in the microwave is the quickest, easiest way to do this.

- Put your oatmeal in a microwave-safe bowl or container and add a splash of milk or water, if desired. Cover the container then microwave for 45 seconds to 1 minute.

- Stir the oatmeal and continue microwaving in 30-second intervals until it’s heated through.

(If you want to add some brown sugar before you microwave it, it’ll melt down nicely. This is my husband’s trick.)

You can also try reheating your oatmeal in a small pot on the stove over medium low heat. Just be sure to add a few splashes of milk or water, stir often and keep an eye on it.

I hope you try cooking your steel cut oats in the Instant Pot soon - you’ll be hooked!

Enjoy!

XO,

Kathryn

P.S. Check out these other yummy oatmeal recipes:

  • Slow cooker maple cinnamon oatmeal
  • Peanut butter oatmeal with cinnamon and apples
  • Chocolate chip oatmeal waffles
  • Banana bread baked oatmeal
  • Overnight oatmeal jars

Spoon resting in a bowl of creamy oatmeal with cinnamon sprinkled on top and banana slices in the bowl
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Instant Pot steel cut oatmeal

Instant Pot steel cut oatmeal is a really easy, hands-off way to cook steel cut oats. They come out perfectly tender and deliciously creamy every time!
Prep Time5 minutes mins
Cook Time6 minutes mins
Additional TimeAdditional Time25 minutes mins
Total Time36 minutes mins
Yield: 8 servings

Ingredients

  • 2 cups Bob’s Red Mill steel cut oats
  • 2 cups milk of choice (see notes)
  • 4 cups water
  • Pinch of salt
  • ¼ teaspoon cinnamon, if desired

Optional toppings:

  • Sliced banana, fresh berries, brown sugar or honey, cinnamon, dried fruit, chopped nuts

Instructions

  • Add all of the ingredients to the Instant Pot and stir well.
  • Seal the Instant Pot and set it for 6 minutes of high pressure. (Turn off the Keep Warm function if it’s on.)
  • After the cook time is finished, allow it to release naturally. (This may take 15-20 minutes.)
  • Then open, stir and serve!

Notes

You can use any milk for these - 2%, skim, soy, etc. So they are easily made dairy-free and vegan. Or if you’d like to skip the milk altogether, you can substitute more water in place of the milk.
Keep in mind when you first open the Instant Pot after cooking that the oats will continue to thicken up as they cool. You can add additional liquid when you reheat them in smaller batches to get them to your desired consistency.
The cooked oatmeal will keep in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. You can also freeze the leftovers in a freezer-safe plastic bag or container for up to 3 to 5 months.
Using the microwave is the quickest, easiest way to reheat leftover cooked oatmeal. Put your oatmeal in a microwave-safe bowl or container and add a splash of milk or water. Cover the container then microwave for 45 seconds to 1 minute. Stir the oatmeal and continue microwaving in 30 second intervals until it’s heated through. 

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 250kcal | Carbohydrates: 43g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 5mg | Sodium: 67mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 9g
Tried this recipe?Leave a comment below or follow me on Instagram @familyfoodonthetable and tag me in your photo!
A bowl of oatmeal with cinnamon sprinkled on top, sliced bananas to the side, a spoon resting in it and bowls of fresh fruit in the background.

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Meet Kathryn

Hi there! I’m Kathryn Doherty, a cookbook author, mom of two, and devoted food and home cooking nut. I’ve got lots of easy recipes to help you get delicious food on the table for your family!

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