Jump to Recipe
Instant Pot Steel Cut Oats are easy to make and come out perfect every single time. Toss the ingredients in the pot while you get ready on busy mornings and you’ll have a hearty breakfast ready for you.
I’ve always enjoyed eating steel-cut oatmeal, but I’ve never enjoyed the lengthy stove top cooking process. If you haven’t made them before, they have a much longer cook time than rolled, quick or instant oats.
That’s because they’re processed differently. Steel cut oats, also known as Irish Oats, are made by cutting oat groats into smaller pieces using steel blades. Rolled oats, on the other hand, are made by first steaming oat groats then pressing them flat between steel rollers. So they just cook differently
While I love all types of oats, I enjoy the nutty flavor that steel cut oats have. Pressure cooking has become my favorite way to make this type of oats because all you need are 2 simple ingredients for perfectly cooked, creamy steel cut oats.
I love the Instant Pot for morning meal prep… it saves so much time and energy. The entire process of making Instant Pot Steel-Cut Oatmeal is done in about 25 minutes, and everyone can have a hearty bowl of oatmeal for breakfast.
Ingredients and Equipment
- 2 cups of steel cut oats
- 3 cups of water
- Measuring cups
- Wooden spoon
- 6-quart Instant Pot
- Serving bowls
By the Numbers: How to Make Instant Pot Steel Cut Oats
Follow these simple step by step instructions to learn how to make the best steel cut oats in the Instant Pot electric pressure cooker. This oatmeal recipe is naturally gluten free and dairy free.
Step 1: Add Ingredients to Pot
Measure out 2 cups of steel cut oats and 3 cups of filtered water and add it to the inner liner of your Instant Pot.
Step 2: Pressure Cook Oats
Close the lid, make sure the steam release valve is in the sealing position then cook your oats on High Pressure for 6-8 minutes, depending on how firm or soft you prefer your oats.
When the cooking time is up, allow for a natural pressure release for 10 minutes, then quick release any remaining steam pressure. Open the lid.
Step 3: Stir Cooked Oats
Immediately stir the cooked steel cut oats with a wooden spoon to make sure any liquid and oats are well combined and there’s nothing stuck to the bottom of the pot.
Step 4: Serve Steel Cut Oats
Once they’re stirred well, you can serve your Instant Pot steel-cut oats. Either put it all into a serving bowl for the breakfast table or serve up individual portions from the pot. Serve with butter, chopped pecans and a drizzle of maple syrup or your favorite toppings.
Tips for Making Perfect Instant Pot Steel Cut Oats
Answers to all of your questions about making the best steel cut oatmeal in the Instant Pot, including tips and substitution ideas.
Favorite toppings and mix-ins
One of my favorite things about steel cut oats is how many different ways there are to eat them. Here are some of my favorite toppings and mix-ins to add to my oats:
- Peanut butter makes super creamy oatmeal
- Fresh fruit with a splash of almond milk, oat milk or coconut milk
- Pecans, cashews or sliced almonds
- Strawberry jam or Blueberry jam
- Pumpkin puree with pumpkin pie spice
- Pure maple syrup or brown sugar
- Real butter or coconut oil
Make a big batch
This recipe makes 4 perfect portions of steel cut oats. If you want to serve a larger crowd, you’ll want to use a 3:2 water to oats ratio. The reason we use less water when cooking grains in the Instant Pot rather than on the stove is because water doesn’t evaporate from a pressure cooker the way it does from a saucepan.
Get more tips about cooking rice and grains in the Instant Pot.
Cook other types of oats in the Instant Pot
All other types of oatmeal like old-fashioned oats and quick-cooking oats can be made in less time on the stove top than steel-cut… and the same goes for making them in the Instant Pot.
If you want to make old-fashioned rolled oats or quick oats, they can both be cooked on High Pressure for 3 minutes with a quick release of pressure.
Storage tips
If you have any leftover steel cut oatmeal, be sure to store it in the refrigerator in an airtight container. I try to make only what we’ll eat that day as my family does not love leftover oatmeal.
More healthy breakfast ideas
If you want more ideas on what to make for breakfast for your family, here are some of my favorite recipes:
Instant Pot Steel Cut Oats Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cups steel cut oats
- 3 cups water
Equipment
- Measuring cups
- Wooden spoon
- Instant Pot
- Serving bowls
Instructions
- Measure out and add steel cut oats and water to the Instant Pot inner liner.
- Cook on High Pressure for 6-8 minutes. Use a natural release of pressure for 10 minutes, then quick release remaining pressure and open the lid.
- Give the cooked steel cut oats a good stir to make sure everything is evenly mixed.
- You’re ready to serve your pressure cooker steel cut oats in a serving bowl for the breakfast table or individual portions for the family. They’re great with butter, pecans and maple syrup.
Nutrition Information Per Serving
More Easy Instant Pot Recipes
