Instant Pot Steel Cut Oats - Quick & Easy! (2024)

Instant Pot Steel Cut Oats are a warm and heart healthy breakfast that is ready in just minutes. Top with berries, bananas, or your other favorite toppings for a satisfying dish that will keep you full all day.

Easy Instant Pot Steel Cut Oats

Breakfast is an important part of the day and these steel cut oats are a great way to start it.

The question I get asked most often when I share my overnight oats recipe, is can you use steel cut oats? The answer is no, as they need to be cooked, as seen in below in this steel cut oats recipe.

This healthy oatmeal recipe is made with blueberries, bananas and cinnamon and lightly sweetened with pure maple syrup or honey. The Instant Pot does all of the work here, just as it does in my Instant Pot baked oatmeal recipe, which means the hands-on time is just a few minutes. Then enjoy immediately or divide into containers and refrigerate for breakfast all week long.

Love blueberries with your oats? You may also love my baked oatmeal with blueberries!

Why You’ll Love This Instant Pot Recipe

Here are a few reasons you’ll love making steel cut oats in the Instant Pot.

• Quick and easy. This recipe comes together in under 30 minutes but the hands-on time is literally just a few seconds as you add the ingredients to the pressure cooker.
• Great for meal prep. If you want a filling breakfast for busy mornings, make a big batch of these oats and warm them up throughout the week.
• Easy to customize. Feel free to replace the bananas and blueberries in this recipe with your favorite fruit or add other toppings like nut butters and seeds.

What Are Steel Cut Oats?

Steel cut oats are simply oats that have not been processed as much as rolled oats or quick oats. Because of that, they have a chewier, coarser texture than rolled oats.

The name comes from the fact that they are cut with steel blades, which creates more of a thick, rice-like texture. Rolled oats, on the other hand, are steamed and rolled to become flat.

Due to their texture and lack of processing, steel cut oats take longer to cook than instant, ground, or rolled oats. However, using the Instant Pot reduces the cooking time, for a breakfast porridge that is nuttier in flavor and chewier in texture than quicker rolled oats.

Recipe Ingredients

This easy steel cut oats recipe is made with just a handful of simple ingredients. See the recipe card below for measurements.

• Steel cut oats – You can find gluten-free steel cut oats if needed.
• Water
• Cinnamon sticks – Add a warm flavor to the oats.
• Fruit – I used bananas and blueberries. Fresh or frozen berries will both work.
• Milk – Any milk you prefer will work, whether it’s nut, soy, or skim.
• Pure maple syrup – Honey is another option if preferred.
• Ground cinnamon – For topping the oatmeal.

How To Make Instant Pot Steel Cut Oats

Making steel cut oats in the Instant Pot requires just a few seconds of hands-on time.

• Combine the ingredients. Stir the oats and water together in the pressure cooker. Add the cinnamon sticks.
• Cook. Cover and cook on high pressure for 6 minutes. Allow to naturally release.
• Assemble oatmeal bowls. Remove the cinnamon sticks and stir the blueberries into the oats. Pour a cup of oats into each bowl, then top with milk, half of a banana, and a drizzle of honey or maple syrup. Finish with a pinch of cinnamon. Enjoy warm!

More Topping Ideas

Once you prepare your steel cut oats, there are endless ways to garnish them. Here are a few alternatives (or additions) to the bananas and blueberries in this recipe:

• Other berries (fresh or frozen)
• Peaches
• Apples (you can add these before cooking as well)
• Pumpkin puree (added before cooking)
• Chia seeds or flax seeds
• Nut butter
• Nuts

Can Steel Cut Oats Be Made In Advance?

Absolutely. Steel cut oats are great for meal prep as you can make them ahead and refrigerate for the week.

To do so, prepare as directed above but leave the fruit and milk out. Refrigerate in small containers. Microwave for about a minute or reheat on the stove with a little liquid to loosen it up. Then stir in your milk and desired toppings.

Can You Freeze Cooked Oats?

Yes, you can also freeze these steel cut oats. The best way to do this is to freeze it in a muffin tin. Once frozen, transfer the individual servings into a ziploc bag. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge then reheat as directed above.

More Oat Recipes

• Instant Pot Baked Oatmeal Bars
• Banana Nut Protein Oats
• Overnight Oats
• Baked Oatmeal with Blueberries