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These Instant Pot Steel Cut Oats are an easy and fail-proof way to make steel cut oats for breakfast with only 4 ingredients. Learn how to make steel cut oats in the Instant Pot pressure cooker with this simple method that turns out perfect each time!

For another delicious recipe that uses these oats be sure and try my Steel Cut Oatmeal Energy Bites

A white bowl of cooked oats with toppings.

Instant Pot Steel Cut Oats Recipe

If you haven’t woken up craving a bowl of hearty steel cut oats, then you’ve been making them wrong! This fail-proof, super easy Instant Pot method for making steel cut oats yields perfect oats each time. 

Not too much liquid and not too dry, they are perfection. I love serving these cooked oats alongside different topping ideas like fresh fruit, sliced bananas, honey, brown sugar, almond slices, and vanilla honey Greek Yogurt. 

A instant pot insert full of cooked oats.

Ingredients You Need

  • Steel Cut Oats – These are the whole, traditional steel cut oats and not the quick 1-minute cook steel cut oats. This recipe will not work with the quick steel cut oats. 
  • Water – For the best taste make sure you use filtered water. 
  • Vanilla Extract
  • Sea Salt or Kosher Salt

Labeled ingredients for this recipe

How To Make Steel Cut Oats In The Instant Pot

Follow these easy, step-by-step directions for how to make steel cut oats in the Instant Pot at home. 

Step 1 : Place the steel cut oats, water, vanilla extract, and salt into the insert of the Instant Pot. I use a 6QT Instant Pot for this recipe. Stir everything together well. 

Step 2 : Close the instant pot and set the valve to the ‘sealing’ position.

Step 3 : Set the cook time using the Pressure Cooker/Manual function to HIGH pressure for 4 minutes. When the cook time is done, allow the Instant Pot to do a natural release of the pressure (meaning don’t touch it or quick release the pressure) for 20 minutes. 

Step 4 : When the natural release is done, move the valve to the ‘venting’ position to make sure that all of the steam and pressure has released. Open the Instant Pot and stir the oats together well. 

Step 5 : Serve a scoop of steel cut oats inside a bowl and top with your favorite toppings. 

Process photos showing how to make this recipe

Process photos showing how to make this recipe

Process photos showing how to make this recipe

Process photos showing how to make this recipe

Process photos showing how to make this recipe

Steel Cut Oats FAQ’s

  • What Do I Top Steel Cut Oats With?

    • Fresh Blueberries
    • Yogurt of Choice (I love the Greek Gods Vanilla Honey Greek Yogurt)
    • Sliced Bananas
    • Honey
    • Pure Maple Syrup
    • Slivered Almonds or Almond Slices
    • Chopped Strawberries
    • Raspberries
    • Blackberries
    • Brown Sugar
    • Peanut Butter/Almond Butter
    • Agave 
    • Sugar Substitutes
  • How To Store Leftovers

    • Leftovers keep well in an airtight container, in the fridge, for up to 5 days. 
  • How Do I Reheat Leftover Steel Cut Oats?

    • You can either reheat leftovers in the microwave or on the stove top inside a saucepan. 
    • I put leftovers inside a microwave-safe bowl along with some almond milk and heat for 1-2 minutes. If using the stove top, set the heat to medium-low and add some additional liquid (milk of choice or water) to moisten things back up for serving. 
  • Can I Make Any Changes To This Recipe?

    • Almond Milk : You can use half almond milk (or other choice of milk) + half water for the liquid. 
    • Extra Flavor : Try adding some ground cinnamon, pure maple syrup, brown sugar into the Instant Pot with the steel cut oats. 
    • Double The Recipe : If you are serving more people try doubling the recipe. A 6QT Instant Pot still works for a double recipe of this. 

Close up of this recipe with toppings and yogurt.

Expert Tips

Here are a few of my tips so that you can have success recreating this recipe in your own kitchen

  • Cooked Steel Cut Oats Tip : When you first open the Instant Pot it might seem like the oats have too much liquid but as you stir it together really well, the oats will thicken and the liquid gets combined into the oats. If you see a small pool of water on top of the steel cut oats after the cook time, that is perfectly normal. Just give it a good stir. 
  • Use The Correct Ingredient : Make sure you are using traditional, whole steel cut oats and not the quick 1-minute cook steel cut oats. 
  • Toppings : The steel cut oats themselves are not sweetened at all. So be sure to top each serving of oats with whatever toppings you want. Here are some topping ideas; blueberries, raspberries, chopped strawberries, blackberries, yogurt of choice, sliced bananas, honey, pure maple syrup, agave, sugar substitutes, peanut butter, almond butter, almond slices, slivered almonds, pecans, walnuts, brown sugar.

A drizzle of honey this bowl of cooked steel cut oatmeal.

A spoon taking a bite of this recipe.

More Breakfast Recipes You’ll Love

A white bowl of cooked oats with toppings.
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Instant Pot Steel Cut Oats


Author Jessica - Together as Family
Course Breakfast, Instant Pot
Cuisine American
Prep Time 1 minute
Cook Time 4 minutes
Natural Pressure Release 20 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings 4
These Instant Pot Steel Cut Oats are the easiest and fool-proof way to make steel cut oats for breakfast, and they're so simple to make with only 4 ingredients. Learn how to make steel cut oats in the Instant Pot pressure cooker with this simple method. 

Ingredients
  

  • 3 cups water
  • 1 cup steel cut oats (NOT quick 1-minute cook)
  • ½ teaspoon sea salt or kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

  • Add the water, steel cut oats, salt, and vanilla extract into the insert of a 6 QT Instant Pot. Stir to combine well.
    3 cups water, 1 cup steel cut oats, ½ teaspoon sea salt or kosher salt, ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Close the lid and set the valve to the 'sealing' position.
  • Set the cook time, using the Pressure Cooker/Manual function, to 4 minutes on HIGH pressure.
    When the cook time ends, allow the Instant Pot to do a natural pressure release (meaning don't touch it, take the lid off, or do a manual pressure release) for 20 minutes.
  • After the natural release, move the valve to the 'venting' position to release any remaining pressure or steam. Open the Instant Pot lid and give it a really good stir to combine.
    * When you open the lid there might look like there is too much liquid, but as you stir it together the water will be absorbed into the oats and everything will thicken up and come together nicely.
  • Serve the oats with your toppings of choice. My family loves sliced bananas, blueberries, sliced almonds, and honey.

Video

Notes

Serving Size : This recipe yields about 2 cups - 2.5 cups of cooked steel cut oats. Each serving is equal to approximately 1/2 cup for 4 servings per recipe. 
Double The Recipe : A double recipe will easily still fit in the 6 QT Instant Pot. No need to use a larger one.
Add-Ins : Try adding some ground cinnamon, pure maple syrup, brown sugar into the Instant Pot with the steel cut oats. You can also use half almond milk (or milk of choice) + half water. I stick with water because it's easy and turns out perfect each time. 
Cooked Steel Cut Oats Tip : When you first open the Instant Pot it might seem like the oats have too much liquid but as you stir it together really well, the oats will thicken and the liquid gets combined into the oats. If you see a small pool of water on top of the steel cut oats after the cook time, that is perfectly normal. Just give it a good stir. 
Use The Correct Oats : Make sure you are using traditional, whole steel cut oats and NOT the quick 1-minute cook steel cut oats. 
Toppings : The steel cut oats themselves are not sweetened at all. So be sure to top each serving of oats with whatever toppings you want. Here are some topping ideas; blueberries, raspberries, chopped strawberries, blackberries, yogurt of choice, sliced bananas, honey, pure maple syrup, agave, sugar substitutes, peanut butter, almond butter, almond slices, slivered almonds, pecans, walnuts, brown sugar.

Did You Make This Recipe?

I'd love to see it! You can share it with me on @togetherasfamilyblog and follow on Pinterest @together-as-family-blog-recipes or Facebook @togetherasfamilyblog for more!

A bowl of this recipe

A bowl of oats topped with blueberries, almonds, and banana.

Did you love this recipe?

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5 from 3 votes (2 ratings without comment)

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Recipe Rating




2 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    This is such a delicious recipe! It will be the only way I make Steel cut oats from now on!

    1. Together as Family says:

      Wonderful! 🙌🏻☺️