Instant Pot Cinnamon Steel-Cut Oats

Steel cut oats in an Instant Pot

I feel like everyone I follow on social media received an Instant Pot from Santa this Christmas! Everyone is posting about it and I love it because I think the Instant Pot really is amazing. I’ve had mine for a little over a year and have found it to be most useful for rice and soups, especially brown rice! 

The other day when I was in the grocery store, I was stocking up on oats and cereals. I saw the steel cut oats and thought, man, I haven’t made steel-cut in SUCH a long time! I used to be hooked on them and it was the only kind of oats I would eat (weird, I know.) The downfall is the amount of time they take to cook. Enter: the Instant Pot. 

The Instant Pot made these cinnamon steel-cut oats in 4 minutes. (Now, this means 4 minutes once the Instant Pot heats up, which more realistically means probably a total of 10-15 minutes). Which is a heck of a lot less time than cooking them stove-top and is a total win in my book, and probably yours too!

This recipe is super simple, you can make modification to your toppings and what you like on them. Enjoy!

What are steel cut oats?

Steel cut oats are clearly a type of oat but the processing is different than your average rolled oats. Rather than being rolled, steel cut oats are processed by chopping the whole oat groat into several pieces. I personally really like the wholesome, chewy texture of steel-cut compared to the rolled oats. 

Instant Pot steel cut oats ingredients

Making Instant Pot oatmeal doesn’t require any special ingredients. Here’s what you’ll need to make Instant Pot steel cut oatmeal:

• Milk
• Water
• Steel cut oats
• Cinnamon stick
• Vanilla bean paste
• Salt

How to make steel cut oats in an Instant Pot

Add all the ingredients into your Instant Pot and gently mix them together. Secure the lid and plug in the Instant Pot, then press “Manual” and set the Instant Pot to cook on HIGH pressure for 4 minutes.

Once the Instant Pot is done, let it sit (natural release) for an additional 20 minutes. Then, switch to venting and let any extra steam release.

Remove the cinnamon stick, then serve the oats as desired!

My favorite healthy oatmeal toppings

When it comes to picking your oatmeal toppings, the options really are endless. If you make these Instant Pot steel cut oats without the cinnamon and vanilla paste, they’d be a great base for both sweet and savory oats.

Here are a few of my go-to healthy oatmeal toppings:

• Raisins
• Dried fruit (dates, apricots, apples)
• Sliced banana
• Pure maple syrup or honey
• Chopped fresh fruit (berries, apples)
• Toasted nuts
• Toasted coconut
• Nut butters (peanut butter, almond butter, cashew butter)
• Chia seeds

Can I use rolled oats instead of steel cut?

YES! You just need to change the ratio of oats to milk. You will use a 2 to 1 ratio or 2 cups liquid/milk to 1 cup oats! Cooking time & method is the SAME!

How long does cooked oatmeal last?

You can keep leftovers in the fridge for up to 5 days.

How to reheat oatmeal

I recommend reheating oatmeal on the stove over low heat. Add a splash of milk to loosen up the oats, if needed.

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Tips for making Instant Pot steel cut oats

I used whole milk in my pressure cooker steel cut oats, but you’re welcome to use any milk you’d like. Both dairy and non-dairy milk will work in this recipe.

If you don’t have vanilla bean paste, feel free to add a splash of vanilla extract instead.

And it goes without saying that you can doctor up your Instant Pot steel cut oatmeal however you’d like. A little vanilla and a cinnamon stick is just the beginning!

More healthy oatmeal recipes:

Pumpkin Pie Overnight Oats

Carrot Cake Oatmeal

Simple Berry Oatmeal Bake

Cozy Snickerdoodle Oatmeal

Overnight Blueberry Oats

Pistachio Overnight Oats

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Instant Pot Steel Cut Oats

Instant Pot Steel Cut Oats make mornings MUCH easier or prep the night before, and heat up in the AM! Be sure to note the time it takes for the Instant pot to pressurize (about 9 minutes) and then natural release for a total cooking time of about 35 minutes – but it's totally hands off!

5 from 1 vote

Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 35 minutes

Total Time: 40 minutes

Servings: 4 people

Author: Tawnie Graham of Kroll’s Korner

Equipment

• Instant Pot
• Wooden spoon to stir

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups milk*
• 1 1/2 cups water filtered
• 1 cup Steel-Cut Oats
• 1 cinnamon stick or 1 tsp. ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp. vanilla bean paste or vanilla extract (optional)
• pinch of salt (about 1/4 tsp.)
• toppings: raisins, brown sugar, fresh fruit, honey (optional)
• 1 Tbsp. honey or maple syrup (optional)

Instructions

• In the Instant Pot, pour in the milk, water, oats, cinnamon stick/ground cinnamon, vanilla bean paste/extract, honey/maple syrup and salt. Give this a gentle stir to mix.
• Secure the lid, be sure the valve is set to the sealing position. Plug in the Instant Pot and press manual and set it to HIGH pressure 4 minutes.
• Once the Instant Pot is done, let sit for an additional 20 minutes (this is called the natural release method). Switch the top knob to venting and let any extra steam release. (I usually like to do this with a towel or pot holder to be safe of any hot steam).
• Remove the lid and use a wooden spoon to stir. Remove cinnamon stick, and top with your favorite oatmeal toppings! I like peanut butter & bananas.

Video

Notes

• *I used whole milk, but you can use whatever milk you like best.
• Leftover cooked oatmeal will keep in the fridge for up to 5 days. Reheat on the stove or in the microwave, adding extra milk as needed to loosen up the oats. 
• Want to make this with rolled oats? No prob. You will use a 2 to 1 ratio or 2 cups liquid/milk to 1 cup oats! Cooking time & method is the SAME!

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