I go through phases where I end up eating the same breakfast, day after day for months at a time. My current go-to breakfast is this instant pot steel cut oatmeal because it’s filling, satisfying, healthy, and warm for chilly mornings. I often go for yogurt, but when it’s cold out I want nothing more that something warm and comforting to start my day. Note that I posted another steel cut oatmeal recipe a while back, but have since tweaked it and now I prefer this version more.
This instant pot steel cut oatmeal recipe makes enough for about 5-7 meals depending on how much you eat. I usually get about 7 servings out of this, so I’ll make a batch and have it for the whole week. Note that I use almond milk in this recipe, but I’m sure you could use any milk of your choice. I haven’t tried it, but it probably won’t be an issue. Cow’s milk does have a higher propensity to burn, so I would keep that in mind if you try it. For reference, I also use brown sugar in this recipe because there’s really not a high sugar content, and I love the flavor that the brown sugar lends. It reminds me of the oatmeal my mom used to make for me as a kid with brown sugar and butter, so the brown sugar doesn’t bother me. If you do want to use an unrefined sugar alternative, maple syrup would work very well here. You could also use honey, but if you use honey, I would recommend mixing it in at the end after the oatmeal has been cooked. Honey doesn’t dissolve well in cold or room temperature liquids, so it would likely sit on at the bottom of the instant pot and burn if you put it in before cooking.
Instant Pot Steel Cut Oatmeal Ingredients:
- 1 cup steel cut oats
- 1 ½ cup water
- 1 ½ cup unsweetened almond milk
- ¼ cup packed brown sugar
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
Add everything to the instant pot and stir to combine. Place the lid on the instant pot, turn the valve to “sealing”, then set to high pressure for 12 minutes. Once the 12 minutes are up, turn the instant pot off and let the pressure naturally release for about 20 minutes. At that point, you can turn the valve to venting, release any additional pressure, and remove the lid.
The oats may look slightly separated and watery on top, but just mix everything to combine. The oatmeal will thicken up as it cools. Serve this instant pot steel cut oatmeal immediately, or let cool then store in the fridge for quick and easy breakfasts! My favorite way to eat this is with half of a sliced banana and some chopped walnuts. Enjoy!