Instant Pot Steel Cut Oats with Apple Cinnamon

close up view of bowl with steel cut oatmeal topped with apple cinnamon

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Instant Pot Steel Cut Oats with Apple Cinnamon

A fast and easy way to enjoy breakfast: Instant Pot Steel Cut Oats! All the nutrition and delicious chewiness of steel cut oatmeal with less cooking time. Add your favorite toppings, like diced apples and a generous sprinkle of cinnamon. And let the Instant Pot do all the work for you!

Prep Time5

Cook Time10

Natural Release10

Course: Breakfast, Snack

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Apple, Cinnamon, Oatmeal, Steel Cut Oats

Servings:

Calories: 332kcal

Author: Lis Lam

Equipment

Instant Pot

Ingredients

1 cup Steel Cut Oats
pinch salt
3 cups water
1 cup milk *any milk works great, (swap with water if you prefer)

Apple Cinnamon Topping

3 Tbsp Demerara Sugar *divided
1 large Granny Smith apple
squeeze lemon juice
splash vanilla extract

Instructions

Add oats to the Instant Pot. To the inner liner of the Instant Pot, add 3 cups water, 1 cup steel cut oats, pinch of salt, and cinnamon stick (if using). Give it a good stir with a spoon.
Cook oats. Lock the lid into place. Turn off the "Keep Warm" function. Pressure cook for 10 minutes. When the oatmeal has finished cooking, Natural Release for 10 minutes (i.e., leave it undisturbed). Manually release the remaining steam by turning the steam release valve.
Prep apple. While the oatmeal cooks, prepare the apples. Cut the apple into 1/4-inch whole slices, carefully slicing around the core. Stack 3-4 of the slices and cut into 1/4-inch matchsticks. Then dice into 1/4-inch squares. Place in a small bowl and add a squeeze of lemon juice to prevent browning. Mix with a spoon and set aside.
Adjust oatmeal consistency. Remove the cinnamon stick. The oatmeal will be thick. Add milk (or water) and stir, adjusting consistency to your liking. *I usually add 1/2 cup to 3/4 cup milk, and up to 1 cup. The oats will continue to thicken as it stands.
Serve. Evenly divide the oatmeal into 3 bowls. To each bowl, add 1 heaping Tbsp Demerara sugar, splash of vanilla extract, and sprinkle of cinnamon. Evenly divide the diced apple and place on top. Enjoy!

Video

Notes

PRO Tips:

For softer oats, cook longer. A longer cooking time will yield softer oatmeal. For a less chewy texture, pressure cook for 15 minutes. For a completely soft texture, pressure cook for 20 minutes.
Make in advance. Good for meal prep. Make ahead and store in an airtight container. Reheat in the microwave until hot and steaming. Or, reheat on the stovetop over medium heat, stirring often, about 5 minutes. Add more liquid (water or milk) as needed.
Adjust consistency. The oatmeal consistency can vary, ranging from thick and dense to thin and runny. Customize to your liking. Adjust by adding as much (or as little) extra liquid as you like.

Nutrition