This Instant Pot oatmeal is a simple breakfast that turns out wonderfully creamy! Toast rolled oats in butter, incorporate milk, and pressure cook for just 3 minutes.
Here’s a straightforward and nutritious breakfast recipe I rely on repeatedly: my go-to Instant Pot oatmeal! I consume a fair amount of oatmeal here: it ranks among my favorite whole grains. If you have a pressure cooker like I do, preparing oatmeal is even simpler!
The oats are sautéed in butter until aromatic, then combined with milk and cooked for merely 3 minutes. The result is the most luscious, flavorful, hassle-free pressure cooker oatmeal you can find!
5 Star Reader Review
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “Wow! I don’t typically take time to leave feedback, but this was amazing. I followed the instructions precisely except I didn’t do the release until 5 minutes post-cooking – and it turned out perfect. Great texture, all the milk absorbed, buttery, toasty, delicious!” -Jill
Ingredients You’ll Need
You’ll just need a brief list of ingredients here:
– Rolled oats: Often referred to as old-fashioned oats, these become soft and creamy in just 3 minutes. Avoid using steel cut oats here: they need a different cooking duration! Check out my Instant Pot steel cut oats.
– Butter or coconut oil: This is necessary for toasting the oats, the step that elevates this recipe. I apply the same technique in my toasted oatmeal.
– Milk and water: I use 2% milk for creaminess, but feel free to use oat milk for a dairy-free alternative.
– Cinnamon and kosher salt: These spices enhance the flavor.
How to Make Instant Pot Oatmeal
This is absolutely one of the simplest Instant Pot recipes: it’s quick and it yields the creamiest pot of oatmeal using rolled oats. I appreciate using a pressure cooker to prepare oatmeal when I have guests. I recently made this for my parents when they visited for the weekend, and it was an ideal breakfast for a gathering since it requires minimal hands-on time.
Step 1: Use Sauté mode to toast the oats for 3 minutes.
The first step to crafting the ultimate Instant Pot oatmeal is to toast the oats. I’ve discovered that toasting oats in butter or coconut oil prior to cooking significantly enhances their flavor! Bonus: it fills your kitchen with a delightful aroma. To toast the oats:
– Activate Sauté mode on your Instant Pot.
– Melt 2 tablespoons of butter or coconut oil, then add 2 cups of rolled oats and stir frequently for approximately 3 minutes.
Step 2: Cook on High for 3 minutes.
The cooking duration for Instant Pot oatmeal is 3 minutes. Add 1 ½ cups of milk (or almond milk), 1 cup of water, and ¼ teaspoon each of cinnamon and salt, and cook at high pressure for 3 minutes.
Step 3: Quick release and stir!
Release the steam from the pot by performing a Quick Release (see the recipe below for guidance if you’re new to the Instant Pot). After that, give it a stir and you’re all set!
Scaling Up for a Crowd
This recipe requires 2 cups of rolled oats, which serves 2 large or 3 moderate portions. Instant Pot oatmeal is ideal for hosting, so you can easily expand this recipe. Consider doubling or tripling it to provide enough for many guests.
One thing to remember: scaling up slightly extends preheat time. The Instant Pot needs time to “preheat” and build pressure before cooking. This duration increases with more ingredients in the pot. Doubling the recipe takes about 10 minutes to preheat, and tripling takes roughly 15 minutes.
The Best Toppings for Instant Pot Oatmeal
The excitement of oatmeal isn’t so much in the oatmeal itself: it’s in the toppings! Here are our top suggestions for how to dress your Instant Pot oatmeal:
1. Banana nut: Banana slices, toasted walnuts, and maple syrup
2. PB&J: Peanut butter and wholesome strawberry jelly.
3. Blueberry lemon: Fresh blueberries, maple syrup, and lemon zest.
4. Cinnamon almond: Almond butter, cinnamon, and roasted pumpkin seeds (pepitas).
5. Cherry yogurt: Dried cherries, honey, toasted almonds, and a dollop of Greek yogurt.
Troubleshooting: Avoiding the Burn Message
A few readers have encountered the “food burn” message while making this recipe, which can occur with milk-based recipes in certain pressure cooker models. If your Instant Pot is susceptible to this, try these solutions: ensure to scrape all toasted oats clinging to the bottom after the sauté step, or replace 2 to 4 tablespoons of the milk with water.
Keep in mind that this recipe is intended for a 6-quart Instant Pot (I use this Instant Pot 6 Qt Programmable Pressure Cooker).