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    Home » Recipes » Breakfast

    Instant Pot Apple Cinnamon Steel Cut Oats

    Published: Sep 7, 2021 · Modified: Apr 8, 2022 by Cassidy Reeser · This post may contain affiliate links.

    6.1K shares
    • 24
    jump to recipe

    You can make apple cinnamon steel cut oats in the Instant Pot in just 30 minutes! Instant pot oatmeal is great for breakfast and meal prep and is super easy to customize.

    Overhead view of white bowl filled with oatmeal and diced apples.
    Table of Contents hide
    1 Recipe features
    2 What you’ll need
    3 How to cook steel cut oats
    4 Recipe FAQ
    5 Expert tips
    6 Troubleshooting
    7 Looking for more breakfast recipes?
    8 Instant Pot Apple Cinnamon Steel Cut Oats

    Recipe features

    If you’re like me and love cozy but simple breakfasts in the cooler months, then you are going to love making Instant Pot steel cut oats!

    • Dietary features: dairy-free, vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, soy-free optional, nut-free
    • Lightly sweetened and filled with apple cinnamon flavor
    • Ready in just 30 minutes
    • Makes 4-5 servings and can easily be doubled

    In the quick 30 minutes cook time the apples break down, making the oatmeal sweet and full of natural apple flavor. Cinnamon sticks and ground cinnamon add warmth and make this meal perfect for fall!

    What you’ll need

    Labeled ingredients used to make steel cut oats.
    • Steel cut oats, not to be confused with rolled oats or instant oats.
    • Apples: I like to use sweet apples like Gala or Honeycrisp but any kind works. I leave the peel on but you can remove it if you prefer. The peel will soften and be unnoticeable after pressure cooking.
    • Milk and water: Because cow’s milk can scald/burn in the Instant Pot, I use non-dairy milk which make this recipe totally dairy free! Unsweetened, unflavored soy milk is my go-to but oat milk, almond milk, etc. are all great options.
    • Cinnamon sticks add an extra punch of cinnamon-y goodness to the steel cut oats. Feel free to omit cinnamon sticks if you don’t have any on hand.
    • Sweetener: Light brown sugar is my go-to sweetener but any kind works here. Maple syrup, white sugar, honey, agave syrup, etc.

    How to cook steel cut oats

    All of my Instant Pot recipes are made in a 6 qt DUO60 Instant Pot. Check out more of my Instant Pot recipes.

    Pro tip: This apple slicer makes preparing diced apples so much easier and can cut down on prep time.

    Instant pot filled with milk, apples and cinnamon.

    Combine all ingredients (diced apples, cinnamon, steel-cut oats, liquid) in the Instant Pot. You can use water or non-dairy milk, such as soy or almond milk. Careful, dairy milk may scald in the Instant Pot!

    Press the "manual" button and set to high pressure for 4 minutes.

    Allow the pressure to release naturally, which takes about 10-12 minutes.

    Instant pot with creamy steel cut oats before stirring.

    Carefully remove the lid and give the apple cinnamon oatmeal a stir.

    Wooden spoon in steel cut oats in Instant Pot.

    Top with additional apple, cinnamon, and pecans or walnuts. Add a pinch of salt or extra dash of brown sugar for added sweetness.

    Recipe FAQ

    Are steel-cut oats healthier than regular oats?

    Steel-cut oats are slightly higher in fiber due to their density and minimal processing, though both rolled and steel-cut oats are a good source of soluble fiber. Because steel-cut oats are high in soluble fiber, they are a healthy option that can help keep you satisfied until your next meal.

    Are steel-cut oats good for meal prep?

    Steel cut oats are great for meal prep! I love making oatmeal for a week of breakfast meal prep. I usually store oatmeal portioned out in separate meal-prep containers with pre-portioned toppings and add-ins.

    How do you store and reheat steel-cut oats?

    For best quality, keep leftover steel cut oats refrigerated for 3-4 days in a closed container. You may need to add an extra splash of milk to loosen the oats when reheating. I usually reheat them in the microwave in 1-2 minutes, but you can also reheat them over medium/medium-low on the stove top.

    Can I use water instead of non-dairy milk?

    Yes, using 100% water works well. Milk is used because it adds an extra creamy texture and adds extra nutrition like protein and vitamins.

    Can I use cow’s milk instead of non-dairy milk?

    No, cow’s milk and/or cream do not work here because dairy milk is at risk of scalding when cooked at high pressure in the Instant Pot.

    Expert tips

    • Toppings: Fresh apple, toasted pecans or walnuts, and a dollop of nut butter (almond butter is a great option here) are all good ways to make steel cut oats more filling and nutritious.
    • If your oats aren’t cooked all the way through, simply cook them for 1 more minute. Let the pressure release manually. You can add an extra splash of milk or water if the oats seem dry.
    • Adjust sweetness to taste. The apple adds a lot of natural sweetness, so I recommend adding sweetener to taste.
    • Flavor varieties: You can make basic steel cut oats instead of apple cinnamon flavor by omitting the apple and cinnamon. Feel free to add frozen berries, etc. to make this recipe your own.

    Troubleshooting

    How to prevent the burn error

    Personally, I’ve never had the burn error when making steel cut oats in the Instant Pot. But I know that some readers do get it so these are my main tips for preventing and fixing the dreaded burn error (you can hopefully carry these tips across other Instant Pot recipes).

    These are the two main ways to prevent the burn error:

    1. The Instant Pot container should be 100% clean. The most common cause of the burn error is bits of food getting stuck on the bottom of the pot, though this is more common if you are sautéing in the pot.
    2. Don’t stir the ingredients. Just add them in the listed order then put the lid on – don’t stir!

    What to do if you get the burn error:

    • Carefully do a quick pressure release. Carefully remove the lid and check for any stuck-on bits on the bottom of the pot. Remove them and return to cooking.
    • Add an extra ½ cup of liquid, then return to cooking.

    Replace the lid and resume cooking where the timer left off.

    Silver spoon lifting a bite of steel cut oats out of a white bowl.

    Looking for more breakfast recipes?

    If you like this recipe you'll want to try apple cinnamon overnight oats. Here are a few more of my favorite fall breakfast ideas:

    • Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal Smoothie
    • Baked Pumpkin Oatmeal (Vegan)
    • Easy Vegetarian Breakfast Casserole
    • Vegan Cinnamon Baked Oatmeal with Pecans

    Did you try this recipe? You can leave a star rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ in the recipe card or a review down in the comments section. I always appreciate your feedback! You can also follow along on my YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest or sign up for my newsletter!

    Overhead view of white bowl filled with oatmeal and diced apples.
    Print Recipe
    4.89 from 18 votes

    Instant Pot Apple Cinnamon Steel Cut Oats

    These warming apple cinnamon oats are a healthy and filling breakfast option and they're made in the Instant Pot in just 30 minutes.
    Prep Time5 mins
    Cook Time25 mins
    Total Time30 mins
    Servings: 4 servings (about 1.5 cups each)
    Author: Cassidy Reeser, MS, RD

    Ingredients

    • 4 and ½ cups water or non-dairy milk see note #1
    • 2 cups steel cut oats see note #2
    • 2 medium apples diced; see note #3
    • 1 tablespoon brown sugar optional
    • 2 teaspoons cinnamon
    • ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
    • 2 cinnamon sticks

    Instructions

    • Add the water or non-dairy milk to your Instant Pot. Next sprinkle in the steel cut oats, apples, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and cinnamon sticks. Don't stir together. Place the lid on the Instant Pot and lock into place. Set the steam release valve to "sealing".
    • Press the manual button and set to high pressure for 4 minutes. It will take about 10 minutes for the Instant Pot to reach pressure.
    • Once the 4 minutes are up, allow the Instant Pot to release pressure naturally. This will take another 10-12 minutes. The oats are ready when the float valve drops down. Carefully remove the lid and stir the oatmeal.
    • Remove the cinnamon sticks before serving. Top with additional cinnamon and diced apple. Add a splash of milk if you like a looser oatmeal. 

    Video

    Notes

    1. Milk: I do not recommend using dairy milk in this recipe, as it may scald in the Instant Pot. If you don't have non-dairy milk (soy milk, almond, oat) you can use water.
    2. Steel cut oats: This recipe does not work with rolled/old fashioned oats or instant oatmeal.
    3. Apples: I usually use a Gala or Honeycrisp apple. This apple slicer makes preparing diced apples so much easier.
    4. Leftovers: For best quality, keep leftovers refrigerated for 3-4 days. You may need to add an extra splash of milk to loosen the oats up prior to reheating.
    5. Meal prep: Store in individual meal prep containers (these are the kind that I use) in the fridge for an easy grab and go breakfast. 

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    Serving: 1cupCalories: 371kcalCarbohydrates: 69gProtein: 13gFat: 5gSodium: 1mgPotassium: 97mgFiber: 12gSugar: 11gVitamin A: 50IUVitamin C: 4.2mgCalcium: 73mgIron: 3.7mg

    Author's note: This recipe was originally shared September 2018. It was updated September 2021 with new photos, a video and more tips. The recipe remains the same.

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    6.1K shares
    • 24

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Amelia

      November 24, 2021 at 7:58 am

      I cook my oats using this method all the time! Especially when I need to get my children (and self) back on track nutritionally. I omit the apples because my kids have a cooked apple food aversion. I reheat it in the microwave after adding some almond milk and it’s perfect! I add berries and sometimes chopped apples to it after cooked.

      Reply
      • Cassidy Reeser

        November 24, 2021 at 9:29 am

        Thanks so much for the review!

        Reply
    2. Ingrid

      October 28, 2021 at 11:40 am

      Was very good... I added shredded coconut to my pot.. yum.

      Reply
      • Cassidy Reeser

        October 28, 2021 at 11:46 am

        Yum! Thanks for the review!

        Reply
        • Antoinette

          January 30, 2022 at 1:30 pm

          So good and easy! I added chia seeds and pumpkins spice at the end. I also mixed 2 cups water & 2 1/2 of almond milk. It was a hit! My go to oatmeal recipe now! Thank you Cassidy!

          Reply
          • Cassidy Reeser

            January 30, 2022 at 1:38 pm

            Thank you for the review! 🙂

            Reply
    3. Cindy Minich

      May 02, 2021 at 11:35 am

      Perfect oatmeal and so quick. I prefer steel cut oats and this made them perfectly. Thank you,

      Reply
      • Cassidy Reeser

        May 03, 2021 at 8:19 am

        Thank you!

        Reply
    4. David Lyons

      April 13, 2021 at 12:42 pm

      Can you cook pearl barley with the steel cut oats? Standard recipes call for a cooking time of 35-40 minutes?

      Reply
      • Cassidy Reeser

        April 13, 2021 at 12:50 pm

        The liquid ratio will be the same but I think pearl barley will take longer, maybe 15-20 minutes (I just checked a few different recipes on google)? I am not sure how cooking the steel cut oats for that long would affect them, but as far as liquid ratios go you should be fine.

        Reply
    5. Jenna

      January 26, 2021 at 8:19 am

      This was delicious and cooked perfectly! Easy to reheat for breakfast all week. I didn’t have cinnamon sticks, so I just added ground cinnamon to taste.
      Do you have any suggestions for making this with oat groats? I imagine it would greatly increase cooking time.

      Reply
      • Cassidy Reeser

        January 26, 2021 at 9:52 am

        Hi Jenna, thanks for the review! I've honestly never cooked with oat groats but you're right that they would take more time. I just checked and see recipes anywhere from 15 minutes to 40 minutes... cook on the lower end if you soak overnight. I think it might just take some experimenting!

        Reply
    6. Marisa

      August 02, 2020 at 2:47 pm

      Delicious and easy! The perfect combo 🙂

      Reply
      • Cassidy Reeser, RDN, LD

        August 02, 2020 at 4:30 pm

        Thanks Marisa! Glad you liked it 🙂

        Reply
    7. Mary

      June 08, 2020 at 12:00 pm

      This was yum. It was a perfect addition to my food plan. I varied it by adding 1/4 tsp cloves. Thank you so much.

      Reply
      • Cassidy Reeser, RDN, LD

        June 08, 2020 at 1:41 pm

        Yum, I bet the cloves were a great addition! Thanks for making it!

        Reply
      • Julie

        July 01, 2020 at 11:18 am

        I made this for breakfast today and it is so easy and delicious! I did not have any Dairy free milk so I just used all water. I substituted a little maple syrup for the brown sugar and skipped the cinnamon stick. I will make this again as it is so easy and delicious!

        Reply
        • Cassidy Reeser, RDN, LD

          July 01, 2020 at 2:22 pm

          Yum, I am sure that the maple syrup was a delicious addition! Thanks for the review 🙂

          Reply
        • Ruth

          February 20, 2022 at 7:52 pm

          I’m new to instant pot. Tried this first and we go through it quickly. Wonderful breakfast. Holds me fine till lunchtime!
          I add some chopped date, walnuts, berries if I have them and maybe slices of banana. Yum! Love it!

          Reply
    8. Jasmin

      April 19, 2020 at 8:19 am

      My insta pot has shown the burn message. This has happened twice now.

      Reply
      • Cassidy Reeser, RDN, LD

        April 19, 2020 at 10:12 am

        Hi Jasmin, I'm sorry to hear you got the dreaded burn message! Did you use soy milk or water? I think the best bet is to add the liquid then the remaining ingredients. Don't stir them together (the recipe is updated to recommend this). This article is a great resource: https://www.paintthekitchenred.com/instant-pot-burn-message/?fbclid=IwAR3782NPmrO4JZKwLBHqIGPt9ZsCN3224oB3c7m3Mdi6MBRi_n2MTqaQfuw#burnmessage1

        Reply
      • Lynette

        July 22, 2020 at 5:37 pm

        This was the first recipe in my new instant pot. Followed the instructions exactly and got burn warning. Then I added 2 cups of extra water and got burn warning again after following instructions for burn warning. Had to tip uncooked porridge into a normal pot to cook on stove while instant pot is soaking in the sink with burnt porridge on the base that will take a lot of effort to clean up

        Reply
        • Cassidy Reeser, RDN, LD

          July 24, 2020 at 8:04 am

          I'm sorry to hear that. What model of Instant Pot did you use? Did you make any recipe changes? I'd like to help you figure out what happened if possible!

          Reply
          • Emily

            June 17, 2021 at 5:55 pm

            I also got the burn warning multiple times trying this recipe. Followed it exactly. Wouldn’t recommend.

            Reply
            • Laura

              January 14, 2022 at 8:53 am

              I use pot in pot method to avoid the burn. I have a stainless steel bowl that I pot the ingredients in. Pot that on the trivet with water in the bottom of the instant pot. No burn!

    9. Melissa

      January 05, 2020 at 2:45 pm

      Hi there. Just wondering where I can find the nutritional facts for this? It mentions them but I don’t see them on the page? And how much is one serving?? Says it serves 4 but doesn’t say what 1 serving is.
      Thanks!

      Reply
      • Cassidy Reeser, RDN, LD

        January 05, 2020 at 7:48 pm

        Hi Melissa, the nutrition facts only contain the calories at this time which is 371 calories per serving. One serving should be about 1.5 cups of oats but may be a little more or less just depending on how big your apples are. Hope that helps!

        Reply
    10. Michelle

      December 17, 2019 at 12:14 am

      Hi One more question, if I don’t have cinnamon sticks, should I put more ground cinnamon? Thanks!!

      Reply
      • Cassidy Reeser, RDN, LD

        December 17, 2019 at 7:25 am

        You can add an extra teaspoon of ground cinnamon before cooking or just add extra cinnamon to taste after cooking (this way you can adjust how cinnamon-y you want it).

        Reply
    11. Michelle

      December 16, 2019 at 10:08 pm

      Can I double this recipe with the same cooking time?

      Reply
      • Cassidy Reeser, RDN, LD

        December 16, 2019 at 11:46 pm

        Yes, you can just double the ingredients and keep cook time the same. Enjoy!

        Reply
    12. Vanessa

      November 11, 2019 at 12:50 pm

      How do you reheat this typically?

      Reply
      • Cassidy Reeser, RDN, LD

        November 11, 2019 at 3:05 pm

        I usually splash the oats with a bit of milk to loosen them up and heat in the microwave for about a minute. You can also reheat in a small pot on the stove over medium-low heat.

        Reply
    13. Val

      September 09, 2019 at 10:19 am

      Excellent! I was looking for an instant pot recipe to replace my stovetop apple cinnamon steel cut oats! Tastes great. I used water and no brown sugar. I added a dollop of greek yogurt, a teaspoon of maple syrup, and a tablespoon of chopped walnuts to my portion. I also liked that I have extra to feed my grandsons when they come or more breakfasts ready for myself!

      Reply
      • Cassidy Reeser, RDN, LD

        September 09, 2019 at 8:00 pm

        Thanks for the comment! Your additions sound delicious, especially the dollop of Greek yogurt.

        Reply

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    Hi, I’m Cassidy! I’m the registered dietitian behind Cozy Peach Kitchen, a food and nutrition blog sharing easy vegetarian recipes for every occasion.

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