Instant Pot Oatmeal

published January 4, 2021 — last updated January 13, 2021

Instant Pot oatmeal is a quick and easy way to make homemade oatmeal in a large batch on the weekend and have a healthy breakfast all week long.

two black bowls of oatmeal in the instant pot

We have found that meal prepping breakfast at the beginning of the week is a game changer for us. Rather than fumbling around in the morning and either skipping breakfast because we’re too busy or pouring a sad bowl of cereal, meal prepping this easy Instant Pot Oatmeal lets us eat a hot, hearty and healthy breakfast all week long.

For a little variety we have a few other breakfast recipes we throw in the rotation. These granola fruit tarts are amazing, and this keto sausage and spinach quiche is good enough to eat for breakfast or lunch!

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Thanks to the Instant Pot, we can make oatmeal quickly so we can enjoy ready to go oatmeal all week long. You’ll never go back to cooking them any other way!

Ingredients You’ll Need

You really don’t need too much to make oatmeal in the Instant Pot. Here’s what to gather:

Oats – Steel cut, rolled, or quick oats can all work well. Just see “How Much Liquid to Use” for the proper ratio of liquid to oats.
Almond Milk – You can use almond milk, coconut milk, an almond coconut milk blend, or water.
Kosher Salt – Salt adds a very slight flavor to the oatmeal and will help the flavors you add to your bowl pop.
Additional Flavors – Oatmeal really is not complete without adding flavors to it. You can choose just about anything to mix into your bowls such as cinnamon, honey, fresh or dried fruits, or anything else you can think of.

different types of oats to make Instant Pot Oatmeal

Different Types of Oatmeal

There are three types of oats you can use for oatmeal. They are all oat grains and differ mainly in how they are processed.

Quick Oats – To make instant oatmeal, manufacturers roll the oats, cook them, and then dehydrate them. It creates a very soft texture. They require the least amount of liquid when cooking them.
Rolled Oats – Rolled oats are rolled out and flattened. They absorb moisture faster than steel cut oats and have a generally milder flavor and softer texture.
Steel Cut – Steel cut oats are the least processed oats available at most stores. They have a slightly nutty flavor and chewy texture. They also have the most fiber per serving.

Instant Pot Oatmeal inside instant pot basket

New to using an Instant Pot? Make sure you read our beginner’s guide on “How to Use an Instant Pot” to get started!

Instructions

Step 1 – Add the ingredients to the Instant Pot. Pour your liquid and the oats into the inner pot of your Instant Pot. Once they are in, add a pinch of salt and stir it all together.

Step 2 – Cook and serve. Close and lock the lid in place and turn the valve to SEALING.

Set the Instant Pot to HIGH pressure for 4 minutes. When the timer goes off, allow it to naturally release for 20 minutes.

Once the 20 minutes is up, turn the valve to VENTING and release any remaining pressure. Carefully remove the lid, stir the oatmeal, and serve immediately. If you made this ahead for meals for the week, let it cool and then store it for later in individual containers or one large container.

Looking for More Easy Breakfast Recipes?

How Much Liquid to Use

The amount of liquid you use will depend on which type of oat you want: steel cut, rolled, or quick oats. Here’s how the liquid amounts break down:

Steel cut oats – You need to use a 3:1 liquid to oats ratio. These are the least processed type of oats, so they need more liquid to soften them to the point they make a creamy oatmeal. Example: If you are using 1 cup of steel cut oats, you’ll need to add 3 cups of almond milk, or water. You can also add a combination of any of these liquids.
Rolled oats – You will need a 2:1 liquid to oats ratio. These oats have been rolled flat. This makes them less dense, so they require less liquid to soften them. Example: If you are using 1 cup of rolled oats, you’ll need to add 2 cups almond milk, or water. You can also add a combination of any of these liquids.
Quick oats – These are the most processed oats. They have been flattened, cooked, and softened. Then they dry them again. They require the least amount of liquid to soften them. Example: If you are using 1 cup of quick oats, you’ll need to add 1 cup of almond milk, or water. You can also add a combination of any of these liquids.

Why Almond Milk and Not Regular Milk?

We found that using regular milk in the Instant Pot caused scorching and gave the dreaded burn warning. Almond milk, coconut milk (or an almond & coconut milk blend) or just plain old water will result in perfect oatmeal every time.

Can I Double This Recipe?

Yes! If you have a large family or eat larger servings, you can double or triple the ingredients to match your needs!

You don’t need to change the cook time, but your Instant Pot will take longer to come to pressure, so it will change the wait time.

Instant Pot Oatmeal topped with raspberries, blueberries and almonds

What to Add to Oatmeal

You can add a lot of different ingredients and flavors to your oatmeal. And the best part is you can add different flavors to everyone’s bowl so everyone gets what they want.

Some of our favorite things to add to oatmeal include:

cinnamon
brown sugar
blueberries
raspberries
strawberries
bananas
raisins
dried fruit – add these before cooking if you want them to rehydrate some as the oats cook
A little maple syrup, honey, or agave nectar

You can add spices or dried fruit to the oatmeal before cooking, but we suggest keeping it plain with just a little salt. Adding them to each bowl allows you and your family to customize each day’s breakfast however you like.

How to Store and Reheat Oatmeal

Homemade oatmeal is a great make ahead, healthy breakfast that is perfect for cold mornings when you just don’t want to get out of bed.

Before storing, let it cool completely. To make breakfasts easy, portion out into individual containers. If you don’t have smaller containers, one large one works too.

Store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to one week.

To reheat, add ¼ cup of milk or almond milk and microwave for 1 minute. After one minute, stir and continue to microwave until warmed through. You can add more liquid if necessary to reach the consistency you prefer for your oatmeal.

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Servings: 2

Prep Time: 5

Cook Time: 24

Total Time: 29