Instant Pot Oatmeal Recipe (2024)

Published: by Emily Bruno · This post may contain affiliate links ·

Jump to Recipe

Instant Pot Oatmeal Recipe made in just four minutes of cook time using Old-Fashioned (rolled oats). This creamy oatmeal can be easily dressed up with your favorite toppings and sweeteners.

Instant Pot Oatmeal Recipe (1)

Oatmeal is a breakfast staple at our house because it is something that everyone likes. On busy mornings we make a big batch of plain oatmeal and then let everyone choose their own toppings.

These frozen waffles and small batch chocolate chip muffins are also quick breakfast favorites!

Instant Pot Oatmeal Recipe (2)

How to Make Oatmeal in the Instant Pot

Oats are quick breakfast any way you cook them, but I prefer the hands-off method of using a pressure cooker. (It's also my favorite way to cook sticky rice and hard-boiled eggs.) To make this Instant Pot oatmeal recipe you will need:

  • 2 cups of Old-Fashioned (rolled) oats
  • 5 cups of water
  • ½ tsp salt (optional)

The salt is optional but I highly recommend it. The point of the salt is not to make the dish salty, but to enhance the flavors. (Similar to why you still need to add salt to homemade guacamole even if you plan to eat it with salty chips.)

Instant Pot Oatmeal Recipe (3)

Old Fashioned vs Quick vs Steel Cut Oats

It's important to use old-fashioned, rolled oats in this Instant Pot oatmeal recipe. (The kind you would cook for 5 minutes on the stovetop.) Old-fashioned are flat and flaky; they're what you want for cookies and homemade granola.

Steel cut are tiny, tough, and take much longer to cook. Quick cook do just that (cook in about 1 minute) and instant oats are usually in individual packets for microwave cooking.

Instant Pot Oatmeal Recipe (4)

Pressure Cooker Oatmeal Toppings

While everyone in my house can agree that this creamy oatmeal is delicious, our topping choices are all very different! (I personally love this Pumpkin Oatmeal!) A few of our favorites are:

  • Brown sugar (my favorite)
  • Honey or maple syrup
  • Peanut butter (my husband's favorite)
  • Cinnamon
  • Pumpkin Puree
  • Shredded coconut flakes
  • Nuts (like pecans or walnuts)
  • Fresh or frozen berries
  • Dried fruits (like raisins or apricots)
  • Heavy cream

Tips for Making Creamy Oatmeal

There are a couple of things to keep in mind when making this Instant Pot oatmeal recipe. First, I don't recommend using milk instead of water in this recipe because it might burn in the pressure cooker. I find it creamy enough by just using water with this cooking method; you can always add a splash of cream after cooking.

If you're worried about oatmeal sticking to the bottom of the stainless steel pot, you can also try this non-stick inner pot instead.

Second, foamy foods (like potatoes or thick soups) can cause a messier splatter during the quick release depressurization. Others have recommended putting a paper towel over the valve during this process.

Finally, and most importantly, make sure to use a different sealing ring for sweet and savory! This is crucial or your oatmeal will taste like it was cooked with chicken broth. This is the 2-pack of sealing rings I bought; I use the blue for sweet and the red for savory.

Instant Pot Oatmeal Recipe (5)

More Instant Pot Recipes

  • Instant Pot Applesauce
  • Instant Pot Corn on the Cob
  • Instant Pot Salsa Verde Chicken
  • Instant Pot Chicken Noodle Soup
Instant Pot Oatmeal Recipe (6)

Instant Pot Oatmeal Recipe

Yield: 4 servings

Cook Time: 4 minutes

Total Time: 4 minutes

Instant Pot Oatmeal Recipe made in just four minutes of cook time using Old-Fashioned (rolled oats). This creamy oatmeal can be easily dressed up with your favorite toppings and sweeteners.

Ingredients

  • 2 cups Old-Fashioned Oats (rolled oats)
  • 5 cups water
  • ½ teaspoon salt

Instructions

  1. Combine ingredients in the Instant Pot.
  2. Close the lid and make sure the sealing valve is turned to the sealing position.
  3. Cook on high pressure for 4 minutes.
  4. When the oatmeal is finished, carefully do a quick release.
  5. Stir well. Serve and top as desired.

Notes

Occasionally I have some oatmeal stick to the bottom of the stainless steel pot. This isn't an issue for me and cleans easily, but if it this happens repeatedly for you try cooking on low pressure.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 4Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 154Total Fat: 3gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 279mgCarbohydrates: 28gFiber: 4gSugar: 0gProtein: 5g

The nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate generated by a calculator.

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Pinterest

Find More Recipes

This recipe is part of my Instant Pot Recipes for Beginners series. Check it out!

« Apple Pie Spice Recipe

Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes »

About Emily Bruno

Hi, I’m Emily Grace! I believe in simple family favorites, flavorful shortcuts, and teaching the next generation to cook with recipes from the past. Come make delicious memories with me in my Farmette Kitchen.

Want More Recipes?

Receive the latest recipes straight to your inbox!

Instant Pot Oatmeal Recipe (7)

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Leslie

    It's a delicious creamy blank slate to flavor however you want! I used a local 7 grain oats mix with flax seed and it worked perfectly!

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Instant Pot Oatmeal Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How do you keep oatmeal from burning in the Instant Pot? ›

Cooking your oatmeal in a separate bowl is a fool-proof way to make sure you don't get a burn error during the cooking cycle, and it's perfect when you want to cook a single serving of oats. With this method, you'll start by pouring 1 cup of water into the bottom of your Instant Pot. Set a trivet on top of that.

What is the water ratio for oatmeal? ›

Read the instructions on the side of your oatmeal container and do what they say to avoid a pasty, sticky mess or a soupy mush. For steel-cut oats, the ratio is 3/4 to 1 cup of liquid per 1/4 cup of oats. If you are using quick-cooking or rolled oats, the ratio is 1 cup of liquid per 1/2 cup of oats.

How long does instant oatmeal take to cook? ›

Microwave. For a single serving, measure 1/3 cup instant oats into a bowl and add up to 2/3 cup water or milk. Microwave on high for 1-2 minutes, stirring between each minute.

Do you use milk or water for instant oatmeal? ›

Simple tip #1: Make oatmeal with milk (or a non-dairy alternative) versus water. Not only does oatmeal made with water taste way less delicious, but you're also missing out on the extra protein staying power that milk will add to the breakfast. Water will also make the oats more gummy instead of creamy.

How do you add flavor to instant oats? ›

Additions for taste
  1. Fresh fruit: berries, bananas, apples, peaches, mango, or pears.
  2. Spices: cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, or nutmeg.
  3. Natural sweeteners: a dash of maple syrup or honey.
  4. Unsweetened or lightly sweetened chocolate: shaved dark chocolate (with a cocoa content of 70% or more)
Apr 19, 2022

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: Lakeisha Bayer VM

Last Updated:

Views: 6277

Rating: 4.9 / 5 (69 voted)

Reviews: 92% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Lakeisha Bayer VM

Birthday: 1997-10-17

Address: Suite 835 34136 Adrian Mountains, Floydton, UT 81036

Phone: +3571527672278

Job: Manufacturing Agent

Hobby: Skimboarding, Photography, Roller skating, Knife making, Paintball, Embroidery, Gunsmithing

Introduction: My name is Lakeisha Bayer VM, I am a brainy, kind, enchanting, healthy, lovely, clean, witty person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.