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Pressure cooker oatmeal is an easy breakfast! The best Instant Pot oatmeal is made with rolled oats, toasted until fragrant then cooked for just 3 minutes.
Here’s an easy, healthy breakfast recipe for weekdays or entertaining guests: Instant Pot oatmeal! We eat quite a bit of oatmeal over here: it’s one of our favorite whole grains. And if you’ve got a pressure cooker, oatmeal is even easier to make. The oats are toasted in butter until fragrant, then mixed with milk and cooked for just 3 minutes. What comes out is the creamiest, tastiest, easiest pressure cooker oatmeal you’ll find!
How to make Instant Pot oatmeal (a tutorial)
This is truly one of the easiest Instant Pot recipes out there! It’s so fast and it makes the creamiest pot of oatmeal using rolled oats. Using a pressure cooker to make oatmeal is perfect for whipping up breakfast when you’re entertaining guests. We just had my parents in town for the weekend, and it was the perfect breakfast for entertaining because it’s mostly hands off.
Step 1: Use Sauté mode to toast the oats for 3 minutes.
The first step to make the very best Instant Pot oatmeal is to toast the oats. We’ve found that toasting oats in butter or coconut oil before cooking makes them taste exponentially better! (We do this in our Toasted Oatmeal & Best Oatmeal recipes.) Side bonus: It makes your kitchen smell divine. To toast the oats:
- Turn on Sauté mode on your Instant Pot.
- Melt 2 tablespoons butter or coconut oil, then add 2 cups rolled oats and stir often for about 3 minutes.
Step 2: Cook on High for 3 minutes.
All you need for perfect Instant Pot oatmeal is 3 minutes! Add 1 ½ cups milk (or almond milk), 1 cup water, and ¼ teaspoon each cinnamon and kosher salt. Cook on high pressure for 3 minutes.
Step 3: Quick release and stir!
That’s it! Remove the steam from the pot by performing a Quick Release (see the recipe below for instructions if you’re an Instant Pot newbie). Then give it a stir and you’re ready to go!
Scaling up Instant Pot oatmeal
This recipe calls for 2 cups rolled oats, which makes 2 large or 3 moderate servings. Instant Pot oatmeal is perfect for entertaining, so you can easily scale this up. Try doubling or tripling this recipe to make enough for many eaters.
One thing to note: doubling and tripling slightly increases prep time! The Instant Pot requires time to “preheat” and come up to pressure before it cooks. This time takes longer the more ingredients you have in the pot. Of course, it will still take the same amount of time to cook: just 3 minutes! Just make sure to adjust your expectation of the prep time accordingly.
- A doubled recipe takes about 10 minutes to preheat.
- A tripled recipe takes about 15 minutes.
Ideas for oatmeal toppings!
The fun of oatmeal is not so much the oatmeal itself: it’s in the toppings! Here are our best ideas for how to top your Instant Pot oatmeal:
- Banana nut: Banana slices, toasted walnuts, and maple syrup
- PB&J: Peanut butter and healthy strawberry jelly.
- Blueberry lemon: Fresh blueberries, maple syrup and lemon zest.
- Cinnamon almond: Almond butter, cinnamon and roasted pumpkin seeds (pepitas).
- Cherry yogurt: Dried cherries, honey, toasted almonds, and a dollop of Greek yogurt.
What are your favorite oatmeal toppings? Let us know in the comments below! (Mine is #2, if you’re wondering!)
What type of Instant Pot to use?
All pressure cooker brands vary! The brand we use is an Instant Pot 6 Qt Programmable Pressure Cooker. This recipe is customized for a 6 quart pressure cooker. We also can’t speak to other brands and types of pressure cookers. For example, Instant Pot Mini works differently, so use it at your own risk.
This Instant Pot oatmeal recipe is…
Vegetarian, gluten-free, plant-based, dairy-free and vegan.
Print
Easy Instant Pot Oatmeal
- Prep Time: 0 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 2 to 3 1x
Description
Pressure cooker oatmeal is an easy breakfast! The best Instant Pot oatmeal is made with rolled oats, toasted until fragrant then cooked for just 3 minutes.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter or coconut oil*
- 2 cups rolled oats
- 1 ½ cups 2% milk or almond milk
- 1 cup water
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
- Toppings: Milk, maple syrup, banana, toasted walnuts, etc.
Instructions
- Turn on Saute mode and add the butter to the Instant Pot. When it is heated, add the oats and toast for 3 minutes, stirring often, until fragrant. Add the milk, water, salt and cinnamon.
- Cook on High Pressure for 3 minutes: Press the Pressure Cook button, making sure the “High Pressure” setting is selected, and set the time. Note that it takes about 4 minutes (or 10 minutes, if the recipe is doubled) for the pot to “preheat” and come up to pressure before it starts cooking. During cooking, avoid touching the metal part of the lid.
- Quick release: Vent the remaining steam from the Instant Pot by moving the pressure release handle to “Venting”, covering your hand with a towel or hot pad. Never put your hands or face near the vent when releasing steam. Open the pressure cooker lid and stir the oatmeal. Serve immediately with desired toppings.
Notes
*This recipe is easy to double or triple to feed a crowd! Keep in mind that the preheat time increases with more ingredients. A doubled recipe takes about 10 minutes to preheat and tripled takes about 15 minutes.
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Pressure Cooker
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: Instant Pot Oatmeal, rolled oats, old fashioned oats, easy, fast
More healthy breakfast recipes
Here are a few more healthy breakfast recipes we love:
- Everyday Baked Oatmeal, Baked Apple Oatmeal, or Banana Baked Oatmeal You’ll be blown away by the flavor! It’s so easy to make and endlessly versatile: a true go-to recipe.
- Easy Oatmeal Bars or Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars A deliciously easy way to start the day: with just 4 ingredients!
- Perfect Oatmeal or Steel Cut Oats These tasty oatmeal recipes are the best way to start the day.
- Savory Oatmeal Opt for savory toppings instead!
- Oatmeal Pancakes Eat your oats in flapjack form: outrageously fluffy and delicious.
- Overnight Oats You don’t even have to cook! Mix up the oats the night before and refrigerate.
- Best Instant Oatmeal Recipe Easiest breakfast ever! Make up this mix and throw it in the microwave on busy mornings.
Made this for the first time this morning. Turned my IP on and hopped in the shower. As I got out, I heard the beeping (good timing!). I forgot to quick release so it ended up doing 8 mins of NPR which was fine. I found I had to add more liquid and the oats were a but mushy for my personal taste, so next time may try increasing liquid a bit and decreasing cooking time… having said that, the 8 mins of NPR may have played a factor! lol This was really good – I added my usual go-to add-ins (PB and banana) plus a bit of maple syrup. Hoping the leftovers reheat nicely tomorrow! Thanks for the recipe :)
Haha! We need to factor NPR distractions into our breakfast recipes.
I made this oatmeal as directed but cut the ingredients in 1/2, it was my first time using a Smartpot, man was this great oatmeal, today I made the normal size batch, had no surprises, the wife loves it too :)
So yummy! I love how creamy they are and toasting the oats gave them such a nutty rich flavor. I am a new IP user and this could not have been easier!
So glad you enjoyed the recipe! We just made it yesterday too :)
We have more of our favorite Instant Pot recipes here if you’re interested: https://www.acouplecooks.com/healthy-instant-pot-recipes/
I used your site to give me how long under presssure since I never cooked oatmeal IP
I am trying to quite coffee because I need milk in my coffee and I am eliminating milk to see if that helps me feel better.
I decided I’d probably just want something hot to drink first thing in the morning & tea wasn’t going to cut it so I thought why not something hot as in breakfast but I wanted something savoury and I usually cook Savory oatmeal on the stove top
But I wanted to try IP
I already started my homemade frozen stock on stove while grated veggies purple cabbage onions celery carrots red pepper and some Kirkland no salt seasoning.
I took your advice toasted the oats in my own garlic & seasoned butter inside the IP
I would have liked to saute the veggies first too and also avoid the stove top since the IP was an afterthought.
3/4 C oats , I was in hurry & did not open a fresh bag to make 1Cup.
1 C water, 1 1/4C broth.
3min on steam ( Mine is a Geek chef pressure cooker so I improvised )
It took only 1-2 min to pressure. Hardly anytime to go do anything else LOL
QR… some liquid remained stirred and oats started soaking liquid up!
Perfect Thank you for the toasting of the Oats and pressure times.
I will try your milk oats soon!
Stay safe and keep cooking!
It tasted delicious. Loved the butter taste. And such a simple recipe! That’s so much
So glad you enjoyed!
Thank you!
I was so excited to make this, but the recipe doesn’t seem to work in my large instant pot. I got the “burn” notice 2 separate times, even after I added an extra ½ cup of water :(
Same for me :( they burned after a minute of pressure.
I got the burn notice as well.
Got the burn notice as well… I don’t get it. Was able to eat half of the recipe though. Would love to know why some got the burn and others did not.
★★★
This burnt for me. Followed the directions x 1.5
Yep. Burned.
Yup, now instead of saving time, I get to figure in cleaning a scorched pan.
This worked wonderfully for me in my Ninja Foodi! I LOVED the rich buttery flavor! I’ve never made oatmeal with butter in it, or so much salt, and it was amazing!! I don’t think I’ll ever go back to my old boring stovetop oatmeal! I added a Tbsp of chia seeds, a handful of raisins and a little bit of brown sugar. It was so delicious!
So glad you enjoyed :)
One of the few items I’ve attempted in my new IP and I must say, best oatmeal I’ve ever had. My teen asked for seconds.
I’m so glad you enjoyed!
Great oatmeal recipe that tastes great and has really nice texture. Reheats better than the stuff I cook on the stove. We’ll be making it again!
So glad you enjoyed it!
Made this with toasted walnuts, bananas, maple syrup and a little milk–it was INCREDIBLE!!!! My whole family loved it :)
All my life my mom has told me she HATES oatmeal. She’s now 90 with dementia but she still remembers she hates it. She loses weight easily. I’ve been trying to help her gain some. I sauté the walnuts . Then the oats. I substituted half & half then added brown auger and vanilla. Served with more walnuts , banana and half and half. She LOVES IT!!
Love to hear this! THanks for sharing :)
This is my favorite instant pot oatmeal! It couldn’t be easier and the flavor is perfect. I’ve made it many times, and my husband and kids always enjoy it. Thank you for sharing!
So glad to hear that! Thanks for making :)
Never came up to pressure because it started to burn on the bottom. Next time I’m going to try one of the recipes at suggests cooking it in a bowl.
Perfect every time!
So glad to find an easy prep recipe for oatmeal that is delicious, and for IP, instead of using the stove.
I used unsweetened Almond Milk (Costco), and toasted the oats with organic butter.
The toasting makes a wonderful difference in the flavor!
Wonder if I can use a similar recipe for Steel Cut Oats??
Many thanks for your recipe!
Amazing!!!! My go to oatmeal recipe. Just make it
This worked wonderfully for me! I read previous reviews and was worried about getting a burn notice, so after toasting the oats, I moved them over to one side of the pot and liberally sprayed coconut oil spray hen did the same on the other side. I did not get a burn notice. I also added ground cloves, nutmeg and allspice for more flavor and some chopped dates for sweetness. I like the addition of toasting the oats in this recipe. It gave the oatmeal a nutty flavor and also a great texture (not too soggy). This one is a keeper!
★★★★★
Got the dreaded burn notice… I probably won’t try this again but I would suggest any other people who try it to try cooking it pot in pot
★
I don’t know why this has such a low rating! I have made oatmeal using this recipe at least 10 times. Super easy and comes out delicious. Why people are burning theirs? Maybe they are using a different kind of oatmeal? I highly recommend this recipe. Comes out creamy (with almond and regular milk) and delicious! We add brown sugar and milk when done!
★★★★★
I used the small instant pot (3 Qt), and it burned. I have no idea how that happened, followed the recipe to the T.
Just try a bit more water next time!
So for 3x what exactly is the time to set IP on? It’s not clear?
Hi! I’m not sure how that would work. I should be about the same.
This is the third time I have tried your recipe, and the third time my instant pot hit “food burn”.
What could be the cause?
★★★
Thank you for letting us know! We’ve found that Instant Pots can be inconsistent with the burn message! Are you saying that you made it 2 times without the message and the third time it gave the burn message? ALso what type of Instant Pot are you using?
Wow! I don’t normally take the time to leave comments but this was incredible. Followed directions exactly except didn’t release until 5 minutes after cook time – and it came out perfect. Nice texture, all the milk had been soaked up, buttery, toasty, yum!
★★★★★
So glad you enjoyed!
I love this recipe! Especially toasting the oats. I add a chopped apple l, golden raisins, sometimes cranberries, and chopped walnuts before cooking. I double the recipe and portion into jars for grab and go breakfast! My husband loves it!!