If you’ve been here before, you know I love oatmeal!I’ve sort of made it a mission to reinvent those popular Oatmeal packet flavors. I’ve eaten plenty of quick oatmeal packets in my day. With age, I have started looking more at nutrition labels – when you can’t pronounce every ingredient, its probably time to consider eating something different…
These days I prefer homemade, and I have become OBSESSED with Oatmeal made in my Instant Pot!
I’ve shared recipes for Apple Cinnamon, Maple Brown Sugar, and Pumpkin Spice Oatmeal. I tackled Date, Raisin, and Walnut Oatmeal – it’s wrong to say “tackle” though honestly… it was freaking easy!
Date, Raisin and Walnut Oatmeal (Rolled Oats or Steel Cut)
Stir lightly. Close lid. Turn Vent knob to “Sealing”.
For Steel Cut Oats:
Press “Manual” button and use “+/-“ button to adjust cook time to 12 minutes.
For Rolled Oats:
Press “Manual” button and use “+/-“ button to adjust cook time to 3 minutes.
Instant Pot will take 5-10 minutes to pressurize – while doing so, display will show as “On”. When IP pressurizes, cook time countdown will begin.
When cook time is complete, IP will beep and automatically change to “Keep Warm” setting. Allow IP to naturally depressurize (NPR) for 10 minutes. QPR remaining pressure by turning vent knob to “Venting”. I always cover vent knob with a towel before QPR.
Open lid and lightly stir holding the inner pot with oven mitts, I use my Instant Pot Silicone Mitts – enjoy the sites, and the aroma!
I could eat oatmeal every morning and be the happiest morning person in the world… as long as there’s coffee – don’t forget the coffee.
There are so many benefits of oatmeal. “This whole-grain powerhouse has been packing serious nutrition and hearty flavor into breakfast for generations. It’s one of the few comfort foods that are as good for you as they are just plain good… [with a] proven ability to curb bad LDL Cholesterol” — I couldn’t agree more WebMD!
A healthy breakfast can help you eat better thought the day. “Oatmeal contains fiber which stays in the stomach longer and helps you feel fuller, longer” [healthyeating.org].
However, “some packets of instant oatmeal are…loaded with sugar… and high in sodium” [WebMD].
I have eaten plenty of packets of instant oatmeal in my younger days – but in these, well, older days I prefer to make it myself.
Oatmeal in the pressure cooker is not only delicious, but it is SO EASY! Anything that can make a sometimes hectic week day morning EASIER, I am all about. Thanks, Instant Pot!
My favorite brand is Bob’s Red Mill, Organic Steel Cut Oats!
Also add:
1 apple, peeled and cut into 1/2 inch cubes (any apple is fine, I used Fuji)
1-2 T butter or coconut oil
1 1/4 t. cinnamon
1 t. vanilla
1/4 t. salt
0-3 T. brown sugar (depends on your sweetness preference. I actually skip the sugar altogether and garnish with a swirl of pure maple syrup or honey when served)
Press “Manual” (high pressure) button and adjust cook time to 3 minutes.
For Steel Cut Oats:
Press “Manual” (high pressure) button and adjust cook time to 12 minutes.
Once Instant Pot comes to pressure, cook time countdown will begin.
Once cook time is complete, Instant Pot will beep and automatically change to “Keep Warm”. Quickly release pressure (QPR) by turning vent knob to “Venting” – I always place a towel over vent knob before venting.
Open lid, and enjoy the smell!
Stir and Serve!
I get 3 generous, or 4 moderate servings from this recipe – you can absolutely double or even triple/quadruple this recipe!
I prefer topping my Oatmeal with walnuts and a swirl of pure maple syrup – YUM!
Maple Brown Sugar Oatmeal – Rolled Oats or Steel Cut Oats
I have ALWAYS loved Oatmeal. As a kid, I used to eat maple brown sugar oatmeal every single morning – but I ate it from the just-add-water microwavable packet. It was quick and easy and I could do it myself. So it was a staple. The flavor is still one of my favorites. I have also converted Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal and Date, Raisin and Walnut Oatmeal to Instant Pot successes, too!
As an adult, I moved away from the who-knows-whats-really-in-there packets to old fashioned oats. For a long time now, I have made oatmeal on my stovetop and/or the microwave. As I mentioned in my recipe blog for Pumpkin Spiced Oatmeal, it really is kind of a pain, and it definitely requires attention. It requires attention at a time when too many other things are going on – anyone else’s mornings get a little hectic? It’s never consistent either – one morning it will be too watery, the next to dry, the next clumpy, the next just ok. I still eat it, because I love it, but dealing with making stovetop or microwavable oats definitely makes a Starbucks run that much more tempting.
My favorite brand is Bob’s Red Mill, Organic Steel Cut Oats!
1 t vanilla
1/4 t cinnamon
dash salt
1-3 t butter or coconut oil
1-3 T brown sugar (depends on sweetness preference – I used 2 T)
1-3 T maple syrup (depends on sweetness preference – I used 2 T)
Walnuts, pecans or almonds, chopped, optional as garnish
Additional maple syrup, optional as garnish
Directions
Add all ingredients directly to Instant Pot stainless steel pot or other pressure cooker and stir.
Close lid and turn vent knob to “Sealing”
For rolled oats: Press “Manual” on Instant Pot or high pressure setting on other pressure cooker and use “+/-“ buttons to adjust cook time to 3 minutes.
For steel cut oats: Press “Manual” on Instant Pot or high pressure setting on other pressure cooker and use “+/-“ buttons to adjust cook time to 12 minutes.
Instant Pot (IP) display will show as “On” until IP pressurizes. When fully pressurized, IP display will show cook time and begin cook time countdown.
When cook time is complete, IP will beep and automatically change to “Keep Warm”.
Allow IP to naturally depressurize (NPR) on “Keep Warm” for 5-10 minutes, then manually release any remaining pressure (QPR) by turning vent knob to “Venting” – I ALWAYS place a hand towel over vent knob BEFORE turning to “Venting”
I prefer topping with some walnuts (or nut of your preference) – this gives it some crunchy texture which I just love. I also add a dash of cinnamon on top — both are totally optional (but delish)!
Maple Brown Sugar Oatmeal | Instant Pot Pressure Cooker
Prep Time
1min
Cook Time
12mins
Total Time
13mins
Instructions include directions for either rolled oats or steel cut oats - they have different water to oat ratios and different cooking times.
Servings: 3
Ingredients
1cuprolled oatsfor rolled oats
2 1/2cupswater or milkfor rolled oats
1cupsteel cut oatsfor steel cut oats
3cupswater or milkfor steel cut oats
1tspvanilla extract
1/4tspcinnamon
dashsalt
1-3tspbutter or coconut oilbased on your preference
1-3tbspbrown sugarbased on your preference
1-3tbspmaple syrupbased on your preference
chopped walnuts, pecans, almondsoptional as garnish
Instructions
Add all ingredients directly to Instant Pot stainless steel pot and stir.
Close lid and turn vent knob to “Sealing”
For rolled oats: Press “Manual” on Instant Pot or High Pressure setting on other pressure cooker and use “+/-“ buttons to adjust cook time to 3 minutes.
For steel cut oats: Press “Manual” on Instant Pot or High Pressure setting on other pressure cooker and use “+/-“ buttons to adjust cook time to 12 minutes.
When cook time is complete, allow IP to naturally depressurize (NPR) on “Keep Warm” for 5-10 minutes, then manually release any remaining pressure (QPR) by turning vent knob to “Venting”
Open lid, stir and serve with optional garnish.
Leftovers can be refrigerated and reheated for 3-4 days if needed.
Oatmeal… or any hot cereal, is so comforting to me. The fact that its healthy, filling and EASY to make in my Instant Pot pressure cooker is a BONUS.
I like oatmeal plain with just a little honey… with fresh fruit and nuts… with warm spices, vanilla and brown sugar… with dried fruit and sliced banana…
Confession though… until this Instant Pot Pressure Cooker experiment, I had yet to try them with pumpkin and it’s infamous Fall spice.
Before now, I always cooked my oatmeal in the microwave. I stir ever 30 seconds. I stare into the ‘wave to make sure they don’t boil over – sometimes I look away and they do. Sometimes I get em right, sometimes I have to add more liquid. They never seem to be consistent. I still have always loved my oatmeal, but they are a full blown 3 minute labor (3 minutes, wah-wah… I know – my husband is rolling his eyes right now).
But, seriously… anyone else feel like cooking oatmeal is quite a task, mostly because you have to pay attention to it at one of the most inconvenient times – first thing in the morning, maybe before you’ve had anymore than 2 sips of coffee, and probably when you are multi-tasking in order to get yourself and your loved ones out the door in time, looking halfway decent? Thinking about it makes me want to go grab Starbucks or a pop tart, too. I feel you…
Well, good news is, as per the usual, my Pressure Cooker really pulled through!
This Pumpkin Spice Oatmeal is so good. And, SO EASY!
My favorite brand is Bob’s Red Mill, Organic Steel Cut Oats!
1 cup pumpkin 1 t vanilla extract 1/2 t cinnamon* 1/4 t ginger* 1/8 t nutmeg* pinch all-spice or clove* 1/8 t salt 1-3 t coconut oil or butter, optional *can sub 1 t pumpkin pie spice
Optional Garnish:
Maple syrup or honey, drizzle after cooked when serving (1-2 t per serving)
Toasted Pumpkin seeds, coconut, walnuts, pecans or almonds
Fresh berries or bananas
Whatever your heart desires!
Directions
Put all ingredients in Pressure Cooker pot and stir.
Note: I used a bowl to initially combine ingredients, but thats so not necessary! Add directly to your pressure cooker pot insert.
Stir all ingredients well.
Add to Instant Pot. Close lid, and close vent knob.