Instant Pot Apple Cinnamon Steel Cut Oats
Instant Pot Steel Cut Oats with Apples and Cinnamon make the perfect healthy and warming breakfast thanks to fiber-rich oats, brown sugar, and butter for creaminess.
❤️ Why you’ll love it: You’ll stay full until lunch after just one bowl of these hearty oats.
I first made this recipe when I decided to swap out sugary breakfast cereals with healthier steel-cut oats for breakfast. I even wrote a post all about how to make the creamiest Instant Pot steel cut oats every time.
Since that first time trying steel cut oats, my boys and I have loved starting our day with a cinnamon-spiced version of this healthy breakfast porridge. It’s quick and easy to make, and the fiber keeps you full all morning.
Update: I’ve updated this post with my best tips and tricks for perfect Instant Pot oats with delicious apple-cinnamon flavor. Enjoy!
How to Make Apple Cinnamon Steel Cut Oats in the Instant Pot
This Instant Pot Steel Cut Oats with Apples and Cinnamon recipe will work in any brand of electric pressure cooker, including the Instant Pot, Ninja Foodi, or Power Pressure Cooker XL.
This is a simple dump-and-go breakfast recipe. The first step calls for toasting the oats a bit. This enriches their naturally nutty flavor and only takes three minutes. Of course, if you’re very tight on time, you can skip this step and simply stir everything together and start cooking.
We love to serve our bowls of apple-cinnamon steel cut oats with a drizzle of milk or cream, a sprinkle of brown sugar, and chopped nuts for some crunch and healthy fats.
Are Steel Cut Oats Gluten-Free?
Yes, as long as you buy certified gluten-free oats, this recipe is 100% gluten-free and celiac-friendly. We love Bob’s Red Mill, but we’ve had good luck with generic brands at our grocery store as well.
Steel Cut vs. Rolled Oats
What’s the difference between steel cut oats and rolled or old-fashioned oats? It’s all about how the grains are processed.
Rolled oats are…well…rolled flat.
Steel cut oats, on the other hand, are cut with a blade. As a result, steel cut oats are thicker, with more texture and a rounder shape.
Many people prefer steel cut oats to rolled or old-fashioned oats because they have a bolder, nuttier flavor. They also contain slightly more fiber and protein because more of the whole grain stays intact during processing.
Steel cut oats take longer to cook than other varieties of oats. (Which is why they’re the perfect grain for pressure cooking.) While stove-top methods suggest soaking the oats before simmering, with an Instant Pot you can skip the soak and get straight to cooking.
What Is the Best Apple for Instant Pot Oatmeal?
You can use any baking apple for this recipe. You want one that has good flavor and also holds its shape well when cooked. Some great options are Cameo apples or Galas. I would avoid Red Delicious or Fuji apples because they won’t hold their shape.
When I make this for my kids, they’re always asking for extra apples. You can add another apple (or two) with no change to the recipe timing.
More Instant Pot Steel Cut Oats Recipes
If you love these Apple Cinnamon Instant Pot Oats as much as my family does, be sure to check out my post about how to make steel cut oats in the pressure cooker. Then you can add your favorite flavorings and mix-ins to create your ideal breakfast.
Here are some more favorite recipes to get you started:
- Pumpkin spice Steel Cut Oats are my go-to breakfast when pumpkin puree is readily available in the fall.
- Cinnamon Roll Steel Cut Oats make the perfect holiday breakfast treat with a swirl of cream cheese icing on top.
- Vanilla Latte Steel Cut Oats let you enjoy the flavors of your favorite sweet coffee drink in a healthy and filling bowl of oats.
- Almond Joy Steel Cut Oats transform the nutty, coconut-rich candy into a warm and comforting breakfast topped with crunchy almonds.
- Lemon-Blueberry Steel Cut Oats are fruity, bright, and fresh-tasting, perfect for warm weather!
- Strawberries and Cream Steel Cut Oats have just the right amount of sweet fruity flavor and decadent creamy texture.
Do you LOVE this recipe?
Leave us a review below to tell us why!
Apple Cinnamon Steel Cut Oats
Instant Pot Steel Cut Oats with Apples and Cinnamon is a creamy, fall-spiced breakfast with fresh apple and healthy oats enriched with butter and cinnamon.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 cup steel cut oats
- 3 1/2 cups water
- 1 large apple, peeled, cored and diced
- 2 tablespoons light brown sugar
- 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Add butter to the pressure cooking pot, select Sauté. When butter is melted add the oats and toast, stirring constantly, until they start to darken and smell nutty, about 3 minutes.
- Add water, apples, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Select High Pressure and set 10 minutes cook time.
- When the cook time ends, allow the pressure to release naturally for 10 minutes, then finish with a quick pressure release.
- When the valve drops, carefully remove the lid. Stir oats. Cover and let sit 5 or 10 minutes until oats are desired thickness.
- Top with milk, nuts, and additional brown sugar, if desired
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 229Total Fat: 6gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 8mgSodium: 168mgCarbohydrates: 41gFiber: 6gSugar: 12gProtein: 5g
Nutrition information is calculated by Nutritionix and may not always be accurate.
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If I double the recipe do I need to double the amount of water, from 3 1/2 now to 7 cups?
Thanks
Yes, if you double the recipe you do need to double all the ingredients, including the water. However, oats foam so be sure you don’t fill the pressure cooker more than half full.
I love this recipe! I use half almond milk and half water. I have also tried this same recipe using bananas and walnuts with a splash of vanilla……soooo good!
Thanks Julie – sounds like a delicious way to change it up.
I soak my oats before using to avoid tummy trouble. Any guess how this affects the cooking time?
Hi Ginny – since you’re presoaking, I would use the pot in pot method https://www.pressurecookingtoday.com/how-to-use-the-pot-in-pot-method-in-your-pressure-cooker-instant-pot/ I haven’t tried it, but they should only need a few minutes. Let me know how it goes.
We’ve had a big shift to cooler weather this week, and loved this for a warm, hearty breakfast. I used two Granny Smith apples and left the peel on, and added a good handful of Golden Raisins. So easy, and so good! Thanks again for another great recipe.
Thanks Michele! Sounds like a delicious addition.
The smell in the kitchen was awesome as was taste in my mouth. I used an XL pressure cooker, put it on the rice/risotto setting (6 minutes) and increased to 10 minutes. When I make again I will add another minute or two. I thought the oatmeal was slightly underdone.
Great – thanks for sharing Patricia!
Thanks for the recipie. What do you think about using almond milk in place of water? That might make it too nutty??
Hi Nicole – I think almond milk would work well in this recipe.
Love this recipe. I use a stovetop pressure cooker (which cooks at a higher pressure), so I adjusted the times slightly. It also works great with cranberry/cherry, or with fresh blueberries.
I am addicted to this recipe and make a double batch once a week and refrigerate. i add a can of coconut milk in place of 2 of the cups of water. My kids love it too.
Love the idea of using coconut milk instead of water – thanks for the tip Alex!
Would I change the cooking time, if I triple the ingredients in the recipe?
Hi Cathy – no, your cook time will be the same, but don’t fill your pot more than half full with things that foam like steel cut oats and you will probably need a longer natural pressure release to avoid foam coming out of the steam release valve.
I finally made these, and omg, I realized what I’ve been missing out on! The flavor was great. I think the roasting of the oats added a lot of depth. I used a Granny Smith, skin on, and it was perfect. Thanks, so much, for this healthy, yummy steel cut oats recipe!
Awesome! Thanks for sharing Belinda.
Thanks for this wonderful recipe! I used Honeycrisp since that’s what I had on hand. The apple pieces broke down into 100% mush, but it actually worked out pretty well, just stirred them in and the whole bowl of oats had delicious apple flavor.
Hi I really want to try this recipe in my pressure cooker but all I have on hand right now is old fashion oats. Would I have to adjust the amount of liquid or cook time to use these oats?
So simple and delicious. I love that I don’t have to babysit the PC like I do when I make steel cut oats on the stove top. I added a diced pear instead of apple because I had one I needed to use. I used real maple syrup instead of brown sugar. Super yummy and will reheat leftovers later this week.
Thanks Alice! That really is the best thing about cooking in the PC for sure. Sounds like delicious changes. Thanks for sharing 🙂
Love the smell of this cooking! I used the quick cook steel cut oats, and followed your advice on another comment to reduce the water to 2 1/2 cups. I cooked it for 2 minutes on high in my instant pot and the natural pressure release for 10 min. In my opinion the texture was perfect, just like it would be if I did it on the stove. I didn’t have to wait much after that for the right thickness. ( I like it thicker vs. thinner.) Thank you!
Thanks for sharing Sabrina – I’m sure it will be helpful to others using the quick cook steel cut oats.
Yummy, thank you for sharing! Instructions were simple to follow, also.
Thanks Heidi!
Costco sells bags of quick cooking steel cut oats and Quaker makes Steel Cut Oats that cook in 3 minutes. If they can be used in this recipe, please let me know the cooking time. If you don’t recommend using these in the pressure cooker at all, I’d understand that too! Thanks.
Hi Pamela – I haven’t tried them in this recipe, but generally a good starting point when adapting recipes is 1/3 the cooking time. So I’d try 1 minute in the pressure cooker and reduce the cooking liquid to 2 1/2 cups. Let me know if you try it.
Hi, I want to try your recipe but I am a No-Oil Plant-Based eater and figure I should skip the first step….unless i “saute” the oats in water, something I’ve never tried with oats. I’d appreciate your thoughts.
Hi Jem – the oil helps stop foaming. Do you use coconut oil?
Thanks for this! Delicious breakfast that my toddler eats – um, demands – by the bowl full! If I wanted to double the recipe, would I have to increase the cooking time and if so, what do you recommend?
Thanks Emma! So fun that your toddler is loving something so good for them. You can double this recipe without increasing the cooking time.
I made this today and it was amazing! I bought a small amount of steel cut oats, because I am normally not a fan of oatmeal… but this was fantastic! I’m going to go buy more and add it to my normal breakfast rotation 🙂
Also, I just wanted to say, I love your site. I just got my pressure cooker last week and have been using it everyday. I’ve tried out a few of your recipes and they are all great. So thank you!
Sarah
The Midwest Darling
What a sweet comment. Thank you so much Sarah! Glad you’re loving my recipes and that you now loving steel cut oats. They’re so good for you and I agree, so much better when cooked in the pressure cooker. You’ll have to try some of the other steel cut oat recipes as well 🙂 https://www.pressurecookingtoday.com/?s=steel+cut+oats
Wow! These were awesome. This is the only the 4th recipe I have tried in my new Instant Pot and the first time ever making steel cut oats. They turned out beautifully. Will be making these frequently.
Thank you!
This has become one of my favorite recipes for my Instant Pot. They by far are more creamy, even using the same brand of oats, than other methods (stovetop and microwave…yes, they can be done in the microwave, just not as well as this).
Sometimes I just make it plain (no apple) and add fruit (raisins, banana, blueberries, whatever) and its great. Other times I add a little fresh ground nutmeg, to give it a little more spice backbone. I have found that I like to toast the oats for double or event triple the time, until I smell a stronger toasty smell. I think the toast also develops more flavor.
I can’t help noodling around with recipes, so at some point I may try it on the “porridge” smart function of my cooker (http://instantpot.com/technology/smart-cooking-programs). If anyone has thoughts on that, let me know.
Thanks again,
Drew
Hi Drew – thanks for sharing you changes. I always love it when people make a recipe their own. Glad to know it’s a favorite.
This turned out beautifully, much better than on the stove top. Very creamy and not too sweet. Would lend itself to all sorts of variations. Thank you for posting this!
Thanks Lisa – I agree, I like it cooked in the pressure cooker so much better.
Would I be able to substitute coconut oil instead of the butter for sautéing?
Sure – no problem.
Just made this as my 2nd dish ever in my new instant pot. It is divine! Thank you so much for sharing. I didn’t have any of the firmer apples that you suggested on hand so i used Honeycrisp. They did break down quite a but the oatmeal is still wonderful.
Has anyone tried keeping this in the pressure cooker on warm after it thickens? Does that ruin or overcook it? I’d love to have it out and available all morning on the weekends for people to eat as they get up.
Ok, love this recipe. It was the first thing I made in my instant pot last night. If I want to double the recipe, do I need to adjust the times at all? I am so confused about timing. I will learn as I go but for this, I want to start making large quantities for the whole family to enjoy. Thanks!
Thanks Patrica – glad it was a hit. No, you don’t need to increase the timing if you double it. But it will take longer to come to pressure and since oats foam, you’ll want to wait longer for the natural pressure release too so you don’t get foam coming up through the valve. Don’t feel it more than half way full with things that foam.
Ok. That makes sense. I do everything the same except let the pressure release naturally for longer than ten minutes. Thanks!
I just want to add that I more than doubled this recipe with great results. I doubled it and then added half the ingredients for 2-1/2 batches. I thought three would be too much for the cooker. It came out great and it lasted almost a week. Great recipe. I’m going to experiment with different flavors, but the basic recipe is perfect. Thanks so much.
Made this exactly as written, but with a gala. The flavor is just outstanding. This is my first experience with steel cuts oats. I grew up on Quaker, Malt-o-meal, and a few other not-so-hot breakfast cereals. I was even tricked in to eating grits once upon a time. So, I hope I don’t sound negative here: I love a meal that sticks to my ribs, but not one that sticks to my teeth.
The recipe is a solid 10 for flavor!
I like your breakfast quinoa too, and yes it also gets caught in tooth and gum.
Hi Jeff – glad you loved the flavor. The texture of steel cut oats does take a bit of getting use to, but after a couple of times eating it, I think I liked the texture better than regular oatmeal. And since I posted my quinoa recipe its, been my got to breakfast most mornings.
This looks so delicious. I make something similar for breakfast, except I use milk instead of the butter and I cook the oats the traditional way. I’ll try pressure cooking them and see how they turn out. Love the idea.
I love my oatmeal in the mornings, This was especially tasty, but i haven’t cooked steel cut oats before and they are kind of chewy, does cooking longer break them down any more?
Hi Auntie – you can cook it longer, but steel cut oats always seems to have a little bit of chewiness.
I just recently got an Instant Pot and am new to the pressure cooker world. This looks delicious and I have a question – it seems that cooking this on the stove top would take about the same amount of time. What is the benefit of using the pressure cooker over the stove?
Hi Betsy – I like my steel cut oats tender and rarely cook them for the short time recommended on the package. In the pressure cooker, the oats are super tender. Another big advantage is that you can just add the ingredients set the time and walk away. You don’t have to wait at the stove while the water comes to a boil and then keep an eye on it so it doesn’t boil over nor adjust the heat so it simmers but doesn’t burn on the bottom. Also, remember that stove top recipes don’t count the time it takes for the water to come to a boil.
Thanks Barbara. That makes perfect sense and is helpful as I get my head around this new appliance!
I do love oatmeal in the morning-especially on these cold snowy mornings we’ve been having lately. I’ll use my pressure cooker rather than the Crock Pot to cook steel cut oats from now on. These look delicious….I’m going to share this with my daughter-she loves Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal-and she really loves her electric pressure cooker.
I’ve never seen Cameo apples here in MA…..I’ll have to keep my eyes open for them.
Hi Barbara! Could you make this with dried apples? I have just oodles of them from my orchard, but no fresh apples at this time of year. Also, my family LOVES peaches and cream oatmeal, would you make this, with dried peaches, the same way? I am still trying to figure out my Wolfgang Puck electric pressure cooker. Thanks for all the great recipes and advice! Jen
Hi Jennifer – I think dried fruit would work well. I wouldn’t change anything in the recipe, just break the fruit in to bite size bites. Enjoy!