Instant Pot Oatmeal is an easy and delicious breakfast that’s ready in minutes! Made with old-fashioned rolled oats, water, and a pinch of salt, enjoy yours with a splash of milk, fresh fruit, and a drizzle of honey.
Nutritious and delicious, this Instant Pot oatmeal is one of my favorite breakfast food recipes.
I have always loved oatmeal – it’s versatile and comforting and easy to enjoy with whatever fun toppings I happen to have in the refrigerator or pantry. Plus it’s a whole grain!
And lately cooking oats in my Instant Pot pressure cooker has been a total game-changer. Gone are the days of continuous stirring and checking. Now, I simply dump everything in my Instant Pot, secure the lid and set the timer, and walk away. As the oatmeal is cooking I can make coffee, unload the dishwasher, and make Octavian lunch without stirring a single thing! It’s multi-tasking at its finest.
If you’re new to cooking oats, check out my article all about the different types of oats or learn a little more about the difference between rolled oats vs. quick oats.
How to Make Oatmeal in the Instant Pot
Cooking oatmeal in the pressure cooker fast and easy!
- Type of oats: Old fashioned oats, rolled oats (not quick oats)
- Cooking ratio: For every 1 cup of oats, add 2-2 1/2 cups of water (or water/milk)
- Cooking time: 2 minutes at high pressure with 10 minutes natural pressure release
I have only ever cooked my oats in water. As such, I have never experienced any kind of “burn notice” from my Instant Pot while my oatmeal is cooking. If you choose to cook your oats in a combination of water and milk, you may want to,
- Spray the bottom of the Instant Pot with non-stick cooking spray before adding any ingredients.
- Use the “pot in pot” method: Cook the oatmeal in a separate (pressure cooker approved) glass bowl within the Instant Pot. To do this, place the trivet in the pot and add 1 cup of cold water to the center of the pot. In a 7-cup heat-safe bowl, combine the oats, water and milk, butter (if using), and salt. Place the bowl on top of the trivet. Place the lid on top of the Instant Pot and continue to cook as instructed.
Oatmeal Toppings
There are so many variations of this healthy breakfast. Get started by adding different toppings.
- Dairy milk or dairy-free milk
- Chia seeds
- Flax seeds
- Chocolate chips or cocoa nibs
- Applesauce
- Cinnamon
- Fresh or frozen fruit
- Honey or maple syrup
Reasons to Love Instant Pot Oatmeal
- It’s a hands-off breakfast ready in 20 minutes
- All you need are rolled oats and water (and maybe a couple of your favorite toppings)
- Oatmeal is packed with vitamins, minerals, fiber, and antioxidants
- They are naturally vegan and gluten-free (just be sure to purchase oats that say that they are certified gluten-free)
- Instant Pot oatmeal is naturally sugar-free (until sugar is added)
More Breakfast Recipes to Try,
- Overnight Steel Cut Oats
- Hash Browns Recipe (How to Make Crispy Hash Browns)
- The Best Sausage Gravy Recipe with Biscuits
- Overnight Oats Recipe
- Quiche Lorraine Recipe
- Easy Crustless Quiche Recipe
- DIY Healthy Instant Oatmeal Recipe (Breakfast Meal Prep)
- Instant Pot Steel Cut Oats
Have you tried making this easy Instant Pot oatmeal recipe?
Tell me about it in the comments below! I always love to hear your thoughts. And tag me #theforkedspoon on Instagram if you’ve made any of my recipes, I always love to see what you’re cooking in the kitchen.
RECIPE CARD
Instant Pot Oatmeal Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 cup old fashioned rolled oats
- 4 cups water - see notes
- 2 tablespoon butter - optional
- pinch of salt
Optional Toppings
- Fresh fruit
- Sweetener - honey, maple syrup, brown sugar
- Nuts & Seeds
- Nut Butter - peanut butter, almond butter
- Milk - almond milk, oat milk, soy milk, cow milk, etc.
- Ground cinnamon or Nutmeg
Instructions
- Add the oats, water and/or milk, butter (if using), and a pinch of salt to the Instant Pot. Stir well to combine. Secure the lid and cook the oats for 2 minutes, high pressure (it will take approximately 5-8 minutes for the Instant Pot to reach full pressure).
- After the cooking time is completed, allow the pressure to release naturally for 10 minutes, then manually release any remaining pressure. Carefully remove the lid once the pressure valve pops up and all of the steam has been released.
- Enjoy immediately with all of your favorite toppings.
Jessica's Notes
- For creamier oatmeal, cook the oats in 1-1 1/2 cups water with 1 cup of milk.
- Keep leftovers stored in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or freeze for up to 1 month. Reheat on the stovetop over medium-low heat. Add additional water or milk as needed.
- Easily double or triple this recipe to feed a larger group. The cooking time stays the same, but the time to reach full pressure will increase by about 5-8 minutes.
Nutritional Information
(Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and specific brands of ingredients used.)
I am cooking breakfast for a large group—50 people. Can I cook 6 cups of rolled oats in 12 cups of water safely in my 8-quart Instant Pot?
Cooking a large batch of oatmeal in an 8-quart Instant Pot for 50 people is feasible, but there are a few considerations to keep in mind to ensure it cooks safely and effectively:
Capacity Limits: The 8-quart Instant Pot can handle a volume of 6 cups of rolled oats and 12 cups of water, but it’s important not to overfill the pot. Instant Pots should not be filled more than halfway when cooking foods that expand or foam (like oats), due to the risk of clogging the vent or creating too much pressure.
Stirring and Scorching: One challenge with cooking a large batch of oatmeal in the Instant Pot is that without stirring, the oats can stick to the bottom and potentially scorch. To minimize this risk, make sure to mix the oats and water well before starting the cook cycle. Adding a bit of oil or butter can also help prevent sticking.
Batch Cooking: If you’re concerned about the texture or even cooking, consider cooking in smaller batches. This not only ensures consistent results but also reduces the risk of overfilling or uneven cooking.
Serving and Customization: Since you’re serving a large group, you might consider setting up a topping bar where guests can customize their oatmeal with items like fruits, nuts, sweeteners, and spices. This adds a personal touch and caters to varied tastes.
If this is your first time preparing such a large batch in your Instant Pot, you might want to do a trial run with a smaller amount to fine-tune the timing. This way, you’ll be confident and ready for your large group breakfast!
Can you clarify the creamier note. Are you saying to add 1.5c water and 1c of milk to 2c of rolled oats? Or is it per 1 cup of rolled oats add 1.5c water and 1c of milk? Or is it per 1.5c of water you’d substitute it with 1c of milk for the 2c of rolled oats recipe?
its for every 2 cups 🙂
I followed the directions for 2 cups of oats and 4 of water with a pinch of salt. It didn’t even come to pressure before I got the burn notice. I’ve been using my IP for over a year, and it’s the first time I got the notice. I had to cancel and finish cooking oats on the stove. I had 20 minutes of clean up and wasted organic oats stuck to the bottom of my IP. Not recommended.
I’m sorry to hear about the trouble you experienced with the oatmeal recipe in your Instant Pot! It sounds frustrating, especially with the cleanup and wasted ingredients. Here are a couple of suggestions to try next time to avoid the burn notice:
Stir Before Cooking: Before closing the lid, give the oats a good stir to make sure they are fully submerged in the water. This can help prevent sticking and burning on the bottom of the pot.
Check Sealing Ring and Vent: Since it’s unusual for you to receive a burn notice, double-check that your sealing ring is properly set and the vent is in the sealing position. Sometimes improper sealing can affect reaching pressure, which could trigger the burn notice.
I hope these tips help, and your next batch of Instant Pot oatmeal turns out perfectly!
Made it by adding almond milk. This is the creamiest oatmeal ever.
Thanks for the great review, Brenda 😀
Made it with water, 1 C oats to 2.25 water – delicious! Very creamy, I don’t think I’ll go back to the microwave version!