instant pot steel cut oatmeal: Chocolate & Cherry

Steel cut oats are my preferred type of oat to eat, but the cook time sometimes gets in the way of me enjoying them. Enter this easy instant pot steel cut oatmeal! With a cook time of only four minutes, these are great for busy mornings. You can easily prep these while you’re getting ready in the morning (no stirring required!). The toppings are all completely optional, but cherries and chocolate just work so well together.

Instant Pot Goodness

I LOVE my Instant Pot! It’s definitely an appliance that I use more in the winter and fall, so stay tuned for lots more recipes coming soon. The Instant Pot that I bought and use is this one, I have the 6 quart size. You can read more about what I think of the Instant Pot here.

And be sure to also check out my other Instant Pot recipes too, like these creamy pumpkin Instant Pot steel cut oats, Instant Pot carnitas and this Instant Pot lentil soup with kale and sausage.

What is The difference between steel cut and regular oats

Steel Cut Oatmeal:

• Less processed than regular rolled oats and other oat grains.
• Produced when the groats are chopped into pieces with large steel blades (hence the name steel cut).
• Have a coarser chewier and nuttier texture than rolled or quick oats.
• Take longer to prepare due to less processing (which is why this Instant Pot steel cut oatmeal works SO well).
• Reheats very well, making it a great meal prep breakfast option.

Rolled Oats

• Also called Old Fashioned oats.
• These groats have gone through more processing as they need to be steamed and flattened.
• Milder in flavour and softer in texture.
• Because they have been partially cooked, they take less time to prepare.

Overall steel cut oats have a much firmer texture. If you don’t like regular oatmeal because you find the texture too soft, you may like steel cut oatmeal better. Both steel cut and regular oats offer a lot in terms of nutrition as they are high in fibre and nutrients. And both are great for a budget friendly breakfast too!

Ingredients for This Instant Pot Steel Cut Oatmeal

Steel Cut Oatmeal

Obviously in order to make these Instant Pot steel cut oats, you’ll need steel cut oats. The brand I use for all of my oats (and flours) is Bob’s Red Mill.

Click here to see the steel cut oats I use.

Water + Milk

I like to cook the oats with water first. Then after they’re cooked, I like adding some milk to make them really creamy and extra delicious. Usually, I use a plant-based milk, such as a vanilla almond milk. Feel free to use whatever milk you prefer.

Cocoa Powder

To make this Instant Pot steel cut oatmeal taste chocolatey, you’ll need some cocoa powder.

This is the type of cocoa powder I use.

Cinnamon

I love adding a pinch of cinnamon to these chocolate steel cut oats because it warms it up a bit in terms of flavor. Plus cinnamon is just such a delicious spice.

This is the brand of cinnamon I use.

Coconut Whipped Cream

This is an optional add in, but it adds a lot more creaminess and decadence. I’d suggest making it ahead of time. You can see this post to check out how I make coconut whipped cream.

This is the brand I love and use all the time for making coconut whipped cream. It’s the best! If you are in the U.S. try this one.

Cherries

The combination of chocolate with cherries is definitely a favourite so that’s what I use for this recipe. If you can’t get fresh cherries, you can use frozen, or substitute for another berry or stone fruit.

How to make Instant pot Steel Cut oatmeal

One of the reasons I love making IP steel cut oats is because the pressure cooker does all the work! Plus, because you’re cooking them in the Instant Pot, you don’t need to watch over them or stir them as you would with a stove top version. The timing of making steel cut oats in the Instant Pot and on the stovetop are about the same. This is because you need to account for the time it takes for the pressure to build and to release the pressure. But the main selling point is how hands off it is. And for that reason, I pretty much always make steel cut oats in the instant pot.

Add the steel cut oats, water, cocoa powder and cinnamon to your Instant Pot and give it a quick stir. Place the lid on and lock it and ensure it is set to “sealing” and then press manual pressure. Set the timer for four minutes.

Once the timer is done, turn off the Instant Pot and let the pressure release naturally. Carefully, open the lid and stir in some of your milk and give that a stir.

Divide the steel cut oats into your bowl, top with chopped cherries, a scoop of coconut whipped cream if you’re using it and extra chocolate and chopped hazelnuts if you want.

How to Store and Reheat Leftovers

Store leftovers in the fridge in a sealed container. To reheat, add the oats to a small saucepan and heat over low for about 5 minutes. Add additional liquid as needed.

Toppings For Steel Cut Oatmeal

The toppings are the best part, right?! So choose ones that you like the most.

Here are some topping ideas for you:

• Shredded coconut
• Hemp seeds
• Nut butter (almond, cashew, peanut butter or hazelnut)
• Various fruits (banana, peaches, strawberries, raspberries, etc)
• Chia seeds
• Nuts/seeds

If you make this Instant Pot steel cut oatmeal please let me know by tagging me on Instagram. Or share a review/rating below! I love hearing from you!

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only share products and services I have personally used and love. Disclosure here.

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Like this recipe? Here are more breakfast recipes to try:

• Healthy Breakfast Tacos
• Gluten Free Buckwheat Pancakes with Peaches
• Vegan Baked Blueberry Protein Muffin Cups
• Savory Oatmeal Muffins
• Vegan Chia Pudding: Three Ways