Instant Pot Oatmeal Recipe

Oatmeal is one of our favorite quick and easy breakfast options, but Instant Pot oatmeal is even FASTER and EASIER! Make this frugal family favorite that turns out perfectly creamy every time and customize it with your favorite toppings.

I made oatmeal on the stove top for years because that’s the only way I knew how to make it (other than in the microwave using DIY Instant Oatmeal Packets).

Now that I know how to cook Instant Pot oatmeal though, I don’t really want to make it any other way!

Don’t get me wrong – cooking oats on the stovetop isn’t hard…But being able to dump the ingredients into the Instant Pot, turn it on, and walk away? Game changer!

INSTANT POT OATMEAL

Not only is Instant Pot oatmeal a HUGE time saver, but it’s also:

• Completely customizable
• Super frugal
• Perfect to make ahead in big batches
• Cleaner than using the stovetop
• Doesn’t require babysitting or stirring while cooking

INSTANT POT OATMEAL RECIPE INGREDIENTS

You only need to have two ingredients to make this instant pot oatmeal recipe: rolled oats and water. But since adding a bit of butter and a pinch of salt really amps up the flavor, we always add both.

• Old fashioned rolled oats
• Water
• Butter (optional)
• Salt (optional)

Psst! If you’re going to add salt, I highly recommend Ava Jane’s Kitchen. You may think all salt is created equal, but unfortunately, 90% of the salt produced around the world contains microplastics (gross, right?). Ava Jane’s Kitchen is an exception. Their salt is 100% microplastic-free, and it’s SO GOOD! Plus, you can get a free 8oz. bag of sea salt (just pay shipping and handling!)

THE BEST PRICES ON OATS

My buy-price for old fashioned oats is 50¢ per pound and I usually buy this package from Costco (generally Costco’s price is better than Amazon’s).

If you need certified gluten free oats, these are the best places I’ve found to order them (check the price per ounce to see who has the best deal):

• Vitacost
• Amazon
• Thrive Market
• Azure Standard

HOW TO COOK OATMEAL IN THE INSTANT POT

Step 1. Combine all the ingredients in the Instant Pot or electric pressure cooker.

Step 2. Close the lid, and turn the pressure valve to “sealing.” Manually select High pressure and adjust the timer to 4 minutes.

Step 3. When the oatmeal is finished and the timer beeps, use the Quick Release method. This means turning the pressure valve to “release.” Steam will come out of the valve, so be careful! If you get a lot of splatter coming out of the valve, let the pressure natural release for a few minutes, and then try again.

Step 4. Stir the cooked oatmeal in the instant pot and serve with your choice of toppings! I love a touch of almond milk and strawberries!

INSTANT POT ROLLED OATS TIPS

Instant pot rolled oats are another great make-ahead breakfast for families on the go!

• Make a big batch. You can make as much as you want, and the cooking time doesn’t change! Do be careful to not fill past the max-fill line and if you make any more than a double batch (i.e. 4 cups of oats or more), use the Natural Pressure Release (i.e. do nothing) instead of Quick Pressure Release to avoid splatter.
• Use leftovers! I intentionally make leftovers so I can make Oatmeal Pancakes or Oatmeal Bread or Chocolate Oatmeal Cake. My kids LOVE all of them!
• You can also reheat the leftovers for breakfast. Make the big batch and have breakfast for multiple days in a row! Instant pot oatmeal keeps in the refrigerator for up to 5 days – perfect for quick breakfasts before school or work. You can reheat it in the microwave and add a bit of unsweetened almond milk if the oatmeal seems dry.
• Don’t add milk… at least not to the Instant Pot. Cooking with milk is one of the big Instant Pot no-nos that can lead to a burn message. If you want to add milk (or heavy cream or coconut milk), stir it in at the very end after the oatmeal is done cooking.

TO SERVE OATMEAL INSTANT POT

The beauty of this oatmeal Instant Pot recipe – it’s entirely customizable!

• Add raw or frozen fruit and spices with the oatmeal and they’ll cook at the same time…just like stove-top oatmeal. Instant Pot oatmeal with apples and cinnamon is so good!
• Some people like to make oatmeal with brown sugar, but if I wanted to make it sweet, I’d prefer to drizzle a little natural sweetener like maple syrup or honey over my bowl of oatmeal.
• Or you can make it plain as written and add your toppings separately – it’s completely up to you.
  • Spoon on some Homemade Nut Butter. We love peanut butter and almond butter.
  • Add dried fruit: apple or banana chips add a fun crunch, and dried cranberries add a bit of sweet and tart.
  • Make a trail mix bowl: add pecans, walnuts, sunflower seeds, raisins, and whatever else you like in your trail mix!
  • Mix in some superfoods! Flax seed, chia seed, and collagen all stir into oatmeal in the Instant Pot after it cooks.
  • Frozen blueberries and raspberries thaw quickly in a hot bowl of oatmeal, and they also help cool it down for kids to eat quickly.

INSTANT POT PORRIDGE FAQS

MORE EASY BREAKFAST RECIPES

• Instant Pot Breakfast Casserole
• Oven-Roasted Hash Browns
• Breakfast Sweet Potato Apple Bake
• How To Make the Best Scrambled Eggs
• Homemade Mini Bagels Recipe (2 ingredients)
• 50+ Fast Healthy Breakfast Ideas

WATCH HOW TO MAKE INSTANT POT OATMEAL