Instant Pot Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal

No ratings yet

Quick and easy - this is what breakfast is meant to look like!

This instant pot apple cinnamon oatmeal is a must-try!

For years, we thought that slow cooker oatmeal was the greatest thing since sliced bread. It was true, too. Talk about a great way to make from-scratch steel cut oats without spending all day laboring over the stovetop. Well, now we have the Instant Pot, and I can officially say the slow cooker version is out. This Instant Pot apple cinnamon oatmeal is in – and it’s one of my new favorite breakfast recipes.

This recipe is filled with whole, natural ingredients that are easily stocked in your pantry. That means that you can whip up a batch of this 6-minute oatmeal at a moment’s notice! But, before we get to the recipe, we want to talk about the different types of oats. This recipe won’t turn out the same if you use instant oats – and you’ll see why in a minute!

What Exactly Are Steel Cut Oats?

You may have heard a few terms thrown around when it comes to oatmeal. Steel cut oats, rolled oats, and instant oats all come from the same base ingredient – oat groats –  but they’re all vastly different. Let’s take a peek into the difference so you know which one is best for you.

Steel cut oats (which we use in this recipe) are chopped whole oat groats. Because they’re not rolled or crushed, they look very similar to a grain of rice. They take the longest to cook, but they have the chewiest texture of the three types.

To make rolled oats (sometimes called old-fashioned oats), the groats are first steamed before they’re flattened by a large rolling machine. After being rolled, they look like flat discs instead of grains of rice. They cook faster than steel-cut oats and absorb more liquid, giving them a softer texture.

Instant oats (or quick oats) are fully processed. They’re pre-cooked, dried, and then rolled on the thinnest setting possible. As their name indicates, they cook the fastest of the three types of oats. Since they are well processed, they’re also the mushiest form of oatmeal.

Since steel-cut oats have most toothsome texture, which is why we think they’re the best choice for this Instant Pot apple cinnamon oatmeal. They’ll be slightly chewy, but fully flavored. This is the perfect introduction to steel cut oats if it’s your first time!

We’d love to know about your experience with the different type of oats and what you think about our choice of using steel-cut oats in this recipe.

No ratings yet

Instant Pot Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal

This delicious and healthy oatmeal is just what you need to jumpstart your day.
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 6 minutes
Total Time 11 minutes
Yield 3 people
Serving Size 0.5 cup
Course Breakfast
Cuisine American

Ingredients

  • 1 cup steel cut oats
  • 2 1/2 cups water 3 cups for a more loose oatmeal
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 apple peeled, core removed, and chopped
  • honey to sweeten (optional)

Instructions

  • Add the oats, water, cinnamon, and apple to the Instant Pot and stir. Place the lid on the pot and ensure the valve is sealed.
  • Press the Manual button and set to high pressure. Set the timer for 6 minutes. The Instant Pot will begin cooking and once the pressure in the pot is achieved the timer will start.
  • After the time is up, manually release the steam and remove the lid. Stir and spoon into serving bowls. Drizzle with honey (if using). Serve hot and enjoy!

Nutrition Information

Serving: 0.5cup | Calories: 132kcal | Carbohydrates: 27g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 2g | Sodium: 9mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 7g |
SmartPoints (Freestyle): 3
Keywords Budget-Friendly, dairy-free, Instant Pot, Kid-Friendly, Plant-Based, Quick and Easy, Vegetarian

Have you made this recipe?
Tag @skinnyms on Instagram or hashtag it #skinnyms

If you have an Instant Pot, we have the recipes for you! These easy, healthy recipes can’t be beaten. Check out our Facebook, Pinterest, or Instagram pages and get started browsing for your new favorite recipes.

This post may include affiliate links.

SAVE YOUR FAVORITE RECIPES
Create a FREE account for quick & easy access

Chef Nichole

Nichole has a culinary degree from Great Lakes Culinary Institute and has worked in the culinary industry for 10 years. She also has the knowledge to write recipes using the most nutritious, fresh, and balanced ingredients. Nichole enjoys creating healthy and tasty recipes anyone can prepare, no matter their cooking skill level.

More by Chef Nichole

18 Comments

  1. What do you do if you don’t have an instant pot can you still make this some other way?

  2. I can’t find steel cut oats with that low points. All steel cut oats I’ve found have 4 points per 1/4 cup dry… I come up with 6 points per serving too…

    1. Hi Monique I have double checked this recipe and 3 points per serving is correct. Apples are a zero point item. Honey is optional and therefor not included in the nutritional information.

  3. I’m confused about how you’re getting this as 3 points? I scanned Quaker steel cut oats and it’s 6 points a serving. I see that you used red mill steel cut oats so I looked that up and it’s 5 points. Can you explain how you’re getting this as 3 points?

  4. I doubled the recipe and followed the directions exactly and got my first ever burn notice on my IP. Any suggestions on what I possibly did wrong??

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating