Quick and easy - this is what breakfast is meant to look like!
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.
Instant Pot Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal
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
Have you made this recipe?
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Do you do a quick release or a natural release for this recipe?
Quick release, thanks for catching that, Todd!
How do you calculate 3 freestyle points? When I put this in, it comes out to 6 points.
Hi Joann, apples are a zero point ingredient. I double checked and the three points is correct.
What do you do if you don’t have an instant pot can you still make this some other way?
Keisha, You can easily make this recipe on the stovetop. 🙂
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…
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.
Can you say what brand of oats you use. I get 6 points as well.
Kelly, We used Bob’s Red Mill. 🙂
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?
Hi Michelle, this recipe is for three servings and the info also includes honey.
Which type of apple? Do you have to peel the apple? And is the recipe altered at all if you don’t have the apple?
Any type of apple will work (I personally use Granny Smith). Peeling is up to you and your preferences.
Have you tried doubling this recipe? Wondering how long to cook if so.
Even when doubled the cook time should remain about the same.
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??
You most likely need to add a little more liquid.