Make Instant Pot Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal without the dreaded burn signal. Loaded with apples, walnuts and cinnamon it is warm, cozy, super creamy and is ready in under 30 minutes.
With bites of sweet apples, warm cinnamon and crunchy walnuts this instant pot oatmeal is an absolutely delicious way to start the day! Oatmeals are comforting, hearty, filling, satisfying and keeps you full until lunch like this quinoa porridge.
Why use an Instant Pot? Cooking rolled oats in the pressure cooker is quick, easy, and yields perfectly creamy oats. It is very low effort like air fryer oatmeal when compared to the stove top method.
There is no need to stand by the stove making sure it doesn't spill over. Just set it and let the pressure cooker work its magic! It comes out perfectly light and fluffy every time.
Tried, tested and loved - After several attempts to make oatmeal in pressure cooker without burning, we have come up with a few tricks up our sleeves so you can make with confidence. (I recommend this informative article on Instant Pot burn)
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Why you'll love this recipe?
- Almost hands free cooking - Made in about 25 minutes with just few minutes of prep time , you will have a quick and easy breakfast recipe ready to go for your busy mornings. There is no stirring or standing next to your stove top.
- Filling: Oats, apples and walnuts are high in protein and fiber, making it perfect to satisfy hunger cravings.
- No burning - There is no need for pot-in-pot method (wherein you cook oats in a small heat-proof pot inside the pressure cooker's inner steel pot or container, so that it prevents scorching). You cook right in your stainless steel base but without scorching.
- Delicious: The combination of apples with warm spice and brown sugar is warming and comforting.
- Meal Prep – It’s perfect for batch cooking. Make a large batch and store in the fridge to enjoy throughout the week.
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Ingredients
Scroll down to the recipe card below for full information on ingredients and amounts.
- Oats - Old fashioned rolled oats are best for this recipe. Make sure you grab gluten-free oats to make it gluten free. We do not recommend using steel cut or quick cooking oats.
- Apple - I prefer to use Fuji, Honey crisp, Pink Lady, Jonagold or Granny Smith apples, but your favorite variety will work.
- Milk - It makes it creamy, thick and delicious. We used regular whole milk, but use almond milk if you'd like non-dairy alternative.
- Sweetener - Golden brown sugar is the perfect sweetener to use because it compliments the apple and ground cinnamon, and we love the caramel flavor. Maple syrup, honey or coconut sugar would be good substitutes if you want to make it healthier.
- Spice - You can't go wrong with apple and cinnamon combo!
Substitutions & Variations
- Use maple syrup, honey or coconut sugar instead of brown sugar.
- Switch up the fruit and swap it with pears.
- Add ground cloves, allspice or freshly grated nutmeg along with cinnamon.
- To avoid gluten, make sure to use gluten free oats.
- Chopped walnuts adds great texture to your bowl of oats. Use toasted pecans, toasted slivered almonds or skip nuts to make it allergy-friendly.
- Swap butter with coconut oil.
Tip - Try topping your hot bowl of oatmeal with chopped caramel walnuts or candied pecans.
How to make?
You can find full printable recipe below, but here is a quick overview of the procedure along with step-by-step photos.
- Set your instant pot to saute mode, let it heat up, add butter when hot and let it melt. In the mean time, core and chop 2 apples into bite sized chunks.
- Add chopped apples into the hot pot and saute for 1 to 2 minutes, stirring occasionally.
3. Add rolled oats and stir to toast oats.
Tip - Toasting oats in butter before cooking adds a bit of toasty flavor and makes them taste exponentially better!
4. Mix in ground cinnamon and salt.
5. Add 2 cups of water and give a good stir to combine.
6. Tip- Gently pour 1 cup milk on top and do not stir! This is important in making sure that the dairy does not touch base and result in scorching.
7. Close and lock lid.
8. Make sure that the valve is in sealing position. This traps the steam pressure, which builds over time and eventually pressure cooking the oatmeal.
How to serve?
Although this recipe is packed with flavor, a few additional toppings will make it live up to it's most delicious potential. Try topping with more chopped fresh apples, walnuts, toasted pecans, chia seeds, flax seeds, apple sauce, honey or maple syrup.
Storage & Reheating
This recipes is great because you can easily double the recipe using a larger pressure cooker so you have healthy breakfast meal prepped in the fridge. Let the cooked oats cool to room temperature and then refrigerate in small air tight containers for up to 4 days.
Reheat - When you’re ready to eat, warm in the microwave for 1-2 minutes, stirring every 30 seconds until it reaches your preferred temperature. You might need to add an extra splash of milk or water because the oats has a tendency to thicken up when refrigerated.
Helpful tips
- Apples - The high moisture content in apples is one of the secret technique to help it not stick to the bottom and burn.
- Layering liquids - We are adapting a layering technique, where the dairy (which has a tendency to burn in the base) is poured on top and not stirring it. Game changer!
- Butter - Butter not only makes it better but the additional fat also helps to stick.
- Instant Pot Size - This recipe has been tested in both 3-quart and 8-quart pots.
Recipe FAQs
If you are using Quaker oats, old fashioned oats is same as rolled oats.
You can read more about it here.
We recommend using apples that hold its shape after the intense pressure cooking like Fuji, Honey crisp, Jonagold, Braeburn or Granny smith and does not break down like red delicious.
This is an optional step, but we love the additional layer of toasted flavor that toasted oats adds.
More recipes using apples:
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Instant Pot Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 apples core removed and cut into chunks
- 1 cup old fashioned oats or rolled oats
- 2 cups water
- ½ to 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 2 pinches salt
- 1 + ½ cups milk divided
- ¼ cup brown sugar or to taste
- ¼ cup chopped walnuts or as needed
Instructions
- Heat instant pot to saute. When hot, add butter and let melt.
- Add chopped apples and saute for 1 to 2 minutes. Add oats and continue sautéing for another minute. Press cancel, add water, ground cinnamon and salt. Stir well.
- Gently pour 1 cup milk on top, but DO NOT STIR.Tip - Dairy has a tendency to burn in the instant pot base. So, we are adapting a layering technique, where the milk is poured on top without being stirred. Game changer!
- Close and lock lid (making sure that valve is set to seal), cook on manual for 7 minutes. When cooking time is done, let instant pot be in warm mode for 10 minutes.
- Release pressure (but turning valve to vent), open, add remaining milk (if needed), brown sugar and chopped walnuts. Stir and serve.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information is based on third party calculations, should be considered estimates and not be construed as a guarantee. Varying factors such as product types, brands purchased, produce, the way ingredients are processed and more change the nutritional information in any recipe.
Did you make this recipe? I’d love your feedback! Please let me know by leaving a comment, a star rating or review below.
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All contents and images are my original work, unless and otherwise mentioned. Please do not use my recipes or images without linking back to www.kitchenathoskins.com. If you wish to republish a recipe, please rewrite in your own words and don’t forget to include a link back to the original recipe.
Hannah
I don’t have a manual button it’s only other option is pressure cook what do I do
Maria Doss
pressure cook
Maria Doss
Some instant pots have it as "manual" and some as "pressure cook". Both function the same way. Hope it helps:)
Charissa
This looks so good! I am really getting into Instant pot oatmeal! My question is, can I make this with 2 cups of rolled oats but use the same amount of water/milk? I had great success with 2 cups of rolled oats and 1 can of coconut milk and about 3 and a half cups of water in a other recipe. Also, if I do double the oatmeal, can I keep the same amount of apples? We don't like our oatmeal too appley. Lol TIA!
Maria Doss
Hi Charissa, You can totally double the recipe without doubling the apples. The cooked apples tend to add release moisture, so I would recommend adding an additional 1/4 cup or so liquid to compensate for that. And, the cooking time need not altered, since the instant pot will automatically take longer to come to pressure. Hope it helps, Maria
Theresa
Have you tried a non-dairy milk with this recipe? Sounds yummy!!!
Maria Doss
Hi Teresa, I don't have any readers trying with a non-dairy milk, but I don't see any issues with using it. However, if you are using a milk with higher fat content (like coconut milk), then I would suggest replacing half the milk with water. hope it helps, Maria
Jake Courchene-Roy
When you cook on manual, is that at high pressure or normal?
Maria Doss
Hi Jake, It is Normal pressure - Maria
Wendy
@Maria Doss, Thanks for this recipe! I have Pressure Cook and High Pressure or Low Pressure options. I'm trying my first attempt at this recipe on Low Pressure. 🤞
Maria Doss
Hi Wendy, It would be normal pressure, Maria
Justina Perea
@Maria Doss, I too only have high and low pressure options . Is low pressure considered "normal"?
Maria Doss
Hi Justina,
I would say go with the low pressure especially when cooking oatmeal, Maria
Kate
Delicious! I subbed maple syrup for the brown sugar and used almond milk for the milk. I accidentally cooked for 10 minutes (this is what happens when you are talking on the phone while meal prepping), but it was delicious regardless.
Maria Doss
Hi Kate, Glad you liked the oatmeal, Maria
SHEETU
Lovely morning breakfast recipe. Thank you. I just cooked with water and while serving added oat milk.
Maria Doss
That sounds wonderful, Maria
KP
Has anyone tried the porridge button to cook this? Maria what do you think?
Maria Doss
Hi, Porridge button is sometimes used when working with steel cut oats. I do not have any readers try when using rolled or old fashion oats. I'm sorry that I'm not able to offer much help, Maria
Ashley
I made this recipe and from start to finish with waiting for warming times and preheating it took 37 minutes. Turned out very well. Definitely making again. We did swap out brown sugar for maple syrup. Next time we will try a natural release since that's what the instructions on the instant pot recommend for oats.
Maria Doss
Hi Ashley, I like the idea of using maple syrup instead. Hope the natural release method works quicker, Maria
Kim
This had way to much liquid. Did not add the last 1/2 cup of milk. Think could have reduced amount of water
Maria Doss
Hi Kim, Thank you for the feedback, Maria
Lillian
Can I use a stovetop pressure cooker for this recipe?
Maria Doss
Hi Lillian, Of course! Saute apples and then oats in a hot pressure cooker (over medium heat), as mentioned in the recipe. Stir in milk and water (increase water by an additional 1/2 cup), pressure cook (about 5 mins in low heat after the first whistle) and let pressure drop naturally. Open, stir in brown sugar and walnuts. Adjust milk/water based on your desired thickness. Hope it helps and apologies for a late reply. Wishing you a wonderful new year - Maria
Courtney
I've successfully made this recipe at least 3 times but the last 2 times my IP has given me the burn warning. 🙁 I don't stir the milk and follow the recipe exactly. Not sure what I'm doing differently that would cause this. Also, once it starts to burn is there any way to salvage it?
Maria Doss
Hmm...does you instant pot work well for other dishes - Maria