Effortless & Delicious: Instant Pot Cinnamon Oatmeal for a Perfect Morning
Hearty rolled oats, warm cinnamon, and a touch of sweet brown sugar unite to create an incredibly nourishing and satisfying breakfast in this easy-to-follow Instant Pot Cinnamon Oatmeal recipe. Say goodbye to rushed mornings and hello to a delicious, creamy bowl of goodness made effortlessly in your electric pressure cooker. This recipe isn’t just a meal; it’s a game-changer for those seeking a quick, healthy, and comforting start to their day.
Life moves fast, and mornings often feel like a race against the clock. But a busy schedule shouldn’t mean sacrificing a healthy, hearty breakfast. This pressure cooker recipe provides a truly hands-off solution, allowing you to enjoy a warm, wholesome meal without the usual stovetop stirring and constant monitoring. Not only is it incredibly quick, but it’s also wonderfully customizable, ensuring every member of your family can enjoy their perfect bowl.
Mastering Instant Pot Cinnamon Oatmeal
Oatmeal has long been a breakfast staple, cherished for its comforting texture and nutritional benefits. With the advent of the Instant Pot, preparing a bowl of perfectly cooked oatmeal has become simpler and more efficient than ever before. Forget the days of messy stovetop boil-overs or inconsistent results; your Instant Pot takes the guesswork out of achieving creamy, dreamy oatmeal every single time. It’s the ideal solution for those hectic mornings when you need to get out the door but still crave a truly satisfying meal.
This hands-off approach frees you up to tackle other morning tasks, whether it’s getting ready for work, packing lunches, or simply enjoying a few extra moments of peace. The Instant Pot uses pressurized steam to cook the oats evenly, resulting in a delightfully creamy consistency that’s far superior to microwave oats and often easier to achieve than traditional stovetop methods. The natural sweetness of brown sugar and the inviting aroma of cinnamon infuse every spoonful, transforming simple oats into a comforting culinary experience. It’s a healthy start that nourishes your body and warms your soul, setting a positive tone for the entire day.
Effortless Instant Pot Oatmeal Recipe
One of the greatest advantages of using your Instant Pot for oatmeal is its incredible convenience, especially when it comes to meal prep. Imagine waking up to a ready-to-cook breakfast without any fuss. You can easily prep all the dry ingredients – the oats, cinnamon, brown sugar, and salt – the night before. Simply combine them in an airtight container or directly in your Instant Pot’s inner pot, covered. In the morning, just add your chosen liquid (water and milk), seal the lid, and let the electric pressure cooker work its magic while you tend to other things.
This “set it and forget it” method means you can enjoy a hot, nutritious breakfast with minimal effort. It truly couldn’t be simpler! For those who embrace weekly meal prepping, this delicious recipe is perfect for making a larger batch. While you’re chopping vegetables or preparing other meals, your Instant Pot can be busily cooking a week’s worth of breakfast. This not only saves precious morning time but also ensures you have a healthy, homemade option readily available, helping you stay on track with your dietary goals and avoid less healthy grab-and-go alternatives.
If you love this easy Instant Pot oatmeal, you are sure to appreciate these other delightful breakfast recipes too: Purple Cow Smoothie, Applesauce Bread With Chocolate Chips, or these Strawberry Pancakes. And if you’re a true fan of the warming spice of cinnamon, these recipes are absolute must-tries: Crockpot Cinnamon Applesauce, Ice Cream Cinnamon Sticky Rolls, or these Cinnamon Toffee Monkey Muffins.
Customizable Quick Oatmeal for Every Taste
Oatmeal holds a special place in the breakfast world, largely because it’s a blank canvas waiting for your creative touch. This truly is one breakfast that never disappoints, as it can be effortlessly adapted to satisfy everyone’s individual preferences and cravings. Whether you’re feeding a picky eater or a gourmet enthusiast, a simple oatmeal bar allows everyone to build their dream bowl.
Set out an array of tantalizing toppings: bowls of vibrant fresh berries (strawberries, blueberries, raspberries), perfectly ripe banana slices, creamy nut butters (peanut butter, almond butter, cashew butter), a medley of crunchy nuts (walnuts, pecans, almonds), wholesome seeds (chia seeds, flax seeds, pumpkin seeds), and a decadent drizzle of maple syrup or honey. The possibilities are endless! You can also include dried fruits like cranberries or apricots, a sprinkle of chocolate chips for a sweet treat, or a dollop of yogurt for added creaminess and probiotics. This interactive approach makes breakfast fun and ensures that every bowl is exactly what you or your family desires, offering both nutrition and personalized satisfaction.
Essential Ingredients for Instant Pot Oatmeal (Serves Two)
This recipe is perfectly portioned for two, making it ideal for a cozy breakfast or easily scaled up for a family. For the complete list of ingredients and detailed instructions, scroll to the bottom of this post for the full printable recipe card. Here’s a breakdown of the key components that make this oatmeal so delightful:
- Rolled oats – The star of our show! Old-fashioned rolled oats are truly the best choice for this recipe. Their texture holds up beautifully under pressure, yielding a creamy yet slightly chewy result. Avoid instant or quick oats, as they tend to become mushy and overcooked in the Instant Pot. Steel-cut oats also cook differently and would require a longer cooking time and different liquid ratios to achieve the desired consistency.
- Water – Simple tap water works perfectly to provide the necessary liquid for the oats to cook. For a slightly purer taste, you can opt for filtered water.
- Milk – The addition of milk contributes significantly to the oatmeal’s creamy texture and richer flavor. You have complete flexibility here: use any type of dairy milk (whole, 2%, skim) or your favorite plant-based alternative such as almond milk, soy milk, oat milk, or coconut milk. Each will impart a slightly different nuance to the final taste and creaminess.
- Vanilla Extract – A splash of vanilla extract elevates the overall flavor profile, adding a subtle warmth and aromatic depth. Pure vanilla extract is always recommended for the best taste.
- Cinnamon – The quintessential spice for this recipe! Ground cinnamon infuses the oats with a delightful sweetness and a gentle, inviting spice that makes this oatmeal so comforting. It’s not just for flavor; cinnamon also offers various health benefits.
- Salt – A small pinch of salt is crucial. It doesn’t make the oatmeal salty but rather enhances and balances the sweetness of the brown sugar and brings out the full flavor of the oats and cinnamon.
- Brown sugar – This adds a wonderfully rich, caramel-like sweetness that complements the cinnamon perfectly. Unlike white sugar, brown sugar contains molasses, which contributes to a deeper, more complex flavor. You can adjust the amount to your preference or explore other sweeteners.
- Optional Toppings: The fun part! Have on hand extra milk for serving, fresh or frozen berries, sliced bananas, your favorite nut butter, a drizzle of maple syrup or honey, chopped nuts, seeds, or even a sprinkle of chocolate chips.
How to Make Healthy Cinnamon Oatmeal in Your Instant Pot
Preparing a hearty and healthy cinnamon oatmeal breakfast in your Instant Pot is incredibly straightforward. With just a few simple steps, you’ll have a warm, delicious meal ready to fuel your day. The beauty of this method lies in its efficiency and consistent results.
- Combine Ingredients: Begin by adding all the measured ingredients – rolled oats, water, milk, vanilla extract, cinnamon, salt, and brown sugar – directly into the inner pot of your Instant Pot. Using a whisk, gently but thoroughly combine everything until all the dry ingredients are fully incorporated into the liquid. This helps prevent any clumps and ensures an evenly flavored oatmeal.
- Pressure Cook: Secure the Instant Pot lid and make sure the sealing valve is set to the “Sealing” position. Select the “Pressure Cook” (or “Manual”) setting and set the cooking time to 2 minutes on High Pressure.
- *Note: Don’t forget that your Instant Pot will need some time to come to pressure before the 2-minute cooking cycle begins. This typically adds about 5-10 minutes to the total preparation time, depending on the volume of ingredients and the temperature of the liquids.
- Natural Pressure Release: Once the cooking cycle is complete, allow the Instant Pot to perform a Natural Pressure Release (NPR). This means you do nothing and let the pressure dissipate on its own. For oatmeal, NPR is crucial as it allows the oats to fully absorb the liquid and achieve their perfect creamy texture without becoming dry or mushy. A natural release usually takes 10-15 minutes. Once the float valve drops, you can carefully remove the lid, opening it away from your face to avoid any lingering steam.
- Stir and Serve: Once the lid is off, give the oatmeal a good stir. This helps to redistribute the ingredients and achieve an even, creamy consistency. If you find it’s a bit too thick for your liking, don’t hesitate to stir in a touch more milk or water until it reaches your desired consistency.
- Enjoy: Serve your delicious Instant Pot Cinnamon Oatmeal immediately with a splash of extra milk and your favorite fixings. Whether you prefer fresh fruit, nuts, seeds, or a drizzle of sweetener, customize it to make it uniquely yours.
This oatmeal recipe is designed to make two generous servings, but its quantities are incredibly easy to adjust. Double, triple, or halve the ingredients to suit your needs, maintaining the 1:1:1 ratio of oats to water to milk for consistent results. I often like to make a large batch at the start of the week and store it in individual portions in the fridge for quick breakfasts on subsequent days. Leftover oatmeal can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. To reheat, simply warm it on the stove over low heat or in the microwave, adding a splash of water or milk to thin it out if it has thickened overnight. While you can freeze leftovers, be aware that the texture may become slightly softer or gummier when thawed and reheated. Always remember that cooking times and results can vary slightly depending on your specific Instant Pot model, so feel free to make minor adjustments to achieve your preferred consistency.
Love it? Pin it!
If you adore this Instant Pot Cinnamon Oatmeal recipe as much as we do, make sure you don’t lose track of it! Pin it to your favorite Pinterest recipe board before you go so you can easily find it whenever a craving strikes!
Creative Substitutions for Your Oatmeal
One of the joys of cooking is the freedom to customize. Remember, when it comes to making substitutions in recipes, don’t be afraid to get creative and use ingredients that perfectly suit your personal taste, dietary preferences, or whatever you happen to have on hand. Make this Instant Pot Cinnamon Oatmeal truly your own!
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Spice It Up: Instead of, or in addition to, cinnamon, consider adding other warm spices like a pinch of nutmeg, a dash of cardamom, or a blend of allspice. For a cozy autumn twist, a sprinkle of pumpkin pie spice works wonderfully. You could also introduce a splash of almond extract or even a hint of maple extract to these Instant Pot rolled oats for a different flavor dimension.
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Sweetener Alternatives: In place of brown sugar, you have several options. Mix in natural sweeteners like honey or agave syrup for a slightly different flavor profile. A drizzle of pure maple syrup is also a fantastic choice, adding its distinct richness. For those looking to reduce sugar, consider using a sugar substitute like stevia or erythritol, adjusting to taste.
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Liquid Choices: While water and milk are standard, you can experiment with other liquids. For a richer, creamier result, use all milk (dairy or non-dairy). You could also try half water, half coffee for a mocha-flavored oat, or even a small amount of fruit juice for a fruity twist, though be mindful of the added sugar from juice.
Helpful Tips & Tricks for Perfect Instant Pot Oatmeal
Achieving the perfect bowl of Instant Pot oatmeal is easy with a few key considerations. These tips and tricks will help you consistently create delicious, creamy oats tailored to your preferences:
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Ratio Matters: I’ve found that a 1:1:1 ratio of rolled oats to water to milk (e.g., 1 cup oats, 1 cup water, 1 cup milk) works exceptionally well for a balanced, creamy consistency in this recipe. However, feel free to modify this to your preferred texture. Using all milk will result in an even richer and creamier oatmeal, while using mostly water might yield a slightly less rich consistency. Experiment to find your sweet spot!
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Choose the Right Oats: As mentioned, old-fashioned rolled oats are the champions here. They maintain their shape and provide a satisfying chewiness. Steel-cut oats are much firmer and would require more liquid and a significantly longer cooking time (typically 10-15 minutes on high pressure with a full natural release). Instant or quick oats, on the other hand, cook too quickly under pressure and will likely turn into a mushy, undesirable texture. Stick to rolled oats for this method!
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Thorough Whisking is Key: Before sealing the Instant Pot, take an extra minute to whisk all the ingredients thoroughly in the inner pot. This ensures that the brown sugar and cinnamon are fully dissolved and evenly distributed, preventing any clumps and ensuring consistent flavor throughout your oatmeal.
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Seal it Properly: Always double-check that your Instant Pot’s sealing valve is set to the “Sealing” position before you start the cooking process. If it’s on “Venting,” the pot won’t come to pressure, and your oats won’t cook correctly.
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Embrace Natural Pressure Release (NPR): For oatmeal, a natural pressure release is non-negotiable. It allows the oats to continue absorbing liquid and gently finish cooking as the pressure slowly drops, resulting in a beautifully creamy texture. Using the quick-release method can cause hot liquid to spew from the valve, and the rapid change in pressure often leads to unevenly cooked or dry oats with a less desirable texture.
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Adjust to Your Taste: The amounts of cinnamon, salt, and brown sugar in this recipe are a great starting point, but don’t hesitate to adjust them based on your personal taste preference. Love a stronger cinnamon flavor? Add a little more! Prefer it sweeter? Increase the brown sugar. A dash more salt can also surprisingly enhance the overall flavor profile.
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Go Wild with Toppings: This is where you can truly personalize your bowl! Anything goes really: chopped nuts (almonds, walnuts, pecans), seeds (chia, flax, pumpkin, hemp), fresh or frozen fruit (berries, sliced banana, diced apple), a dollop of Greek yogurt or nut butter, a swirl of honey or maple syrup, shredded coconut, or even a sprinkle of mini chocolate chips for a decadent touch.
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Instant Pot Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal: For a delightful twist, stir in apple chunks (peeled and diced) along with the other ingredients before cooking. This will create a delicious Instant Pot apple cinnamon oatmeal that tastes just like apple pie oatmeal. You can also use a tablespoon or two of unsweetened applesauce, or simply add a pinch of apple pie spice for that classic flavor.
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Creamy Layers: Top your warm oatmeal with a spoonful of plain or vanilla yogurt (dairy or non-dairy) for the ultimate combination of creamy texture and tangy flavor. It adds protein and a delightful coolness.
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Indulgent Treat: For a more decadent bowl, mix in some chocolate chips right after cooking, while the oatmeal is still hot. The residual heat will melt them slightly, creating swirls of chocolatey goodness.
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Extra Creaminess: To achieve an even richer, more luxurious texture, consider replacing a portion or all of the milk with heavy cream or full-fat coconut milk (for a dairy-free option). This will make your oatmeal incredibly smooth and satisfying.
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Boost Nutrition: Sprinkle with chia seeds or ground flax seeds after cooking for added fiber, Omega-3s, and a subtle textural crunch. You can also stir in a scoop of your favorite protein powder at the end (after cooking) to boost the protein content.
More Oatmeal Recipes to Love
If you’re an oatmeal enthusiast, we have even more delicious recipes to tempt your taste buds:
- PB&J Oatmeal Cookie Bars (pictured above)
- Grandma Jane’s Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
- Chocolate Coconut Oatmeal Cookies
- Cranberry Apricot Oatmeal Cookies
- Banana Applesauce Oatmeal Bread
- Mom’s Yum Yum Cookies
- Slow Cooker Apple Steel Cut Oatmeal
See All of my Instant Pot Recipes
If you’re on the hunt for delicious and hassle-free Instant Pot breakfast recipes, this Instant Pot Cinnamon Oatmeal recipe is an absolute keeper. It’s ideal for busy mornings when time is of the essence but nutrition can’t be compromised. Simply prep your ingredients the night before, and come morning, set your Instant Pot to do its thing while you get ready for the day. You’ll be rewarded with a creamy, perfectly cooked bowl of cinnamon-infused goodness that will become a cherished part of your morning routine. Enjoy the ease, embrace the flavor, and savor a truly wonderful start to your day!
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Print Recipe
Instant Pot Cinnamon Oatmeal
Equipment
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Instant Pot DUO60 6 Qt 7-in-1 Multi-Use Programmable Pressure Cooker
Ingredients
- 1 cup rolled oats
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup milk of choice
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 Tablespoon brown sugar
- Toppings of choice
Instructions
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Add all the ingredients to the instant pot and whisk to combine.
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Close the lid, set the valve to seal, and set the Instant Pot to pressure cook on high for 2 minutes.
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Allow the Instant Pot to naturally release then carefully remove the lid.
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Stir the oatmeal and serve with extra milk and your favorite toppings.
Notes
Leftovers can also be frozen though the texture may be slightly different when thawed and reheated.
Cooking times may vary depending on your instant pot so take note and make any required adjustments.
Nutrition