How to Make Oatmeal (Stovetop and Instant Pot)

Oatmeal is a staple meal that everyone should know how to make. Learn How to Make Oatmeal in both the Stovetop and Instant Pot. Super easy to make and makes for a nutrient-dense, wholesome breakfast. Level up with a wide variety of topping ideas!

How to Make Oatmeal (Stovetop and Instant Pot)

Oatmeal is a staple in our home. We eat oatmeal for breakfast at least 3-4 times a week. Sometimes, we even have it for dinner. It’s a nutrient-dense and wholesome meal that can really be enjoyed at any time of the day. Nothing beats a bowl of warm oatmeal for breakfast. Especially on a chilly fall or winter morning. It is actually pretty easy to make oatmeal. Whether you make it on the stovetop or Instant Pot, the result is creamy, dense, tasty oatmeal.

Health Benefits of Oats:

• Great source of protein
• Balances blood sugar
• Improves digestion
• Lowers cholesterol 
• Rich in Iron
• Prevents cancer
• Boosts energy
• Rich in Antioxidants 
• Relieves constipation 

What you need to make it:

• Rolled Oats or Old Fashioned Oats (Gluten-Free)
• Water
• Unsweetened Almond Milk (or any milk of choice)
• Pink Sea Salt
• Cinnamon (optional)

How to Make Oatmeal on the Stovetop:

• Step 1– Pour water in a large saucepan and place on stovetop on medium-high heat. Bring water to a boil and add oats, salt and cinnamon (if using). Give oats a stir and bring back to a boil. Turn heat down to low and cover with lid. 

• Step 2– Simmer oats for 12-15 minutes stirring occasionally. Make sure to keep heat on low. Higher heat will cause oats to rise and for water to overflow out of the pot resulting in a big mess. 
• Step 3– Once oats have simmered in water, pour in milk and give it another quick stir spreading the milk evenly. Cover pot again with lid and simmer for another 5 minutes. 

• Step 4– Remove oatmeal from heat. Serve immediately and top with preferred toppings.

How to Make Oatmeal on the Instant Pot:

• Step 1– Pour water into Instant Pot then add oats, salt, cinnamon (if using) and milk. 

• Step 2– Close Instant Pot lid and turn the steam release valve to the sealing position. Press “Pressure Cook” or “Manual” button and set cooking timer for 2 minutes. At this point, the Instant Pot will take some time to build up and reach pressure. The pot will beep and timer will then begin to countdown.

• Step 3– Allow NPR for 20-25 minutes. Slowly and carefully turn steam release valve to steam release to finish releasing pressure. If valve starts to leak, quickly turn it back to sealing position and allow NPR to completely finish. 
• Step 4– Open IP lid and serve oatmeal immediately with preferred toppings.

Tips for making Oatmeal:

1. When cooking on stovetop, make sure to simmer on low heat and to keep pot covered- cooking oatmeal on high heat will cause it to overflow and pour out of pot making a huge mess.
2. When cooking in Instant Pot, be sure to allow pressure to be naturally released for at least 20-25 minutes- If you release pressure before that, all the liquid will overflow and make a huge mess.
3. Be sure to use rolled oats (also known as old fashion oats)- You don’t want to use quick oats or steel cut oats for these cooking directions. There is a difference in the grain itself between these oats and cooking times will vary.
4. Cook oatmeal in large batches to have ready to-go in the fridge- Keep oatmeal in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
5. Get creative with your toppings- oatmeal can be very boring. Add some fun toppings for more flavor, color and nutrition!

Oatmeal Toppings:

One of the great things about oatmeal is that it makes for a wholesome and nutrient-dense meal. However, it can also be a very boring meal on its own. Adding toppings to your bowl of oatmeal will not only make it less boring, it will also add flavor, color, and even nutrition. Some of our favorite oatmeal toppings include:

• Fresh Fruit (we love fresh berries or banana slices)
• Frozen Wild Blueberries
• Seeds (chia and hemp are our favorites)
• Raw Nuts (walnuts, almonds, pecans, etc.)
• Dark Chocolate Chips
• Coconut Flakes
• Nut Butter
• Cacao Powder
• Cinnamon
• Collagen Peptides

Meal Prepping it:

Oatmeal is great for meal prepping. You can make a whole batch and store it for the week ahead. For either method, if you have leftover oatmeal or want to freeze it, allow for oatmeal to completely cool-off. Place it in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 5 days. To reheat, add oatmeal to a saucepan with a splash of milk. Bring to a simmer and heat until warm enough for your liking. Add more milk if you wish until desired consistency is reached.

Can you freeze oatmeal?

Oatmeal can certainly be frozen. To freeze oatmeal, use a silicone muffin pan or small freezer bags. Place muffin pan on sheet pan and scoop oatmeal into muffin pan. Portion out and add to freezer bags, freeze bags if using and place muffin pan in freezer and freeze for at least 2 hours. Remove frozen oatmeal from muffin pan and place in a large freezer bag. Keep frozen for up to 3-6 months.

Did you like this recipe for How to Make Oatmeal? You may also like these other oat recipes:

• Overnight Oats
• Baked Banana Chocolate Chip Oatmeal
• Baked Apple-Pecan Oatmeal
• Homemade Chocolate Oat Milk
• Healthy Breakfast Cookies
• Baked Apple-Cinnamon Oatmeal Cups

Print

How to Make Oatmeal (Stovetop and Instant Pot)

Oatmeal is a staple meal that everyone should know how to make. Learn How to Make Oatmeal in both the Stovetop and Instant Pot. Super easy to make and makes for a nutrient-dense, wholesome breakfast. Level up with a wide variety of topping ideas!

Course Breakfast

Cuisine American

Keyword How to make oatmeal, Instant Pot oatmeal, stovetop oatmeal

Prep Time 2 minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes

Total Time 17 minutes

Servings 6 servings

Calories 109 kcal

Author Angelica Arias

Ingredients

• 2 cups rolled oats
• 1 quart water
• 1 cup unsweetened almond milk (or milk of choice)
• 1/4 tsp pink sea salt
• 1 tsp cinnamon (optional)

Instructions

Stovetop Oatmeal

1. Pour water in a large saucepan and place on stovetop on medium-high heat. Bring water to a boil and add oats, salt and cinnamon (if using). Give oats a stir and bring back to a boil. Turn heat down to low and cover with lid.

2. Simmer oats for 12-15 minutes stirring occasionally. Make sure to keep heat on low. Higher heat will cause oats to rise and for water to overflow out of the pot resulting in a big mess.

3. Once oats have simmered in water, pour in milk and give it another quick stir spreading the milk evenly. Cover pot again with lid and simmer for another 5 minutes.

4. Remove oatmeal from heat. Serve immediately and top with preferred toppings.

Instant Pot Oatmeal

1. Pour water into Instant Pot then add oats, salt, cinnamon (if using) and milk.

2. Close Instant Pot lid and turn the steam release valve to the sealing position. Press “Pressure Cook” or “Manual” button and set cooking timer for 2 minutes. At this point, the Instant Pot will take some time to build up and reach pressure. The pot will beep and timer will then begin to countdown.

3. Allow NPR for 20-25 minutes. Slowly and carefully turn steam release valve to steam release to finish releasing pressure. If valve starts to leak, quickly turn it back to sealing position and allow NPR to completely finish.

4. Open IP lid and serve oatmeal immediately with preferred toppings.

Storing Leftover Oatmeal

1. For either method, if you have leftover oatmeal or want to freeze it, allow for oatmeal to completely cool-off.

2. Place it in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 5 days. To reheat, add oatmeal to a saucepan with a splash of milk. Bring to a simmer and heat until warm enough for your liking. Add more milk if you wish until desired consistency is reached.

3. To freeze oatmeal, use a silicone muffin pan or small freezer bags. Place muffin pan on sheet pan and scoop oatmeal into muffin pan. Portion out and add to freezer bags, Freeze bags if using and place muffin pan in freezer and freeze for at least 2 hours. Remove frozen oatmeal from muffin pan and place in a large freezer bag. Keep frozen for up to 3-6 months.

Recipe Notes

Tips for making Oatmeal:

1. When cooking on stovetop, make sure to simmer on low heat and to keep pot covered- cooking oatmeal on high heat will cause it to overflow and pour out of pot making a huge mess.
2. When cooking in Instant Pot, be sure to allow pressure to be naturally released for at least 20-25 minutes- If you release pressure before that, all the liquid will overflow and make a huge mess.
3. Be sure to use rolled oats (also known as old fashion oats)- You don’t want to use quick oats or steel cut oats for these cooking directions. There is a difference in the grain itself between these oats and cooking times will vary.
4. Cook oatmeal in large batches to have ready to-go in the fridge- Keep oatmeal in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
5. Get creative with your toppings- oatmeal can be very boring. Add some fun toppings for more flavor, color and nutrition!

Nutrition Facts

How to Make Oatmeal (Stovetop and Instant Pot)

Amount per Serving

Calories

109

% Daily Value*

Fat

 

2

g

3

%

Saturated Fat

 

0.3

g

2

%

Polyunsaturated Fat

 

1

g

Monounsaturated Fat

 

1

g

Sodium

 

161

mg

7

%

Potassium

 

99

mg

3

%

Carbohydrates

 

19

g

6

%

Fiber

 

3

g

13

%

Sugar

 

0.3

g

0

%

Protein

 

4

g

8

%

Vitamin A

 

1

IU

0

%

Vitamin C

 

0.01

mg

0

%

Calcium

 

72

mg

7

%

Iron

 

1

mg

6

%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

*Number of total servings in estimated. Actual number of servings may vary depending on your own personal preference in portion sizes.

**Nutritional values shown are general guidelines for 1 serving using the ingredients listed above. These numbers do not reflect and may vary depending on substitutions, additions and/or different brands and/or other ingredients that may be used.

**Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links and sponsored content. All the opinions are my own and I only recommend products I use in my own home with my own family.