Creamy Steel Cut Oats

Make the perfect bowl of creamy steel cut oats using an easy overnight method. This recipe makes a large batch of steel cut oatmeal that can be reheated for a quick breakfast throughout the week! 

Oh my goodness! How did I forget how dense, chewy, creamy and filling steel cut oatmeal is? I’ve had a container of steel cut oats in the pantry for months. I always eye it and think, nah… those take too long to cook. But there’s actually a secret method that makes cooking steel cut oats a breeze — you just have to get them started the night before!

Overall, I really like the texture of these steel cut oats (they’re chewier than rolled oats) and I adore the fact that they are so creamy, without any added milk! Before I share the recipe, let’s address the elephant in the room — how are steel cut oats different than regular rolled oats?

Steel cut oats vs rolled oats vs quick/instant oats

If you’ve ever walked into a grocery store and wondered why there were a million different oatmeal choices and wondered which to choose, you’re not alone. Let’s breakdown the differences. Overall, steel cut oats are the least processed oats. The oat groat (the full oat “grain”) is cut into two or three parts to get to steel cut oats. Old fashioned and rolled oats are groats that have been steamed and then rolled which speeds up the cooking process for all of us at home. Quick or instant oats are the most processed of all the oat varieties. They are pre-cooked, dried, and rolled and pressed slightly thinner than rolled oats. They cook faster than than steel cut or rolled oats, but they also lose a bit of texture in the cooking process so they tend to be mushy. While steel cut oats are less processed than regular rolled oats, there are only minor differences nutritionally. Steel cut, old fashioned/rolled, and quick oats all have approximately the same amount of fiber, protein, calories, and other nutrients. I personally don’t view one type of oatmeal better than the other, but I tend to prefer steel cut oats and rolled oats for breakfast recipes but use quick oats for baking sometimes. Quick oats work great for my healthy no bake cookies!

How do you cook steel cut oats?

There are a few ways to prepare steel cut oats! The overnight method cuts down on the cooking time in the morning. If you remember to soak your oats the night before, this is by-far the easiest method.

Overnight method:

1. Place 1 cup of oats, 4 cups of water and a pinch of sea salt into a saucepan. Bring to a boil. As soon as it’s boiling, turn the heat down to a simmer for 1 minute. Remove from the heat, cover and let sit overnight at room temperature.
2. The next morning, uncover the saucepan, stir and enjoy. They’ll be creamy and ready to eat but if you want them to be warm, bring to a simmer over low heat and simmer until warm.

Stovetop method:

1. Bring 3 cups of water and a pinch of sea salt to a boil. Add in 1 cup steel cut oats.
2. Reduce heat to a simmer. Cover and cook 10-20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
3. Remove and let sit for a few minutes before serving.

Slow cooker method:

1. Coat slow cooker with cooking spray, butter or coconut oil. For 4 servings: Place 1 cup of steel cut oats, 4 cups of water and a pinch of sea salt into the slow cooker. Cook on low for 6-8 hours. Place in a bowl to serve. For a large 8 serving batch: Use 2 cups of steel cut oats and 4 cups of water and 1/2 teaspoon of sea salt.

Instant pot method:

1. Place 1 cup of steel cut oats, 3 cups of water and a pinch of sea salt into your Instant Pot or pressure cooker. Cover with the lid and turn the vent to “sealing.” Press the manual button and set time to 4 minutes on high pressure. The Instant Pot will automatically start. Once done cooking, allow the pressure to naturally release. Once all the pressure has released carefully remove the lid and stir the oatmeal and serve.

Check out two of my favorite slow cooker steel cut oatmeal recipes: apple cinnamon steel cut oatmeal + pumpkin pie steel cut oatmeal

How long do steel cut oats last?

As long as you store steel cut oats in an airtight container, they can last 4-6 days in the refrigerator. To reheat, I typically add in a splash of liquid (water or non-dairy milk) before heating in the microwave or on the stovetop. Larger batches are so easy to make and you’ll have oats for the whole week!

Are you feeling ready to tackle steel cut oats? I promise they’re not that complicated and have the best creamy, chewy texture ever!

The recipe I’m sharing here makes four servings of oats. You can let the leftover oats cool and place them the refrigerator for up to one week. Simply reheat the oatmeal on the stove top or in the microwave throughout the week for a quick and easy breakfast. Just add a little water or milk if it gets too thick.

If you try this trick for making creamy steel cut oats be sure to leave a comment and a star rating below. Your feedback is so helpful for me and other readers who are thinking about making the recipe. 

Creamy Steel Cut Oats

★★★★★ 5 from 3 reviews

• Author: Brittany Mullins
• Cook Time: 10 minutes
• Total Time: 10 minutes
• Yield: 4
• Category: Breakfast
• Method: Stovetop
• Cuisine: American

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Description

The perfect bowl of creamy steel cut oats. This recipe makes a large batch that can be reheated for a quick breakfast throughout the week! 

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Ingredients

• 1 cup steel cut oats
• 4 cups water
• pinch of sea salt
• toppings of choice – cinnamon, banana, berries, hemp seeds, chia seeds, maple syrup, etc.

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Instructions

1. Place oats, water and salt into a saucepan and bring to a boil, watching carefully so the water doesn’t boil over. Turn down heat quickly and allow the oats to simmer for 1 minute. Remove from heat. Cover with a lid and let stand overnight at room temperature.
2. The next morning, uncover the saucepan, stir and enjoy. They’ll be creamy and ready to eat but if you want them to be warm, bring to a simmer over low heat and simmer until warm.
3. Portion the oatmeal into bowls.
4. Dress with toppings of choice. I love banana slices, berries and nut butter.

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Notes

• For storing: let the leftover oats cool and place in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week. You can reheat the oatmeal on the stove top or in the microwave throughout the week for a quick breakfast (just add a little water or milk if it gets too thick).

Keywords: steel cut oatmeal, how to cook steel cut oatmeal