There aren’t too many things better than a big warm bowl of thick, creamy oatmeal to go with a side of bacon or toast in the mornings. This Steel Cut Oatmeal recipe includes a little bit of milk and maple syrup to make it extra delicious.
Steel Cut Oatmeal is not only healthy for you, but it’s also extremely filling! And because of its thick texture it’s perfect to make ahead and store in the fridge for meal prep! Have fun adding different toppings like fruit and chopped nuts to mix things up! This Apple Cinnamon Steel Cut Oatmeal and Banana Nut Steel Cut Oatmeal are two great combinations!
Old Fashioned Rolled Oats vs. Steel Cut Oats
With so many different kinds of oatmeal, which one do you choose? Here are the 3 main types of oats:
- Instant Oats: Oats that have been pre-cooked and dried. The quickest type of oatmeal to cook, however they are often mushy and less healthy for you.
- Old Fashioned (Rolled) Oats: The whole grain oats are steamed and then flattened with a roller to create rolled oats. This is probably the most popular type of oatmeal and is great for baking.
- Steel Cut Oats: Steel cut oats are made by cutting oat groats with steel blades into coarse tiny pieces. They are thicker, chewier and less-processed than rolled oats. They do take longer to cook (about 25 minutes) but are extremely filling, digest slower and are perfect for meal prepping.
Ingredients For Steel Cut Oatmeal
- Steel Cut Oats: Steel cut oats provide a thick, creamy, consistency and texture.
- Almond Milk or any non-dairy milk: I prefer vanilla flavored almond milk to give it more flavor.
- Water: Water mixed with milk provides the perfect balance and keeps the oatmeal from being too thick.
- Pure Maple Syrup: Maple syrup to sweeten the oatmeal. I prefer maple syrup over brown sugar because it tastes better and melts better. But if you don't have any maple syrup on hand you can certainly use brown sugar.
- Salt: Just a pinch of salt to enhance the flavors of the oatmeal.
How To Make Steel Cut Oats
Steel Cut Oatmeal is made similar to regular oatmeal but with more liquid and a longer cook time. As a result you end up with a thicker, creamier oatmeal that’s very filling and nourishing. Full instructions are included in the recipe card below, but here’s a quick overview:
Step One: In a small saucepan add water, milk, steel cut oats and a pinch of salt. Stir well then bring the oats to a slow boil. Once you start to see the oats coming to a boil, immediately turn the heat down to medium-low and simmer for 25 minutes. (Make sure to keep an eye on the oatmeal and stir every few minutes to prevent any sticking).
Step Two: Once oatmeal is almost ready (around 20 minutes) add a little maple syrup or brown sugar to sweeten. Stir and continue cooking another 3-5 minutes.
Step Three: Add your cooked oatmeal to a bowl and stir in a little more maple syrup and a little more milk if needed. Then enjoy as is or feel free to add other toppings like cooked cinnamon apples, banana, mixed berries, almond butter or chopped nuts to make this a super filling and delicious breakfast recipe! Enjoy!
What Is The Water Ratio For Steel Cut Oats?
One big difference between steel cut oats and regular rolled oats is the water ratio. Steel cut oats require a lot more water to cook than rolled oats. This is due to the thickness of the oat and the longer cook time.Â
For ½ cup of steel cut oats use 2 cups of liquid. For 1 cup of steel cut oats use 3 cups of liquid. Sometimes I use just water if that is all I have and other times I use half water and half almond milk. Adding half milk gives it a creamier texture and more flavor!
Can You Make Steel Cut Oatmeal In The Instant Pot?
Absolutely! You can make a bigger batch of steel cut oatmeal in your Instant Pot. It's easy to do and more hands-off than the stove top method. You can make a big batch for a large family or it's perfect for Meal Prep! Give it a try with this Instant Pot Apple Cinnamon Steel Cut Oatmeal recipe.
More Breakfast Recipes
- Apple Cinnamon Pancakes
- Sweet Potato Pancakes
- Parmesan Crusted Potatoes
- Spinach and Vegetable Frittata
- Strawberry Peach Smoothie
Creamy Steel Cut Oatmeal
Ingredients
- ½ cup steel cut oats
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup vanilla almond milk or non-dairy milk
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup* divided
- â…› teaspoon fine sea salt
Instructions
- In a small saucepan add water, almond milk, steel cut oats and a pinch of salt.
- Stir well then bring the oats to a slow boil. Once you start to see the oats coming to a boil, immediately turn the heat down to medium-low and simmer for 25 minutes. (Make sure to keep an eye on the oatmeal and stir every few minutes to prevent any sticking).
- Once oatmeal is almost ready (around 20 minutes) add ½ tablespoon of maple syrup or brown sugar to sweeten. Stir and continue cooking another 3-5 minutes.
- Add your cooked oatmeal to a bowl and stir in another ½ tablespoon of maple syrup and a little more milk if needed. Then enjoy as is or feel free to add other toppings like cooked cinnamon apples, banana, mixed berries or chopped nuts to make this a super filling and delicious recipe! Enjoy!
Notes
- Can substitute brown sugar for maple syrup.
- Make sure to keep an eye on the oatmeal white it’s cooking and stir every few minutes to prevent any sticking.
- If your oatmeal starts to stick at any time just add a little bit more water or milk, stir and allow the oats to finish cooking for the full 23-25 minutes.
Rachel Blanks says
Thank you for this! I love steel cut oatmeal from hotels and bought a box yesterday to try at home. I cook OFTEN, even own my own line of seasoning blends (Simply Savory by Rachel), but I needed help with the consistency I desired. Thank you!!!