Instant Pot Banana Oatmeal

The ultimate healthy breakfast recipe, this warm, hearty Instant Pot banana oatmeal is delicious and easy! Whole grain, full of fiber, and vegan.

I love the chewy texture and wholesome flavor of steel cut oatmeal. Add in creamy, tasty bananas with a bit of cinnamon and you have the perfect breakfast. I’ve been on a bit of an oatmeal kick ever since I figured out how easy steel cut oatmeal is to make in an Instant Pot. Pumpkin steel cut oatmeal has been in our breakfast rotation for months. Now we’re switching it up with this delicious Instant Pot banana steel cut oatmeal.

In my last post about oatmeal, I wrote about the difference between steel cut oats, rolled oats, and quick oats. Check it out here for a quick primer. Using an Instant Pot with steel cut oats is key, as you don’t need to stir or do much of anything – I love simple breakfasts!

What is an Instant Pot?

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An Instant Pot is a brand name of multi-use, programmable electric pressure cookers.  The Instant Pot brand offers several different sizes and there are a number of other brands on the market as well with similar features.  I have the Instant Pot Duo 6qt, so all of my instructions are based on that one.  All of the pressure cookers brands and models are pretty similar; they just name things a bit differently, so refer to your manual if I reference a button that you don’t have on yours – or leave a comment in the notes and I’ll try to help you out!

How to Make Instant Pot Banana Oatmeal

Start by turning the Instant Pot on “Saute” and press the Saute button until it’s on “More.”  Add the margarine or butter (not vegan).  When the margarine has melted, add in the steel cut oats, water, and two bananas. No need to slice up the bananas, just peel and add them in whole. You don’t need to stir either.

Seal the lid, close the pressure relief valve and press the “Pressure Cook” button until it’s on “Normal” and the “Pressure Level” until it’s on “High Pressure.”  Then press the +/- buttons until the time shows 00:10 for ten minutes.  The Instant Pot will say “On” while it’s getting up to pressure and then will start counting down.

When it’s done, allow the pressure to naturally release for 10 minutes (just leave the Instant Pot when it’s done and it will start to count up).  When it’s on 00:10, then ten minutes are up.  Turn off the Instant Pot by pressing “Cancel” and quick release the rest of the pressure by opening the pressure relief valve (making sure to steer clear of the steam).

When the float valve is down and the pressure is released, open the lid.  Stir in the cinnamon, salt, and brown sugar if using.  Let the pot sit for 5 to 10 minutes to allow the oatmeal to thicken. Serve the oatmeal with banana slices and peanut butter.

Looking for more Instant Pot recipes?  Try this Instant Pot Greek Yogurt, my absolute favorite recipe that I make every week.  This Instant Pot Mushroom Frittata is another easy breakfast recipe. If you try this Instant Pot Banana Oatmeal, leave a comment and review below and let me know how it worked out for you!