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Start the morning right with this delicious and healthy Crockpot Express Apple Oatmeal! Use steel-cut or rolled oats in the pressure cooker (Crockpot Express/Instant Pot) for a quick breakfast.
I’ve never used steel cut oats for my oatmeal, but I wanted to try making oatmeal in my Crockpot Express, so I took the plunge! I figured that steel cut oats would hold up well in a pressure cooker, and they are the healthier option anyway.
I took my popular recipe for Overnight Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal in the slow cooker and tweaked it to make it Crockpot Express Apple Oatmeal. (works in the Instant Pot, too!)
I also wrote the recipe for only two servings, so it’s perfect for a quick and healthy breakfast. It’s a great recipe to try when you’re first learning to use a pressure cooker.
This oatmeal recipe is all the things: clean eating approved, paleo, vegan, whole food, etc. Several members of my family are doing a weight loss challenge, so I’m trying to be more thoughtful about what we eat, especially for breakfast.
This filled me up and kept me full for hours! I used Granny Smith apples because they hold up well to cooking, but that does give it a very tart flavor. You’re going to want to add some kind of sweetener afterwards.
I stirred in a little honey, which also gives it a pretty color. The second batch I made was with rolled oats (old-fashioned) and I tried that one with real maple syrup. That was delicious and very “breakfasty.”
Steel cut oats are the least processed version of oats. They will keep you fuller for longer, and your energy levels will stay up. I found a very informative short article comparing steel cut, rolled and quick oats here.
For this recipe, I am giving you instructions for both steel cut and rolled oats. Do NOT use quick oats in the pressure cooker. You’ll end up with a terrible pile of mush. 🙂
Overall, this takes about 20 minutes to go from preheat to pressure release. So toss the ingredients for your Crockpot Express Apple Oatmeal in the cooker, go take a shower and then come back to eat a yummy and satisfying breakfast!
Still learning about your Crockpot Express? Download a printable Crockpot Express Cooking Guide here (and get answers to frequently asked questions, or test your new CPE with an easy recipe like Crockpot Express Hard Boiled Eggs!
Crockpot Express Apple Oatmeal
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup steel cut oats
- 1 1/2 cups water
- 1 apple, chopped Granny Smith apples hold up well to cooking
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp nutmeg
- 1/8 tsp all spice
- sweetener of your choice (I used honey)
Option for rolled oats (old fashioned)
- 1 cup rolled oats (old-fashioned)
- 2 cups water
Instructions
- Place all ingredients in the cooking pot, close the lid and steam release valve, and press Beans/Chili (manual.) Adjust time to 6 minutes. After cooking, do a natural pressure release for 10-15 minutes. Stir in sweetener of choice and serve warm!
Cooking time for rolled oats (old fashioned)
- Press Steam (manual) and cook for 3 minutes. NPR for 5 minutes.
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Bill says
I wouldn’t make it the same. Skip the nutmeg and allspice, or cut them way down, too bitter of spices for me as it is.
Nicole Burkholder says
You must really not like apple pie! 😉
CJ Storck says
Just made this with old fashioned oats in my 4 quart. Came out perfect!! I did not stir before cooking so I wouldn’t chance getting the E6 error.
Nicole Burkholder says
This is a perfect recipe for the smaller pot! Thanks for the feedback 🙂
John Charles Stauffer says
So I tried this recipe 2 day in a row, using rolled oats and the STEAM setting. I got the dreaded E6 error both times. When I opened the pot there was oatmeal stuck to the bottom. Maybe add the water first then the oatmeal and not stir, or add more water?
Nicole Burkholder says
Are you using the original non stick pot that comes with the CPE? You will get an E6 if there’s food stuck to the bottom. But I’ve never had that happen personally. You can certainly increase the liquid a little to see if that will help. Try using some apple juice so you don’t end up with bland oatmeal.
Shireen says
I just put 4x this recipe in and set the time for 8 minutes instead of 6… I’m wondering if the time needs to be adjusted for larger quantities and by how much? FYI, I’m using the 8 qt CPE. Thanks in advance.
Nicole Burkholder says
I’ve never tested that large an amount of the oatmeal, and I use the 6 qt. so I can’t answer that for sure. The best thing to do would be start with a lower time and then open and test it. You can always add more time if needed. The main time difference will be the preheat time with a larger batch like that.
Amy says
Your oatmeal recipe was the first thing I cooking in my CP IP. I have wanted a recipe for my crockpot forever! I really like oatmeal, I just bought my IP and can’t wait to try a pumpkin version next.
Thanks so much.
Nicole Burkholder says
I’m glad you liked it! Oatmeal was my second thing to make, I think 🙂 It’s safe and not a disaster if you ruin it-not too much wasted food 😉
Traci says
I just used the exile for old fashioned oats on steam for 3 minutes exactly as you described it. I got the E6 error. Any idea why or recommendations for next time?
Nicole Burkholder says
Hmmm…did some of the oatmeal get stuck on the bottom of the pot? Sometimes that can trigger an E6. If you scrape the bottom well and add a little more liquid, it should allow you to finish the cycle. (You may need to unplug the machine and plug it back in to “reset” it as well.
Kirsty says
I just made the plain porridge with the old fashioned oats and turned out really well! Thanks for the instructions! I was just wondering if instead of cooking it in water I could use milk instead. Thankyou
Nicole Burkholder says
Milk gets really frothy and doesn’t do great under pressure/high heat. You could perhaps try it with half and half (heavy cream and milk mixture) to mitigate that?