Have you seen the prices that restaurants are charging for bowls of steel-cut oats these days? Six dollars! Eight dollars! Twelve dollars in New York! My goodness. Apparently steel-cut oats are the new overpriced grandpa cardigans of the food scene.
Today, I’m sharing my tricks for making the creamiest, dreamiest steel-cut oats at home. Your bowl will taste like a million bucks. Or, at least ten dollars. I’m concerned that my photos don’t do this oatmeal justice (it’s not easy to make porridge look sexy), but trust me here. We’ll talk toppings later so you can make yours however you’d like.
Steel-cut oats shine in the texture and flavor departments. They are exceptionally creamy and delicious, especially if you toast them beforehand as instructed in my recipe below.
Steel-cut oats are also a fun way to change up your morning oatmeal routine. Unlike old-fashioned or instant oats, they reheat beautifully, so you can make one big batch that lasts all week.
All About Steel-Cut Oats
Steel-cut oats are a less refined version of the old-fashioned and quick-cooking oats you already know. All oats start out the same, as an oat groat.
Steel-cut oats are oat groats that have been sliced into smaller pieces, whereas old-fashioned oats are oat groats that have been flattened. They all contain the same pieces and parts, but the difference between slicing and flattening explains why steel-cut oats take longer to cook (around 30 minutes).
Nutritionally speaking, they are pretty much the exact same and share all of the health benefits of oats, so don’t split hairs there. Oats lower bad cholesterol, help stabilize blood sugar levels and on and on.
Steel-Cut Oat Topping Ideas
- Peanut butter, almond butter or pecan butter
- Homemade chia jam or your favorite jelly/jam
- Applesauce, preferably the chunky homemade variety, or grated fresh apple
- Coconut whipped cream or regular whipped cream
- Yogurt or a splash of cream
- Sliced bananas, apples, strawberries, pears, mangos…
- Fresh or frozen blueberries, raspberries, blackberries or pomegranate arils
- Dried fruit, like dried cranberries, cherries, blueberries, raisins, chopped dates or apricots…
- Toasted chopped nuts like walnuts, pecans, almonds…
- Toasted pepitas or sunflower seeds
- Flaxseed or chia seeds
- Toasted or raw shredded coconut
- Dark chocolate, either chopped or mini chocolate chips
You’ll find my go-to steel-cut oat cooking method below. The only hard part is deciding what to mix in and how to top your oatmeal. Looking for inspiration? Here are my official variations: Apple Steel-Cut Oatmeal, Morning Glory Oatmeal and Cranberry Orange Steel Cut Oats.
If you find yourself on a steel-cut oats kick, you might want to check out the overnight oats cooking method or this individual serving freezer option. I haven’t tried either, but I’m intrigued.
Please let me know how your oats turn out in the comments! I’m always so eager to hear from you.
Watch How to Cook Steel Cut Oats
Perfect Steel-Cut Oats
- Author: Cookie and Kate
- Cook Time: 40 mins
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Irish
Learn how to make the most delicious steel-cut oats here! These ultra creamy, toasted steel-cut oats are ready in under 40 minutes and reheat beautifully for the rest of the week. I suggest doubling the recipe if you’d like to make breakfast for the whole week. Recipe as written below yields 4 modest servings (about 3 cups total, or ¾ cup per serving).
Ingredients
- 3 cups water
- 1 cup milk of choice: almond milk, cow’s milk, coconut milk, etc.
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil or unsalted butter
- 1 cup steel-cut oats (choose certified gluten-free oats if necessary)
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- Optional mix-ins: ground spices like cinnamon, dried fruit like cranberries or chopped dates, toasted chopped nuts like walnuts, lemon or orange zest, etc.
Instructions
- In a large saucepan, combine the water and milk. Bring the mixture to a simmer over medium heat. In the meantime, melt the coconut oil (or butter) in a 12-inch skillet over medium heat. Once shimmering, add the oats and cook, stirring occasionally, until golden and fragrant, around 2 minutes. This toasting step greatly enhances the flavor of the oats.
- Stir the oats into the simmering liquid. Reduce the heat to medium-low, adjusting as necessary to maintain a gentle simmer. Cook for about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the mixture is very thick.
- Stir in the salt. Continue to simmer the mixture, stirring occasionally and reducing heat as necessary to prevent scorching on the bottom, until almost all of the liquid is absorbed, about 10 minutes. (If you doubled the recipe, your oatmeal might need an extra 5 minutes cooking time here.) The oatmeal will be very creamy when it’s done.
- Remove from heat and stir in any mix-ins that you’d like. Let the oatmeal rest for 5 minutes before serving so it has more time to thicken up and cool down a palatable temperature.
- Portion oatmeal into bowls and add any toppings you’d like to portions that you intend to serve immediately. Let any extra oatmeal cool completely before covering and refrigerating for future breakfasts.
Notes
Recipe adapted from The America’s Test Kitchen Healthy Family Cookbook.
Make it dairy free/vegan: Use coconut oil or vegan butter instead of regular butter, and choose a dairy-free milk (or substitute water for the milk).
Make it gluten free: Use certified gluten-free oats and make sure your mix-ins/toppings are gluten free, too.
Make it nut free: Easy. Use nut-free milk and don’t add nuts.
Update 10/18/2016: Finally got around to taking better photos of this recipe, so it might look a little different, but the recipe is the same!
Hayley
This is my first time making steel cut oats. I found your recipe and I can’t believe how delicious this is. I will not be returning to rolled/quick oats. Thank you so much for your post!
Kate
You’re welcome, Hayley!
Darlene
just finished breakfast with your creamy steel cut oats… it was fantastic…I used Ghee to toast the oats… and local maple syrup for sweetening … added walnuts and blueberries… It was perfect…
Kaitlin
This recipe looks fabulous! Hopefully, I can use this as a go-to in the future!
However, I will add that those who are looking to use oats to help lower their cholesterol, it is important to avoid coconut oil. Of course, you can cook with coconut oil on occasion, but if you plan to eat oatmeal on a regular basis, you will need to adapt. Coconut oil is high in saturated fat, which increases LDLs (the bad cholesterol). On a further note, if topping your oatmeal with nut butters, choose ones that do not have palm oil as an ingredient since it is also high in saturated fat.
Not trying to preach, but I just discovered I have very high cholesterol and have been learning a lot lately that I figured I would share!
Kate
Thanks for sharing, Kaitlin!
Carole
Thank you for the Kate recipe, and thank you Kaitlin for the advice on the coconut oil leaving out the coconut oil was good to know, as I want to get my cholesteral down
Kylie
Thanks for the heads up about the coconut oil and cholesterol. Could you suggest an alternative?
Kylie
Actually I’ve just noticed the butter supp in the recipe. Disregard previous question :)
Jenny
Saturated fat DOES NOT increase cholesterol – that was entirely debunked 20 years ago, and coconut oil has some particularly good fats (MCTs). Please stop spreading misinformation.
This recipe is fantastic – it really is all about toasting the oats!
Dylan
Came out perfect. Added brown sugar, almonds, and some vanilla extract as my toppers.
Kate
Yum!
Hannah
My all time favorite steel-cut oats recipe, takes a little more than I’d like it to, but its taste more than makes up for it.
Kate
I agree! A little more time is worth it for the end result.
Sarah
This really is the best oatmeal recipe I’ve ever tried! Thanks so much!
Kate
You’re welcome, Sarah!
Bert Anderson
I am eating the steel cut oats and they are wonderful! I usually do them in my crockpot, but not any more. They are creamy and yummy! I put cinnamon & pure maple syrup on them…perfect! Thanks for the recipe. ❤
Kiran
Mmm love this recipe! Use it all the time for steel cut oats now. I absolutely love the fragrance of the oats when cooking them initially in the coconut oil. After cooking them for 20 min, I normally only cook them for an additional 5 vs 10 otherwise I feel it gets too thick for my liking, and the oats are still cooked.
Thanks for the recipe!
Asma
My go-to recipe of all time! I add a bit of pure vanilla extract, a cinnamon stick, and raw organic sugar while cooking. Perfect every time :) Thanks Kate!
John Kroner
These are the best steel cut oats I ever had and they are healthy!
Tbaby77
How long can a batch of cooked oats be kept in the refrigerator?
Rose
I LUV this! I just made a double batch to set myself up for the week. My topping is diced apples cooked up with coconut oil, cinnamon, and coconut sugar halved with cane sugar. I’m eating a serving now and my eyes are rolling to the back of my head. The creamy oatmeal is the best I have ever had! Thank You!
Denise
I made a double batch of this oatmeal last weekend for breakfast this week and it was amazing! I almost think I didn’t need to double the batch. I got about 6 1 cup servings from the double batch and I think I could halve each if it would last in the fridge for two weeks. I used whole milk and regular butter to toast the oats – added in dried cranberries, vanilla extract and a spoonful of sugar to each when I reheat before eating. The oatmeal is super delicious and way filling! I wasn’t even ready for lunch when the clock struck 12p.
Sam
I love all your recipes, but I have to ask why do you add salt to this one? I made it just as you said and it was way too salty for me and I am pretty bummed about the way it tasted even when I added maple syrup and cinnamon to it. I just wanted to throw that out there because it seems unnecessary and I’m wondering if others could taste the salt to the point of pursing their lips.
Kate
Hey Sam, belated apologies for your experience with this oatmeal. I’m not sure, though, why yours tasted so salty. The recipe calls for just 1/4 teaspoon salt and yields 4 servings. That’s just 1/16th teaspoon salt per serving. Is there any chance you added more salt than that?
Tiina
Maybe it was the type of salt used, i.e. fine sea salt vs. coarse, or kosher? The crystal size can totally change the actual weight of the salt even if the dry measurement is the same.
Bunnir
I’ve never had steel cut oats before so I decided to make it last week. It was so good! I made it again today! I added chopped apples, blueberries and cinnamon. Delicious!! Thanks for sharing this wonderful recipe!
Carrie Esper
I have made these twice now, and they turned out perfect each time!! They are so delicious and creamy. I made double batch and added 1 cup of unsweetened coconut, 3 cups of wild frozen blueberries and ~2 tablespoons of raw honey. Delicious!
Kate
Awesome! Thank you, Carrie for providing a review. It is appreciated!
Stephanie
Do you cover it while it cooks? Mine doesn’t seem to be cooking correctly.
Kate
No, I don’t cover it (I would include that step in the instructions if I did). Hope your oats turned out well!
Juliana
This is a fantastic recipe! I’m a registered dietitian, and I teach cooking classes with children and their families to learn healthier cooking methods and try new foods. I have used a few of your recipes (with proper credit, of course) for my classes, and they have always been a hit! We have done the migas (I used to live in Austin, so definitely a favorite) in the past and I’m planning to do this recipe tomorrow, as an alternative to packet oatmeal. I really appreciate how much you test your recipes before posting them, so I know the time and effort I put into cooking won’t be wasted.
Kate
Thank you, Juilana for providing your expertise and for the great review! I want to ensure a great recipe that is healthy and easy to understand. Let me know what the class thinks of this one!
Juliana
I combined this one with the apple one, and everyone loved it! They didn’t even want to add any honey to sweeten it up. I usually use cashew milk, because the texture is creamier to me than almond milk (which I find slimy).
Kate
Tasty! Thank you, Juliana for your comment and star review.
Ashley
If I am making this to save for breakfast throughout the week, do you suggest I add the toppings when the oats are fresh before I package them up or when I am ready to eat it? Add ins I’m thinking of are almond butter, mashed banana, honey, and cooked apples. I’d like to have each dish ready to go when I’m ready to eat it, but not sure how it holds up with the toppings added.
Kate
Great question, Ashley! I have done it both ways-depending on the toppings. For crunchy ingredients (like nuts, etc), I add when I am ready to serve. Same for fresh fruit as I don’t want it mushy. But, for the toppings you mentioned, those would be great to add in when you package the oats. Since they are already cooked or mushy in texture, the flavors will just combine more. Hope this helps!
Ashley
Yes! Thank you so much for your response!!
Maddy Mayfield
In the past my steel cut oats taste terrible could not figure out what I was doing wrong…now I know I was doing everything wrong! This recipe is the only way to make steel cut oats on the stove.
Thanks for the amazing recipe.
Kate
So happy this helped you, Maddy! Thanks for the review.
Scott
Delicious!
Kate
Thank you, Scott!
Kendall Colquitt
I don’t k is what I’m doing wrong, these will not thicken up. Should they simmer or boil for 20 min? I’ve been simmering and it’s like soup after 20 min. Help!
Kate
That’s strange! Sounds like you need to turn up the heat a bit and keep simmering. I hope they turned out great.
Sarah
Do you cover the pot while the oats are cooking in the water/milk?
Kate
Uncover so you can watch and stir occasionally. Hope this helps! :)
Mercy
I made it and it came out delicious. I top it with pumpkin seeds, sunflowers seeds and walnut pieces. Great experience, thank you for sharing.
Kate
Those sound like wonderful additions! Thank you, for your comment! If you would want to leave a star review since you liked this recipe so much, I would appreciate it!
Jen
Incredibly delicious! Thank you so much. I added vanillajen granola and dried cranberries. Yummo!
Kate
Sounds wonderful, Jen!
Evie
I was super skeptical about reheating porridge, the idea of it seems wrong! Yet somehow it actually tastes better? Maybe it’s because the no effort part makes it tastes better! But cooking a bit batch instead of one portion a day definitely seems to make the porridge creamy and better cooked, not sure why it just does. I love topping this with your Chia Jam or Maple Cinnamon Apples! Along with cooked bananas and blueberries. SO good, it’s saved me so much energy at breakfast
Kate
The flavors really have a chance to meld, don’t they! Thank you, for your feedback.
Elle Boehm
Loved this recipe!!! My not so health conscious husband did too!!
Kate
Thank you, for your review Elle!
Renee Livingood
This is my favorite oatmeal recipe!
Kate
Wonderful, Renee! Thanks so much for commenting and the review.
Michael Wolsey
I have been trying different methods to cook steel cut oats. I wanted to find one that tasted like restaurant quality. This one is wonderful. The creaminess of the oats and the slightly nutty flavor is perfect. If you want a family breakfast pleaser, this will make you look like a hero. Loved it!
Kate
I’m happy you think so! Thanks for sharing, Michael.
Linda Fitzgerald
This is a great recipe with lots of cool variations. But the best advice for a steel cut oats lover is how well this recipe freezes. I make a bunch and store individual portions in snack-size ziplocs and freeze. Defrost in the fridge the night before and just nuke or add some boiling water. Super fast, tastes so delicious. Thanks for the great idea.
Kate
That’s great to know, Linda! Thanks for sharing and for your review.
Michal A. Kessler
SUPERB recipe! Remember to use only plant milk… Unless you’re a calf of course…. Mother’s milk is for babies!
Kate
Thank you!
Pam
I’ve made steel cut oats before but I’m not a milk lover. But I thought I’d try it just as written. I only had whole milk available, added cinnamon while cooking and topped with frozen blueberries. The milk definetly added a rich creaminess, but the star of the show was the difference toasting the oats in coconut oil made. I may not use milk again but for sure will toast my oats. I’m going to try toasting them with the overnight method. Thanks for the new fav!
Dayna
Thanks so much for this recipe. I’m on an oatmeal kick (nursing mom trying to boost my milk supply) and I used this recipe for my first stab at steel cut oats. No need to find another, this is perfect. So far I made a batch twice, once using 2% cow milk and the other trying it with unsweetened vanilla cashew almond milk. Both worked perfectly (although I prefer the taste of it made with cow milk, just my personal preference). I ate it for a few mornings, adding different toppings each time. Reheated well. Thank you so much!
Susanne
This is my go-to recipe when I crave a healthy, hearty and tasty breakfast. It is especially good for when i head to the mountains to snowshoe or snowboard giving me enough energy until lunch. I have begun doubling the recipe because 1 or 2 servings is not enough. I crave it for days afterwards so I just microwave a bowl during work days – perfect! I’ve experimented with various combinations using peach, mango, coconut, almonds, walnuts, currents, chocolate nibs, maple syrup, brown sugar and hemp seeds. I’ve even frozen leftovers and it was just as good when thawed out.
Thank you, Kate, for this delicious recipe!
Sara
How do you recommend reheating these oats the next day? Microwave? Stovetop? I need reheating oats for dummies, lol! Would they be reheated as-is or need any liquid added? Thank you!
Archaa
I second the question above, do you have reheating tips?
Kylie
Also wondering about the best way to reheat
Joanie
Love the oats!
Kate
Thanks, Joanie!
Liza
Thank you, Kate! I have been making my steel cut oat this way for months now and still love it. I also tried your chia jam recipe with this today and i felt scrumptiously satisfied
Kate
Wonderful! Thank you, Liza.
Yvonne
Wow! Pleasantly surprised! I will definitely make this recipe again. Thanks! Have an awesome day!
Liza
5 star!
Kate
Thank you!
Jen
I like many oatmeal a bit on the soupy side. The proportions of oats, milk, and water worked great for me! I just didn’t cook them as long so they weren’t as thick.
Kate
Sounds like a great way to make it just how you like it, Jen! I appreciate the review.
Claudia Palma
OMG. I have always loved oatmeal, but was still trying to understand the steel cut oats ways. And may I say this was the best porridge experience of my life!!!! (And that’s a tough one)
– I would just say for you to be careful with the time, because I only needed around 20 min for them to be creamy and not too dry.
Kate
Wonderful! I’m happy you found the best recipe for you. Thanks so much for your review, Claudia!
Alex
Hi Kate! I batch-prepped these toasty oats last night and reheated them this morning and they were PERFECTION. Toasting them really adds so much flavor. Thank you for sharing. Love your site! <3
Kate
You’re welcome, Alex!
Walers
I just made this (far far away from you in an equatorial country!) and it was fantastic. The toasting tip is inspired and gave the porridge a fab popcorn like flavour!
Kate
I’m happy you enjoyed it, Walers. I appreciate your star review!
CJ
I was so looking forward this but something went wrong. It didn’t soak up any of the water/milk hardly at all. I can’t figure out what I did wrong…
Alyssa
Delicious! The best steel cut oats recipe I’ve ever used; works great with almond or other nut milks.
Kate
Great! Thank you, Alyssa for your review.
Anita
I know this post is a couple of years old but I still wanted to say thank you for teaching me how to make oatmeal. I have tried many different recipes including following the instructions on the box but I was not satisfied with the results. Your recipe is perfect.
Thanks!
Kate
I’m so glad you commented, Anita! Thanks for your review.
Catherine Word
Thanks Kate, I tried steel cut oatmeal 25 years ago. It was horrible. Your recipe is delicious! I will eat it every day for my elevated cholesterol.
Kate
Thank you, Catherine!
B. Wimble
I just made this recipe, and it turned out sooo amazing. I ate way too much, lol! I will never go back to rolled oats/instant oats again. It’s creamy yet chewy, perfect texture. Thank you Kate! Can’t wait to try some of your suggested add-ins next time ❤
Kate
I love it! Thanks for sharing and for your review.
Suzy
Thanks so much for this recipe. I freeze it in muffin tins amd then take them out amd put them in a freezer bag. I pull out 2 for my breakfast during the week.
Kate
You’re welcome, Suzy! Thanks for your review.
RT
Another favorite! So easy and versatile; I’ve made it several times to take to work for the week. Thank you!
Erika
Thanks for the recipe—steel cut oats keep us fuller longer and are with the extra time spent making them. Question: every time I make them I end up w/ a scorched pit and burnt crusty oats at the bottom. Doesn’t affect the taste and I have a method for getting them off. But…any suggestions for how to keep this from happening minus standing there and stirring it the whole time? Always forgot to toast the oats first and I finally remembered this time. I’m excited to try it and see if I notice a difference. I make a recipe 3x bigger than this so that I have bfast for me and my wife the whole week so I’m not sure if I’ll be able to taste the difference since I was twisting 4 cups of oats.
Kate
Hi Erika! I’m sorry to hear that is happening. I would recommend when you do stir, to make sure you are getting all the way to the bottom and turn your heat down a little. Also, if you are increasing the quantity and aren’t using a big enough pot so all the contents get cooked evenly, that could be impacting the result too. Hope this helps some!
Paula Dolloff
This is an awesome recipe. Sauteing the oats in oil or butter is brilliant. When I do that, the oatmeal has so much flavor that I don’t feel the need to add sweetner to the oatmeal. I also cook this batch in advance and reheat throughout the week. (I add a little milk to when I reheat to make it a little moister.) This is the only recipe I use to cook my steel but oats now.
Kate
I’m happy you think so Paula!
Tammi
Absolutely perfect! Make this on Sunday and have a delicous and quick breakfast ready all week. Thanks Kate!
Tammi
Kate
You’re welcome, Tammi!
Jennifer Marciante
I halved the recipe, and it was the most amazing meal! I added a tbsp chia seeds while cooking (15min) I never knew they were so good, thank you so very much❤️
Kate
Wonderful, Jennifer!
Carol
Just made this recipe! Amazing – I have never been able to successfully make creamy oatmeal….can’t wait to taste the saved portions!!! Thank you VERY MUCH!
Kate
Hooray! Love to hear this worked so well for you, Carol. I appreciate the review.
MJ
Delish! I used 3 cups water, 1 cup homemade almond milk, 1.5 cups Bob’s Red Mill gluten-free steel-cut oats. I toasted the oats in butter. While cooking, I added coconut, raisins, dried cranberries, cut up apple, walnuts, almond slivers and a glug of honey. In my bowl, topped off with more almond milk and fresh strawberries. Omg. So creamy. Makes enough for several servings. Thank you for this great recipe!
Kate
Sounds delicious! Thanks for sharing, MJ. I appreciate the star review, too!
Espy
Can you just eat it cold?
Kate
Sure! I think it’s best warm.
Susan Schmick
I never made steel cut oats before I saw this recipe. This is delicious. Toasting of the oats is awesome.
Kate
Right! Toasting is key. Thanks so much for sharing!
Charlene
Just reheated my first serving. Added a tiny bit of almond milk and spiced apple cider to moisten. Then a slight drizzle of maple syrup. Divine. Thank you.
Kate
You’re welcome! That sound delicious.
Michelle Leonard
This is the best recipe for steel cuts oats! My entire family loves it! My favorite is adding an apples and cinnamon.
Kate
Love that, Michelle! Thanks so much for sharing.
Hannah
These really did work out well, very creamy. I’ve put several individual servings in the fridge, and I am looking forward to trying them over the next few mornings, with different variations. Thanks!
Kate
You’re welcome, Hannah!
Mindie Cantrell
Have been making this oatmeal for 2 years! Our favorite add-in combo is cinnamon, banana, and cashew butter. I make it on Sunday and refrigerate in serving size containers for quick easy weekday breakfasts. Just add a little unsweetened almond milk before reheating in the microwave.
Kate
I love it, Mindie! That sounds delicious! Thanks for your feedback. :)
Chan
How does it work with quick cook steel cut oats (all I have)? I assume shorter cooking time, of course. Any specific changes, suggestions or warnings?
Kate
I would adjust cooking time for sure. You may also not need as much liquid. I didn’t try with quick cook so I don’t have specifics for you, sorry!
Lisa Hamilton
I never liked oatmeal until I discovered steel cut oats. Your recipe has become my go to! I’m not usually a sweet breakfast food eater. I love the fact that it doesn’t include sugar when it’s being cooked so I can top it sweet or savory depending on what my mood is that day. It’s scrumptious with sauteed veggies, a little parmesan cheese and garlic salt and pepper on it. Thanks!
Kate
I’m glad you like it now! It makes such a great breakfast. I love the savory idea, Lisa!
Maggi
The nutritional information did not show when I clicked on the link. Can you please provide me with the nutritional information? Thank you.
Christina Wozniak
BEST recipe for SCO EVER!
I asked my husband if he got enough to eat and he paused and thought about it for a few minutes and then said yes I’m comfortably. I could eat more but I wouldn’t be eating because I was hungry I would just be eating them because of how good they are!
I followed the directions to the T and they turned out absolutely perfect. Thank you so much :-)
Kate
Hooray! Thank you, Christina!
Amanda
Great instructions! To avoid getting multiple pots dirty, I toast and cook the oatmeal in the same pot. I boil water while the oats are toasting and add it to the toasted oats to get the cooking process going (and add the coconut milk once everything gets simmering). This way I only need to clean one pot!
Kate
I’m glad you found them helpful, Amanda!
Lynn
What’s the best way to reheat the extra oatmeal? Microwave or stove top? And do you need to add extra liquid to it before reheating? Never tried steel cut oats so looking forward to it! Thanks for the great recipes?
Kate
Both would work! I don’t typically add extra liquid to mine.
Nora
Thanks for sharing this recipe; made this this morning–it came out pretty good! Even though I followed the recipe, in my case, I may have allowed the oats to get too thick–I prefer my oats a little more creamy. So I’ll remember to cook for less time for my next batch. I do have one question: how do you reheat? Your answer will probably come after I have reheated, but I plan to microwave adding a small amount of liquid. What do you think? Thanks again
Kate
You’re welcome! I don’t add any additional liquid when I reheat. Microwave or stove works.
Anastasia Nikitovic
I’ve never particularly liked oatmeal but my partner loves it. He says this is the best he’s ever had :)
Kate
I’m happy to hear that! Thanks for sharing, Anastasia!
Michelle
Toasting the oats made all the difference! Thank you for this delicious recipe! I added just a touch of vanilla bean sugar and cinnamon sugar that I got from a local spice shop, and it was perfect!
Kate
It really does make a difference! Thanks for sharing, Michelle.
Carol
Please tell me how to reheat the glob of cold oatmeal on stove top without adding any liquid. I am not a fan of microwave. Thanks.
Thelma
What’s the best way to reheat the oatmeal? Do you have a favor brand?
Thanks
Kate
You can reheat in the microwave, or stovetop!
Rebecca
We have been making this recipe for awhile now, it’s our go to every morning. We always make a double batch and it last for a week and a bit in the fridge. We also add peeled chopped apples, coconut, cinnamon and either honey or sugar free maple syrup while cooking. It’s my new favourite breakfast in the morning, my husband and I add fresh fruit to it and enjoy with our cup of coffee.
Best steel cut oat recipe!!!
Kate
It makes a great breakfast through the week! I love the additions, Rebecca. Thanks so much for the review!
Nicole
What’s the best way to reheat? Do you add more liquid? I made this recipe and added some peanut butter and strawberry jam. It was delicious!
Kate
Microwave or stovetop works well! I don’t add any liquid, but you could add a splash to your liking.
Joe
Just made this for the first time. Cooked exactly for 30 minutes and it’s too thick. Like quiche thick. Will try again with less time. Very easy to make though!
Kate
I’m sorry! You can always add a little more liquid if you would like.
Sal
Simple great breakfast. Delicious with the add ons! Thanks for sharing!
Kate
You’re welcome, Sal!
Laura
I actually crave these oatson a regular basis. So, so good! Thank you for the recipe!
Kate
Crave! That’s awesome. Thank you, Laura!
Fatima
I used to… strongly dislike oatmeal, but after trying this recipe, I’m pretty ok with it! I had it with strawberries, peanut butter, banana, and sliced almonds! Thanks!
Kate
I’m so glad this one turned you around, Fatima! Thanks so much for your review.
Ginna
I love this recipes it’s the best! I wonder if you can get it as tasty in an instapot?
Kate
I know a lot of people love to use their instant pot for steel cut oats!
Angela D.
I have looked high and low for the perfect steel cut oats recipe. I feel like I’ve came across this recipe but I’m not sure why I never tried it. I’ve tried different ways to cook steel cut oats from recipes I found on Pinterest, they were horrible! I almost gave up I’m still cut oats. Today I tried your recipe and added 3 tablespoons of brown sugar, 1 teaspoon of pure vanilla extract, cinnamon powder, and a tablespoon of chia seeds while it cooked. I topped it off with dried cherries, cranberries, and golden raisins. It was perfect!
Kate
I’m glad you found the recipe, Angela! I appreciate your review.
Mary Siegwart
Hi Kate,
Woke to a low 40’s morning and rain and since work starts later I decided to hunt down a Steel Cut Oats recipe so here I am!
Interesting concept recipe and I love it! I had an apple so I diced it for a quick compote with cinnamon, yum!
Enjoying my bowl right now. Unfortunately I’m out of walnuts and pecans or they would have been added.
Can this recipe be converted for a crockpot (overnight)? This can’t be a last minute idea when others are ready to eat NOW. Lol
Loved my oatmeal, time for seconds!!!
Thank you!
Mary and Eliza, my canine
Kate
A great breakfast for a chilly morning! I haven’t tried it in a crockpot, but I believe a few have tried it with success. I would recommend searching the comments to see what has worked for others.
Michelle
Great recipe this oatmeal was so tasty and creamy! We love it! Thanks
Kate
You’re welcome, Michelle!
Cindy
Hi Kate,
My first time making gf steel cut oats, Red Mill. Since I’m used to the texture and softness of quacker oats, I m not sure my 1st serving of gf came out right. Followed the directions but the tiny oats didn’t looked that cooked to me. Aren’t they suppose to open up so to speak? Wasn’t impressed so checked Google and came across your site. My 2nd timecame our better but didn’t do the cooking of oats in pan wh I’m sure is a plus. You’re bowl of oats look more puffy and soft looking. The low setting on my stove cooks at a slight bubble more than slow simmer.
Thank you.
Cindy
Kate
Hi Cindy! I’m sorry these didn’t turn out perfect for you. It sounds like you may need to cook them on a little higher of a setting. Let me know if you try them again!
K
These oats look great! Could I use quick cooking steel cut oats? I have a giant bag of the quick cooking steel cut oats from Costco that I need to work through!
Kate
Hi K! You can, however the cooking time and liquid would both likely decrease.
Karla Bermudez
Amazing recipe! Will not be going back to instant oatmeal!
Kate
Glad you loved it, Karla!
Christina Peck
This was absolutely decadent. I had to cook mine about 10 mins longer to get the oats to the right consistency, but I’m sure it has something to do with changes in altitude, humidity, oven settings, and possibly my opting out of the salt. Oatmeal has always been the go-to breakfast of my grandmother, who is 90 years old without a single health problem. There is something to say about that, especially with her being one of 3 left out of 13 siblings. I decided to follow suit. I added frozen blueberries, maple syrup and brown sugar. Yes this takes time, but the best things in life do!
Kate
I’m happy you loved it! Thank you for sharing, Christina. I appreciate it.
Sharon Kyle
I loved your recipe, had never thought of roasting the oats, but what a difference it made.
Kate
Thank you, Sharon!
Deborah
I’m loving this recipe. Cooked as noted above. My third attempt added a cinnamon stick during cooking. This added a wonderful hint of spice.
Kate
I’m really happy you loved it! I like the cinnamon stick addition.
Elizabeth
I have used this recipe a few times now and it is the bomb. The difference of adding just one cup of milk (I use light milk) rather than all water is really worth it, along with toasting first. I’m trying to keep sugar low in my diet and found that a single batch with1tsp cinnamon and 3 desert spoons of maple syrup really did the trick for making it mmmmmmm sigh worthy. Thanks for this recipe Kate!
Kate
You’re welcome, Elizabeth!
Greg Ross
I forgot to take a picture, partly because this oatmeal looked so good that I dug right in! I was right! This was the best recipe for steel cut oats that I’ve ever tried. Simple, quick and delicious! Toasting the raw oats really made a difference…as did adding milk to the water.
Thank you! I have a new delicious standard in the mornings!!
Kate
You’re welcome, Greg!
Barb
This is my new go-to recipe for oatmeal. My grown kids and grandkids beg for it when they come to visit. Thank you for sharing it.
Kate
You’re welcome, Barb!
Terry
I made this recipe a few days ago and love it! When it was done cooking I added a Tbs each of almond butter and honey. I also sprinkled in some cinnamon. OMG! I made this in the afternoon and stored it in portion sized containers to make for an easy, fast breakfast. I will make it again tomorrow but I’ll double up on the recipe this time. Thanks for a simple but yummy recipe!
Ct
Toasting the oats makes all the difference!!! I make this recipe at least once a week – 1/4c oats, 1/4c soy milk, 1/2c water. I just let it simmer on low while I’m getting ready for work, and usually add cinnamon banana and walnuts – on low simmer mine takes about 35 min :)
Neeti
So good! Worth the extra time. I had mine topped with sliced banana, peanut butter and chia.
Kate
I’m happy you think so, Neeti!
Heather
My kids love this recipe for the steel cut oats. I usually make these at night. I follow the recipe but once I add the oats to the simmering water I stir, cover, and turn off the heat. When I wake up the oats are done! I just heat them up and add the toppings.
Julia
This is fantastic! I made a 1/2 recipe then stirred in about 1/3C of homemade applesauce. I’m going to have it for lunch too! Thanks for a great recipe!
Liz
I’m diabetic and really love butter and sugar in my oatmeal. I’ve seen the half and half Splenda/sugar brown sugar. I like cranberries but they are high in sugar and I’d still want to add sweetener. So simple is my game. What do you suggest?
Wednesday
I hate oatmeal but my husband loves it so I am trying to get better at being the oatmeal cooking queen. These steel cut oats are the bomb (according to my husband) never would have through to toast the oats before and the one cup of milk does add a great creamy flavor. Topped with pecans, real maple syrup and some pumpkin pie spice for the fall weather!
Kate
Thanks for sharing, Wednesday!
Rai
I so love oats and will absolutely try this recipe someday. Thanks a lot for posting!
Eugenia Finlay
After having $6.95 bowl of steel cut oats at a coffee shop this weekend, I wanted to make some. I followed your recipe and they were perfect. It did take about 35 minutes cooking time. This morning I added cinnamon, flax seeds, chia seeds, walnuts and berries for an awesome breakfast.
Kate
I’m glad to hear you loved them!
Whit
This is now my go-to method for steel-cut oats. Delicious every time! :)
Kate
Hooray! I’m so happy you love this method. Thanks for your review, Whit.
Lorri
this is the first time I tried steel cut oats. I made them with vanilla almond milk. They turned out great and I loved the flavor! I added some seedless raspberry jam and unsweetened shredded coconut… it was like dessert for breakfast!
Kate
Wonderful to hear, Lorri!
Danny
This recipe turned out so perfect. Even the young ones loved it! I sliced a fresh sweet banana and placed it on top of the creamy steel cut oats. Heavenly delicious!! Thanks for sharing a easy healthy meal.
Kate
You’re welcome! I’m glad you loved it, Danny!