How To Cook Steel Cut Oats (perfectly creamy!) – The Kitchen Girl (2024)

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This steel cut oats recipe shows you how to cook regular or quick-cooking oats on the stove. A hearty, nutritious bowl of steel cut oatmeal is primed for toppings and family-loved!

What are steel cut oats

Steel cut oats are whole oat groats cut into small pieces using steel blades. They are less processed than rolled or instant oats. The chewy texture and nutty flavor make any steel cut oatmeal breakfast deliciously hearty and filling.

Why you'll love this recipe

• Steel cut oatmeal is a wholesome, filling breakfast.
• Made with quick-cooking or regular steel cut oats.
• You only need 3 ingredients + any toppings you prefer.
• Endless flavoring options equals happy family members.
• Easy to make for any cooking level.
• It's creamy comfort food that feels like a treat.
• Steel cut oatmeal brings fiber, protein, iron, magnesium, and B vitamins into your day.

Ingredient notes

• steel cut oats - Look for quick-cooking or regular steel cut oats. I have included instructions for both varieties in the recipe card.
• water - Plain water or any milk variety can be used, included non-dairy milk.
• salt - Adding salt to oatmeal helps remove the bitterness of the oats and brings out the flavors of any additional ingredients.
• toppings - The toppings for steel cut oatmeal are endless as you'll see in the list below.

How to cook steel cut oats

Step 1. Bring water to a boil in pot over high heat. *Reduce water to 2 cups total for the quick-cooking variety. Add salt, if using. Stir in steel cut oats.

Step 2. Reduce heat and simmer until thick and creamy, stirring as needed. Simmer 15-20 minutes for regular steel cut oats and 7-10 minutes for the quick-cooking variety. Note: If steel cut oatmeal becomes too thick while cooking, add splashes of water or milk to adjust the texture.

Step 3. Serve oatmeal warm with your favorite toppings. I used a kid-friendly (and personal favorite) topping combination consisting of dark brown sugar, maple syrup, walnuts, and cinnamon. You'll find my complete list of oatmeal toppings in the next section.

Steel cut oatmeal toppings

There are many delicious toppings you can add to steel cut oatmeal to enhance flavor and nutritional value. Here are some ideas:

• Fresh or dried fruits, such as berries, bananas, apples, raisins, coconut, or dates
• Seeds, such as chia seeds, ground flaxseed, or hemp seeds
• Nuts, such as walnuts, pecans, almonds, or cashews
• Nut butters, such as almond butter, peanut butter, or cashew butter
• Spices, such as cinnamon, nutmeg, or cardamom
• Sweeteners, such as honey, maple syrup, brown sugar, or jam
• Dairy ingredients, such as yogurt, milk, or non-dairy milk, such as almond milk, coconut milk, or soy milk
• Chocolate toppings, such as chocolate chips, cacao nibs, or carob chips.
• Proteins, such as a soft or hard boiled egg, smoked salmon, or your favorite protein powder.

Recipe tips

Making steel cut oats is a simple process and I've included a few tips to ensure the best results.

• Buying tip. Not all steel cut oats are gluten free, so look for certified labels if you have gluten restrictions.
• Use the correct water ratio when you prepare steel oats. The ratio for the quick-cooking variety is 1 cup oats to 2 cups water. The ratio for regular steel oats is 1 cup oats to 3 cups water.
• This recipe does not require soaking steel cut oats. If you wish to do so, place oats in 3 times as much water for 8 hours at room temperature and drain before cooking.
• This recipe uses minimal salt. Of course it's optional, but it does help balance the flavors. Use as much or little as you like.

Storage and reheat instructions

Allow steel cut oatmeal to cool completely. Refrigerate in an airtight container up to 5 days or freeze up to 30 days and thaw overnight. To reheat, add a splash of water or milk and reheat on a medium setting using the stove or microwave, stirring as needed.

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📖 Recipe