Instant Pot Pumpkin Spice Oatmeal is a super easy Fall inspired breakfast made from scratch with rolled oats. Put your Instant Pot to work! This quick breakfast is easy to make and perfect for busy mornings!
My latest kick is rolled oats in the Instant Pot. Sometimes there are recipes I get hooked on and I make them over and over again for months, then all of a sudden I’m on to something else!
Well, it’s currently cozy rolled oats season in my Instant Pot. I was making this Instant Pot Maple Brown Sugar Oatmeal and realized I had some leftover pumpkin puree in the fridge. This warm Fall breakfast was born!
Why are you obsessed with rolled oats in your instant pot?
If you haven’t made rolled oats for breakfast in your Instant Pot yet, why, oh why not? As a lover of oatmeal, the only reason I didn’t do this sooner is because I didn’t think of it. But the rolled oats to liquid ratio is right there in the instruction manual!
Here’s why I love making rolled oats for breakfast in my Instant Pot:
- I loved oatmeal packets as a kid, and this takes me back! But, maybe slightly healthier?
- It’s incredibly easy to make – just dump the ingredients in, stir, and set the cook time
- It’s made with pantry staples, meaning you may have everything you need at home already!
- Using the Instant Pot means you can make this recipe anywhere, and you don’t have to babysit the stovetop
- Takes about 20 minutes total – a minute or two to dump everything in, then about 15 minutes to come to pressure, cook 2 minutes and a 5 minute natural pressure release
- This version is great for using up small amounts of leftover pumpkin puree!
What’s in this Instant Pot Pumpkin Spice Oatmeal?
- rolled oats – For this recipe, I used Bob’s Red Mill Rolled Oats. I have not tested this recipe with quick cooking oats but I do think it would take the same amount of cooking time. For steel cut oats, pressure cook for 6 minutes with a 10 minute Natural Pressure Release. For more steel cut oats recipes, try Apple Cinnamon Steel Cut Oats or Chocolate Banana Steel Cut Oats.
- unsweetened almond milk & water – I prefer to use a combination of water and unsweetened almond milk for my oatmeal. I like the slight creaminess the almond milk brings, but you can definitely just use water if you prefer.
- real maple syrup – This helps provide a lovely maple flavor and the sweetness we all love in our oatmeal.
- pumpkin puree – Add a maximum amount of 1/4 cup pumpkin puree to your IP when making these oats. If you have a tablespoon or two more or less, that’s okay too.
- pumpkin pie spice & cinnamon – Flava flav! You can change this up to, depending on your preferred spice level. I love pumpkin pie spice with a little extra cinnamon.
- salt – Necessary to balance out all that sugar!
What kind of oats should I use in this recipe?
This recipe was specifically tested with rolled oats only, because that’s what I had in my pantry.
However, the recipe is based on the Instant Pot manual cook times for quick cooking oats, so I think the cook time for quick cooking oats would be the same. If you give it a try, let me know!
- rolled oats (or old-fashioned oats): This is what I used while testing this recipe. The consistency reminds me of the oatmeal packets I ate growing up, and these take less time to cook than steel cut oats.
- quick cooking oats (or instant oats): These are just rolled oats but a little more cut up and processed so they cook a little quicker. I believe that they will take the same amount or one less minute of time to cook in the Instant Pot, but I haven’t tested it yet!
- steel cut oats: These oats are less processed than rolled oats or quick cooking oats, so they take more time to cook. If you’d like to make this recipe with steel cuts oats, try 6 minutes of high pressure cook time. I have not tested this.
If you want to know more details about the differences in these three kinds of oats, check out this very helpful article from The Kitchn on the differences in oats!
How can I make this recipe with steel cut oats?
If you’d like to make this recipe with steel cuts oats, try 6 minutes of high pressure cook time, followed by a 10 minute natural pressure release. I have not tested this cook time with this recipe specifically.
This is based on my experience with making other recipes with steel cut oats in my Instant Pot. For more steel cut oats recipes, try Apple Cinnamon Steel Cut Oats or Chocolate Banana Steel Cut Oats.
How do you make this Instant Pot Pumpkin Spice Oatmeal?
This recipe is very simple to make and can be cooked while you get ready for work in the morning! Thank you Instant Pot!
Add all the ingredients to your Instant Pot. Stir it to mix and put the lid on. The easiest kind of Instant Pot recipe!
Cook on High Pressure or Manual for 2 minutes, followed by a 5 minute natural pressure release. Quick release the vent after the 5 minutes and remove the lid when it’s safe.
It might look weird right when you take the lid off, but just give it some time! Stir the oatmeal to fully combine the oats and remaining liquid until it looks good.
Serve with some almond milk, maple syrup, chopped pecans or even some pumpkin seeds on top. Store in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
What Instant Pot do you use?
For all of my Instant Pot recipes, I previously used my Instant Pot Duo Plus 6 Qt (affiliate link!). I recently upgraded to a 6-quart Duo Evo Plus for the sous vide function.
I have not tested this recipe in a mini or 8-quart Instant Pot.
Can I meal prep this oatmeal?
Absolutely! Make a double or triple batch of the recipe and reheat on the stove or in the microwave as needed. It will last up to 5 days in a sealed container in the microwave.
I have not tested freezing this recipe.
More Instant Pot recipes from Project Meal Plan:
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Instant Pot Pumpkin Spice Oatmeal
Instant Pot Pumpkin Spice Oatmeal is a super easy Fall inspired breakfast made from scratch with rolled oats! This quick breakfast is easy to make and perfect for busy mornings!
- Total Time22 minutes
- Yield2 servings 1x
Ingredients
- 1 cup rolled oats (old-fashioned)
- 1 cup water
- 3/4 cup unsweetened almond milk
- 1/4 cup 100% pumpkin puree
- 3 tablespoons pure maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
- 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
- dash of salt (optional)
Instructions
- Prep: Add all the ingredients to the instant pot liner and give it a stir to mix. Put the lid on, make sure the vent is set to closed. NOTE: If your Instant Pot is extra sensitive, add the maple syrup after pressure cooking.
- Cook: Cook on High Pressure or Manual for 2 minutes, followed by a 5 minute natural pressure release. Quick release the vent after the 5 minutes and remove the lid when it’s safe. Stir the oatmeal to fully combine the oats and remaining liquid until it looks good.
- Serve & store: Serve with some almond milk, maple syrup, chopped pecans, or pumpkin seeds on top. Store in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Notes
BURN notice: If you have a sensitive Instant Pot, you may get the burn notice with this recipe. Here’s what to try if that happens: 1) Add the maple syrup after pressure cooking. With more sensitive models, the sugar can crystallize and cause the Burn notice. 2) Add additional 1/4 cup of liquid and let the oats soak for 10 minutes before pressure cooking. Thank you readers for helping me figure this out!
Easily double or triple this recipe to make more servings at a time. The cook time remains the same, however with more liquid, the Instant Pot will take a little more time to come to pressure. This recipe is based on the cook times provided in the Instant Pot Manual. Nutrition information estimated with My Fitness Pal.
Oats: This recipe has only been tested with rolled oats. I have NOT tested quick cooking oats but I believe they will take the same amount of time. For steel cut oats, pressure cook for 6 minutes with a 10 minute Natural Pressure Release.
I have only tested this recipe with a 6-quart Instant Pot, and the recipe may not work with other Instant Pot sizes. Please keep in mind that due to the nature of pressure cooking there may be inconsistencies from small variations in ingredients or altitude. Try it and see what works best for you!
- Prep Time: 2 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Breakfasts
- Method: Instant Pot
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/2 of recipe
- Calories: 257
- Fat: 4g
- Carbohydrates: 50g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 6g
Did You Make This?
I love seeing what you made! Leave a review below, and be sure to tag me at @ProjectMealPlan when you share a photo!
I am not sure why, but I kept getting a Burn notice on my IP. This happened with another pumpkin oatmeal recipe I have used in the past, that is why I looked for a new recipe to try. Any ideas how to avoid?
That’s so odd, I’m sorry to hear that Dawn. Have you tried regular oatmeal and does that work without a problem?
My only idea would be to add the pumpkin to the IP on top of the oatmeal/liquids and do not stir until after cooking. That way, the pumpkin will not touch the bottom of the IP, where the heating element is. Hope this helps! Good luck Dawn!
Thank you for the prompt reply! I have not made regular oatmeal in my IP, so I’m not sure what would happen.
I appreciate the suggestions you offer…will definitely try them. Despite the burn notice,
my family did enjoy this recipe…they did add mini chocolate chips in their bowls. Yum, thanks for sharing your recipe!
Yay! Glad everyone loved it anyway. Thank you for sharing your experience. I know that different models of the IP do vary slightly with cook times and sensitivity. Thank you for your understanding. Happy cooking! -Danielle
I also had the same issue with the burn warning, however, I just kept it on warm for a few minutes to cook off a little liquid and it was perfect. I added some brown sugar as well- probably the high sugar content added to the burn warning- but this recipe is fantastic. I tripled the recipe for a potluck brunch, I hope everyone enjoys it as much I do ☺️
Hi Audrey – Thank you so much for this feedback! I appreciate your tip about the sugar content being responsible for the burn notice. This is such a hard thing for me to test because my IP has never given me the burn notice. But I don’t want it happening to others either! I may do a little research and more testing to see if it would help to add the sugar after pressure cooking instead. Thank you so much!
I just tried the recipe but my instapot kept showing burn on mine. I followed times. When it was done I noticed it stuck to pot. Did yours do that??
Hi Egan – I’ve never had it stick to the pot or get the burn notice from oatmeal but I know you aren’t alone. The oatmeal cook times and ratios are from the Instant Pot manual, so I’m not sure how it happens, but another reader mentioned it could be from the sugar content. I’m actually doing some research this week about why and how to make this stop happening (it’s hard when my IP does not do this so I can’t replicate it, but I know it happens to others 😅). I’ll update the recipe when I know more! So sorry this happened to you. Thanks for your question. -Danielle
Here are two ideas that might help if you want to try this recipe again: 1) Add the sugar after pressure cooking. With more sensitive models, the sugar can crystallize and cause the Burn notice. 2) Add additional 1/4 cup of liquid and let the oats soak for 10 minutes before pressure cooking.
I’d love to hear if either of these work for you!
This oatmeal is so delicious! I used unsweetened soy milk. I left out the cinnamon and maple syrup when I added the ingredients to the IP and drizzled them on top of the finished oatmeal instead. I’ll definitely be making this easy breakfast again.
Hi Amy – This is wonderful feedback, thank you so much! I’m really happy this worked out for you. Good to know about how you added the cinnamon and syrup after pressure cooking. Sounds perfect 😍 -Danielle
I made the adjustments you mentioned to avoid the burning notice on my IP. Unfortunately, it still had the error and my oats are burned on the bottom of the pot 🙁
Hi Patti – I’m so sorry this happened to you 🙁 It’s so hard for me to understand why some people get burnt oats, when the Instant Pot manual says you can cook them and I use the same proportions and cook time. I’m wondering, have you tried any other oats recipes or kinds of oats that did work without burning? I would love to know more so I can try to figure this out! -Danielle
I plan to do a bit more experimenting with Low pressure and other possible settings. The difficult thing for me is I never get the burn notice with oatmeal so it’s hard to know if my changes are actually making a difference. Perhaps I need to try testing with another model of Instant Pot. Thank you again for your feedback Patti!