How To Cook Steel Cut Oats On The Stovetop (2024)

Learn how to cook steel cut oats on the stovetop! This cozy, healthy steel cut oats recipe is anything but boring. Learn my secrets for perfect oats every time and check out the list of oatmeal topping ideas!

Winter is such a cozy time for food! During these months, I usually gravitate away from my colder breakfast standbys like overnight oats and acai bowls, and more toward warm breakfasts, like potato and veggie scrambles and steel cut oatmeal.

There are so many reasons to love steel cut oats, and I’m going to walk you through everything you need to know to get a perfect bowl every time.

I’ve mentioned this before, but steel cut oats aren’t nutritionally different from other forms of oats (like quick-cooking or rolled/old-fashioned). They’ve been prepared differently (cut by a large steel blade instead of being rolled or sliced), but they have the same basic nutrients (protein, fiber, etc.)as any other form of oats. What IS different is the glycemic index, or how quickly the carbohydrates enter your bloodstream. Think of steel cut oats as a slow-releasing form compared to quick or rolled oats. This means that while they take a bit longer to cook, they won’t cause any sharp blood sugar spikes and they’ll stay with you a little bit longer.

The extra cooking time is sometimes what keeps people from trying steel cut oatmeal, but for me, it’s worth every moment of that time. If you’re really strapped for time in the mornings, you can actually make them the night before and reheat them. Their cut will keep them from getting gluey or losing their texture, and you can finish cooking them in the time it takes to clean up dinner!

Here’s What You Need To Make Steel-Cut Oats On The Stovetop:

• A Saucepan. To make stove top steel cut oats, you’ll cook them in a small pot on the stove. I recommend something with a lid, which can help your water boil faster.
• Water. I usually cook my steel-cut oats in water. It’s easy and keeps them from burning.
• Steel-Cut Oats. Can’t make oats without oats! I use gluten-free steel cut oats.
• A Pinch Of Salt. One of my tricks is to add a small pinch of salt. It won’t make your oats taste salty at all (pinky promise!), it’ll just bring out the flavor of the oats and keep them from tasting flat or dull.
• A Drizzle Of Milk. After the oats are done simmering on the stove, I like to stir in a small splash of milk. It adds a creamy finish, which is so lovely. I use almond milk, but you can use whatever you drink!
• Vanilla (If You Want). I recommend a little vanilla. It adds a hint of sweetness without sugar, and really makes the oatmeal taste fantastic.

Yummy Toppings To Try On Stovetop Steel Cut Oats:

I’ve shared a ton of ideas for topping your oatmeal here and here, but here are a few of my favorite steel cut oat toppings and flavors to try…

FAQ + Tips And Tricks For The Best Stovetop Steel-Cut Oats:

How To Make Steel Cut Oats In Advance. A great thing about steel cut oats is that it’s almost impossible for them to end up gluey. They maintain their slightly chewy texture and can even be reheated, so you can make a big batch on Monday, keep leftovers in the refrigerator, and warm up a bowl in the microwave or on the stove each morning for the rest of the week.

Pack Oatmeal For On The Go! You can even pack them in single-serving jars or containers for a quick on-the-go breakfast to warm up at work or right before school.

Gluten-Free? Read This! Oats themselves are gluten-free, though farming and processing procedures often cause cross-contamination with gluten/wheat. If this is a concern for you, you can try certified gluten-free oats. We love these.

Prefer To Make Them In An Instant Pot? If you want a more hands-off approach, you can totally make steel cut oats in a pressure cooker or Instant Pot. Get our Instant Pot Steel Cut Oats recipe + favorite flavors here!

⭐ Don’t forget to leave a star review and comment below when you make our Stovetop Steel Cut Oats recipe. I can’t wait to hear how it goes!

Print

Originally shared Nov 2016. Fully updated Jan 2021.