Lemon Zest and Blueberry Steel Cut Oats

These Instant Pot Blueberry Steel Cut Oats are a healthy breakfast recipe! Steel Cut Oats are a perfect meal prep breakfast for the 21 Day Fix, and this recipe can easily be made in your crock pot or on the stove, as well.

Slower digestion, extra nutrients, twice the fiber, and a hearty nutty flavor make steel cut oats a favorite breakfast of nutritionists. Finding an easy recipe that can be cooked in the Instant Pot, Slow Cooker, and on the stove is great to have on hand.

I like any recipe that I can make in multiple ways. It’s great to have the option to make these on the stove top or in the slow cooker if my Instant Pot is tied up doing something else! Sometimes mine is busy making things like lasagna, beef gyros, or even breakfast fried rice!

For those of you who are looking for a great breakfast option, these lemon zest and blueberry steel cut oats are perfect. Because they are so nutrient dense these blueberry lemon steel cut oats will keep you feeling full and satisfied well into the afternoon.

Lemon Zest and Blueberry Steel Cut Oats

There’s nothing worse than eating what you think is a healthy breakfast and then feeling hungry a few hours later. Try this delicious recipe for blueberry lemon zest steel cut oats for a great breakfast!

Ingredients for Blueberry Steel Cut Oats:

Serves: 6
Serving size: about 1/2 cups cooked oatmeal
21 Day Fix Container counts without topping: 1 yellow container, 1/4 teaspoon, 1 tsp of sweetener per serving | Don’t forget to count your blueberries and almonds separately!

• coconut oil
• steel cut oats
• unsweetened almond milk
• maple syrup
• salt (to taste)
• water

Note: Don’t have almond milk? Just add in more water instead or a different nondairy milk.

Toppings:

• blueberries
• sliced almonds
• unsweetened coconut
• lemon zest

How to make this Steel Cut Oats Recipe in the Instant Pot:

The photos for this process are of the Instant Pot. I prefer to make these blueberry steel cuts oats in the Instant Pot because they don’t require any attention that way. I can put a batch of Instant Pot steel cut oats together and walk away. That’s probably my favorite thing about the Instant Pot.

1) Grease the Instant Pot insert with the coconut oil. Make sure to grease the bottom and sides to prevent the oatmeal from sticking to the pan.

2) Add all of the ingredients in the insert and mix well.  Close the lid and turn the pressure release valve to sealing.

3) Using the manual function cook the oatmeal on high pressure for 12 minutes. Let the pressure release naturally.

4) Remove the lid and stir the oatmeal. Let the oatmeal cool for 5-10 minutes. The oatmeal will thicken as it cools.

Top with your favorite toppings and serve. I love adding a splash of almond milk, blueberries, almond, and coconut.

Can I make these blueberry steel cut oats in the slow cooker?

Here are the instructions for how to make these slow cooker steel cut oats. You will need the same ingredients as mentioned above. Break out your favorite slow cooker and whip up a batch of these tasty blueberry lemon zest slow cooker steel cut oats for breakfast tomorrow!

1) Grease the slow cooker insert with coconut oil, including the bottom and sides.
2) Combine all the remaining ingredients in the slow cooker.
3) Add the lid and cook for 2-3 hours on high or 5-6 hours on low.
4) Serve and top with your favorite toppings.

Are steel cut oats the same as rolled oats?

All oats come from the same form of grain but they are processed very differently. Making a bowl of steel cut oatmeal is much different from a batch of rolled oats.

Rolled Oats

Rolled oats are not the same as steel cut oats they are first steamed and then they are pressed flat…hence the rolled name. They cook much faster than steel cut oats and are great for baking. These are my preferred oats.

Instant Oatmeal

Instant oats are the fastest cooking but they are the most processed. They don’t have much texture once they are cooked which makes them okay for baking or cookies but they’re not so great nutritionally.

Steel Cut Oats

Steel cut oats hearty and great for texture and nutrition! They do take longer to cook though. This is where the Instant Pot comes in handy.

Is there a way to make this steel cut oats recipe on the stove top?

Stove top steel cut oats…you can’t beat that! If you don’t have access to a slow cooker or an Instant Pot you might want to consider making these stove top steel cut oats. Requires just the same ingredients as mentioned above!

1) In a large sauce pan bring the water, almond milk, and coconut oil to a boil on the stove. When the liquid is boiling add in the steel cut oats, maple syrup, and salt (to taste).
2) Reduce the heat to medium-low and allow the oatmeal to simmer for 25-30 minutes, stirring occasionally until the oats are no longer crunchy and thickens. I like to place a wooded or silicone mixing spoon over the top of the pan to prevent the oatmeal from boiling over.
3) Remove the oatmeal from heat and let cool for 5-10 minutes. Serve with your favorite toppings.

Weight Watchers Steel Cut Oats

The WW Points count for this recipe is 4 Blue Plan Points | 4 Green Plan Points | 1 Purple Plan Point

Printable Lemon Zest and Blueberry Steel Cut Oats Recipe: