Easy Irish Oatmeal (Steel Cut Oatmeal)

A bowl of Irish oatmeal with blueberries.

Get perfectly cooked steel-cut oats (a.k.a. Irish oatmeal) with the perfect texture and consistency with my super-simple method. It’s a stovetop oatmeal that doesn’t require the 20 to 30 minutes of stirring and simmering that usually’s mandatory, and you can make it for easy breakfast meal prep all week long.

steel cut oats

What are steel cut oats or Irish oatmeal?

Steel cut oats come from whole oat groat kernels, which have only been cleaned/processed just enough to remove the inedible hulls.

Steel-cut oatmeal (also known as Irish Oatmeal) are oat groats cut into 2 or 3 pieces using a steel blade; they are very minimally processed and still contain all the nutritional benefits of the whole oat groats. 

Nutritional benefits of steel cut/Irish oatmeal

Nutritionally speaking, oatmeal is a powerhouse and has earned the FDA’s approval for reducing the risk of coronary artery disease.

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That’s due to its content of beta-glucan soluble fiber, which is present in all types of oats, from quick cooking to oat groats.

However, the less-processed varieties, like Irish oatmeal, are slower digesting and consequently have a lower glycemic index than their rolled or quick-cooking counterparts.

Are steel cut oats gluten free?

Pure oats ARE gluten-free. However, they are often processed in facilities that are not.

To be sure, check the label. The Bob’s Red Mill Steel Cut Oatmeal I use indicates explicitly that it is gluten-free.

cooking overnight steel cut oatmeal on the stovetop

Can you make overnight oats with steel cut oats?

The short answer is YES.  How you get, there is a different matter.

In my experience, steel-cut or Irish oatmeal takes its sweet time to absorb liquid, usually requiring stirring and attendance.  

I’ve made them overnight in the crock pot, but they lacked that toothsome texture and reminded me more of a paste than porridge – blech.  

This method is quick and easy to make, doesn’t require a lot of hand-holding and yields a unique texture that practically pops like caviar in your mouth. You’ll see.

To make stovetop oatmeal:

  1. Bring the water to a boil in a heavy pot.
  2. Add salt.
  3. Stir in the oatmeal.
  4. Reduce the heat to a simmer and cook for one minute, stirring occasionally.
  5. Turn off the heat and place a tight-fitting lid on the pot. Let sit for 1 to 1 1/2 hours (depending on how big the cut groats are — larger ones take a bit more time). Just so you know, this can be left to rest overnight for true “overnight oats,” but it’s not necessary.
cooked irish oatmeal in only an hour, unlike overnight steel cut oats.

Why this method works

Heating the water to boiling quickly starts the cooking process for the oats. As the liquid gradually cools, it’s absorbed into the Irish oatmeal slowly, plumping the steel-cut kernels to capacity but not over-cooking.

This simple method yields the best oatmeal, period. 

Toothsome, not gluey, and has a perfect consistency.  

Other methods will have you adding cold milk or water to the oats in a jar with your favorite mix-ins and refrigerating overnight.

Eating COLD oatmeal is gross. Therefore, I recommend you reheat it in the microwave for 1-2 minutes for a hot, hearty bowl anytime.

meal prep for easy stovetop irish oatmeal.

How to meal prep stovetop oatmeal

Because you don’t want to wait an hour for breakfast every morning, you can make these easy steel cut/Irish oats in a batch that will keep you in perfectly prepped breakfasts all week.

Just one cup of steel-cut oats and 4 cups of water will give you a quart of ready-made oatmeal.

I store it in a quart-sized canning jar in the refrigerator, but you can also divvy it into five individual storage/serving bowls for reheating all week.

You can add oatmeal flavors like brown sugar, maple syrup, cinnamon and dried fruits directly to those separate containers for quick reheating.

If you want some variety, try these fresh and seasonal options by heating the steel-cut oatmeal in the microwave for 1-2 minutes and topping it with these fun combinations.

Vanilla pear almond steel cut oats

A little vanilla goes a long way in this easy breakfast, and it’s best when you have perfectly ripe pears. Adjust the sweetness with the honey according to your tastes. 

vanilla pear almond irish oatmeal.
 

Apple pecan spice Irish oatmeal

It’s more than just a slice of apple on top. This oatmeal has a swirl of applesauce mixed right into the overnight oats. Those crunchy toasted pecans add a great texture.

apple pecan spice steel cut oats.
 

Orange cranberry steel cut oats

Add orange juice and orange blossom honey to the Irish oatmeal. Top with fresh orange slices and sweet, chewy, dried cranberries.

orange cranberry topped oatmeal.
 

Maple banana bread overnight oats

Mashed banana and maple syrup with crunchy toasted pecans remind me of my favorite banana bread. A dash of cinnamon would be nice here too.

Banana maple pecan in a small bowl.
 

Peanut butter and jelly steel cut oats

If you like peanut butter and jelly, this one is a treat! With just enough stick to the roof of your mouth goodness and crunchy dry roasted peanuts for garnish, it’ll bring out the kid in you.

Peanut Butter and Jelly topped.

Lemon blueberry almond Irish oatmeal

Instead of those little dried blueberry-esque pebbles in traditional cereal, why not go with the real thing? A bit of lemon zest brightens this overnight oats breakfast, and toasted almonds add crunch.

Lemon Blueberry Almond with a side of milk and sugar.

Also Try These Easy Make Ahead Breakfasts:


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Banana Pecan Maple Irish Oatmeal
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4.60 from 10 votes

Easy Irish Oatmeal (Steel Cut Oatmeal)

Make a weeks worth of healthy, filling breakfasts in 5 minutes on a Sunday night.
Author: Lisa Lotts
Course Breakfast
Cuisine American
Keyword oatmeal
Dietary Restrictions Egg Free, Vegetarian
Prep Time 1 minute
Cook Time 2 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 3 minutes
Servings 5

INGREDIENTS:

  • 1 cup Steel Cut Oatmeal/Irish Oatmeal
  • 4 cups water
  • ½ teaspoon salt

For Vanilla Pear Almond

  • ¾ cup prepared Irish oatmeal warmed through
  • ½ diced fresh pear
  • dash vanilla
  • dash of cinnamon
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 1 tablespoon of toasted almonds

For Apple Pecan Spice

  • ¾ cup prepared Irish oatmeal warmed through
  • 2 tablespoons applesauce mixed into the oatmeal
  • 3-4 thin slices of apple
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar
  • dash of apple pie spice or cinnamon
  • 1 tablespoon chopped toasted walnuts

For Orange Cranberry

  • ¾ cup prepared Steel cut oatmeal warmed through
  • 1 tablespoon orange juice stirred into the oatmeal
  • 1/2 orange supremed, cut into segments
  • 1 tablespoon dried cranberries
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • orange zest for garnish

For Banana Maple Pecan

  • ¾ cup prepared Irish oatmeal warmed through
  • ¼ cup mashed banana swirled into the oatmeal
  • 5-6 banana slices to top the oatmeal
  • dash of cinnamon
  • dash of nutmeg
  • toasted pecans
  • 1 tablespoon maple syrup

For Peanut Butter and Jelly

  • ¾ cup steel cut oatmeal warmed through
  • 1-2 tablespoons peanut butter swirled into the oatmeal
  • 1-2 teaspoons jelly swirled into the oatmeal
  • 1 tablespoon toasted peanuts

For Lemon Blueberry Almond

  • ¾ cup Irish oatmeal warmed through
  • 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
  • blueberries
  • lemon zest
  • toasted sliced almonds

DIRECTIONS:

  • Bring the water to a boil in a large, heavy saucepan with a tight-fitting lid. Add the salt and stir in the oatmeal.
  • Reduce heat to medium and cook for one minute, stirring occasionally. Turn the heat off the pot and place the lid tightly on the pot.
  • Let the oatmeal rest for an hour. Check for doneness; if it needs more time, let it rest an additional half hour.
  • Transfer the oatmeal to a storage container and refrigerate.
  • When you’re ready for a bowl of oatmeal, spoon it into a microwave-safe bowl and nuke for 1-1 ½ minutes until hot. Dress your oats with any of the combinations mentioned above or as you like!

NOTES:

Nutrition is given only for prepared oatmeal, not individual topping ideas.

NUTRITION:

Calories: 178kcal | Carbohydrates: 32g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 3g | Sodium: 3mg | Potassium: 162mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 780IU | Vitamin C: 11.1mg | Calcium: 41mg | Iron: 1.8mg

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33 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    Great tips on how to use steel cut oats to create an overnight oats that can be reheated! The orange cranberry is my favorite!