Peanut Butter Banana Steel Cut Oats

Name: Peanut Butter Banana Steel Cut Oats
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 2 Tablespoons unsalted butter; 1 1/2 cups steel cut oats; 3 cups water; 2 cups milk; 1 medium banana (- mashed); 1/4 cup brown sugar; 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter; extra brown sugar, peanut butter, banana slices, and a splash of milk (- to serve)

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Peanut Butter Banana Steel Cut Oats uses a pressure cooker to combine steel-cut oats with banana, peanut butter, brown sugar, and a combination of milk and water. Top these with an extra drizzle of milk and some sliced banana for a filling, protein-packed breakfast that the whole family will love!

Try our Apple Steel Cut Oats next!

Overhead view of a bowl of peanut butter banana oatmeal.

Steel Cut Oats

My hubby eats steel-cut oatmeal or overnight oatmeal every single morning (he’s obsessed!), which is why I make a big batch of this easy breakfast and divide it into individual servings for 3-4 days. Use a simple meal prep container or mason jars to store the oats.

While we love the nutty flavor of steel cut oats, the health benefits are a factor too. Steel-cut oats are minimally processed and contain more fiber and density than their counterparts.

Why This Recipe Works:

QUICK – You can have breakfast on the table in just one-half hour. The best part is that it’s mostly hands-off.
HEARTY and FILLING – The chewier texture of steel-cut oats adds heartiness to this filling breakfast.
A HEALTHY BREAKFAST – There is a ton of nutrition in oatmeal, and this recipe contains 21 grams of protein in each serving along with plenty of fiber and vitamins.
DELICIOUS FLAVOR – Peanut butter and banana are truly a delicious combination. Plus we love the sweetness of the brown sugar along with the nutty flavor of the steel cut oats.
PORTABLE – This instant pot steel cut oats recipe is easy to prep ahead and take it with you. You’ll just need a quick zap in the microwave the next morning.

Side view of a bowl of banana steel cut oats with peanut butter.

What You’ll Need:

Steel Cut Oatmeal – Make sure you don’t buy quick oats.
Unsalted Butter – You’ll need a couple of tablespoons to sauté the oats.
Milk + Water – Use the combo you prefer. I often use 2% but you could use your favorite type of milk, including whole milk, unsweetened almond milk, or others. Play with the amounts of liquid to get your desired consistency.
Peanut Butter – I used creamy peanut butter but a crunchy version works too. You could also use almond butter or cashew butter.
Banana – One over-ripe banana is added to the base of this recipe for some natural sweetness. Serve it with extra slices.
Brown Sugar – For some sweetness. If preferred, use some pure maple syrup instead.
Kosher Salt – Add a pinch of kosher salt.

The ingredients for the steel cut oats, labeled.

How to make Peanut Butter Banana Steel Cut Oats:

Step 1
Sauté the oats. Heat up your instant pot under the sauté function. Add butter and when melted, add the oats. Stir for a couple of minutes to get it nice and toasty.

Step 2
Mash the banana. Use a fork to mash the over-ripe banana.

An instant pot of sautéed steel cut oats.

Step 3
Add ingredients. Add the water, milk, mashed banana, and salt – and stir well.

Step 4
Seal the instant pot to pressure cook. Turn the setting to high pressure and cook for four minutes, making sure the vent is closed. The instant pot will take about 8-10 minutes to heat up. It will beep when it’s ready. Then it will start the pressure cooking.

Step 5
Do natural release. After the four minutes of pressure cooking, let the instant pot do a natural pressure release for about ten minutes. If needed, release the remaining pressure.

Step 6
Add brown sugar and peanut butter. Then add the brown sugar and peanut butter to the instant pot and stir until well combined.

The instant pot steel cut oats with the peanut butter and brown sugar on top.

Step 7
Serve – Serve this delicious breakfast with a splash of milk and some banana slices.

Optional Steel Cut Oat Toppings:

Chocolate Chips
Fresh Fruit
Granola – Try our Peanut Butter Chocolate Granola or Healthy Chocolate Granola! These both store well in the freezer!
An extra dollop of peanut butter

The instant pot steel cut oats with peanut butter swirled in.

An instant pot bowl with the steel cut oats.

Recipe FAQs

Should I soak my steel cut oats?

I don’t soak my steel-cut oats before cooking with them. However, soaking them speeds up the stovetop cooking time if you are using that method.

What is the difference between steel cut oats and quick-cook oats?

The main difference between steel cut and quick-cook oats is texture, as steel cut oats absorb more liquid than their pre-processed counterparts while also maintaining their shape. Quick-cook oats usually bind together during the cooking process, resulting in a lightly creamier consistency.

Closeup on a bowl of steel cut oats with banana slices.

Kitchen Tools Used: (affiliate links)

xoxo ~Sue