Vanilla Protein Steel Cut Oats

I am so excited to share today's vanilla steel cut oats recipe with you guys! This recipe is a little different than most of the oatmeal recipes on my blog, because it uses steel cut oats. It's no secret I love my oats (I have so many oatmeal recipes, I can't help it they're so good!).

However this Vanilla Steel Cut Oatmeal recipe is sure to be a new favorite. It's easy to make, nutritious, and free of unhealthy ingredients. This recipe is:

• VEGAN
• OIL-FREE
• REFINED SUGAR-FREE
• WHOLE FOODS PLANT BASED
• HIGH PROTEIN
• HIGH FIBER
• GLUTEN-FREE

The Best Plant Based Protein For These Vanilla Steel Cut Oats:

If there is one thing I love with my morning oatmeal, it's PlantFusion. I talk about PlantFusion all the time here. I just can't help it, I'm obsessed!

One reason I love PlantFusion is because I trust what goes into their products. I find that a lot of companies (even ones claiming to be health foods companies) are very shady about the ingredients that go into their products. However PlantFusion is different.

PlantFusion creates high quality protein powders and supplements made with transparency. I love this about them, because I know that whatever I order is made with my best interest. This leads me to my next point.

Most plant based protein powders are built using a one size fits all method. PlantFusion is different. They have a variety of products and supplements that are designed to target specific needs. I have fallen in love with each of these products, and honestly only have goods things to say about all of them.

I went with their classic Vanilla Complete Protein for these vanilla protein steel cut oats and it was delicious! As always my code "NATURALVEGAN" will get you 25% off your entire order at PlantFusion!

What Are Steel Cut Oats?

For the longest time I had no idea what the difference was between all the different types of oatmeal. There is: steel cut, quick, rolled, and groats. That is a lot of oats!

Steel cut oats are essentially just less processed oats. Unlike quick or rolled oats, steel cut oats are just chopped up groats. If you are not familiar with groats, they are the whole food form of oatmeal. They're not super popular, because they take awhile to cook.

Just like groats, steel cut oats take longer to cook. You cannot microwave cook steel oats (you need to ditch that microwave anyways!). Therefore you have to cook them on the stove. This may be a turn off if you are like me and you prefer quick breakfast recipes. However you can make these vanilla steel cut oats in an Instant Pot, or any pressure cooker (such as a Ninja Foodi).

How Ninja Foodi Oatmeal (Pressure Cooker Oatmeal):

One of the quickest ways to make these vanilla steel cut oatmeal is in the pressure cooker. I have the Ninja Foodi and I could not recommend it more for making oats.

To make this Ninja Foodi oatmeal, simply combine all ingredients together in the bowl. Seal the lid on the pressure cooker and set to cook on high for 6 minutes. Once the 6 minutes are up, let rest for 10 minutes. Release the steam and enjoy your vanilla steel cut oats!

Ingredients For These Vanilla Steel Cut Oats:

• Steel Cut Oats - You can also make this recipe with groats, or rolled oats for a quicker version!
• PlantFusion Vanilla Complete Protein - "NATURALVEGAN" for 25% off your purchase!
• Vanilla Extract - The vanilla flavor is strong enough with the PlantFusion protein, but if you're a vanilla lover like me the extract really elevates the flavor.
• Coconut Milk - Can substitute any plant based milk, but I find that coconut milk pairs best with this mixture.
• Vegan Yogurt - I like Kite Hill, Harmless Harvest, and Cocojune!
• Red Currants - Can substitute any berry!
• Macadamia nuts - Can substitute any nut!

How To Make This Vanilla Steel Cut Oatmeal:

There are two methods to making this recipe: with a pressure cooker, or stovetop. If using a pressure cooker, see the above section. If making these vanilla steel cut oats on the stovetop, follow the following directions:

Bring 2 cups of water to a boil in a small saucepan. Add the steel cut oats and vanilla extract and cook for 10 minutes on medium heat. Once the oats have thickened a bit, add the remaining ingredients and cook for an additional 10-15 minutes. Top and serve!

Frequently Asked Questions:

Is Steel-Cut Oatmeal Better For You Than Rolled Oats?

If blood sugar control is your top priority, steel cut oats may be for you. Steel cut oats are slightly higher in fiber than rolled oats and quick oats. They also have the lowest glycemic index. Therefore they are a perfect blood sugar controlling food.

However these differences are minimal. Regardless of what type of oatmeal you choose, they are all very healthy. Therefore I suggest that you choose whichever option you'll enjoy the most!

How Can I Add Flavor To Oatmeal Without Sugar?

There are plenty of ways to naturally sweetened your oatmeal without adding sugar. One of my favorite ways is adding plant based protein like I did in this Vanilla Steel Cut Oats. It's important that you use a protein powder that is made with clean ingredients, and doesn't have sugar added.

My favorite way to sweetened oats and add flavor is with fruit! Fruit is natures ultimate treat. I love adding berries and bananas to my oats for flavor and natural sweetness. These vanilla steel cut oats pair perfectly with so many fruits.

How Do I Add Protein To My Oatmeal?

I love adding protein powder to my morning oatmeal. It adds flavor and nutrition. However if you're looking to increase the protein content of these vanilla steel cut oats even further there are some ingredients I'd recommend including.

I almost always add flaxseeds and chia seeds to my oats. They are full of protein and fiber. Personally I do not love the flavor of cooked chia seeds. However you can sprinkle them on top of these vanilla steel cut oats.

Depending on the plant based yogurt you choose, you can increase the protein content of this recipe even more. There are plenty of great brands out there, so I recommend trying them all!

Related Recipes:

• Cinnamon Raisin Baked Oats
• Key Lime Pie Overnight Oats
• Banana Cream Pie Overnight Oats
• Chocolate Caramel Baked Oats