Instant Pot Broccoli
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This Instant Pot broccoli is an easy, healthy vegan side dish with a zero minute cook time. Steam broccoli in the Instant Pot pressure cooker for a quick vegetable at dinnertime.
Broccoli is a go-to side dish in my house. It’s one of my favorite veggies. While my kids don’t always appreciate it on their plates, they’re usually willing to eat it because they know it’s good for them.
It can be hard to time steamed broccoli just right when you cook it on the stove. If you leave it on for a minute or two longer than necessary, it becomes dark and mushy.
That’s why I like to make pressure cooker broccoli. When I steam broccoli in the Instant Pot, there’s no guesswork about timing. It comes out just how I want it every time.
This zero minute cook time method works perfectly for Instant Pot cauliflower and Instant Pot asparagus, too. It works with other vegetables like green beans as well.
Instant Pot Broccoli Step by Step Instructions
Step One: Prepare the Broccoli
Chop the broccoli into evenly-sized pieces. I prefer the florets to be one to two inches in size with a minimal amount of stem.
Step Two: Pressure Cook the Broccoli
Place ½ cup of water in the Instant Pot. Add the steamer basket and fill with broccoli florets. Cover with the lid and turn the valve to the sealing position. Set to Manual High Pressure for 0 minutes. The broccoli will be steamed during the time the pot comes to pressure.
When the pot beeps, turn the valve to the venting position for a quick release. Use a pot holder and protect your hand while turning the valve so you don’t get burned by the steam. Remove the broccoli from the pot immediately to keep it from over-cooking.
Instant Pot Steamed Broccoli Tips & Frequently Asked Questions
It takes a zero minute cook time to steam broccoli in a pressure cooker. The pot takes about 5 minutes to come to pressure, and that time is enough to get the perfect texture.
I like to use a half cup of water to steam a pound of broccoli. It comes out tender, but not mushy. If you’d like the broccoli to be softened even more so you can mash it, use one cup of water instead. The larger amount of water will cause the pot to take longer to come to pressure. This results in the broccoli being steamed for a bit longer.
In addition to the Instant Pot, you can use a regular steamer basket like you’d use in a pot on the stove to cook the broccoli.
When I’m in a hurry, I serve this pressure cooker broccoli sprinkled with salt and pepper. If I have a little extra time, I return the steamed broccoli to the empty Instant Pot and set it to Saute. I top it with a little sesame oil and tamari sauce, and saute it for a minute. You could top it with parmesan cheese as well if you’re not avoiding dairy, or try a bit of nutritional yeast on top.
Here are some other topping ideas for steamed broccoli.
Instant Pot Broccoli
Recommended Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 lb broccoli crown cut into florets
- Salt & pepper to taste
Instructions
- Place ½ cup of water in the Instant Pot. Add the steamer basket and fill with broccoli florets. Cover with the lid and turn the valve to the sealing position. Set to Manual High Pressure for 0 minutes. The broccoli will be steamed during the time the pot comes to pressure.
- When the pot beeps, turn the valve to the venting position for a quick steam release. Use a pot holder and protect your hand while turning the valve so you don’t get burned by the steam. Remove the broccoli from the pot immediately to keep it from over-cooking.
- For a simple steamed broccoli side dish, sprinkle with salt and pepper and serve warm at this point.
- As an alternative, remove the broccoli and steamer basket from the pot, and discard the water. Return the inner pot to the Instant Pot and set the pot to Saute. Place the steamed broccoli in the pot, and add 2 tsp tamari sauce and 1 tsp sesame oil or another seasoning of choice. Stir the broccoli in the heated pot on Saute for a minute or two to let the broccoli absorb the flavors of the sauce. Serve warm.
Approximate Nutrition Info
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Instant Pot Broccoli Recipe Price Breakdown
This recipe costs $2.02 to make (with broccoli costing $2 per pound), or $.25 per serving. This Instant Pot broccoli is such a quick, easy side dish, and it has the perfect texture every time!
Note: This recipe was originally published in 2019, and it was updated in 2022.
