Instant Pot Broccoli

Learn how to cook perfect broccoli every time with your pressure cooker! This Instant Pot Broccoli is a quick and tasty side dish to round out your dinner.

Instant Pot Broccoli

In my quest to cook just about everything in my Instant Pot after I purchased it a few years, I’ve experimented with just about every veggie out there, including cauliflower, beets, carrots, cabbage, and more.

While broccoli is easy to cook on the stovetop, there are times when it’s just more convenient to use the Instant Pot. It’s easy, quick, hands-off, and always turns out the same.

To cook perfectly steamed broccoli in your pressure cooker, all you need is:

• Head of fresh broccoli
• A cup of water
• An Instant Pot (I use both the Instant Pot Duo Mini 3-Quart and Instant Pot DUO 6-Quart with great results)
• A steamer basket
• A few optional ingredients to add flavor, such as minced garlic, red pepper flakes, lemon juice, fresh herbs, extra-virgin olive oil, sea salt, black pepper

How to Make Instant Pot Broccoli

1. Prepare the Broccoli: Cut the broccoli into large florets, keeping them about the same size so they cook evenly.
2. Add Ingredients to Instant Pot: Pour 1 cup of water into the stainless steel insert of the Instant Pot before placing the steamer basket inside. Then, carefully arrange the broccoli florets onto the steamer basket.
3. Pressure Cook: Cook on High Pressure for 0 minutes.
4. Quick Release Steam: Once the pressure cooker reaches pressure, immediately quick release the pressure and remove the lid. Pro-Tip: It’s extremely important to release pressure immediately (as soon as your Instant Pot beeps after coming to pressure), otherwise you’ll end up with mushy broccoli.
5. Remove Cooked Broccoli: Once the broccoli has cooled down and the steamer basket is safe to handle, remove it from the Instant Pot.
6. Season with Herbs (Optional): In a separate bowl, drizzle cooked broccoli florets with extra-virgin olive oil, salt, pepper, and fresh herbs.

Store for later: Cooked broccoli will store well in the fridge for 3-4 days in a sealed container.

How to Serve Instant Pot Broccoli

Prepared broccoli can be used in many ways and make a tasty addition to salads, main dishes, and side dishes. Here are some ways to enjoy them:

• A delicious side dish dressed with oil (or butter), salt, and pepper. Or infused with more flavors, such as garlic, fresh herbs, and lemon juice.
• Drizzle with a lemon vinaigrette, lemon tahini sauce or balsamic vinaigrette.
• Add broccoli into a salad with leafy greens, fresh vegetables, nuts, and fresh herbs.
• Serve with rice (jasmine rice, black rice, or brown rice) or another grain (quinoa or wheat berries)

Commonly Asked Questions

What size Instant Pot did you use? I’ve tested this recipe on both my Instant Pot Duo Mini 3-Quart and Instant Pot DUO 6-Quart with great results. However, you may need to tweak how long you cook your broccoli based on preference, the size, model, and brand of your pressure cooker.

More Instant Pot Side Dish Recipes

• Instant Pot Jasmine Rice
• Instant Pot Hard-Boiled Eggs
• How to Cook Perfect Quinoa in the Instant Pot
• Instant Pot Chickpeas

Interested in cooking other vegetables in your Instant Pot? Check out beets, carrots, cabbage, cauliflower, and asparagus.

Did you make this Instant Pot Broccoli recipe? Leave a comment below and rate the recipe to let us know how it turned out! Save this easy broccoli recipe for later by pinning to your favorite Instant Pot Pinterest board and be sure to tag me on Real + Vibrant’s Instagram to show me your broccoli!

Instant Pot Broccoli

★★★★★ 5 from 6 reviews

• Author: Sapana Chandra
• Prep Time: 5 minutes
• Cook Time: 10 minute
• Total Time: 15 minutes
• Yield: 2–4 servings 1x
• Category: Side Dish
• Method: Pressure Cooker
• Cuisine: American

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Description

Learn how to cook perfect broccoli every time with your pressure cooker! This Instant Pot Broccoli is a quick and tasty side dish to round out your dinner.

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Scale 1x2x3x

Ingredients

• 1 medium head broccoli (about 2–3 cups of broccoli florets)
• 1 cup water

Optional Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
• Salt and pepper, to taste

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Instructions

1. Cut the broccoli into large florets, keeping them about the same size so they cook evenly. 
2. Pour 1 cup of water into the stainless steel insert of the Instant Pot before placing the steamer basket inside. Then, carefully arrange the broccoli florets onto the steamer basket.
3. Cook on High Pressure for 0 minutes.
4. Once the pressure cooker reaches pressure, immediately quick release the pressure and remove the lid.*
5. Once the broccoli has cooled down and the steamer basket is safe to handle, remove it from the Instant Pot.
6. In a separate bowl, drizzle cooked broccoli florets with extra-virgin olive oil, salt, pepper, and fresh herbs.

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Notes

*It’s extremely important to release pressure immediately (as soon as your Instant Pot beeps after coming to pressure), otherwise you’ll end up with mushy broccoli.

I use this steamer basket as it’s adaptable to a variety of different sized pots. I especially love how easy it is to grab the handle. 

I’ve tested this recipe on both my Instant Pot Duo Mini 3-Quart and Instant Pot DUO 6-Quart with great results. However, you may need to tweak how long you cook the broccoli based on preference, the size, model, and brand of your pressure cooker.

Keywords: instant pot broccoli