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Instant Pot Broccoli cooks to tender perfection in just a matter of minutes. It’s the perfect hands-off cooking method!
The electric pressure cooker makes cooking broccoli a breeze. It’s similar to steaming broccoli on the stovetop, but you won’t have to watch for the water to boil or worry about over-cooking it.
Just press a button and walk away until the machine beeps! You can use this cooking method for any other vegetables you love, and it’s a great way to cook without olive oil or butter.
Serve this healthy side dish on its own, or drizzle it with romesco or cilantro sauce for extra flavor. It’s naturally gluten-free and perfect for meal prep if you’re trying to add more veggies to your week.
For more easy Instant Pot recipes, be sure to check out my cookbook, The Fresh & Healthy Instant Pot Cookbook (affiliate link).
How to Steam Broccoli in the Instant Pot
Start by cutting the broccoli into florets. The smaller you cut the pieces, the faster they will cook.
The amount of broccoli you cook in your Instant Pot will also affect how tender it becomes. When you add a large amount of broccoli to the pot (more than a pound), it will take longer for the pot to pressurize. In this case, the broccoli will be heated for a longer amount of time and will be more tender.
If you only add 1 or 2 cups of broccoli to the Instant Pot, the pot will pressurize faster, and as a result, the broccoli may be less soft, with a little more bite to it.
Pour a 1/2 cup of water into the bottom of your 6-quart Instant Pot and arrange a steamer basket over that. Add the broccoli florets to the steamer basket, then secure the lid on the pot.
Move the steam release valve to “Sealing” and use the Manual or Pressure Cook button to cook at high pressure for zero minutes. (Yes, a zero minute cook time is a real setting!)
The pot will take roughly 8 to 10 minutes to pressurize, which is when the majority of the steaming process will take place. The more broccoli you’ve added to the pot, the longer the pressurization will take.
When the Instant Pot beeps letting you know the cooking cycle is complete, move the steam release valve to “Venting.” This is called a quick release.
When the floating valve in the lid drops, you’ll know the pot is no longer pressurized and it’s safe to open the lid.
The steamed broccoli should have a bright green color and perfect texture. It should be easily pierced with a fork, but not mushy. If you don’t perform the quick pressure release or remove the lid right away, it will continue to soften, so keep that in mind.
Serve Instant Pot steamed broccoli warm right away, with any toppings you love. Add salt and pepper to taste, or sprinkle it with Parmesan cheese for an easy side dish.
Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, but I’d start with 3/4 cup water in that case and expect the pressurization time to take a little longer. As a result, the broccoli might be a little softer compared to using a 6-quart machine.
Yes, but the smaller machine won’t take as long to pressurize and de-pressurize. As a result, the broccoli may have more bite to it than if you were to cook it in a 6-quart pot, so you may want to cook it for 1 or 2 minutes, instead of zero minutes, in this size machine.
Yes! Always start with cold water when using your Instant Pot. Most recipes call for cold water (or tap water) so if you start with hot water, that change may affect the overall cooking time.
Yes, a bag of broccoli from the freezer can be cooked in the Instant Pot using the same method. Keep in mind that frozen broccoli turns out much softer than fresh broccoli, so don’t use frozen unless you don’t mind slightly mushy results. If you have an air fryer, Air Fryer Broccoli turns out much better using frozen veggies.
If you don’t use a basket to lift the broccoli out of the water, it may turn out softer, like boiled broccoli.
Looking for more broccoli recipes? Try Broccoli Cheddar Soup, Broccoli Pesto, Crustless Quiche, or Broccoli Salad for more delicious ideas.
Ingredients
- ½ cup water
- 1 pound broccoli florets
Instructions
- Pour the water into the bottom of the 6-quart Instant Pot (affiliate link) and arrange a steamer basket inside. There's no need to buy something special; I use the same steamer basket I use for stove-top cooking.
- Place the broccoli on top of the steamer basket, then secure the lid. Move the steam release valve to "Sealing" and use the Pressure Cook or Manual button to cook at high pressure for zero minutes. (Yes, zero is a real setting on the Instant Pot!) It will take roughly 8 to 10 minutes for the pot to come to pressure if you're using a 6-quart Instant Pot, so the machine will read "On" until then.
- As soon as the cooking cycle is complete, the screen will read L0:00. Immediately move the steam release valve to "Sealing" for a quick pressure release. It will take 1-2 minutes for the steam to release. When the floating valve in the lid drops, that means the pressure is gone and it's safe to open the lid.
- The broccoli should be perfectly fork-tender, without being mushy. Serve it warm right away as a healthy side dish, or store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days, so you can add it to meals throughout the week.
Notes
Nutrition
If you try this Instant Pot broccoli recipe, please leave a comment below and let me know how you like it!
Hey Meagan! I was just wondering if I should use 12 oz of broccoli that you stated in the actual blog post or should I use 8oz from the actual recipe? As always thanks for having such a great resource
So Easy and perfect every time! If you prefer the broccoli to have a little more bite, set the pressure to low rather than high!
Megan always has the best recipes and this one doesn’t disappoint! She is a pro at Instant Pot recipes and really the only ones I trust. This broccoli comes out delicious and perfect texture every time!
this tonight with my hubby! We LOVED it! Thanks for the receipe
This is the perfect way to cook Broccoli 🙂 Thank you for this! I always get distracted and overcook it when using the stove. This is so quick and easy. I can set it and get other things ready and not worry it will be mush!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Patty. I always forget it on the stove, too, so I appreciate that the Instant Pot beeps so loudly for this one!