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    Home » Recipes » Instant Pot Recipes » Perfectly Steamed Instant Pot Broccoli

    Perfectly Steamed Instant Pot Broccoli

    Published: May 5, 2022 by lynnswayoflife · This post may contain affiliate links

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    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Ready in under 15 minutes, this is a foolproof method to make perfectly steamed Instant Pot Broccoli. Serve this broccoli as an easy side dish at your next weeknight meal.

    An overhead shot of the instant pot steamed broccoli on a plate with a lemon slice on the plate

    Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases, however this is at no cost to you. Read my affiliate links disclosure policy here.

    Steamed broccoli is a staple in most kitchens. Broccoli is one of those vegetables that goes from a perfectly crisp floret to mushy broccoli mess in a matter of seconds.

    You don't have to worry about that when you use the Instant Pot, though! It's perfectly cooked every single time! This is an easy way to make a healthy side dish. Let the instant pot do the hard work for you while you focus on the protein or the main dish for dinner.

    • Instant Pot Broccoli Cheese Soup Recipe
    • Roasted Broccoli Cauliflower Creamy Soup
    • One Pot Chicken Broccoli Pasta
    • Broccoli Cheddar Quiche
    Jump to:
    • Why This Recipe is Great!
    • Ingredients for Instant Pot Broccoli
    • Equipment for Instant Pot Broccoli
    • Step By Step Instructions
    • Tips and Tricks
    • How To Serve Instant Pot Broccoli
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Other Recipes To Try!
    • 📖 Recipe

    Why This Recipe is Great!

    • No fat is added! Therefore, this recipe is very low calorie and great as part of a keto or low carb diet.
    • Steaming keeps in a lot of the nutrients. When you boil broccoli, you are often boiling away the nutrients. Steaming gives you the best chance to enjoy all the health benefits of broccoli. It also keeps the broccoli that bright green color we all love!
    • It's versatile! This is just the base recipe for steamed broccoli. You can jazz it up anyway you would like after it's cooked!

    Ingredients for Instant Pot Broccoli

    A head of broccoli

    All you need for this recipe is broccoli and water. No special ingredients needed!

    Equipment for Instant Pot Broccoli

    • Instant Pot
    • Steam basket or trivet insert or silicone steamer basket.

    Step By Step Instructions

    Wash the broccoli head and cut it into similar sized broccoli florets.

    Place one cup of water at the bottom of the pot and add the trivet insert or steamer basket to the Instant Pot.

    Place the broccoli in the insert. Close the lid and set the Instant pot to high pressure and the cooking time to 0 minutes. That's right, zero minute cook time!

    The water is added to the instant pot
    Add the water to the Instant Pot
    The broccoli is added to the instant pot
    Place the broccoli florets into the Instant Pot

    The pressure and heat from the Instant Pot coming up to pressure is enough to cook the broccoli to perfection. You might think your Instant Pot doesn't get to zero minutes, but it does! Just remove all the cooking time and let it hit 0.

    Once it comes up to pressure and beeps, quick release the pressure to release the built-up pressure. Once the pressure has been released, remove the lid and serve!

    An instant pot is in the back of a plate of broccoli

    Tips and Tricks

    • It usually takes 5-10 minutes (depending on the size of your Instant Pot) for the Instant Pot to come up to pressure.
    • Do not let the broccoli sit in the water. That would cause the broccoli to boil instead of steam.
    • Do not overfill the Instant Pot. I found for my 6-quart size Instant Pot I was able to fit 2 medium heads into the steamer basket. At the grocery store, you can often find precut broccoli florets. 4 cups would be the maximum amount of broccoli to add to the Instant Pot.
    • Since we are steaming the tender broccoli, you don't have to worry about using chicken broth or vegetable broth in the Instant Pot. The broccoli is not going to touch the liquid, so stick with cold water. You can season the broccoli when it's cooked.

    How To Serve Instant Pot Broccoli

    • Sprinkled with lemon pepper as a healthy side dish.
    • With a squeeze of fresh lemon juice.
    • This steamed broccoli is a perfect addition to a crudité platter because this broccoli holds its crispness.
    • With a sprinkle of salt, black pepper, and a little olive oil. Serve with your favorite meat or fish main course.
    • Add ½ cup of parmesan cheese to a bowl and add the steamed broccoli. Mix well and serve as a side dish.
    A close up of the plate.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Can I use frozen broccoli instead of fresh broccoli?

    Yes! You can use frozen broccoli instead of fresh broccoli. The time and pressure would be the same. Make sure to use a steamer basket as you don't want any of the broccoli falling through into the Instant Pot. Frozen broccoli tends to be cut into smaller pieces.

    What should I do with leftovers?

    This broccoli recipe is great for meal prep! Make a big batch and separate it into airtight containers. To reheat, place in the microwave for a minute or two. You can even eat this broccoli cold or at room temperature.

    Can I use this steaming method for any other vegetables?

    Yes! You can use this method to make green beans, cauliflower, and even zucchini! It's a great way to hold the crispness of the veggies while retaining many of the nutrients.

    Other Recipes To Try!

    Did you love this Instant Pot Broccoli Recipe? If you did, don't forget to tag me on social media on Instagram or Facebook and share this recipe on Pinterest! Thanks for sharing this journey with me and enjoy these delicious recipes!

    More Instant Pot Recipes

    • Easy Instant Pot Mexican Shredded Chicken
    • Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Brown Rice (So Easy!)
    • Instant Pot Carrots (Sweet and Simple!)
    • Instant Pot Steamed Shrimp (Perfect Every Time!)

    📖 Recipe

    An overhead shot of the instant pot steamed broccoli on a plate with a lemon slice on the plate

    Perfectly Steamed Instant Pot Broccoli

    Ready in under 15 minutes, this is a foolproof method to make perfectly steamed Instant Pot Broccoli. Serve this broccoli as an easy side dish for your next weeknight meal.
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Side Dish
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: Instant Pot Broccoli, Instant Pot Steamed Broccoli
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Cook Time: 10 minutes
    Servings: 4 Servings
    Calories: 103kcal
    Author: Lynn Polito

    Equipment

    • Instant Pot
    • Trivet Insert

    Ingredients

    • 2 Heads Broccoli
    • 1 cup Water

    Instructions

    • Wash the broccoli head and cut it into similar sized broccoli florets.
    • Place one cup of water at the bottom of the pot and add the trivet insert or steamer basket to the Instant Pot.
    • Place the broccoli in the insert. Close the lid and set the Instant pot to high pressure and the cooking time to 0 minutes. The pressure and heat from the Instant Pot coming up to pressure is enough to cook the broccoli to perfection. You might think your Instant Pot doesn't get to zero minutes, but it does! Just remove all the cooking time and let it hit 0.
    • Once it comes up to pressure and beeps, quick release the pressure to release the built-up pressure. Once the pressure has been released, remove the lid and serve!

    Notes

    • It usually takes 5-10 minutes (depending on the size of your Instant Pot) for the Instant Pot to come up to pressure.
    • Do not let the broccoli sit in the water. That would cause the broccoli to boil instead of steam.
    • Do not overfill the Instant Pot. I found for my 6-quart size Instant Pot I was able to fit 2 medium heads into the steamer basket. At the grocery store, you can often find precut broccoli florets. 4 cups would be the maximum amount of broccoli to add to the Instant Pot.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 103kcal | Carbohydrates: 20g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 103mg | Potassium: 961mg | Fiber: 8g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 1894IU | Vitamin C: 271mg | Calcium: 145mg | Iron: 2mg
    « Easy Instant Pot Chicken Fajitas
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    Comments

    1. Glenda

      May 07, 2022 at 1:35 pm

      5 stars
      Well, that couldn't have been any easier! Thanks for the great Instant Pot instructions. I would never have thought of cooking a plain vegetable in there. Absolute perfection!

      Reply
    2. Sarah

      May 07, 2022 at 8:02 pm

      5 stars
      So easy and came out perfectly! Thank you so much for sharing!

      Reply
    3. Allyssa

      May 09, 2022 at 8:58 am

      5 stars
      Super loved this! Thank you so much for sharing this amazing recipe! Will surely have this again! It's really easy to make and it tasted so delicious! Highly recommended!

      Reply
    4. Jennifer

      May 09, 2022 at 9:05 am

      5 stars
      I can't make broccoli - but then I tried your IP method and it worked out perfectly! So easy AND the kids ate it!

      Reply
    5. Shelby

      May 09, 2022 at 5:49 pm

      5 stars
      I always overfill- that's a great tip to remember!

      Reply

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