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

Perfectly Steamed Instant Pot Broccoli

Published: May 5, 2022 · Modified: Mar 29, 2023 by Lynn Polito · This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases.

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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

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.

Not only can you steam broccoli in your Instant Pot, but you can also make Instant Pot Sweet Potatoes, Instant Pot Asparagus, Instant Pot Brussel Sprouts, Instant Pot Carrots, or Instant Pot Corn on the Cob.

Jump to:
  • Why This Recipe is Great!
  • Ingredients for Instant Pot Broccoli
  • Equipment for Instant Pot Broccoli
  • Step By Step Instructions
  • Tips and Tricks
  • Serving Suggestions
  • 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

Step 1: Wash the broccoli head and cut it into similar sized broccoli florets.

The water is added to the instant pot
Step 2: Place one cup of water at the bottom of the pot and add the trivet insert or steamer basket to the Instant Pot.
The broccoli is added to the instant pot
Step 3: Place the broccoli in the insert. Close the lid and set the Instant pot to high pressure and the cooking time to 0 minutes.

Step 4: 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!

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

Serving Suggestions

  • 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.
  • Dip this broccoli in sriracha aioli, 2 ingredient honey mustard, Kefir ranch, or cilantro lime aioli.
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

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    Instant Pot Italian Sausage and Potatoes
  • A plate of Instant Pot Cinnamon Rolls is in front of the Instant Pot.
    Soft Instant Pot Cinnamon Rolls
  • A plate of Instant Pot German Potato Salad is on a cutting board.
    Instant Pot German Potato Salad
  • The pork tenderloin is on a plate covered in gravy in front of the Instant Pot.
    Instant Pot Pork Tenderloin (From Frozen!)

📖 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.
5 from 1 vote
Print Pin Rate
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes 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
Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @LynnsWayofLife or tag #lynnswayoflife!
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Shelby

    May 09, 2022 at 5:49 pm

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

    Reply
  2. 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
  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. Sarah

    May 07, 2022 at 8:02 pm

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

    Reply
  5. 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

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Hey there! I'm Lynn and I'm based just outside of Boston. I'm a wife and mom of two with a passion for cooking and creating homemade food for my family.

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