Say goodbye to mushy, overcooked broccoli and hello to fork-tender deliciousness with this easy recipe for steamed broccoli florets in the Instant Pot! Ready in just 10 minutes.
I am always coming up with veggie side dish ideas to complement a main course. They add more flavor, texture and color to your plate while also boosting up the nutritional content (which is important to me given my background in public health)!
One fresh veggie that I routinely add to plates is broccoli. When prepared properly, everyone enjoys it, including my kids! And if you vary up the way you cook it, having broccoli on the side never gets boring.
One night I'll serve quickly sautéed broccoli with garlic, another night easy air-fried broccoli florets, and for some extra fun (and crispiness!) I'll serve up roasted smashed broccoli florets!
But when I'm looking to simply steam broccoli, the Instant Pot pressure cooker is by far the easiest way. In just minutes you'll have perfectly tender broccoli! Talk about a weeknight superhero dish!
This perfectly steamed broccoli recipe comes out delicious every single time. Plus, the hands-off method means I can move on to prepare other things while the broccoli cooks!
Health Benefits of Broccoli
Broccoli is high in folate and immune-boosting vitamin C. It is also a good source of dietary fiber and potassium as well as vitamin A, vitamin B6 and vitamin K (source).
According to the National Institute of Health, broccoli's nutrients and phytochemicals support overall health and wellness, including cancer prevention and reduced inflammation as it has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-cancer and potentially antibacterial effects (source).
When selecting your broccoli, look for odorless broccoli heads that have tight florets that are bluish-green in color. Store broccoli in your refrigerator for up to five days.
How to Cook Broccoli in the Instant Pot
- Place a steamer basket in your Instant Pot and add 1 cup of water.
- Add your broccoli (trim the ends to help it fit if needed). You can layer them in a criss-cross pattern. I usually do one large head of broccoli at a time.
- Place the lid on sealed. Press 'Manual’ on "Low Pressure" for ZERO minutes.
- Once it comes to pressure it will stop the cooking process and beep. Once this happens, immediately press Off and remove the lid.
- As soon as all the pressure is released, open the lid and carefully remove the broccoli with tongs. Place on a serving platter and enjoy with a drizzle of olive oil and a sprinkle of salt.
Finding the Right Texture
The broccoli cooks perfectly in the time it takes the pot to come to full pressure and release. I like my broccoli to have a little bite to it without getting hard or crunchy so this cooking time yields the perfect texture for me.
I also find that broccoli continues to cook on its own anyways, so having it just slightly undercooked yet fork tender ensures that when you serve it, it will be just right.
If you want your broccoli softer, you can leave the lid on for a couple minutes or wait one minute to release the steam before removing it from the Instant Pot. Just note that if you wait too long you may be left with mushy broccoli.
How to Serve Steamed Broccoli
After it is cooked I drizzle olive oil overtop and sprinkle generously with salt. You could even grab some vegan Parmesan cheese to sprinkle on top, but I personally don't think it needs it. We all devour it when topped with just olive oil and salt!
Other ideas for serving are black pepper or garlic powder for extra flavor and some fresh lemon juice for added brightness to broccoli's natural bright green color. These are all simple seasonings as broccoli really doesn't need to be dressed up to be enjoyed as a healthy side dish!
Storage
Store leftover steamed broccoli in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. I'll usually steam a good amount of broccoli at once (one broccoli head at a time depending on the size), making it a great side dish to meal prep for busy weeknights.
You all have gotta give this recipe a try. Cooking broccoli couldn't be easier and all three of my kids actually eat broccoli when it is prepared like this!
And if you try this Instant Pot Broccoli method, I hope you'll tag me on Instagram so I can see your tasty veggies. A recipe rating here on the blog also helps me so much!
More Side Dishes Using Fresh Vegetables
- Asparagus - Asparagus Ribbon Salad
- Broccoli - Vegan Raw Broccoli Salad with California Avocado
- Brussels Sprouts - Crispy Maple Roasted Brussels Sprouts
- Carrots - Easy Maple Glazed Sautéed Carrots
- Cauliflower - Crispy Oven Roasted Cauliflower
- Mushrooms - Restaurant-Style Sautéed Mushrooms
- Potatoes - Crispy Smashed Potatoes
- Spaghetti Squash - Instant Pot Spaghetti Squash
- Sweet Potatoes - No-Fuss Seasoned Baked Sweet Potatoes
Fork-Tender Steamed Broccoli Florets (Instant Pot)
- Total Time: 9 minutes
- Yield: 2 1x
- Diet: Vegan
Description
Say goodbye to mushy, overcooked broccoli and hello to fork-tender deliciousness with this easy recipe for steamed broccoli florets in the Instant Pot! Ready in just 10 minutes.
Ingredients
- 1 cup filtered water
- 1 head broccoli, ends trimmed if needed
Instructions
- Place a steamer basket in your Instant Pot and add 1 cup of water.
- Add your broccoli (trim the ends to help it fit if needed). You can layer them in a criss-cross pattern. I usually do one large head of broccoli at a time.
- Place the lid on and move the valve to "Sealed." Press 'Manual’ on "Low Pressure" for ZERO minutes.
- Once it comes to pressure it will stop the cooking process and beep. Once this happens, immediately press off and remove the lid
- As soon as all the pressure is released, open the lid and carefully remove the broccoli with tongs. Place on a serving platter and enjoy with a drizzle of olive oil and a sprinkle of salt.
Equipment
Buy Now → Notes
This method is adapted from my friend, Laney Schwartz from Life is but a Dish.
- Prep Time: 1
- Cook Time: 8
- Category: Side
- Method: Pressure Cooker
Beth says
This is my new favorite way to make broccoli! I love that sweet spot of crisp and tender when broccoli is perfectly cooked. This came out perfectly.
Elaine Gordon says
Thank you so much, Beth! I'm thrilled to hear this!