This Instant Pot broccoli is so quick, it has a zero minute cook time! It comes out perfectly steamed in the pressure cooker.
Want the fastest way to cook broccoli? Steam in the Instant Pot! Yes, this recipe has one zero minutes cooking time. When Alex told me that, I did a double take. A cooking time of zero minutes? Is that even a thing? It turns out you set the Instant Pot timer to 0 minutes. After approx. 5 minutes of “preheating” your broccoli is done! nope real cooking required. That means this Instant Pot Broccoli takes less than 10 minutes to make. For a final flavor, Alex and I added olive oil, red onions, and optional feta (see below). It’s basically the easiest side dish we’ve ever made!
How to Make Instant Pot Broccoli: A Tutorial
Well, there’s really nothing to say about making Instant Pot broccoli, because there is really that easy. This one’s actually not much quicker than steaming broccoli on the stove: they’re both really quick! But the Instant Pot method is even more convenient: All you have to do is chop the broccoli and press Go. This is one of our favorite broccoli recipes because it’s so easy. !
Step 1: Divide the broccoli into florets.
Using a chef’s knife, cut the broccoli into bite-sized florets. Here we used 2 large heads of broccoli, which is enough for 4 small servings. Don’t hesitate to double it: it’s always the same cooking time!
Step 2: Add the broccoli to the Instant Pot with water. Pressure cook on high for 0 minutes!
Add the florets to the Instant Pot with ½ cup of water. So here comes the fun part: Set the timer to 0 minutes! It sounds counterintuitive, but if you’re an Instant Pot pro, you know how it works.
Every time the Instant Pot boils something, it has to build up pressure: a bit like a “preheat.” Each recipe requires a different preheat time depending on the volume in the pan. In this case, it takes about 5 minutes for the pressure cooker to build up pressure. Once that’s done, the pressure building up in the pot has already cooked the broccoli! The Instant Pot will beep once and you can proceed to Step 3, which is…
Step 3: Dissolve quickly and add flavors as you like.
Then make a quick release and immediately release all vapor from the top valve. Once out, you can open the lid and taste your broccoli. It comes out perfectly steamed, bright green and crispy tender! Read on to find out how we seasoned it for this recipe.
Serve with steamed broccoli
How do you serve your Instant Pot broccoli after you’ve prepared it? Alex and I created this recipe to show you a quick way to make steamed broccoli as a side dish. It only takes a few simple ingredients to transform these veggies from good to amazing! Here’s what we did here:
- olive oil and kosher salt. We mixed olive oil and just enough kosher salt to flavor it perfectly. You can of course substitute your favorite type of oil or butter.
- feta cheese. What vegetable doesn’t taste better with some cheese? A modest amount of feta cheese takes it up a few notches. You can also use parmesan or goat cheese.
- Red or green onion. The onion adds just the right savory, crunchy flavor! If you use red onions, we recommend soaking them in water while you prepare the recipe: it will smother the onion! Or use thinly sliced spring onions as a substitute.
Want easier side dish recipes?
This Instant Pot Broccoli is one of our favorite easy side dishes! A few others we recommend: Our Parmesan Potato Wedges are really good, this BEST Kale Salad is delicious, and this Brussels Sprout Instant Pot is super quick. And of course, our best green salads are always a hit.
What Kind of Instant Pot Should I Use?
All brands of pressure cookers are different! This is the brand we use: a Instant Pot 6 Quart Programmable Pressure Cooker. This recipe is adapted for a 6 liter pressure cooker. We also can’t talk about other brands and types of pressure cookers. For example, Instant Pot Mini works differently, so use it at your own risk! Let us know if you make this pressure cooker broccoli in the comments below!
More ways to cook broccoli? Try our sautéed broccoli, roasted broccoli, and cooked broccoli. Go to How to Cook Broccoli to learn more.
This Instant Pot Broccoli Recipe is…
Vegetarian, gluten-free, plant-based, dairy-free, and vegan (no optional feta).
The description
This Instant Pot broccoli is so quick, it has a zero minute cook time! It comes out perfectly steamed in the pressure cooker.
- 1 1/2 Pound (2 large heads) broccoli
- ½ cup the water
- ¼ cup red onions, thinly sliced (or substitute spring onions)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ cup Feta Cheese (optional)
- Cut the broccoli into florets. Add it to the Instant Pot with the water. Lock the Instant Pot lid. Place the pressure relief (vent) handle in the “seal” position.
- Cook at high pressure for 0 minutes: Press the pressure cook button, make sure the ‘high pressure’ setting is selected and set the time to 0 minutes. Note that it takes about 5 minutes for the pan to “preheat” and build pressure. (Avoid touching the metal part of the cover.)
- Meanwhile, chop the onion very finely. Place it in a bowl of water while you prepare the rest of the recipe, then drain. (This helps reduce onion breath and takes away some of the flavorful bite. If you’re using green onions, skip this step!)
- Fast Release: After the timer beeps, release any remaining steam from the Instant Pot by setting the pressure release handle to “Vent” and covering your hand with a heated towel or pad. Never put your hands or face near the opening when dispensing steam. Open the lid of the pressure cooker.
- Carefully remove the broccoli into a bowl. Toss with olive oil, kosher salt, feta cheese (optional), and drained red onions.
- Category: garnish
- Method: pressure cooker
- Kitchen: Vegetables
Keywords: Instant Pot Broccoli, Pressure Cooker Broccoli
