Instant Pot Broccoli is steamed perfectly every time and is cooked in about 5 minutes! Great for a quick side dish!
Using an Instant Pot makes cooking dinner quick, easy, and with almost no cleanup! I really love using my pressure cooker for side dishes because you can set and forget it! One of my favorite things about the Instant Pot is that you don’t have to constantly watch for things boiling over, burning, or taking up room on the stove!

Personally, I have the 8qt Instant Pot Duo and chose this size because you can always cook less but if you get the smaller one you can only put so much in it. If you are cooking for two or a smaller family the 6 quart one should be fine.
If you typically cook for just yourself you may want to go with the Instant Pot Mini.
Don’t forget to grab some accessories! They are super handy to have and can be used a ton of different ways! This Instant Pot accessory set is less than 30 bucks which is cheaper than having to buy each thing individually!
Did you know that Instant Pot now makes a model that is both an Instant Pot AND an Air Fryer all in ONE appliance?!

Ingredients for Instant Pot Broccoli
2-3 cups of broccoli florets – we are using fresh, but keep reading on how to make frozen broccoli in the Instant Pot. This is about 1 head of broccoli.
Water – you could also substitute veggie broth if you wanted
Before Adding Your Broccoli to the Instant Pot
Before we start cooking you will want to rinse your broccoli and pat dry. Then trim off the stem and cut into florets.
If you have an Instant Pot steamer basket you can add the water then put your steamer basket in. If you don’t have one that’s okay too!
Can You Cook Frozen Broccoli in the Instant Pot?
Yes! Cook time will be the exact same. The only thing to worry about is the water content in frozen broccoli. If you are pressure cooking broccoli just as a side dish this will work great! If you want to make a casserole, just know since it’s frozen it may be a little mushier than fresh.

Can I Cook a Whole head of Broccoli?
Sure can! Add your water to the inner pot the place the trivet inside. Set the whole head of broccoli on top and cook on high pressure for 1 minute then quick release!
Freezing Cooked Broccoli for Later
If you want to make a big batch for later (which is great for meal prepping by the way) simply follow the cooking instructions then add the broccoli to an ice bath for 3-5 minutes. This is also known as blanching, which stops the cooking process immediately.
Dry the broccoli off then add to a freezer bag or use your Foodsaver for extra freshness.
Tips for Pressure Cooking Broccoli
Know that every pressure cooker is different. So if you find that your broccoli is not quite cooked to your liking, use your microwave to finish it off or add it back to the pressure cooker.
Cooking times vary depending on the amount of florets you use. If you are using 1 cup or less pressure cook for 1 minute and quick release. For 2-3 cups or more, set the Instant Pot for 0 minutes, the pressure release. This is because your Instant Pot starts cooking the moment you turn it on. So the broccoli does need much time when you include the 5 mins of pressurizing. Also, the more that’s in the IP the lower it takes to come to pressure, which means more cooking time before the time actually starts!
If you like your broccoli more tender, cook for 1 minute using high pressure (when using more than 1 cup).

Other Instant Pot Sides You Will Love:

Instant Pot Broccoli
Ingredients
- 2-3 cups broccoli florets
- 1/2-1 cup water
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Pour water into the Instant Pot
- Add broccoli florets. If you are using a steamer basket place it in the pot then add the broccoli.
- Turn the valve to the sealing position. Set the Instant Pot to 0 minutes on high pressure. Once it beeps perform a quick release. **If you are looking less than 2-3 cups of broccoli see recipe notes below.
- Season with salt, pepper, and favorite spices.
How To Cook a Whole Head of Broccoli in the Instant Pot
- Pour 1 cup of water into the inner pot.
- Add Instant Pot trivet and place on top.
- Cover and turn the valve to sealing position. Cook on manual pressure for 1 minute. Set to 2 minutes if you like broccoli more tender. Then perform a quick release.
Equipment
Recipe Notes
Nutrition Information
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Meal plans help me stay on track. Here are some of my favorites!
- Weight Watchers Meal Plan Week 4 + FREE Download and Shopping List!
- Instant Pot Printable Meal Plan
- Freestyle One Week Meal PlanFree Printable Meal Plan
You simply MUST try my ZERO points Cheesecake Recipe
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2 Ingredient Dough Recipes
- Ultimate 2 Ingredient Dough Guide
- 2 Ingredient Dough Pizza
- 2 Ingredient Dough Pot Pie
- 2 Ingredient Dough Pop Tarts
- 2 Ingredient Dough Cinnamon Rolls
- 2 Ingredient Dough Bread Bowls
- 2 Ingredient Dough Empanadas
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