Our Instant Pot broccoli recipe is just the solution for picky eaters.
We all have our favorite foods, but for most people we bet broccoli doesn’t even make the top ten. However, there’s no need to hate on broccoli— if it’s done the right way, it tastes absolutely divine.
So today we want to share the magic of how we turn otherwise bland broccoli into delicious eats. The florets are steamed then sautéd to ensure a good drenching in flavors, and as you bite into one, it oozes savory goodness.
To get the ingredients list and picture-illustrated how-to, If you’re interested in some broccoli trivia, read on.
Is Instant Pot Broccoli Healthy?
Broccoli is a healthy vegetable. It contains plenty of vitamins C and K, and vast amounts of other micronutrients that help make up a healthy body.
Broccoli also packs plenty of antioxidants. These nutrients can support the immune system— reducing inflammation and helping the body fight against infections.
Like most vegetables, broccoli is low in calories and yet fulfilling. Including more vegetables into your diet has been shown to be a good way to manage calorie intake.
Another element to consider is how it’s prepared which can both enhance or reduce its healthy attributes. To avoid reducing health benefits, we treated our broccoli with care:
First, we steamed our broccoli and only stir-fried it very quickly. It has been proven that exposing foods to hot oil for a long time can produce a cancer-promoting substance, and we try our best to avoid this.
We then season the broccoli with a very little salt and butter. These ingredients contain plenty of sodium and saturated fats, which the USDA suggests we limit in our diets.
To understand how we decide how many calories to consume and how much of each nutrient, check out our healthy eating guidelines.
What to Season Broccoli With
Experience has taught us that bad food is often the result of insufficient seasoning. We want to help you avoid that.
When you cook broccoli, it’s crucial to have first caramelized your garlic and onions. Just cooked garlic and onions might not do much, but caramelized golden garlic and onions pack tremendous flavors including a sweet element.
If you accidentally add the broccoli too soon, you can fix it by adding garlic and onion powder.
Yellow onions are typically used, but we found that red onions have a stronger, more pungent fragrance. Plus, they add a beautiful hue to the green broccoli.
After we cooked up our onions and garlic, we added butter. Butter complements all sorts of vegetables in both flavors and fragrance, resulting in a more satisfying dish.
We finished the dish with a touch of salt, pepper (of course), parmesan, and chili flakes. A little heat makes any food more enjoyable and a little salty-savoriness from the parm makes a world of difference too.
All combine to turn a humble ingredient into a beautiful dish. And just like that, you’re ready to make this tantalizing broccoli.
What to Do With Leftover Broccoli
Cooked broccoli florets can be stored in the fridge for up to a week. If you wish to store them longer than that, divide them into Ziploc bags and place them in the freezer.
If there’s plenty of raw broccoli left, you can preserve it in the freezer. It also makes other flavorful salads and a good oven-roasted side for steaks, pasta, stews, you name it.
How to Steam Broccoli in an Instant Pot
Steaming broccoli in the Instant Pot requires a rack. The one that came with our Instant Pot couldn’t hold little florets, so we had to use a different one.
You can compromise by cutting out a circle piece of parchment paper and placing it onto the Instant Pot’s rack. The parchment will hold the florets, saving you from purchasing a new rack.
We steamed our broccoli for 5 minutes, then took it out and used the same pot to brown the aromatics. Once they were ready, we added the broccoli back in, as well as the seasonings and a little butter.
Before serving, we topped the broccoli with grated parmesan and chili flakes.
Here’s a recap:
Steam the broccoli and release the steam
Sauté the onions and garlic
Add the broccoli back in and sauté with seasonings
Add butter and stir
Sprinkle with cheese and pepper flakes
Serve
For the full ingredients list and detailed instructions, refer to our Instant Pot broccoli recipe card below.
Using Frozen Broccoli in the Instant Pot
We use fresh broccoli in our recipe, but frozen broccoli can be a more convenient option, especially since it can be cooked straight away from the freezer. All it needs is two or three additional minutes of steaming, and it’s almost as fresh as just chopped out from a stem.
Love This Recipe? There’s More!
There are so many ways to whip up delicious meals with broccoli that it’d be a shame not to learn a few more. We have lots of ideas you may love:
- Ground Beef and Broccoli Recipe
- Broccoli Cauliflower Salad Recipe
- Healthy Broccoli Salad Recipe
- Beef and Broccoli Recipe
Instant Pot Broccoli Recipe
This Instant Pot broccoli recipe is our favorite way to cook broccoli. Each floret is juicy and filled with flavors, anything but bland.
- cook TIME 10 mins
- total TIME 10 mins
- COURSE Side Dish
- CUISINE Global
- SERVINGS servings
- CALORIES 107 kcal
INGREDIENTS
- 1 cup water
- 12 oz broccoli (cut into florets)
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp garlic (~ 1 clove, minced)
- 2 oz red onion (diced)
- 1/4 tsp ground black pepper
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tbsp unsalted butter
- 0.5 oz parmesan cheese (grated)
- 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
INSTRUCTIONS
Select the “steam” mode on the Instant Pot. Add water, a steaming rack, and place the broccoli on top of the rack. Seal the lid and steam for 5 minutes. Place a piece of kitchen cloth on the vent and use a spoon to turn the valve to “release”. Place the broccoli into a bowl, and discard the water.
Select the “sauté” mode. Add olive oil, garlic and onions, and stir-fry them for 2 minutes.
Add pepper, salt, garlic powder, and broccoli, and give it a good, gentle stir.
Add butter and gently stir for another minute.
Plate the broccoli and sprinkle it with cheese and red pepper flakes.
Serve.
NUTRITION
Luna Regina
Writer, Author
Tuyet Pham
Chef, Culinary Consultant
Lizzie Streit, MS, RDN, LD
Nutrition Reviewer