Let’s get your daily dose of valuable nutrients quickly with this Instant Pot Brussels sprouts recipe! Every January 31st, we celebrate Eat Brussel Sprouts Day, and this dish goes above and beyond the requisite.
With a hint of sweet and tangy flavor, these Instant Pot Brussels sprouts make for a tasty, crispy-yet-tender side dish with a beautiful, bright green color. In a few simple steps, you can create a festive and lovely addition to your Thanksgiving table.
Are Brussels Sprouts Healthy?
Cabbage and Brussels sprouts are the cultivars of the same plant species, Brassica oleracea, which has also been bred to produce broccoli, cauliflower, kohlrabi, kale, collards, and more. They’re vegetative buds that grow all around and along the length of the stalk.
Brussels sprouts are known as nutrient-dense, leafy green vegetables. They have high levels of vitamin C & vitamin K, are rich in antioxidants, and are a good source of dietary fiber & protein — read more about their health benefits here.

What Do Brussels Sprouts Taste Like?
Brussels sprouts are naturally bitter. When cooked correctly, they deliver a sweeter taste that’s similar to broccoli.
Without any seasonings, Brussels sprouts can be a little bland. Thus, roasting is probably one of the best methods to handle them.
As the heat caramelizes the Brussels sprouts’ leaves, they become lacy and crisp, requiring just the basic sprinkling of salt and pepper. Here are some more suggestions for seasoning add-ins:
- Fish sauce
- Red pepper flakes
- Blue cheese crumbles
- Maple syrup
- Grainy mustard and toasted pecans
- Italian seasonings

How to Cook Brussels Sprouts in the Instant Pot
Today’s Instant Pot Brussels sprouts are crispy-yet-tender and require only a few simple steps to make:

Add water to the Instant Pot. Arrange Brussels sprouts in the basket.

Close the lid, seal the valve, and cook on the “Steam” setting for 6 minutes.

Quick-release the pressure and remove Brussels sprouts from the Instant Pot. Drain.

Sauté bacon on the “Sauté” setting for 2 minutes.

Add garlic and onion. Sauté for 2 minutes.

Add the Brussels sprouts, salt, and ground black pepper. Sauté for 2 more minutes.

Turn off the Instant Pot. Garnish with parmesan cheese and parsley. Enjoy.
Can You Use Frozen Brussels Sprouts?
We don’t recommend using frozen Brussels sprouts for this recipe.
Frozen vegetables are partially cooked or blanched before packaging, so when cooked on high heat and high pressure, the Brussels sprouts will turn mushy really fast. You might not have enough time to troubleshoot that.
How to Store and Reheat Instant Pot Brussels Sprouts
Leftover Brussels sprouts can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator where hey can last up to 5 days.
It can be tricky to reheat cooked Brussels sprouts and maintain their texture and taste, so the best thing to do is warm them up on a lightly-oiled baking sheet in a preheated oven.
Alternatively, you can place them on a pan under the oven broiler for a couple of minutes.
Although Instant Pot Brussels sprouts can keep well in the freezer for a few months, it’s not recommended to freeze them. Cooked Brussels sprouts can absorb moisture easily and become mushy in no time.

More Delicious Instant Pot Vegetable Recipes
These Instant Pot Brussels sprouts are super versatile and pair well with most protein-rich mains. Serve them on a regular weekday alongside roasted meat for a heart-warming meal.
Did you know you can use a pressure cooker to make all sorts of vegetables? Here are other vegetable side dishes made in the Instant Pot:
- Instant Pot zucchini: Flavorful zucchinis are mixed with chewy, caramelized mushrooms for a fantastically-fragrant assemblage. It’s an easy side dish to throw together for last-minute meals.
- Instant Pot broccoli: The broccoli florets are steamed then sautéd with caramelized golden garlic and onions. This dish oozes savory goodness, especially with a finishing touch of salt, pepper (of course), parmesan, and chili flakes.
- Instant Pot green beans: This smoky bacon-flavored side dish is one of our favorites, especially when it’s made with steamed green beans. This plant is like a blank canva that allows you to combine with any seasonings you like.
- Instant Pot asparagus: Crispy asparagus are drizzled in the flavorful cream sauce and topped with smoky bacon and melted cheese. Appetite is gained just by the thought of it!
For more easy and nutritious recipes in instant pot, take a look at our healthy instant pot dinner roundup.

Instant Pot Brussels Sprouts Recipe
Let's get your daily dose of valuable nutrients quickly with this Instant Pot Brussels sprouts recipe! A festive and lovely meal for Thanksgiving can now be done easily in just 25 minutes of pressure cooking.

- cook TIME 20 mins
- prep TIME 5 mins
- total TIME 25 mins
- COURSE Side Dish
- CUISINE American
- SERVINGS servings
- CALORIES 124 kcal
INGREDIENTS
- 16 ozBrussels sprouts halved
- 1 cupwater
- 2 ozbacon unprepared
- 2 tspgarlic minced
- 2 ozonion diced
- 0.3 tspground black pepper
- 0.3 tspsalt
- 0.3 ozshredded parmesan cheese
- 1 tbspparsley chopped
INSTRUCTIONS
Add 1 cup water to the Instant Pot. Arrange 16 oz Brussels sprouts in the basket.

Close the lid and set the valve to sealing. Set the Instant Pot to the “Steam” setting and set the timer to 6 minutes.

Quick-release the pressure and remove Brussels sprouts from the Instant Pot. Drain water.

Set the Instant Pot to the “Sauté” setting, sauté 2 oz bacon for 2 minutes.

Add 2 tsp minced garlic and 2 oz onion. Sauté for 2 minutes.

Add the Brussels sprouts, 1/4 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp ground black pepper. Sauté for 2 more minutes.

Turn off the Instant Pot. Portion out onto serving platters, garnish with 0.25 oz parmesan cheese and 1 tbsp freshly chopped parsley. Enjoy.

NUTRITION

A writer and entrepreneur, Luna’s day doesn’t start at the computer keyboard, but in the kitchen.
Half of her working hours are spent on mixing ingredients for her recipes. The other half involve working with the tech team to research and test the tools and appliances that promise to make kitchen work effortless and mess-free. From a kitchen knife or water filter to the Instant Pot, if it can help save time and effort for the home cook, Luna and her team are on it.
Luna’s extracurricular pastimes include camping, travel, and photography.
