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• Why You’ll Love This Instant Pot Broccoli Recipe
• Ingredients & Substitutions
• How To Steam Broccoli In The Instant Pot
• How Long To Steam Broccoli In The Instant Pot?
• Can You Cook Frozen Broccoli In The Instant Pot?
• Storage Instructions
• What To Serve With Instant Pot Broccoli
• More Healthy Instant Pot Recipes
• Recommended Tools
• Instant Pot Broccoli (Fast & Easy) Recipe card
• Recipe Reviews

Cooking broccoli in the Instant Pot is one of the quickest and easiest ways to make an easy and healthy side dish . You can have Instant Pot broccoli on the table in less than 10 minutes — faster than roasted broccoli or sauteed broccoli , about the same as air fryer broccoli — and it comes out perfectly steamed every time. This vegetable is an easy staple on its own, but also a great option if you need cooked broccoli to use in another recipe.

Why You’ll Love This Instant Pot Broccoli Recipe

• Garlicky, savory taste
• Perfectly tender broccoli texture
• 2 ingredients plus salt & pepper
• Done in less under 10 minutes
• Naturally low carb, nutrient-dense, gluten-free, and healthy
• Best way to steam broccoli without a steamer!

Ingredients & Substitutions

Here I explain the best ingredients for steamed broccoli in the Instant Pot, what each one does in the recipe, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card .

• Broccoli – I used fresh broccoli, but you could use frozen broccoli as well. (The time will be different; see below.)
• Sea Salt & Black Pepper – A must for seasoning the broccoli.
• Garlic – I used fresh peeled garlic and pressed it onto the broccoli, but minced garlic or garlic powder would also work. I added the garlic after cooking and it basically “cooks” from the residual heat, but you could also add it before cooking.
• Water – Creates steam in the Instant Pot. Don’t forget to add it to the inner pot before pressure cooking.

VARIATION: Add your favorite flavorings!

This is a basic Instant Pot broccoli recipe, but you can customize it with herbs and spices. Try Italian seasoning or lemon pepper seasoning .

How To Steam Broccoli In The Instant Pot

This section shows how to make broccoli in the Instant Pot, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique, to help you visualize it. For full instructions with amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card .

1. Prep. Add water to the Instant Pot . Place the steamer basket inside, then place broccoli florets into the basket. (You can also use a trivet, but I prefer a basket so that the florets don’t fall through.) Seal the lid.
2. Pressure cook. Steam broccoli in the Instant Pot on high pressure (using the Manual setting) to desired tenderness.
3. Quick release. When the Instant Pot beeps, perform a quick pressure release by switching the valve to the Vent position. Carefully remove the lid.

1. Transfer. Remove broccoli and transfer to a bowl. While still hot, use a garlic press to squeeze garlic over the broccoli and mix well.
2. Season. Add salt and pepper to taste.

VARIATION: Make it cheesy!

If you like cheesy steamed broccoli, add a bit of parmesan cheese to your dish after removing from the pot.

How Long To Steam Broccoli In The Instant Pot?

Steam broccoli in the Instant Pot for 1 minute if you want crunchy broccoli, or 2 minutes for softer broccoli.

Can You Cook Frozen Broccoli In The Instant Pot?

Yes, you can cook frozen broccoli in the Instant Pot. Adjust the cook time to zero minutes. (Florets are already partially cooked before freezing, and will finish cooking as the Instant Pot builds pressure.)

Storage Instructions

• Store: Cool the broccoli, then transfer to an airtight container and store in the fridge. It will last for up to 1 week.
• Meal prep: Make this steamed veggie ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator or freezer as a quick and easy side. Or, cut broccoli ahead of time and refrigerate before following the rest of the recipe.
• Reheat: When you’re ready to eat leftover Instant Pot broccoli, simply reheat it in the microwave for a few minutes. The oven, stovetop, or air fryer would also work. Or, throw it into a chicken broccoli stir fry .
• Freeze: Let broccoli cool completely before transferring to a freezer-safe container. You can reheat from frozen or thaw it first.

What To Serve With Instant Pot Broccoli

Instant Pot broccoli is the perfect side dish for any meal, but it’s also a useful component in other recipes. Here are some ideas:

• Casseroles – Use Instant Pot steamed broccoli in any casserole that calls for pre-cooked broccoli, such as chicken bacon ranch casserole , chicken broccoli casserole , or egg casserole .
• Chicken – Baked chicken legs , French onion chicken , or pan fried chicken thighs all make great pairings. Find more chicken recipes here.
• Steak – Broccoli makes a classic steakhouse side for London broil in the oven , grilled steak , or even filet mignon or ribeye steak . Find more beef recipes here .
• Pork – Try air fryer sausage , pork tenderloin , baked pork chops , or slow cooker pork loin for complete nutritious meal. For a sweet and savory combo, I make garlic honey pork chops .
• Seafood – Broccoli also goes well with fish recipes , such as halibut , seared salmon , or baked cod . For a fancier meal, try it with other seafood , such as lobster tail , crab legs , or lemon butter shrimp .

More Healthy Instant Pot Recipes

I love pressure cooker recipes for busy weeknights and easy cleanup! If you’re looking for more ways to use your Instant Pot, try some of these delicious dishes.

Instant Pot Buffalo Chicken Dip

Instant Pot Steak Fajitas

Instant Pot Cauliflower

Instant Pot Beef Short Ribs

Recommended Tools

• Instant Pot – You can’t make Instant Pot steamed broccoli without a pressure cooker. This is the one I use!
• Steamer Basket – I recommend a steamer basket with handles so you can easily remove the broccoli from the Instant Pot.
• Garlic Press – I like this one because it works well without too much effort.

Recipe Video

Ingredients

Tap underlined ingredients to see the ones I use.

• 1 large bunch Broccoli (or 2 small bunches; cut into florets) ▢
• 1/2 tsp Sea salt ▢
• 1/4 tsp Black pepper ▢
• 1 clove Garlic (peeled) ▢
• 1/2 cup Water ▢

Instructions

Tap on the times in the instructions to start a kitchen timer.

1. Add the ½ cup of water in the Instant Pot . Place the steamer basket in the Instant Pot, then place the broccoli florets into the steamer basket. Place the lid on Instant Pot and make sure the lid is set to sealed.
2. Select the Manual setting and enter 1 minute for crunchy broccoli, or 2 minutes for tender. The Instant Pot will take 5-10 minutes to come to pressure, then start counting down the time.
3. When the timer beeps, perform a quick pressure release right away by switching the valve to Venting. When steam is no longer coming out, carefully remove the lid.
4. Remove the broccoli from the Instant Pot and transfer to a bowl. While still hot, use a garlic press to squeeze the garlic over the broccoli and mix well (the residual heat will “cook” the garlic a bit).
5. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

LAST STEP: Leave a rating to help other readers, or tag me @wholesomeyum on Instagram. I’d love to hear from you!

Maya’s Recipe Notes

Serving size: 1 cup

I provide nutrition facts as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see my nutrition policy .

Add Your NotesYour Notes

© Copyright Maya Krampf for Wholesome Yum. Please DO NOT SCREENSHOT OR COPY/PASTE recipes to social media or websites. We’d LOVE for you to share a link with photo instead.

Instant Pot Broccoli Recipe

Free Printable: Low Carb & Keto Food List

• Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?
• The Basic Keto Meal Formula
• Understanding Macros
• Keto Food Swaps
• Keto Food List
• Electrolyte Basics
• Keto Diet Types
• Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?
• Recipe Reviews

Even though I have a great guide to starting a keto diet , people often ask me for a quick keto cheat sheet they can use. That’s why I created this simple keto diet cheat sheet , so that you can have all the info you need handy. We’ll cover the basic keto formula for building meals, foods to eat and to avoid, delicious keto swaps for high-carb foods, electrolyte basics, and 4 ways to follow the keto lifestyle.

You can keep reading to view this info, or download my keto cheat sheet printable pdf to print out or save ad-free on any device (plus the pdf has more details!).

Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?

Get all this information and MORE in convenient printer-friendly format – 13 cheat sheet pages you can take with you anywhere or keep in your kitchen, plus 4 recipe cookbooks! Includes:

1. Keto food list (230+ foods) – Super detailed & color-coded, with net carb counts, so you’ll know exactly what to eat.
2. Foods to avoid on keto – Detailed and specific list so that you know exactly what to watch out for.
3. Macros cheat sheet – Explains everything you need to know about macros to succeed on keto.
4. Keto food swaps (60+ foods) – Covers virtually every food you love, so you don’t have to miss out!
5. Keto meal formula – With specific food ideas, so it’s easy to mix-and-match.
6. Keto flu guide – Understand what it is and exactly how to avoid it.
7. Electrolyte cheat sheet – With whole food ideas + bonus keto tips.
8. Keto Diet Types – Summary of 4 ways to do keto, so you can choose what fits you best.
9. FOUR (4!) Keto Swaps Recipe EBooks – Dozens of recipes to replace bread, rice, potatoes, pasta, desserts, and other carbs you’d otherwise miss.

Get The Printable Keto Cheat Sheet System + EBooks (Only $37)

The Basic Keto Meal Formula

Eating keto doesn’t have to be complicated! While there are plenty of delicious easy keto recipes to choose from, you don’t even have to cook from a recipe to get started.

Simply follow the keto cheat sheet formula of protein + veggie + fat for your meals.

Be sure to choose a moderate amount of protein, only low carb vegetables (mostly ones that grow above ground), and generous fat to attain an optimal macro ratio. That’s approximately 60-75% of calories from fat, 20-25% protein, and 5-10% from carbohydrates. The table below will give you ideas for what to choose.

Understanding Macros

Macros are macronutrients for short. They include fat, protein, and carbohydrates.

You can calculate your own macros using the macro calculator , but the macro keto cheat sheet below will explain how to look at macros when following a keto lifestyle.

Carbs Are A Limit.

Keeping carbs low is what gets you into ketosis and keeps you there. Ketosis means that you’re using fat as your primary energy source instead of sugar, and requires keeping carbs very low.

A good starting point is 20-25 grams net carbs per day, but you can experiment after a few weeks to see if your body stays in ketosis at higher levels. People who are very active may be able to do more and stay in ketosis, up to around 50 grams per day.

“Carbs are a limit” means that you set a limit for how many carbs to eat per day and don’t exceed it. You don’t have to hit that limit, so if you’re under that’s okay, just don’t go over. Ideally most of your carbs would come from low carb vegetables, and if you’re eating enough veggies, you’ll usually get close to the limit naturally.

A common misconception is that reaching ketosis requires a certain macro ratio, but it’s really only restricting your carb intake that gets you there [ * ]. In the absence of sufficient carbs to use as energy, the body will switch to using fat as fuel. This is called the metabolic state of ketosis.

Protein Is A Goal.

Protein is made up of amino acids, the building blocks of all our cells. It’s a crucial for keeping our muscles strong and for many cellular functions [ * ].

“Protein is a goal” means that you always want to eat enough protein to reach the goal each day, but not exceed it too much. You want enough for your needs, but excess protein can trigger gluconeogenesis, which is protein being converted to sugar [ * ] and can kick you out of ketosis.

Fat Is A Lever.

Fat is the primary macronutrient in a keto lifestyle, because being in ketosis means that fat is your primary fuel source. Fat as a fuel source will come from your food, and if you are losing weight, from your body.

A big advantage of a keto lifestyle is the high fat intake. It keeps you full and satisfied, making it easier to stick to, and using it as the primary fuel source makes it easier on your body to burn body fat, with a lower chance of breaking down your muscle (provided you get enough protein).

Aside from reaching your protein goal and limiting your carbs, the remainder of your calories on a keto diet comes from fat.

Don’t fear fat – it’s your main energy source on keto, and getting enough of it trains your body to use fat for fuel instead of sugar. That means that as long as you are not overdoing your overall calorie intake, you’ll efficiently burn your body fat for fuel as well.

“Fat is a lever” means that you can increase or decrease your fat intake depending on your goals and hunger levels. Increase it (along with exercise) to gain muscle, or decrease it to lose weight.

Keto Food Swaps

One of my favorite challenges is creating recipes, or just discovering, keto food swaps. These are delicious keto replacements for traditionally high-carb or high-sugar foods.

So, I created this keto diet cheat sheet with all the swaps in one place! I also have more keto food swaps in my Easy Keto Cookbook .

Keto Swaps For Breakfast

Keto Swaps For Bread

Keto Swaps For Meals & Side Dishes

Keto Swaps For Snacks & Sauces

Keto Swaps For Cooking & Baking

Keto Swaps For Drinks

If you’re looking specifically for keto alcohol options, browse the full keto alcohol guide .

Keto Food List

When looking for a keto cheat sheet printable, the most-requested information is a keto food list.

The great thing is that keto doesn’t have to feel restrictive. It’s incredibly satisfying and there’s such a wide variety of foods you can eat!

Foods To Eat On Keto

• Leafy greens – Such as spinach, chard, and lettuce.
• Above-ground veggies – Such as peppers, zucchini, and cauliflower.
• Full-fat cream & cheese – Such as heavy cream, sour cream, and full-fat hard cheeses.
• Natural meats – Such as beef, lamb, and pork.
• Berries – Such as raspberries, blackberries, and strawberries.
• Avocados
• Unsweetened nut milks – Such as almond milk and coconut milk.
• Almond flour and coconut flour
• Eggs
• Healthy fats – Such as coconut oil, avocado oil, olive oil and butter.

Foods To Avoid On Keto

• White flour & sugar
• Rice & grains – Such as barley, wheat, and corn.
• Milk & yogurt – Such as fruit on the bottom yogurt, sweetened Greek yogurt, and all milk.
• Cereal
• Processed food – Such as granola bars, candy
• Most fruit – Such as apples, bananas, and grapes
• Hydrogenated fats – Such as vegetable oil, soybean oil, and margarine
• Sweetened beverages & condiments – Such as soda, ketchup, and sweet dressings
• Starchy veggies – Such as peas, carrots, and beets.
• Potatoes – Such as sweet potatoes and white potatoes.

That’s the short keto diet cheat sheet version of all the keto food categories, but I recommend downloading the full Keto Cheat Sheet System. It includes a super detailed printable keto food list with over 100 items, including 2 color-coded pages with net carb counts, along with 6 more pages of keto cheat sheets:

Get The Keto Cheat Sheet System PDF (Only $37)

Electrolyte Basics

Getting enough electrolytes is crucial for anyone, but especially so on a keto diet. The reason is that ketosis has a diuretic effect, which increases excretion of water and electrolytes, especially sodium [ * ]. This is often the cause of the keto flu.

For more details on electrolytes and avoiding keto flu, check out the full keto flu guide here .

The important thing to know about electrolytes is that replenishing them will keep keto flu away and keep your body functioning well. I always recommend an electrolyte drink and whole food sources of anything your body needs before resorting to supplements, so I made a list of what to eat to get each of the 3 major electrolytes – sodium, magnesium and potassium.

Here’s your keto diet cheat sheet for getting electrolytes from food:

Keto Diet Types

People follow a keto lifestyle for different reasons. Some do it just to lose weight, others are after better overall health, increased energy, and reduced inflammation.

Strictly speaking, the defining factor of a keto diet is the metabolic state of ketosis, which is achieved by restricting carbs. However, many people (myself included) also reduce or eliminate processed, inflammatory, or low-nutrient foods.

Below is your keto cheat sheet summary of the different ways that people follow keto. You choose what works best for your goals and lifestyle!

• Strict Keto – Up to 20-30g net carbs daily, count all calories and macros, and eat clean, unprocessed foods.
• Lazy Keto – Up to 20-30g net carbs daily, and track only net carbs OR eat keto foods without tracking.
• Dirty Keto – Up to 20-30g net carbs daily, with “if it fits your macros” approach including processed foods.
• Low Carb – Up to 50-100g net carbs daily, less strict.

For a more detailed listing of these different types of keto with pros and cons, grab the Easy Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF below!

Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?

Get all this information and MORE in convenient printer-friendly format – 13 cheat sheet pages you can take with you anywhere or keep in your kitchen, plus 4 recipe cookbooks! Includes:

1. Keto food list (230+ foods) – Super detailed & color-coded, with net carb counts, so you’ll know exactly what to eat.
2. Foods to avoid on keto – Detailed and specific list so that you know exactly what to watch out for.
3. Macros cheat sheet – Explains everything you need to know about macros to succeed on keto.
4. Keto food swaps (60+ swaps) – Covers virtually every food you love, so you don’t have to miss out!
5. Keto meal formula – With specific food ideas, so it’s easy to mix-and-match.
6. Keto flu guide – Understand what it is and exactly how to avoid it.
7. Electrolyte cheat sheet – With whole food ideas + bonus keto tips.
8. Keto Diet Types – Summary of 4 ways to do keto, so you can choose what fits you best.
9. FOUR (4!) Keto Swaps Recipe EBooks – Dozens of recipes to replace bread, rice, potatoes, pasta, desserts, and other carbs you’d otherwise miss.

Get The Printable Keto Cheat Sheet System (75 pages, Only $37!)

Instant Pot Broccoli (Fast & Easy)

Instant Pot broccoli is the fastest way to steam broccoli! Seasoned simply with garlic, salt, and pepper, it’s perfectly tender and so easy.

Scan this QR code with your phone’s camera for the full recipe, including tips, step-by-step photos, and storage, or to save it to your account. You can also find it at: https://www.wholesomeyum.com/instant-pot-broccoli/

Ingredients

• 1 large bunch Broccoli (or 2 small bunches; cut into florets)
• 1/2 tsp Sea salt
• 1/4 tsp Black pepper
• 1 clove Garlic (peeled)
• 1/2 cup Water

Instructions

1. Add the ½ cup of water in the Instant Pot . Place the steamer basket in the Instant Pot, then place the broccoli florets into the steamer basket. Place the lid on Instant Pot and make sure the lid is set to sealed.
2. Select the Manual setting and enter 1 minute for crunchy broccoli, or 2 minutes for tender. The Instant Pot will take 5-10 minutes to come to pressure, then start counting down the time.
3. When the timer beeps, perform a quick pressure release right away by switching the valve to Venting. When steam is no longer coming out, carefully remove the lid.
4. Remove the broccoli from the Instant Pot and transfer to a bowl. While still hot, use a garlic press to squeeze the garlic over the broccoli and mix well (the residual heat will “cook” the garlic a bit).
5. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Maya’s Recipe Notes

Serving size: 1 cup

I provide nutrition facts as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see my nutrition policy .

© Copyright Maya Krampf for Wholesome Yum. Please DO NOT SCREENSHOT OR COPY/PASTE recipes to social media or websites. We’d LOVE for you to share a link with photo instead. :)