Perfectly steamed cauliflower in minutes, thanks to the Instant Pot. This recipe doesn't get any simpler, but it does get tastier with a little seasoning at the end.
We love steamed cauliflower. It's our 2nd favorite way to enjoy it in this house. The first way is oven roasting with chicken broth (cauliflower absorbs flavor wonderfully). Check out my Roasted Frozen Cauliflower for an example of this.
But this Instant Pot steamed cauliflower recipe is sooooo much faster than all of that! And it keeps the oven free for the main dish while it steams in the Instant Pot on the counter. Win-Win.
Steaming veggies in the Instant Pot, like our Instant Pot Steamed Broccoli or Instant Pot Zucchini are ways we get to enjoy our favorite fresh vegetables with little to no hassle.
Why This Recipe Works
- Simple ingredients. You only really need the cauliflower and water, but the seasonings help to make this dish more enjoyable.
- Minimal effort. Wash, chop, cook, and toss with seasonings. This recipe is so easy you're going to want to make it over and over again!
- It's fast! The Instant Pot cooks for 0 minutes, so the only wait time is waiting for it to get up to pressure. This means within a few short minutes, you've got cauliflower ready to enjoy with your meal.
🥘 Ingredients
Cauliflower- You will need a fresh head of cauliflower for this recipe, but if you want an easier trick, just buy bagged fresh chopped cauliflower from the grocery store).
Water- You will need some water to help your Instant Pot get up to pressure and cook properly.
Olive oil- This will help the seasoning to stick to the cauliflower.
Salt and pepper- We keep the seasonings pretty simple and basic as cauliflower has a wonderful taste on its own. Only adding salt and pepper means we can keep our cauliflower well flavored without overtaking the flavors of the main dish on your plate.
For the exact amounts needed, please see the recipe card below.
🍽 Equipment Needed
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🔪 Instructions
Check out how to make Instant Pot cauliflower with these simple step-by-step instructions:
Wash your cauliflower and chop it into large sized florets.
Place 1 cup of water into the Instant Pot and add the cauliflower. You can have it in a steamer basket or lay it on the trivet.
Close the lid and seal it shut.
Set the Instant Pot to High Pressure for 0 minutes.
Do a Quick Pressure Release and remove the cauliflower to a large mixing bowl.
Drain the water from the Instant Pot.
Add olive oil, salt, and pepper to the cauliflower and toss to coat.
Serve warm and enjoy.
🍴 Recipe Tips
I LOVE to steam veggies in my Instant Pot and often do it several times a week. While not every veggie is created the same or holds up the same to heat and pressure, the results are still easy and customizable.
With this Instant Pot cauliflower recipe, we can adjust how tender we get it by just adding 1 more minute to the clock.
With fresh cauliflower, you can get soft cauliflower (that's not too soft) by just setting the IP to 0 minutes. Yes, you can cook things for zero minutes.
The time it takes to get the Instant Pot up to pressure cooks the cauliflower perfectly so once it reaches the desired pressure level, the time is up.
Want softer cauliflower? 1 or 2 minutes will make it so tender you can mash it with a fork. Steamed cauliflower in the Instant Pot is so fast and easy its always a great side dish option for your meal.
💭 FAQs
Steaming veggies is a great way to make them nice and tender for chewing while keeping a lot of nutrients intact. This means that it could be considered a healthier way to prepare your cauliflower.
Yes, you can make this side dish up to 2 days in advance and store it in an airtight container in the fridge. Simply reheat when ready to eat. Perfect for easy meals throughout the week.
Here are some more great Instant Pot recipes to try
- Instant Pot Brussel Sprouts with Bacon
- Instant Pot Chicken Drumsticks
- Instant Pot Hot Dogs
- Instant Pot Taco Zucchini Boats
📖 Recipe
Instant Pot Cauliflower
Ingredients
- 1 head Cauliflower, chopped large ($2.74)
- 1 cup Water ($0.00)
- 1 Tablespoon Olive oil ($0.13)
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Wash and chop your cauliflower into large florets.
- In your Instant Pot, pour 1 cup of water.
- Add cauliflower to a steamer basket or lay on a trivet inside the Instant Pot.
- Close the lid and seal the vent.
- Set it to High Pressure and set the timer for 0 minutes.
- Do a Quick Pressure Release.
- Drain water and place cauliflower into a mixing bowl.
- Toss the cauliflower with olive oil, salt, and pepper to taste.
- Serve warm and enjoy.
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