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    BeeyondCereal » Recipes » Side Dishes

    Instant Pot Zucchini

    Modified: Apr 17, 2025 Published: Dec 24, 2020 by Nicole Durham This post may contain affiliate links. Leave a Comment

    Jump to Recipe Pin Recipe
    5 from 1 vote

    Instant Pot Zucchini is a great way to steam your favorite vegetable to perfection. With an easy cooking process and only 2 minutes of actual cooking time, this recipe is as simple as it gets!

    Recipe: $1.96 | Per Serving: $0.49 | Servings: 4

    steamed sliced zucchini and lemon wedges on a plate with a fork.

    Instant Pot steamed zucchini is a fantastic way to enjoy soft, crisp, and flavorful zucchini without much effort. I'm a big fan of low-effort meals and side dishes!

    To steam zucchini in an Instant Pot, all you need to do is chop the zucchini, add it and some water to the Instant Pot, and set the cooking time. It is a quick and convenient way to make a versatile and tasty addition to your meals.

    You can check some of our many zucchini recipes like Zucchini Penne Pasta, Snickerdoodle Zucchini Bread, Zucchini Carrot Oatmeal Muffins, and Zucchini Bread Mini Loaves.

    Jump to:
    • 🍯 Why This Recipe Works
    • 🥘 Ingredients
    • 🔪 Instructions for Instant Pot Zucchini
    • 🍴 Recipe Tips
    • 💭 Recipe FAQs
    • ❤️ More Delicious Instant Pot Recipes
    • 📖 Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    🍯 Why This Recipe Works

    1. It's quick! With just a few minutes of prep and 2 minutes of cooking time, you can enjoy fabulous sliced zucchini with your next meal! Check out more ideas with our Delicious Summer Squash Recipes.
    2. It's simple. With just some zucchini, water, and simple seasonings, you can have a tasty dish that may not require any shopping, especially if you grew the zucchini in your backyard garden this year.
    3. It's frugal. In season or not, zucchini has always been a pretty affordable veggie. When you pair that with tap water and seasonings that are already in your pantry, you get a truly affordable recipe.

    🥘 Ingredients

    labeled ingredients needed for instant pot zucchini.

    Fresh zucchini- You will need some fresh zucchini. (Make sure to wash them first). This is great for using up garden zucchini, but storebought is fine too! If you still have zucchini, try our Amish Zucchini Bread, Old Fashioned Zucchini Bread, and Instant Pot Taco Zucchini Boats.

    Water- To help your Instant Pot get up to pressure so it can properly cook your veggies, you will need some water.

    Seasonings- We like to keep things simple by just using salt, pepper, and garlic powder.

    For specific ingredients and measurements, please see the recipe card below.

    🔪 Instructions for Instant Pot Zucchini

    slice zucchini and steam in instant pot then toss in seasonings.

    Step 1: Wash your zucchini and slice it into coins about ¼ inch thick. (Image 1).

    Step 2: Place the zucchini in a steamer basket or lay it on a trivet and lower it into your Instant Pot. Add 1 cup of water. (Image 2).

    Step 3: Close the lid and seal it. Set it to High Pressure for 2 minutes (Image 3) and do a Quick Pressure Release.

    Step 4: Remove the zucchini and drain the water.

    Step 5: Place the zucchini into a mixing bowl with the olive oil and seasonings. Toss to coat. (Image 4).

    Serve warm.

    🍴 Recipe Tips

    1. Preferred Texture: Slice zucchini into ¼-inch thick slices for a balance of tenderness and crispness.
    2. Adjusting Thickness: Thicker or thinner slices can be used to tailor the texture to your preference.
    3. Variety Options: Substitute with yellow squash or mix both for variation based on availability or preference.

    💭 Recipe FAQs

    Do I have to peel zucchini before steaming?

    Nope! The peel on these zucchini slices can be left on or taken off depending on your preference. It's thin enough that it cooks down with the rest of the zucchini and helps it to maintain some of that fresh/crisp bite.

    What size should I cut the zucchini for steaming?

    You can cut zucchini into slices, chunks, or sticks, depending on how you plan to use them. Slices or chunks are versatile and cook evenly.

    How much water do I need in the Instant Pot for steaming zucchini?

    You typically need about 1-2 cups of water in the Instant Pot for steaming zucchini. The exact amount may vary based on your specific Instant Pot model.

    steamed instant pot zucchini on a ectangle plate with a serving fork.

    ❤️ More Delicious Instant Pot Recipes

    • steamed zucchini and lemon wedges on a plate with a fork.
      Instant Pot Zucchini
    • a barbecue covered beef rib on a plate.
      Instant Pot Beef Back Ribs
    • au gratin potatoes in a white baking dish.
      Instant Pot Boxed Au Gratin Potatoes
    • two cooked chicken quarters in a dish with broccoli next to an instant pot.
      Instant Pot Chicken Quarters

    If you tried this Instant Pot Zucchini, please leave a ⭐️ star rating and share your feedback in the 📝 comments section below. I would truly appreciate it!

    📖 Recipe

    steamed zucchini and lemon wedges on a plate with a fork.
    Print Recipe
    5 from 1 vote

    Instant Pot Zucchini

    The Instant Pot is a great way to steam your favorite vegetable to perfection. With an easy cooking process and only 2 minutes of actual cooking time, this recipe is as simple as it gets!
    Prep Time 5 minutes mins
    Cook Time 2 minutes mins
    Total Time 7 minutes mins
    Servings: 4
    Calories: 57kcal
    Cost Recipe $1.96 / Serving $0.49
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Equipment

    • 6qt Instant Pot
    • IP Trivet or steamer basket
    • Measuring Spoons

    Ingredients

    • 2 large zucchini ($1.78)
    • 1 cup water ($0.00)
    • 1 Tablespoon olive oil ($0.14)
    • ¼ teaspoon salt ($0.01)
    • ¼ teaspoon garlic powder ($0.02)
    • ⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper ($0.01)
    US Customary - Metric

    Instructions

    • Wash and slice your zucchini into ¼ inch thin slices. Thinner if you want them even softer, but ¼ gives you soft and crisp results.
    • Place the zucchini on an Instant Pot trivet or in a steamer basket and lower into Instant Pot. Add the water to the pot.
    • Close the lid and seal it. Set it to High Pressure for 2 minutes and do a Quick Pressure Release.
    • Remove zucchini and drain water. Place zucchini in a bowl with olive oil and seasonings. Toss to coat and serve warm.

    Notes

    I prefer my zucchini in the Instant Pot to be cooked until it's soft enough to not feel raw but still retains a bit of crispness. Slicing the zucchini into ¼ inch thick slices achieves that perfect texture.
    You have some flexibility in adjusting the thickness of the slices to achieve your desired results. Additionally, you can use yellow squash instead of zucchini or even a mix of both, depending on what summer squash you have available.
    Whether you leave the peel on or take it off is a matter of personal preference. The peel is thin enough that it cooks down with the rest of the zucchini and helps it maintain a fresh and crisp texture.

    Nutritional Information

    Serving: 1scoop | Calories: 57kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 0.6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2.5g | Sodium: 158.3mg | Potassium: 421.5mg | Fiber: 1.6g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 16.2IU | Vitamin C: 28.9mg | Calcium: 25.9mg | Iron: 0.6mg
    Author Nicole Durham
    Course Side Dish
    Cuisine American
    Diet Gluten Free, Vegan, Vegetarian
    Tried this recipe?Mention @BeeyondCereal on Instagram and hashtag it #BeeyondCereal
    Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used. To view how this recipe was calculated you can visit my Pricing Disclosure Page for more information.

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    Hey, I'm Nicole

    The proud owner and recipe developer behind BeeyondCereal. Here, I'm passionate about showing people how to navigate the kitchen with frugality in mind, whipping up family-friendly recipes that not only save money but also bring joy to every meal.

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