Steamed cauliflower is a timeless side dish, perfectly complementing almost any meal. Its subtle flavor and tender texture make it a classic that never disappoints. Even the pickiest eaters, like my own kids, will enjoy this cauliflower when it’s cooked to buttery perfection!

The Instant Pot has become an indispensable kitchen appliance, especially for steaming vegetables. It simplifies the cooking process, delivering consistent results with minimal effort. While your main course is finishing up, this Instant Pot cauliflower recipe cooks in a flash, making weeknight dinners a breeze.

This method requires hardly any hands-on work and guarantees perfectly cooked cauliflower every time. Just like our popular Instant Pot broccoli recipe, this cauliflower dish is a testament to the convenience and efficiency of pressure cooking. It’s quickly joined our list of favorite Instant Pot recipes, alongside classics like Instant Pot mac and cheese, Instant Pot creamy noodles, Instant Pot stir fry, and Instant Pot cabbage.

Ingredients Needed to Make Cauliflower in the Instant Pot

You’ll be surprised at how few ingredients are needed to create such a delicious and healthy side dish. The beauty lies in the simplicity, allowing the natural flavor of the cauliflower to shine through.

• One Head of Cauliflower: Opt for a medium to large head, ensuring it’s firm and white with no dark spots. Once cleaned, you’ll cut it into florets of similar size, roughly 1 to 1.5 inches. Consistency in size is key for even cooking. This usually yields about 4-5 cups of florets.
• Water: Just one cup of water is all you need to create the perfect steaming environment inside your Instant Pot. This amount creates enough steam without submerging the cauliflower.
• Butter: A tablespoon of butter adds a rich, comforting flavor that elevates the simple steamed cauliflower. It melts beautifully over the hot florets, infusing them with a delicious, creamy taste. You can use unsalted or salted butter, adjusting the added salt accordingly.
• Salt: A pinch of salt, added to taste, enhances all the flavors. We recommend adding it after cooking to control the seasoning precisely. Freshly ground black pepper is also a welcome addition.

That’s it! Four basic ingredients are all you need for this wonderful Instant Pot cauliflower recipe.

How to Make Instant Pot Steamed Cauliflower: A Step-by-Step Guide

This Instant Pot cauliflower recipe is so straightforward, even beginner cooks will master it on the first try. Follow these simple steps for perfectly steamed florets every time:

Step 1: Prepare Your Cauliflower

Begin by washing your head of cauliflower thoroughly under cool running water. Pat it dry. Next, carefully cut the cauliflower into florets. Aim for pieces that are roughly the same size, about 1 to 1.5 inches. This uniformity is crucial for ensuring that all florets cook evenly at the same rate. A medium/large head of cauliflower will typically yield around 4 cups of florets, which is ideal for a standard 6-quart Instant Pot.

Step 2: Set Up the Instant Pot for Steaming

Pour one cup of cold water into the bottom of your Instant Pot’s inner pot. This water will create the steam needed to cook your cauliflower. Then, place the metal trivet (the short, wire rack that came with your Instant Pot) down over the water. The trivet keeps the cauliflower elevated, preventing it from sitting directly in the water and ensuring it steams rather than boils.

Step 3: Add Cauliflower and Flavor

Carefully arrange the prepared cauliflower florets on top of the trivet. Try to distribute them as evenly as possible without overcrowding. Finally, place the pat of butter (one tablespoon) right in the center of the cauliflower florets. As the Instant Pot comes to pressure, the butter will slowly melt and infuse the cauliflower with its rich flavor.

Step 4: Pressure Cook to Perfection (The “0-Minute” Method)

Secure the lid on your Instant Pot, ensuring the sealing ring is properly in place. Turn the steam release handle to the “Sealing” position. Now, set the Instant Pot to “Manual” or “Pressure Cook” (High Pressure) for **0 minutes**. Yes, that’s zero minutes! This seemingly counter-intuitive setting is perfect for steaming delicate vegetables like cauliflower. The cauliflower will cook during the time it takes for the Instant Pot to come to full pressure, which typically takes about 5-8 minutes.

Once the Instant Pot reaches pressure, the timer will immediately count down from 0 minutes and then beep. This indicates that the cooking process is complete.

Step 5: Quick Release and Serve

As soon as the Instant Pot beeps, indicating the 0-minute cook time is complete, perform a quick release (QR). Carefully turn the steam release handle to the “Venting” position. Stand clear of the steam as it releases. This immediate release of pressure is critical to prevent the cauliflower from overcooking and becoming mushy. Wait until all the steam has escaped and the float valve (pin) has dropped completely, then you can safely open the lid.

Using tongs or a large spoon, carefully remove the trivet with the cooked cauliflower. Transfer the buttery, tender florets to a serving bowl. Season generously with salt to taste, and a crack of black pepper if desired, before serving immediately. The residual heat will melt any remaining butter, coating the cauliflower beautifully.

Serve as is for a simple, elegant side, or take it up a notch with some of our favorite cheese sauce for vegetables to pour over the top!

Tips for the Best Steamed Cauliflower Every Time

While this recipe is incredibly simple, a few extra tips can ensure your Instant Pot steamed cauliflower is absolutely perfect:

• Uniform Florets are Key: As mentioned, cutting your cauliflower florets into roughly the same size ensures even cooking. If you have some very large pieces and some small ones, the smaller ones will overcook while the larger ones might still be a bit firm.
• Don’t Overcrowd: While the Instant Pot is spacious, avoid packing too much cauliflower in at once. Ensure there’s enough space for the steam to circulate freely around the florets for optimal cooking. If you’re doubling the recipe, you might need to cook in batches or use a larger Instant Pot.
• Quick Release is Crucial: For crisp-tender cauliflower, a quick release of pressure immediately after the 0-minute timer is essential. Letting the pressure release naturally will result in overcooked, mushy cauliflower.
• Adjust to Your Preferred Tenderness: The “0-minute” method generally yields crisp-tender cauliflower. If you prefer it slightly softer, you can try setting the Instant Pot for 1 minute, but be mindful that this can quickly lead to very soft or mushy florets.
• Customize Your Seasoning: While salt and butter are a fantastic classic, feel free to experiment! Garlic powder, onion powder, a squeeze of lemon juice, fresh herbs like parsley or dill, or a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese can all elevate the flavor profile.
• No Steamer Basket? No Problem! The trivet that comes with your Instant Pot acts as a perfect platform for steaming. If you happen to have a steamer basket, you can certainly use it, but it’s not a requirement for this recipe.