Here’s how to make Instant Pot Cauliflower Florets for an easy, healthy side dish. Serve the cooked cauliflower with almost any main dish. This recipe takes only 20 minutes.

dish of steamed cauliflower.

Cauliflower is such a great vegetable! It’s mild in flavor, budget-friendly, and available all year round. Plus, it’s a cruciferous vegetable with a ton of health benefits.

My favorite way to cook cauliflower is to make Instant Pot Steamed Cauliflower.

It’s beyond easy and only takes one minute cook time.

Why You Need This Recipe

  • This recipe is very versatile. You can make it fat-free or serve it with your choice of topping. Steamed cauliflower is naturally vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free.
  • Steamed cauliflower can be served with olive oil, salt, and pepper, Or, you can blend it with some ghee, butter, or vegan butter into a delicious cauliflower mash. It’s a great low-carb option to potatoes. See why complete list of the Best Substitutes for Potatoes.
  • Freeze your Instant Pot Steamed Cauliflower to use in a cauliflower smoothie later. Once the cauliflower is frozen and blended with ingredients like frozen fruit and peanut butter, you can’t taste the cauliflower at all! This is a great healthy hack for getting picky eaters to eat more veggies.

Key Ingredients

head of cauliflower on a table with a knife to cut into florets.
  • You’ll need a head of cauliflower to make this recipe for Instant Pot Cauliflower. Or, you can buy cauliflower that has already been broken up into florets.
  • One head of cauliflower yields about 4 cups of cauliflower florets. Look for heads of cauliflower that are full with no black spots or browning around the edges.
  • You will also need some water to add to the Instant Pot to bring it up to pressure.

Recipe Steps

Step One

If you are starting with a head of cauliflower, use a sharp knife to cut the cauliflower in half. Then, use your hands to break off each of the florets.

Place them in a colander to rinse with fresh water. This will ensure that you remove any dirt or little bugs that may have hidden inside. 

Step Two

Place the trivet or steamer basket in your 6-quart Instant Pot pressure cooker. Add 1 cup of water. Then, add the rinsed cauliflower florets.

Lock on the lid and set the time to 1 minute on high pressure.

cauliflower florets inside of an instant pot pressure cooker.

Please see the recipe card at the end of this post for the exact ingredients and measurements.

Step Three

Once the cooking time is complete, I recommend using the quick-release when the cooking time is up to make sure the cauliflower doesn’t get mushy.

Step Four

If you’re going to eat it right away, just use tongs to serve it up. Otherwise, I like to rinse the cauliflower with cold water (or transfer it to an ice water bath) to stop it from cooking.

After you put the cauliflower in an ice bath, you’ll need to drain it in a colander.

steamed cauliflower drained in a colander.

Serve your Instant Pot Steamed Cauliflower plain or topped with your choice of butter, ghee, vegan butter, plus some salt and pepper for seasoning.

I hope you enjoy this easy way to make low carb and healthy fresh cauliflower. It’s one of my favorite Instant Pot recipes.

Recipe Tips

  • If you want to freeze the cooked florets, place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet and freeze for 2 hours before transferring them to a zip-top bag. They’ll keep in the freezer for up to 2 months.
  • One large head of cauliflower yields about 4 cups of florets.
  • The total cooking time includes approximately 10 minutes for the Instant Pot to come up to pressure. 
  • Store any leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days.

Recipe FAQs

Can I cook frozen Instant Pot florets?

Yes, you can! Just cook them for 2 minutes on high pressure, and use the quick release. 

Can I cook a whole head of cauliflower in the Instant Pot?

I prefer breaking it up into florets to ensure that the cauliflower gets steamed evenly. If you try to cook a whole cauliflower without breaking it into florets, it may not get cooked evenly. You could try slicing the cauliflower into cauliflower steaks, but steaming florets is the easiest way.

Do I have to use the trivet when steaming cauliflower?

It’s best to use the trivet to keep the florets out of the water. This helps prevent the cauliflower from getting soggy. You can also use a steamer basket.

Can I use chicken broth to cook the cauliflower?

Yes, but you won’t get much benefit as the trivet keeps the vegetables from touching the liquid. It’s best to use water to steam the cauliflower.

More Instant Pot Vegetable Recipes You Might Like

Or, see my entire index of Instant Pot Vegetable recipes.

Don’t Miss These Instant Pot Resources!

How to Make Instant Pot Boiled Potatoes (All Sizes)

How to Use the Instant Pot Duo (For Beginners)

25+ Healthy Instant Pot Side Dishes

Instant Pot Meal Prep Gift Guide (Plus Recipes)

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instant pot steamed cauliflower florets on a plate.

Instant Pot Steamed Cauliflower

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5 from 4 reviews

Print Recipe

Here’s how to make Instant Pot Cauliflower Florets for an easy, healthy side dish. Serve the cooked cauliflower with almost any main dish. This recipe takes only 20 minutes.

  • Total Time: 21 minutes
  • Yield: 4 1x

Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 large head of cauliflower, broken into florets (about 4 cups)

Instructions

  1. Place the water in a 6-quart Instant Pot.
  2. Place the trivet into the water and put the cauliflower florets on top of the trivet.
  3. Lock on the lid on the Instant Pot and set the time to 1 minute on high pressure.
  4. When the cooking time is complete, carefully quick-release the pressure.
  5. Serve the cauliflower hot, or transfer it to a ice water bath to prevent the cauliflower from over-cooking.
  6. Store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, or freeze the cooked florets for up to 2 months in a tightly-sealed container.

Notes

  1. If you want to freeze the cooked florets, place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet and freeze for 2 hours before transferring them to a zip-top bag. They’ll keep in the freezer for up to 2 months.
  2. One large head of cauliflower yields about 4 cups of florets.
  3. The total cooking time includes approximately 10 minutes for the Instant Pot to come up to pressure. 
  • Author: Carrie Forrest, MPH in Nutrition
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 1 minute
  • Category: Side dish
  • Method: Instant Pot pressure cooker
  • Cuisine: Healthy
  • Diet: Vegetarian

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1/4 of cauliflower
  • Calories: 37
  • Sugar: 2.8 g
  • Sodium: 44.1 mg
  • Fat: 0.4 g
  • Saturated Fat: 0.2 g
  • Carbohydrates: 7.3 g
  • Fiber: 2.9 g
  • Protein: 2.8 g
  • Cholesterol: 0 mg

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About the Author: Carrie Forrest is the author of the best-selling Instant Pot-authorized cookbook, The Healthy Meal Prep Instant Pot Cookbook. She has a master’s degree in public health with a specialty in nutrition and receives over 5 million annual visitors to her site. Send Carrie a message through her contact form.