3-Minute Pressure Cooker Butternut Squash

Name: 3-Minute Pressure Cooker Butternut Squash
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 3 min
Total time: 8 min
Yield: 8
Cuisine: vegan
Ingredients: 2 lb. chopped butternut squash (from about one large squash); 1 cup of water or broth; 1 teaspoon each pumpkin pie spice and dried oregano; 1/2 teaspoon each garlic powder and chili powder

March 24, 2018 / By Carrie Forrest, MPH in Nutrition / 54 Comments

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Here’s the easiest recipe you’ll ever find for delicious Pressure Cooker butternut squash. Ready in 3 minutes, it’s the perfect healthy side dish!

Butternut Squash is So Delicious & Nutritious

Butternut squash is one of my favorite fall vegetables, although now it’s pretty easy to find all year round. It can be difficult and time-consuming to peel and chop (not to mention dangerous), so my favorite option is to buy it already peeled and chopped in a two-pound container.

How to Cook Butternut Squash in a Pressure Cooker

To make this easy pressure cooker butternut squash recipe, I simply poured the contents into my 6-quart Instant Pot and added one cup of water. Using broth is also an option for extra flavor.

I also added some spices that I would normally add if I were roasted the squash in the oven: pumpkin pie spice, garlic powder, chili powder and dried oregano. Feel free to adjust the spices and seasonings to your taste. I just stirred it all together and it looked like this:

Three minutes later on high pressure with the quick-pressure release…ta-da!

It smelled amazing and just like fall! I served it alongside my leftovers from last night. I think some onion added to the squash would have been really good so I’m going to try that next time.

Steps to make this Instant Pot pressure cooker butternut squash:

Combine squash, liquid, and herbs in the pot of a 6-quart pressure cooker and stir to combine.
Set on high-pressure for 3 minutes.
Use the quick-release method after cooking.

Could I achieve the same result by steaming the squash on the stove top? Of course, but it takes a lot longer than three minutes, that’s for sure. I also love roasting squash, but that takes so long.

See the how-to video at the end of this post for how I made this easy Instant Pot Pressure Cooker Butternut Squash recipe!

I’d love to know what your experiences are with pressure cooking. I also love the slow-cooker, but you have to run it for so long and make sure to plan ahead. The pressure cooker is ideal if you’ve just gotten home and need something fast.

Items recommended for this easy Instant Pot Pressure Cooker Butternut Squash recipe (some affiliate links included):

Questions about making butternut squash in the Instant Pot pressure cooker:

I don’t like dried oregano or the spices you mentioned. Can I leave them out? Yes, absolutely! Feel free to adjust the spices to your liking.

Can I use the natural release for this recipe? Yes, but the squash will be softer and not as firm.

Can I cook a whole butternut squash in the pressure cooker? Yes, but that’s another recipe. This one uses pre-cut, peeled butternut squash cubes.

Are the instructions the same for other brands of pressure cookers? Yes, but I made this in the Instant Pot 6-quart pressure cooker.

Instant Pot Autumn & Holiday Recipes

If you like this Instant Pot Butternut Squash, you might like these other healthy Instant Pot recipes!

You can also download my free Instant Pot Holiday e-book. All I ask is that you join my free newsletter list. Subscribe now; unsubscribe anytime. The free e-book is my gift to you!

Here’s the recipe for this easy 3-Minute Instant Pot Pressure Cooker Butternut Squash: