Instant Pot Ranch Broccoli

I’m always looking for a big batch of a vegetable side dish that can travel well for holiday meals and family parties.  This Instant Pot Ranch Broccoli is such an EASY recipe that tastes great!

Big Batch of Instant Pot Broccoli

I often Make a Vegetable Tray for parties and I never know how much food to buy, so I typically buy extra.  I recently had a big bag of fresh broccoli leftover from a party and thought using my electric pressure cooker would be the easiest way to cook the broccoli.  This recipe is the perfect way to use a few extra bunches of fresh broccoli.  Another way to use extra broccoli is in our Broccoli Mushroom Casserole.

Making a small batch made me realize how easy it would be to make a big batch of broccoli in the Instant Pot.  We often travel a couple of hours for holiday meals and this is the perfect recipe to mix up in the Instant Pot and then cook on the counter once we arrive at the party.  Allow 10 to 15 minutes for the pressure cooker to pressurize and your easy vegetable side dish will be ready quickly.

Simply cut enough broccoli into bite sized pieces to fill the Instant Pot to the 2/3 full, maximum fill line.  Add half of the broccoli to the pressure cooker.  Pour in the water.  Sprinkle half of the ranch dressing mix that you plan to use over the broccoli.  Layer the remaining broccoli and sprinkle the remaining ranch powder mix on top.  Seal the lid and pressure cook for 1-2 minutes.

During the pressure cooking, the ranch flavoring circulates throughout the pot and soaks into the broccoli.  It tastes SO good and so simple that we all love the Ranch Broccoli!

How Long to Cook Broccoli in the Instant Pot

Fresh broccoli cooks VERY quickly under high pressure in an Instant Pot.  If you plan to eat the broccoli immediately, cook for 2 minutes and use the quick release as soon as the cook time is over.

If you plan to eat more than ten minutes after the broccoli is done cooking, cook for 1 minute under high pressure and use the quick release as soon as the cook time is over.

Cook time was the same with 4 cups of broccoli as it was with the Instant Pot full (to the max fill line) of broccoli.

If the broccoli is left in the sealed Instant Pot it will continue to cook and may become mushy fairly quickly.

How to Make Instant Pot Ranch Broccoli

1. Cut broccoli into bite-sized pieces.  Add about 8 cups of broccoli to the Instant Pot.
2. Pour 3/4 cup of water over broccoli.
3. Pour one 1-ounce dry packet of ranch dressing mix evenly over 8 cups of broccoli.
4. Add remaining broccoli to the pot, which is another 8 cups for a 6 quart Instant Pot.
5. Pour another 1-ounce packet of ranch dressing mix over broccoli.
6. Set to high pressure for 1-2 minutes.
7. Use quick release and stir.  Serve immediately.

Tips for Making Fresh Broccoli in the Instant Pot

• All cooking appliances and conditions are different, so you should test these times and guidelines first in your own appliance to determine what adjustments may be needed!
• Cook for 2 minutes if planning to eat quickly
• Cook for 1 minute if planning to wait 10 minutes or more to eat
• Use quick pressure release and remove lid promptly to prevent broccoli from overcooking
• A one ounce packet of ranch dressing mix is about 2 1/2 tablespoons
• 16 cups of broccoli is about 3 large crowns of broccoli

Other Easy Vegetable Side Dish Ideas:

• Ranch Glazed Carrots
• Scalloped Corn
• Asian Asparagus
• Jiffy Corn Pudding
• Easy Low-Carb Loaded Cauliflower Casserole
• Twice Baked Potato Casserole
• Cheesy Broccoli Casserole 
• Broccoli Cauliflower Salad

Printable Recipe for Instant Pot Ranch Broccoli