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This Instant Pot cauliflower is ready in minutes and flavored with lemon and Italian seasoning for an easy, flavorful side dish! It’s the fastest way to get cauliflower on the table on a weeknight.
Did you know that steamed cauliflower can taste incredible? Of course without seasoning, it’s nothing to write home about. But steam it in a pressure cooker until it’s just crisp tender, then mix with olive oil, Italian seasoning and lemon zest and POW! It’s absolutely irresistible.
I literally could not stop eating this! Neither could my kids, which is saying something. After all these years of thinking the only way to eat cauliflower was to roast it, I’ve found a way quicker way that works for easy weeknights: this perfect Instant Pot cauliflower!
How to Make Instant Pot Cauliflower
The Instant Pot is a quick, hands off way to steam vegetables! I use the same method with my Instant Pot broccoli and Instant Pot Brussels sprouts: chop the veggies, throw them in with a bit of water, and press Cook! Here’s exactly how to make pressure cooker cauliflower.
Step 1: Chop the cauliflower into florets.
Use a large chef’s knife to cut the cauliflower into bite-sized florets. Here I used 1 small head of cauliflower, which is enough for 4 servings. Feel free double if you’d like: it’s still the same cook time and fits in a large pressure cooker.
Wondering the best way to cut cauliflower? I use this genius method that doesn’t end up with crumbles all over the counter: go to How to Cut Cauliflower.
Step 2: Pressure cook on High for 2 minutes.
Place the florets in the Instant Pot with ½ cup water. Then pressure cook on High for 2 minutes. Note that the pressure cooker takes about 5 minutes to “preheat” or come up to pressure before cooking.
You may find other recipes online that state a 0 or 1 minute cook time for cauliflower in the Instant Pot. In all of my testing, I found that 2 minutes was the sweet spot that yielded the perfect crisp tender florets. If you like your cauliflower very crisp, you could try a cook time of 1 minute, but I wouldn’t go less than that.
Step 3: Quick release and add flavorings.
Then you’ll perform a quick release by immediately letting all the steam out of the top valve. Once it’s come out, you can open the lid and taste your cauliflower. It comes out perfectly steamed and crisp tender!
Why This Seasoning Combination Works
Want the best way to serve cauliflower as a side? For this one I went Mediterranean style, and when I tasted it, I immediately starting shoveling more bites into my mouth. It’s that good! As I mentioned, I used to think that the only way to eat this veggie was roasted cauliflower. Now I’ve been proven wrong! Here’s my favorite way to flavor cauliflower:
- Olive oil
- Italian seasoning
- Lemon zest
- Salt & pepper
It sounds deceptively simple, but the flavors work remarkably well. The lemon zest in particular is great for brightening up after the pressure cooker, which can dull flavors cooking at such high pressure.
Ways To Serve Instant Pot Cauliflower
This side dish is so flexible and pairs well with many different meals, especially the Mediterranean diet recipes I’m usually eating. Here’s how I like to serve it:
- Alongside a grain bowl, like a Mediterranean Rice Bowl or Greek Chicken Bowl
- Topped with crumbled feta cheese or Parmesan for a richer side
- With a drizzle of tahini sauce or a spoonful of hummus as a dipping side
- Alongside baked chicken thighs, grilled salmon, or any simple weeknight protein
For more easy vegetable side ideas, check out my 25 Tasty Healthy Side Dishes.
A Note About Instant Pot Types
All pressure cooker brands vary. The brand I use is an Instant Pot 6 Qt Programmable Pressure Cooker. All Instant Pot recipes on this website have been tested using that model.
I can’t speak to other brands and types of pressure cookers. For example, Instant Pot Mini works differently, so use it at your own risk!
Storage Info
Store leftover Instant Pot cauliflower in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat in a skillet over medium heat or in a few second bursts in the microwave. The cauliflower will soften slightly after storage.
Dietary Notes
This Instant Pot cauliflower recipe is vegetarian, gluten-free, plant-based, dairy-free, and vegan.
Frequently Asked Questions
This is the most common issue with pressure-cooked cauliflower, and it almost always because of variation in floret size and cooker. Smaller florets cook faster, so try reducing to 1 minute next time. Some models of pressure cooker run slightly hotter than others. Once you dial in the right time for your specific Instant Pot, it’s consistent every time.
Yes: use a full large head of cauliflower instead of a small one, and keep the cook time exactly the same. The pressure cooker doesn’t need extra time for larger volumes of vegetables.
Absolutely. The same basic technique works with broccoli (try Instant Pot Broccoli — it uses 0 minutes cook time!), Instant Pot Brussels Sprouts, Instant Pot Beets, and more.
Instant Pot Cauliflower
This Instant Pot cauliflower is ready in minutes and flavored with lemon and Italian seasoning for an easy, flavorful side dish! It’s the fastest way to get cauliflower on the table on a weeknight.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 minutes
- Total Time: 13 minutes
- Yield: 4 1x
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Pressure Cooker
- Cuisine: Vegetables
Ingredients
- 1 small head cauliflower (1 1/2 to 2 pounds)
- ½ cup water
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- ¾ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ⅛ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest (zest from 1/2 lemon)
Instructions
- Chop the cauliflower into bite-sized florets (see the size in the photos). Add it to the Instant Pot with the water. Lock the lid of the Instant Pot. Place the pressure release handle (vent) in the “Sealing” position.
- Cook on high pressure for 2 minutes (or 1 minute; see Notes): Press the Pressure Cook button, making sure the “High Pressure” setting is selected, and set the time. Note that it takes about 5 minutes for the pot to “preheat” and come up to pressure. (Avoid touching the metal part of the lid.)
- Quick release: Once the timer beeps, vent the remaining steam from the Instant Pot by moving the pressure release handle to “Venting”, covering your hand with a towel or hot pad. Never put your hands or face near the vent when releasing steam. Open the pressure cooker lid. Test the cauliflower and if it is the desired tenderness, move to Step 4. Otherwise cook an additional 30 seconds to 1 minute. (It depends on pressure cookers, so once you have your desired timing use that each time.)
- Carefully remove the cauliflower to a bowl, draining any liquid. Toss with the remaining ingredients. Taste and add additional salt as necessary, then serve. (Store leftovers refrigerated.)
Notes
Cook time variation: If this is the first time you’re cooking cauliflower in your Instant Pot, try starting with a 1 minute cook time. Test the florets and if they need more time, use the additional minute. If you needed both minutes, use 2 minutes next time. This helps to avoid mushy cauliflower and accounts for variations in floret size and pressure cooker.
Hi, just made best instant pot cauli ever as per your recipe-1/2 c water, 2mins q/r…..many thanks..usually has always turned out too hard or too mushy.
Mushy when prepared exactly as directed — two minutes, quick release, immediate removal from IP.
Zero minutes next time.
Lemon zest is a very good suggestion.
Yes. 2 minutes way too long- it was really mushy.
2 minutes was perfect. I left the cauliflower in large pieces. Released the pressure as soon as the 2 minutes were up and served with a cheese sauce.
I needed a recipe for steaming cauliflower in my Instant Pot and found you on Google. Just finished zesting the lemon. One of my sides for today’s dinner. I’ll leave a comment on how it turns out.
I made this exactly as directed (2 minutes on high pressure and then quick release), and it turned out perfect. Such an easy and healthy side dish.
Turned out perfect! My husband was wowed by the flavor and my picky 6 year old finished his plate. I personally wish I had made more because just like you said I didn’t want to stop eating it. Sooo gooood.
I went to 0 minutes, quick release….I like my cauliflower al dente. My head was rather large so I used more spices than called for. Also left out the olive oil because I am oil free. Turned out great! That lemon zest gives it just the right touch.
Two minutes was still too much, and 1/2 c water was too little. I ended up with burnt mush. Less time, more water, and a steamer basket next time. The topping idea was good, though.
I made it with 2 minutes and loved the flavor but would use a steamer basket next time and cut the time to 1 and see what happens. Also I am going to try it without tbe oil. I used 1 tablespoon the first time and was very good but am trying to go no oil
Followed instructions exactly, and 2 minutes created extremely mushy cauliflower. Bummer because the organic cauliflower I bought was expensive!
I’m so sorry it didn’t work out.
Hi, your Step 2 instruction heading says 3 minutes but the actual recipe says 2 minutes. Thought you might want to update that.
Type updated: it should be 2 minutes! Thank you.
2 minutes turned cauliflower into mush. Would recommend following others advice and go with 0 , quick release , and check from there.
0 minutes and quick release. Al dente
Three minutes was the perfect time to cook a medium size head of cali in my instant pot duo crisp. Seasonings were really good, though I cut the salt in half. My family loved this recipe!
I tried the 3 minutes, too and the cauliflower was very soft. Would’ve been good for cauliflower mash, as Kathy had mentioned. I did put it under the Mealthy Crisp Lid for five minutes @ 425 and was still soft.
I think I am going to do the 0 minutes next time and see what I get and perhaps not have the cauliflower sitting in the water.
Thank you for the comment! We’ve done some further testing and updated the recipe to reflect variations in Instant Pots!
Cauliflower turned to mush – 3 minutes is too long to cook a larger head of cauliflower. Ended up making cauliflower mash since it was so overcooked.
I only wish that I had read your reviews before I put my cauliflower into the Instant Pot at 3 minutes. You can’t use the word cauliflower, Instant Pot, 3 minutes and CRISP in the same recipe, it’s just not happening!