Instant Pot Asparagus is a simple and quick way of cooking asparagus using a pressure cooker while preserving its nutrients. It's a healthy green vegetable side dish ready in less than 20 minutes.
Meal prep asparagus in the Instant Pot to serve alongside hearty meals like salmon, chicken, tacos, and more.
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What a way to get a jump start on asparagus season than with this one-pot wonder. Let the Instant Pot do all the work for you so that you can have a healthy side dish to enjoy all week long.
With tips on how to first steam and then sauté no matter the thickness, you'll never run out of snappy asparagus spears.
Let's get started!
Why Steam Asparagus in the Instant Pot
Like so many vegetables, steaming in the Instant Pot comes with so many benefits. It's one of my favorite ways to prepare vegetables because:
- Retains color. Giving the asparagus a short yet gentle steam locks in the bright green color of the stems.
- Tender crisp. Steaming keeps the asparagus spears crisp, rather than limp and soggy.
- One-pot wonder. With one quick wipe, the Instant Pot can be used to both steam and saute.
- Multitasker. Since much of the cooking time is hands-off, this allows you to get multiple dishes done in a shorter amount of time.
Interested in more steamed vegetables? Check out this detailed post on Instant Pot Steamed Vegetables.
Ingredients - Notes & Substitutions
Instant Pot steamed asparagus requires just a handle of ingredients to both steam and then saute. We will need:
Asparagus: Look for a fresh bunch of asparagus in the produce section of the grocery store. Bunches are usually found sitting in about an inch or two of water.
Water: The quantity of water will vary based on the size of your Instant Pot. Use 1 cup water for 6 qt, or 2 cups water for 8 qt.
Olive Oil: A fruity richness for sauteing. Butter or ghee is a great sub.
Seasonings: Garlic powder, salt and pepper add aromatic flavor and enhance the natural crispness of the asparagus.
Lemon Juice: For a final pop of acidity. Lime juice can also be used.
Scroll to the recipe card for a detailed list of ingredients and quantities.
How to Cook Asparagus in Instant Pot
Instant Pot asparagus takes no time at all. I like to first steam the asparagus, then saute with seasonings for more flavor. Here's how to do it:
Rinse and dry asparagus. Trim off the bottom hard part of the asparagus stem just where the color turns from green to white.
Add water to the Instant Pot cooking pot (Pic 1). Place the washed and trimmed asparagus spears on the steamer basket. Place the steamer basket in the Instant Pot (Pic 2).
Close the lid. Press 'Steam' or 'Pressure Cook' for '0' mins. When the cooking time is done, manually release the pressure (QR), remove the asparagus (Pic 3), and discard the water. Wipe the pot clean (Pic 4).
Turn on Saute and add olive oil. When the oil is hot, add steamed asparagus, garlic powder, salt, and pepper, and saute for 2 minutes (Pic 5).
Turn off Saute. Squeeze fresh lemon juice and stir to combine. Transfer the cooked asparagus to a serving platter (Pic 6) and enjoy with your favorite entrée.
Serving Suggestions
Pressure cooker asparagus can be served with any number of weeknight meals. It goes especially well with fish like chimichurri salmon or tandoori salmon.
But feel free to serve it with chicken, tacos, pasta and more. My family and I love it with lemon caper sauce for dipping.
Steamed asparagus also makes a wonderful addition to Easter and spring holidays.
How to Store
Leftover asparagus will keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days, or in the freezer for 3 months.
Reheating Instructions: Place on a microwave-safe plate. Reheat in the microwave for 30-45 seconds, or until warmed through.
Recipe Tips & Notes
- Use fresh asparagus: Fresh asparagus retain a nice crispness even after sauteing, which is hard to replicate in the frozen version.
- Thickness: Asparagus can range from pencil-thin to thick. If you can only find super thin asparagus, pressure cook on Low pressure to avoid overcooking.
- Garlic: Swap out the garlic powder for 1-2 cloves of fresh garlic instead.
- To reheat asparagus, microwave leftovers for 30-45 seconds, or until warmed through.
Frequently Asked Questions
Steam the asparagus in the Instant Pot prior to sauteing to lock in that beautiful green color and retain its crunch. The gentle heat of the Instant Pot cooks asparagus to perfection every time.
No, it is not necessary to soak asparagus in water before cooking. Simply steam and then saute.
Asparagus is wonderful sauteed with some olive oil and seasonings. The quick cooking approach results in crisp asparagus spears.
More Instant Pot Steamed Vegetables
These are all part of the Instant Pot Steamed Vegetables collection:
📖 Recipe
Instant Pot Asparagus
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Video
Equipment
Ingredients
Steam Asparagus
- 1 pound asparagus washed and trimmed
- 1 cup water
Optional Ingredients for Sauteing
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
Instructions
- Rinse and dry asparagus. Trim off the bottom hard part of the asparagus stem just where the color turns from green to white.
- Add water to the Instant Pot cooking pot. Place the washed and trimmed asparagus spears on the steamer basket. Place the steamer basket in the Instant Pot.
- Close the lid. Press 'Steam' or 'Pressure Cook' for '0' mins. When the cooking time is done, manually release the pressure (QR), remove the asparagus, and discard the water.
- Wipe the pot clean. Turn on Saute and add olive oil. When the oil is hot, add steamed asparagus, garlic powder, salt, and pepper, and saute for 2 minutes.
- Turn off Saute. Squeeze fresh lemon juice and stir to combine. Transfer the cooked asparagus to a serving platter and enjoy with your favorite entrée.
Notes
- Use fresh asparagus: Fresh asparagus retain a nice crispness even after sauteing, which is hard to replicate in the frozen version.
- Thickness: Asparagus can range from pencil-thin to thick. If you can only find super thin asparagus, pressure cook on Low pressure to avoid overcooking.
- Garlic: Swap out the garlic powder for 1-2 cloves fresh garlic instead.
- To reheat asparagus, microwave leftovers for 30-45 seconds, or until warmed through.
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