Garlic Butter Instant Pot Brussels Sprouts

Transform your perception of Brussels sprouts with this incredibly easy Instant Pot recipe featuring savory bacon! Much like our popular Instant Pot Steamed Vegetables, this version takes it up a notch with an irresistible garlic-buttery twist, making it the perfect side dish for any meal. Prepare to be amazed by how quickly and effortlessly you can create a truly delicious vegetable that even the pickiest eaters will adore.

For years, Brussels sprouts held a dubious reputation, often dismissed as bitter and unappealing. However, the secret to unlocking their incredible potential lies in the cooking method and the complementary flavors you introduce. We’ve combined all our favorite elements to craft this simple yet utterly delicious Instant Pot Brussels sprouts recipe. It wasn’t until adulthood that I truly gave them a fair chance, and I can confidently say that this recipe changed everything. Even my children, who are typically wary of green vegetables, devoured them with enthusiasm. This dish has quickly become one of our most beloved vegetable Instant Pot recipes.

Instant Pot Brussels Sprouts with Bacon: A Game-Changer Side Dish

Witness the magic of Brussels sprouts cooked to perfection in your Instant Pot! This versatile recipe isn’t limited to just one appliance; it’s also a fantastic easy Ninja Foodi recipe and works wonderfully in a Crockpot Express. What makes this dish truly extraordinary? The essential combination of crispy bacon and rich butter. This pairing elevates the humble sprout to new culinary heights, creating one of the most flavorful recipes we’ve ever prepared in our multi-cooker.

These tender, flavorful Brussels sprouts complement almost any main course. They emerge from the pressure cooker perfectly tender, ready to be enjoyed straight away. For those who crave an extra layer of texture, a quick finish in an air fryer or under the broiler will transform them into irresistibly crispy delights. If you own an Instant Pot air fryer lid, simply attach it at the end of the pressure cooking cycle for that ideal crunch. Whichever way you choose to finish them, the results are undeniably delicious.

Getting Started with Pressure Cooking: Essential Tips

If you’re new to the world of pressure cooking, you’ve come to the right place! We offer a wealth of easy, one-pot meal recipes. To ensure your success with this Brussels sprouts recipe and many others, let’s cover a few fundamental tips:

• Bookmark our InstaPot recipes page: We’re constantly adding new and exciting recipes each week!
• Print an Instant Pot cooking times cheat sheet: This invaluable resource will help you understand precisely how long various ingredients, including meats, vegetables, and beans, take to cook in your pressure cooker.
• Consider investing in a non-stick inner pot: While not strictly necessary, we highly recommend acquiring this non-stick pot. It significantly reduces the likelihood of food sticking and makes cleanup a breeze.
• Understand how to deglaze your pressure cooker: It’s important to know how to deglaze a pressure cooker after sautéing to prevent a “burn” notice, though a non-stick liner will minimize this issue.

For context, the recipes shared here are developed using a 6-quart Instant Pot model, a widely popular size perfect for most family meals.

I typically use about two pounds of Brussels sprouts for this recipe, which often fills a standard steamer basket perfectly. Growing up, Brussels sprouts were a divisive vegetable in my household; my dad loved them, while my mom couldn’t stand the smell, which, unfortunately, colored my own early perceptions. It wasn’t until I was an adult that I decided to challenge those preconceived notions and set out to make them truly delicious. This recipe was the breakthrough! After all, how can anything combined with bacon and butter *not* be amazing?

The Secret to Perfectly Cooked Instant Pot Brussels Sprouts: Just 3 Minutes!

You heard that right – these delightful Brussels sprouts require only 3 minutes of high-pressure cooking time! This quick cooking time follows a brief sautéing period where you crisp up the bacon and melt the butter, infusing incredible flavor right from the start. Through a process of tasting, adjusting, and re-tasting, I refined this recipe to perfection. The ultimate testament to its success? Even my 11-year-old declared them “delicious,” and my notoriously picky husband now requests them weekly! Once you try them, you’ll understand why. Beyond this Instant Pot method, we’re also huge fans of air fryer Brussels sprouts, especially if you have a Ninja Foodi that combines both functions. We encourage you to try both preparations to find your favorite!

Essential Tips for Perfect Brussels Sprouts Every Time

• Halving is key: Cutting your Brussels sprouts in half lengthwise is crucial for ensuring they steam evenly and cook to absolute perfection. This allows the heat to penetrate more effectively, leading to a consistently tender result.
• Uniform texture: Halving makes perfect sense, doesn’t it? Without this step, achieving a soft and tender center, which is exactly what you want, becomes incredibly difficult.

While you’ll naturally encounter sprouts of varying sizes, the mixture of textures between slightly firmer larger pieces and very tender smaller ones creates an enjoyable eating experience. After rinsing and halving your sprouts, they’ll be pressure cooked in a vegetable steamer basket with a small amount of water underneath.

If you prefer not to slice your sprouts, you can still follow this recipe. However, I would recommend adding an extra minute to the cooking time to ensure they become tender throughout. The downside to cooking them whole is that the outer leaves may become quite soft – almost mushy to some – by the time the centers are perfectly cooked. This is why I strongly suggest halving them, or, if you insist on keeping them whole, a brief soak beforehand can help.

This recipe is incredibly versatile! You can prepare these Brussels sprouts and even a whole pressure cooker cauliflower in your Ninja Foodi multi-cooker. The beauty of the Ninja Foodi is its ability to air fry in the same pot. While you might only need one cooking function at a time, having the option to seamlessly switch lids and air crisp at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for a few minutes until beautifully browned is a fantastic bonus for achieving that perfect crispy finish.

Simple Ingredients for Maximum Flavor

The beauty of this recipe lies in its straightforward ingredients, which combine to create an explosion of taste:

1. Brussels sprouts: Steam as many as you desire, ensuring they don’t exceed the top of your steamer basket for optimal cooking.
2. Bacon: While optional, bacon is highly recommended. It infuses the sprouts with incredible savory flavor and provides a touch of fat to keep them moist and tender.
3. Butter: Essential for both flavor and maintaining that desired tender texture.
4. Salt and pepper: Season to your personal preference. You can always adjust the salt at the end.
5. Optional flavor enhancers: A squeeze of fresh lemon juice, finely diced shallots, or a generous sprinkle of Parmesan cheese can elevate the dish even further.

Essential Equipment for Success

A good quality vegetable steamer basket is indispensable for this recipe and many other Instant Pot sides, such as our Instant Pot spaghetti squash. It ensures your vegetables are perfectly steamed without becoming waterlogged.

Substitutions and Flavorful Variations

When it comes to seasonings, we typically opt for a simple yet effective blend of garlic salt and regular salt. However, taste is highly personal, so feel free to adjust these quantities to your liking, adding more salt at the very end if needed. There are countless ways to cook Brussels sprouts, but this method is guaranteed to become a favorite! For those with dietary restrictions, a dairy-free or vegan butter alternative can be easily substituted.

Looking for creative extras? After steaming, you can transfer the sprouts to a pan to make cast iron Brussels sprouts, adding a rustic, caramelized finish. Consider incorporating toasted nuts like pecans or walnuts for crunch, dried cranberries for a touch of sweetness, or a drizzle of balsamic glaze for a tangy counterpoint. A hint of red pepper flakes can also add a subtle kick.

The combination of garlic and butter is a timeless classic, and we incorporate these two incredible flavors even when making our baked Brussels sprouts and cauliflower recipe. It’s simply irresistible! Below, you’ll find a detailed printable recipe card. For a quick overview, here’s a step-by-step guide to how we achieve this fantastic dish:

Mastering Instant Pot Brussels Sprouts: A Step-by-Step Guide

1. Prepare the Instant Pot for steaming: Place your vegetable steam basket at the bottom of your Instant Pot inner pot. Pour 1 to 1.5 cups of water into the pot, ensuring it’s below the basket.
2. Add Brussels sprouts: Gently place your halved Brussels sprouts into the steamer basket. Close the Instant Pot lid and set the steam release valve to the “Sealing” position.
3. Pressure cook: Select the “Manual” or “Pressure Cook” setting on high pressure and set the timer for 3 minutes. If you are cooking a smaller batch (e.g., halving the recipe), 2 minutes might be sufficient for a slightly firmer texture.
4. Quick release pressure: Once the cooking cycle is complete, perform a quick release of the pressure by carefully turning the steam release valve to the “Venting” position. Once the float valve drops, open the lid.
5. Drain and prepare for sautéing: Carefully remove the steamer basket with the cooked Brussels sprouts and set it aside. Drain any remaining liquid from the Instant Pot liner.
6. Sauté aromatic ingredients: Place the empty pot back into the Instant Pot base and select the “Sauté” function on normal. Add 1 tablespoon of butter and your diced bacon. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the bacon is almost crispy.
7. Add shallots and remaining butter: For the last minute of bacon cooking, add your diced shallots (if using) to the pot, allowing them to soften slightly and absorb the bacon fat. Then, add the remaining stick of butter, allowing it to melt and combine with the bacon and shallots.
8. Combine and coat: Once the butter is fully melted and the bacon has reached your desired crispiness, turn off the Instant Pot’s “Sauté” function. Return the cooked Brussels sprouts to the pot and gently toss them with the bacon, butter, and shallot mixture, ensuring every sprout is beautifully coated.
9. Season and serve: Squeeze fresh lemon juice over the sprouts (optional) and sprinkle with garlic salt, pepper, and any other desired seasonings. Gently toss again. Serve immediately, topped with Parmesan cheese and fresh chives for an extra flourish.

For those craving even crispier, roasted Brussels sprouts, you have a few excellent options: If you own a Ninja Foodi, simply swap to the Crisp Lid and air crisp at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 4-5 minutes, or until golden brown and slightly charred. Alternatively, you can transfer the sprouts to a baking sheet and broil them in your oven at 400 degrees for a few minutes, or bake Brussels sprouts at 450 degrees Fahrenheit until crispy. Just be sure to keep a close eye on them to prevent burning! Jump to recipe for full details.

Ready to explore more delicious Instant Pot vegetable recipes? Be sure to print out our comprehensive Instant Pot cook time sheet to guide your culinary adventures!