How To Steam Broccoli: Easy, Fast, And Healthy

Steamed broccoli is an amazingly healthy vegetable with vibrant green color and a broad range of health benefits. Here's a quick guide on how to steam broccoli.

Mama said there should always be a green vegetable on your plate. And, my favorite green vegetable is broccoli, more specifically, steam broccoli. It’s way more versatile than you might think and pairs with pretty much anything.

You can enjoy it in a salad, on a plate with some brown rice, or on a plate with crispy blackened tofu.

In this post, I’m going to show you a few different ways to steam broccoli perfectly every time. And, what do I mean by “perfect?” I mean crisp-tender, vibrant green, delicious with every bite, and NOT MUSHY steamed broccoli.

Why Make Steamed Broccoli?

Steamed broccoli is one of the easiest recipes and a great way to get a healthy side dish on the table super fast. It’s also one of those vegan foods you can happily over-indulge on completely guilt-free. It’s gluten-free, vegan, and loaded with vitamins.

• Fast and easy: you can make steamed broccoli in less than 10 minutes with no fancy equipment.
• Healthy: steaming broccoli requires nothing but water so it’s fat-free, low-calorie, and nutrient-dense.
• Versatile: steamed broccoli not only goes with many different dishes there’s also a variety of ways to add flavor. It’s not boring!

Broccoli Nutrition Information

This bright green cruciferous vegetable is super nutritious. It’s very low in calories, full of nutrients, and contains almost no fat (source). The information below is for 1 cup of broccoli:

• Calories: 31
• Protein: 2.5 grams
• Carbohydrates: 6 grams
• Fiber: 2.4 grams
• Fat: 0.4 grams

Ingredients You Will Need To Make Steamed Broccoli

Broccoli and water, that’s it! Yes, you can season it but you only need two simple ingredients to make steamed broccoli.

Broccoli: you can either use pre-cut broccoli or chop your own. If you are going to chop your own leave the stems long, it looks much better and gives you more broccoli.

How To Steam Broccoli Instructions

When it comes to steaming broccoli there are a few ways to accomplish said task. And, they’re all super simple. Let’s look, shall we?

How To Steam Broccoli Using An Instant Pot

I use my Instant Pot EVERY day for almost every meal. It’s my go-to kitchen appliance of choice even for steaming vegetables.

1. Add 1 cup of water to the instant pot insert and place a steamer basket in the Instant Pot. I like this silicone steamer basket.
2. Spread the broccoli florets in the steamer basket. Choose manual or pressure cook mode on the Instant Pot and set the time to 0 minutes on high pressure with the vent in the sealing position. (Yes, I know it looks weird but it’s actually ZERO minutes)
3. When the Instant Pot has finished cooking, do a manual “quick release” and remove the steamer basket. Be careful because it will be hot.
4. Optional: place this basket under cold water to stop the cooking or enjoy the broccoli right away.
5. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Easy Steamed Broccoli Recipe With Steamer Basket

If you don’t have an Instant Pot the most common method is using a steamer basket in a saucepan.

1. Add 1-inch of water and a steamer basket to the saucepan and bring the water to a boil.
2. Place the broccoli in the basket, cover reduce the heat to medium, and let it cook for 4-5 minutes. The broccoli is done when it’s fork tender.
3. Don’t let the broccoli overcook or it will turn an ugly green and get all soft and mushy.

How To Steam Broccoli In the Microwave

1. Pour 1-2″ of water into a large microwave-safe bowl and add the broccoli to the bowl.
2. Microwave the broccoli on high for 2 minutes. Check the broccoli for tenderness and microwave for an additional 2 minutes on high if necessary. 
3. Carefully remove the broccoli from the microwave, let it cool for a few moments, and enjoy.

How To Steam Broccoli With No Steamer Basket

If you don’t have a steamer basket you can still cook the broccoli on the stove-top with boiling water.

1. Place 1-2″ of water in the bottom of a pot, pan, or nonstick skillet. Heat over high heat until the water is boiling. Add in the broccoli and place a lid on top.
2. Cook for 3-4 minutes and quickly place broccoli in a strainer and run cold water over the broccoli.
3. Drizzle with lemon juice and enjoy.

Serving Suggestions

You can enjoy steamed broccoli plain but dressing it up a little doesn’t hurt. I like topping it with a sprinkle of my vegan parmesan cheese, cashew vegan mayo, balsamic vinegar, a little soy sauce, or something simple as a squeeze of lemon juice.

• Brown Rice and Lentils
• Crispy Blackened Tofu
• Best Grilled Tofu Recipe
• Vegan Bulgogi (Korean BBQ Beef)
• Easy Grilled Teriyaki Skewers
• Vegan Lentil Shepherds Pie

Storage

Place leftovers in an airtight container and store them in the fridge for up to 5 days.

More Easy Vegetable Recipes

• Skillet Green Beans
• Easy Maple Roasted Carrots
• Roasted Brussels Sprouts
• Holiday Oven Roasted Vegetables
• Oil-free Oven Roasted Potatoes

If you tried this recipe please leave a star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating below and a review in the comments section down below the recipe card. Stay in touch with and connect with me on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook or by subscribing to my newsletter.