Easy Instant Pot Brussels Sprouts

These Instant Pot brussels sprouts are cooked in a flavorful white wine broth and sautéed with cream just before serving! They pressure cook in just 2 minutes and turn out deliciously sweet and tender every time! 

When it comes to our favorite side dishes, pressure cooker brussels sprouts are definitely near the top of the list! We also love the sweet caramelized flavor of these honey balsamic brussels sprouts and the tender, melt-in-your-mouth texture of these steamed brussels sprouts with bacon.

While we love roasted brussels sprouts, sometimes you just need to free up your oven or stovetop for other dishes. That’s why this quick and easy Instant Pot brussels sprouts recipe is a go-to for us when hosting a crowd or cooking a big holiday meal.

With this recipe, you cook brussels sprouts in one pot and you don’t need to use the oven or stovetop (like with these air fryer frozen brussels sprouts). And while there is some active time to sauté them at the end, most of the cooking time is hands off!

Why this instant pot brussels sprouts recipe works

• No more bland tasting brussels sprouts! We’re not using a steamer basket here, so the sprouts absorb the flavor of the buttery white wine broth and nutmeg.
• You don’t need to worry about overcooked or mushy brussels sprouts. Pressure cooking them for just 2 to 3 minutes and doing a quick release of the pressure ensures you get firm yet tender brussels sprouts. 
• This veggie recipe requires very few ingredients and the Instant Pot does most of the work for you, so it’s the perfect easy side dish for entertaining or big holiday meals.
• It's a healthy side dish! Brussels sprouts are packed full of healthy nutrients like vitamin c and vitamin k, while being a low calorie food.

Ingredients

For the full list of ingredients and quantities, please see the recipe card below.

You’ll need fresh brussels sprouts for this recipe. When buying them, make sure they’re firm with green and tightly packed leaves. Smaller ones will also have a sweeter taste compared to larger ones.

For the cooking liquid, you’ll need chicken stock and white wine. You can use crockpot chicken broth or even vegetable broth. As for the wine, I like to use a dry white wine for the best flavor as opposed to a cooking wine.

Once the brussels sprouts are pressure cooked, they’re cooked with a touch of heavy cream. Make sure you use heavy cream and not milk or half and half. Heavy cream is thicker with a richer texture.

Variations and substitutions

• To add to the rich flavor of these brussels sprouts, try serving them with parmesan cheese and crumbled bacon or pancetta.
• For added flavor, substitute the butter for bacon fat or duck fat.
• Drizzle with a nice thick balsamic vinegar and some dried cranberries or raisins.
• Sprinkle with toasted almond or pecans.
• Serve with some sous vide garlic confit cloves or fresh minced garlic cloves.
• Add 1-2 teaspoons of crushed red pepper while cooking for some heat.
• Serve with a squeeze of lemon juice for extra brightness.

Step by step instructions to make instant pot brussels sprouts

1. Cut the brussels sprouts in half if they’re large. Small brussels sprouts can be kept whole.

2. Add all the ingredients to the Instant Pot, except the cream, and pressure cook on high pressure for 2 minutes (3 minutes for softer sprouts). Use the quick release valve to release the pressure.

3. Turn the Instant Pot to the sauté setting and add the cream. Simmer for 3-5 minutes, until the cream thickens and coats the brussels sprouts.

Remove, add additional salt and pepper if needed, and serve immediately.

For everyday meals, special occasions or the holidays, I think these brussels sprouts would be perfect served with honey baked ham, sous vide whole chicken or buttery roasted turkey thighs. 

Expert tips

1. Make sure your brussels sprouts are all roughly the same size so they cook evenly. If you have some larger ones, just cut them in half.
2. Make sure you quick release the pressure. If you naturally release it, the brussels sprouts will continue cooking and end up overcooked and mushy.
3. These brussels sprouts are ultra tender and similar to braised brussels sprouts. If you like your brussels sprouts crispy with caramelized edges, try these sweet and spicy brussels sprouts.
4. While the brussels sprouts need just 2 to 3 minutes to pressure cook and 3-5 minutes to sauté, don’t forget to factor in time for the pot to come up to pressure.

Frequently asked questions

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