If you or your kids aren’t big fans of the taste of broccoli, this copycat LongHorn Steakhouse broccoli recipe might change your minds. Perfectly steamed and drizzled in a fresh and creamy lemon butter sauce, it’s the easiest way to enjoy fresh broccoli (no heavy cheese sauce required!).
No more boring broccoli on the dinner table. My broccoli side dish recipe is perfect whether you’re cooking dinner from scratch or heating up your leftovers.
Using the Instant Pot is a great way to cook broccoli because you set a timer, making it really difficult to overcook it. It never comes out over or undercooked.
If you enjoy using your Instant Pot for quick, easy meals, be sure to try my Melt in Your Mouth Roast Been and Gravy, Instant Pot Cincinnati Chili, Instant Pot Pulled BBQ Chicken, and my personal favorite Rustic and Creamy Toscana Zuppa Soup.
There’s a lot to love about this simple broccoli recipe! For one thing, it’s easy. Because it’s made in the Instant Pot, you can just set it and forget it. The timer will beep when it’s ready, so you don’t have to pay attention.
I also love how quick it is. The Instant Pot cooks broccoli in about a minute, plus a bit of pressure time. So you can dump it in while you cook the rest of your meal, no stirring or poking.
It’s easy to give this broccoli plenty of yummy flavor. You can try my garlic butter recipe or use a splash of balsamic vinegar, cajun seasoning, or soy sauce to season your perfectly cooked broccoli.
LongHorn Copycat Broccoli Ingredients
To make this quick and easy steamed broccoli recipe, you’ll need:
- Broccoli – You’ll need to clean and cut a head of broccoli, or you can buy pre-cut florets. Look for florets that are uniformly green and not yellow or brown. You can also use frozen broccoli if you prefer.
- Lemon juice – Fresh squeezed is always best.
- Lemon Garlic Butter Drizzle – Get the complete recipe and step-by-step instructions for this amazing butter sauce. You will want to pour it on veggies, grilled fish, and chicken too. It would also be amazing with Crisp Skin Air Fryer Baked Potatoes.
How do I cut a head of broccoli?
To best cut a head of broccoli, use a sharp knife to remove any leaves and trim the tough end of the stalk away from the flower heads. Then, cut the head into florets by making small incisions where the florets naturally separate from the stalk. Larger florets can be further divided into bite-sized pieces if you want to make sure you have evenly sized pieces. Now, it’s ready to cook!
How to Make Broccoli in the Instant Pot (Step-By-Step)
It’s really so simple. The broccoli is fully steamed in about the same amount of time it takes for the Instant Pot to build pressure. Here’s how you do it:
- Start by preparing your broccoli florets. (See the tips above). You can use the florets and the tender part of the stem, but you’ll want to discard the tough, bottom part of the stem. Try to make all your broccoli pieces about the same size. This ensures even cooking in the Instant Pot.
- Set your broccoli pieces in a large bowl and cover them with a few cups of water. Swish them around to remove any remaining dirt or debris, then drain them and lay them on a clean kitchen towel or paper towel to remove some of the water.
Set the Instant Pot to “Manual” or “Pressure Cook” mode on low pressure for 0-1 minute. The cooking time depends on your preference for the crispiness of the broccoli. Choose 0 minutes for slightly crisp-tender broccoli. Choose 0 for crisp broccoli or 1 minute for a softer texture. Note that the Instant Pot takes a few minutes to come up to pressure before it begins cooking.
- Once the cooking time is complete, perform a quick pressure release by carefully turning the pressure release valve from ‘Sealing’ to ‘Venting.’ Use a towel or oven mitt so you don’t burn yourself!
- Remove the steamer basket with the broccoli. Season the broccoli with a little salt and pepper. Then, just before serving, pour on some Garlic Butter Sauce for extra flavor.
Gina’s Tips
- For this recipe to work well, you want nice, large broccoli florets that are a few inches wide. Smaller pieces of broccoli will cook too quickly, and they’ll end up mushy. Buy a brand with large florets or cut your head of broccoli into big chunks for the best results.
- Try to cut your broccoli evenly so all your pieces cook to the same consistency.
- Broccoli is always best served very hot! So try your best to time this so it’s finishing up just as you’re sitting down to dinner. If you need a few minutes, tent the broccoli with foil to keep some of the heat in.
- For some extra flavor, use broth instead of water in the base of your Instant Pot. I prefer low-sodium chicken broth.
What To Do With Leftovers
- In the fridge – If you want to enjoy your leftover broccoli the next day, you can store it in the fridge in an airtight container. Keep in mind that leftover broccoli might end up a bit soggy, but if you’re mindful not to overheat it, it should be okay. Just reheat it in the microwave for a few seconds to enjoy it a second time.
- In the freezer – You can freeze your leftover broccoli to use in meals in the future, but it might lose some of its texture when it thaws. Freeze in an airtight freezer container for up to a month. Be sure to pat the broccoli dry so ice crystals do not form on it when it freezes.
- How to reheat – I find the best way to reheat leftover broccoli is by using the microwave. Just cover it in plastic wrap on a small plate and microwave for 20-30 seconds. Be careful not to overcook it! You can also reheat it in a small saute pan with an inch of water in the bottom to resteam them, or even place them back in a steamer basket on the stove. It only takes 30 seconds or so.
- How to use up leftovers – Leftovers can be used in other recipes like soups, stews, sauces, stir-fries, or you can eat it as-is.
Make It A Meal
Broccoli is one of those classic side dishes that can be served with just about any main dish. If you need a bit of dinner inspiration, try any of these delicious meal ideas that my family devours.
Copycat Texas Roadhouse Herb Crusted Chicken with Jasmin Coconut Rice is a go to menu for our family on busy nights. Add a pan of my famous Gouda Mac and Cheese and you have a great meal for a crowd.
If you are in the mood for great Asian food, add the broccoli to your Beef Lo Mein, Spicy Thi Chicken or Asian Noodles Lao Gan Ma. For dessert, slice one of these 36 Exotic Asian Fruits.
Instant Pot Copycat LongHorn Steakhouse Broccoli Recipe
Note: Be sure to read through the recipe’s post for tips and details about this recipe.
Ingredients
- 2 pounds broccoli, washed and cut into evenly sized 3-inch long pieces.
- 1 cup water
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- Lemon Garlic Butter Sauce
Instructions
- Cut the broccoli into florets. You can use both the florets and the tender parts of the stems. Discard the tough bottom part of the stems. If you prefer smaller florets, you can cut the larger ones in half. Keeping the broccoli pieces roughly the same size helps with even cooking.2 pounds broccoli
- Place the broccoli florets in a bowl of cold water and swish them around to remove any field debris. Then, drain the broccoli florets and lay them out on a kitchen towel to dry up any excess water.
- Pour 1 cup of water in the bottom of your Instant Pot and add two tablespoons of lemon juice.1 cup water, 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- Insert the steamer basket into the Instant Pot and fill it with your cut broccoli pieces.
- Close and lock the Instant Pot lid, ensuring that the pressure release valve is set to “Sealing.”
- Set the Instant Pot to "Manual" or "Pressure Cook" mode on low pressure for 0-1 minute. The cooking time depends on your preference for the crispiness of the broccoli. Choose 0 minutes for slightly crisp-tender broccoli. Choose 0 for crisp broccoli or 1 minute for a softer texture. Note that the Instant Pot takes a few minutes to come up to pressure before it begins cooking.
- Once the cooking time is complete, perform a quick pressure release by carefully turning the pressure release valve from “Sealing” to “Venting.” Be cautious and use a towel or oven mitt to avoid any steam burns.
- Remove the steamer basket with the broccoli. Season the broccoli to your taste and serve. You can also add the Lemon Butter Drizzle for extra flavor.Lemon Garlic Butter Sauce
Notes
- For this recipe to work well, you want nice, large broccoli florets that are a few inches wide. Smaller pieces of broccoli will cook too quickly, and they’ll end up mushy. Buy large florets or cut your head of broccoli into big chunks for the best results.
- Try to cut your broccoli evenly so all your pieces cook to the same consistency.
- Broccoli is always best served hot! So try your best to time this so it’s finishing up just as you’re sitting down to dinner. If you need a few minutes, tent the broccoli with foil to keep some of the heat in.
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I am trying this tonight! I am excited because I really, REALLY love Texas Roadhouse’s steamed brocolli. I always order min with extra steam because I like my brocolli nice and tender, not crispy (or al dente) at all. I am going to try to steam mine for two minutes and see how that works out.
I’m hoping this turns out as well as either Texas Roadhouse’s or Chili’s steamed brocolli because the brocolli at Longhorn Steakhouse is nasty. I don’t know what seasoning they put on theirs, but I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone.
Thanks for sharing this!
Wonderful! Thank you
I’m glad you enjoyed it. I use the lemon butter sauce on top of the broccoli or any other veggie I make in my instant pot too.