If you haven’t tried to make a whole head of cauliflower in the Instant Pot yet, you really need to give it a try. This Instant Pot Cauliflower will feed the whole family.
It takes just 4 minutes to cook a whole head of cauliflower in the pressure cooker. If you cook a small head, it will take even less time to cook through. The sauce that we add to the veggie before cooking is flavorful and sort of permeates the cauliflower as it cooks, adding lots of extra flavor.
Since every likes their cauliflower cooked to a different degree of doneness, you might have to try this a couple of times to get it exactly right for you, but once you dial it in this will be your go-to side dish for sure.
» You might also like Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes.
Ingredients You Need
- Medium head cauliflower – Pick on that is approximately 2 pounds. This will ensure that the cooking time is right on. If you choose one that’s smaller or larger, you may have to adjust the cooking time. They don’t all cook at the same rate.
- Water – It takes 1 cup of water in the Instant Pot to build enough steam for cooking. In the 8-quart pot, you’ll need 1 1/2 cups of water.
- Seasoning – For the seasoning, I use a blend of paprika, salt, chili powder, onion and garlic powder, mixed with olive oil and Worcestershire sauce. These flavors go really well together and produce a wonderful flavor.
Equipment Needed
- Instant Pot – I use a 6-quart Instant Pot Plus to make all of my recipes. If you’re using an 8-quart pot, you will need to adjust the amount of liquid accordingly, as it requires more than the 6 quart to build steam.
- Steamer basket – Always use a steamer basket to keep the cauliflower up out of the water, so it doesn’t get too soggy. If you don’t have a steamer basket, you can use the trivet instead.
- Kitchen tongs – Use a big pair of kitchen tongs to pull the cauliflower out of the inner pot at the end of cooking. If your steamer basket has handles, you can just pull it out inside the basket.
Helpful Tips
- There are a few things to keep in mind when cooking a whole head of cauliflower. If you follow these tips, you’ll be good to go:
- Use cold water in the pot so it has to heat up before the timer starts. If you use hot water, it won’t steam for as long and you might end up with a less cooked result.
- If you prefer crispier cauliflower, you don’t want to overdo it and make mushy cauliflower on your first try, so cook it it for 3 minutes the first time. You can always cook for an additional minute, but you can’t unsteam it.
- Always use a super fresh cauliflower. The longer it sits in the fridge, the more it breaks down, which can lead to a cauliflower that falls apart when cooked.
Instant Pot Cauliflower (Whole Head)
Note: Made in a 6-qt Instant Pot
Equipment
- Steamer basket
Ingredients
- 1 medium head cauliflower approx 2 pounds
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon chili powder mild
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 cup water
Instructions
- Trim the leaves and stem from the cauliflower. Mix together the spices with the olive oil and Worcestershire sauce. Pour the sauce onto the head of cauliflower and rub it in.
- Place the cauliflower in a steamer basket. Set it inside the Instant Pot and pour in the water. Close the lid of the Instant Pot. Set the valve to sealing position.
- Press the Pressure Cook or manual button and set the cook time to 4 minutes on high pressure. It will take about 5 minutes for the pot to come up to pressure. When the time is up, do a quick pressure release and carefully remove the steamer basket from the pot.
- Serve with the sauce of your choosing, if desired.
Notes
Nutrition
Alternatives & Substitutions
While we really like the rub that we’ve used in this recipe, you might want it done in a different way. Rest assured, you can cook this cauliflower with no sauce at all and it will turn out great. You can also substitute any of the spices or make your own sauce. I’ve used teriyaki sauce, a seasoned butter sauce, and I’ve also poured melted butter over the top of an unseasoned cauliflower after it’s done steaming.
The only thing to remember is that cauliflower does need salt, so don’t skip the salt, even if you’re not adding any other spices.
Main Dishes to Serve This With
This is a great side dish to serve with just about any main dish protein. I like to serve it with chicken and pork. Here are a few options to enjoy:
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Laura is a passionate home cook and the owner of A Pressure Cooker Kitchen. She is dedicated to helping people create delicious Instant Pot meals with ease. Laura is an expert at developing recipes that can be prepared quickly and easily using a pressure cooker.