This easy Instant Pot Asparagus is tender with a little bite and topped with a lemon garlic butter sauce. Add a little shredded Parmesan cheese and you have a perfect side dish to complete any weeknight dinner or holiday feast!
4small servings
Prep Time 5 minutesminutes
Cook Time 10 minutesminutes
Total Time 15 minutesminutes
Ingredients
1bunch of asparagus
1cupwater
salt and black pepper to taste
1lemonfor squeezing juice
1Tablespoonshredded Parmesan cheeseoptional but delicious!
Garlic Butter Sauce
2Tablespoonsunsalted butter
½teaspoongarlic powder
Additional lemon slices for serving
Instructions
Wash the asparagus, snap off the ends and set it aside.
Add the water to the bottom of the Instant Pot and insert the trivet.
Place asparagus lengthwise on the metal trivet. Close the pot, set the valve to the sealing position and set it to low pressure for 0 minutes. (this will ensure that your asparagus is not overcooked).
While the asparagus is coming up to pressure and cooking, prepare the garlic butter sauce. In a small microwave-safe bowl melt the butter in the microwave. Stir or whisk in the garlic powder until fully combined.
When the asparagus has finished cooking, move the venting position to vent the air with a quick release and carefully remove the trivet using oven mitts.
Transfer the asparagus to a serving plate. Season with salt and pepper to taste, squeeze lemon juice over the asparagus, and drizzle the garlic butter sauce over it. Finish by sprinkling with parmesan cheese if desired and serve immediately.
Cooking time is 0 minutes, that isn’t a typo. Basically, the time that it takes the pot to come to pressure is long enough! If you have thicker asparagus spears you can increase the cook time to a minute.
Tips
Stay close to the instant pot while the asparagus is cooking so you can quick release it immediately when it has finished cooking, otherwise, you will end up with the dreaded mushy asparagus.
You can use ¾ cup of water if cooking in a 6 quart Instant Pot. The 1 cup is needed if you’re using an 8 quart size instant pot.
You can use a steamer basket instead of a trivet if you prefer. Either way you'll end up with tender
Video
Notes
Cooking time is 0 minutes, that isn’t a typo. Basically, the time that it takes the pot to come to pressure is long enough! If you have thicker asparagus spears you can increase the cook time to a minute.
Tips
Stay close to the instant pot while the asparagus is cooking so you can quick release it immediately when it has finished cooking, otherwise, you will end up with the dreaded mushy asparagus.
You can use ¾ cup of water if cooking in a 6 quart Instant Pot. The 1 cup is needed if you’re using an 8 quart size instant pot.
You can use a steamer basket instead of a trivet if you prefer. Either way you'll end up with tender