Make Instant Pot Asparagus anytime you need an incredibly delicious and super simple side dish on your dinner table in 5 minutes. This effortless recipe uses just a few pantry staples, and the results are tender crisp, and delicious!

Instant Pot steamed asparagus on a plate with lemon wedges and Parmesan.

Using a pressure cooker to make asparagus might be the easiest way to get beautiful, tender, crisp, yet juicy asparagus, one of my favorite simple side dishes.

Asparagus is one of those versatile vegetables that work just as well as a side for filet mignon as it does for a casual burger. It’s fresh, vibrant, and deliciously seasoned at the end with salt, pepper, and parmesan cheese. A little squeeze of lemon juice finishes it off with a citrus balance to the earthy nature of the asparagus. It is so good!

When I don’t have time to oversee a steaming pot of asparagus over the stove, I always turn to the Instant Pot. Much like when I don’t want to turn on the oven in the summertime, I turn to air fryer asparagus. I get perfectly cooked asparagus every time without having to stand around watching over it. I set it and forget it, and although it cooks quickly, it still gives me time to focus on other parts of the meal.

My daughter loves it when I serve it with her favorite dipping sauce, whether it be a little ranch dressing or garlic aioli. She loves taking the spears spear by spear and dunking them right before taking a bite.

Why This Recipe Works

It’s a 5-minute side dish that takes minimal prep work. Anytime I can have a healthy side dish to accompany any meal that doesn’t take any extra effort, I’m all for it.
They’re incredibly delicious. The steaming brings out the natural flavors and textures, making them extra juicy.
It can be used as a side dish, a salad ingredient, or a main dish ingredient, such as soups, casseroles, and pasta.
Kid-friendly, especially when served with a little dip! They’re already perfectly seasoned, but a little extra dip is never a bad idea!
A simple way to showcase this beautiful vegetable.

Ingredients Needed

This recipe requires only a few simple ingredients. Feel free to play around with the seasoning as you like.

Asparagus – You’ll need about a pound of asparagus. Choose a bunch that are on the larger side to avoid overcooking and soggy thin spears.
Water – Used to create the steam in the Instant Pot.
Oil – Used to coat the asparagus. It helps the seasoning stick to the veggies and adds a nice texture and flavor.
Salt and pepper – A simple seasoning of salt and pepper is always a good idea. It’s not overpowering, but it’s enough to bring out the asparagus’s natural flavor. Using coarse salt is great for this, as it adds a little extra texture.
Parmesan – A sprinkle of parmesan strikes an awesome balance between the earthy vegetable and the deliciously salty cheese.
Lemon wedges – The best way to finish off this dish is with a pop of citrus at the end, whether just as a garnish or a squeeze of juice.

How to Make Instant Pot Asparagus

Please scroll ⬇️ to the recipe card to see the full ingredient amounts and instructions.

Step 1: Add the water and trivet to the Instant Pot.

Step 2: Place asparagus onto the trivet, laying them out as flat as possible. It’s fine if there is overlapping.

Step 3: Close the lid, turn the valve to sealing, and pressure cook for 0 minutes (yes, seriously).

Step 4: Once the time is up, turn the valve to venting for a quick release. Do not allow it to naturally release pressure, or the asparagus will overcook.

Step 5: Carefully remove asparagus from the pot and transfer them to a serving platter. Toss with a little olive oil, salt, pepper, and parmesan, and serve immediately with a couple of lemon wedges.

Why is the cooking time zero?

Asparagus itself doesn’t take a ton of time to cook, no matter what method you’re using. Raw asparagus spears are thin and will cook as the Instant Pot comes to pressure. This means if you were to continue cooking once it reached pressure, they’d be overcooked and mushy. It’s the same reason you don’t want to naturally release it once it’s done. The Instant Pot is very smart at cooking something just right, as long as you release the pressure when it’s time.

How to trim asparagus?

Each individual spear comes with a woody end, that is very fibrous and basically inedible. It’s the side that is opposite to the head of the spear (you know, the pointier tip). You want to get rid of it before serving it, especially if you’re serving guests. No one wants to eat that! Below are two easy ways of getting rid of it.

Take one or two spears at a time, and with both hands, hold onto both ends. Gently bend until you hear a snap. It will break apart where the woody part naturally ends, and the rest of it begins. Do this with the rest of them and discard the woody ends.
Line up your spears side by side on a clean cutting board. Using a sharp chef’s knife carefully cut about 2 inches off the woody end. This is a great way to make them all even length. It is also a faster way of getting more done at a time and makes for a nicer presentation.

Helpful Tips

– Always wash your asparagus first. Whether it’s before or after trimming, it doesn’t matter as long as it gets done!
– Look for sturdy asparagus that isn’t too thin. Should be bright green, crisp, and the spears on top should be tightly closed and not droopy.
– Not only do you want to buy spears that are thick enough to hold their own, but each one should be similar in thickness which will help to cook them evenly.
– Instant Pot asparagus are great when served right away, but I always enjoy chopping up cold leftovers and adding them to my salad the next day.
– Store leftover asparagus in an airtight container for up to 5 days or freeze up to 8 months.
– To crisp up your spears upon reheating you might want to use the oven, toaster oven, or air fryer.

A plate of asparagus cooked in the instant pot

Seasoning Variations

Play around with the different seasoning options if you’re looking for something a little different.

Fresh minced garlic
Fresh dill
Red pepper flakes
Melted butter
Italian seasoning
Garlic butter
Herb and garlic butter
Terragon
Bacon crumbles
Hollandaise sauce

Serving Suggestions

On its own with your kids’ (and yours) favorite dipping sauce. Garlic aioli, ranch dressing, blue cheese dressing, honey mustard, or any cheese sauce would be great.
As a side to any main, try my Instant Pot Mac and Cheese, Instant Pot Lemon Garlic Chicken, Instant Pot Beef Stew, Instant Pot Spaghetti or Instant Pot Fettuccine Alfredo.
When serving a large crowd, serve along with other sides such as Instant Pot Potato Salad, and Instant Pot Butternut Squash Soup.

RECIPE