These instant pot carrots are the best steamed carrots you will ever make. Perfect as a simple side dish for dinner or lunch!
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The easiest steamed carrots
Steamed carrots are a common and popular side dish, and one of the most common ways to enjoy carrots in Western countries. After making them in my instant pot, I have completely stopped preparing them in any other way, and this is by far the best method I have ever tried.
Here is why I love these carrots:
- They are so easy to make
- Since the instant pot has a timer, you don't have to worry about overcooking the carrots
- Cook the carrots al dente or super soft to suit your preferences
- No more awkwardly checking the carrots with a fork to try to guess whether they are done or not.
- Steamed carrots are suitable for most: they are whole30, paleo, low calorie, low fat, vegan, vegetarian, gluten free and really healthy.
Instructions
- Peel the carrots, and slice them into 1-2 inch pieces. I like to cut them diagonally as they look a little nicer.
- Pour a cup of water into the instant pot, and place the carrots into a steamer basket over it (I have this steamer basket which you can use on the stove top or in your instant pot).
- Cover with a lid, and turn the venting valve to SEALING. Activate the steam setting on high pressure for 2 minutes, or 3 minutes if you prefer really soft carrots.
- When the carrots have finished steaming, carefully turn the valve to do a quick release of the pressure.
- Optionally, add some seasoning or garnish to the carrots, and serve immediately.
💡 TIP! The liquid left in the instant pot after the carrots have steamed can be saved and used as vegetable broth in the future. It's a fantastic base for soups and stews.
Serving suggestions
Steamed carrots are perfect to serve as a side with your lunch or dinner. Here are some of my favorite entrees to pair them with:
- Bacon Wrapped Chicken Thighs - Easy but delicious chicken entree.
- Air Fryer Meatloaf - Perfect meatloaf made in your air fryer.
- Air Fryer Pork Chops - Pork chops and carrots go so well together.
- Honey Mustard Chicken Breasts - Chicken breasts made with my favorite honey mustard sauce.
- Herbed Lemon Butter Cod - A simple, but flavorful cod dish pairs well with steamed carrots.
Garnish
You can serve your carrots with some garnish if you want to make them a little more interesting. Adding a garnish will typically add a pop of color, but also improve the flavor in case you find steamed carrots a little boring.
Here are my favorite garnishes for carrots:
- Grated Parmesan
- Chopped herbs, such as parsley, dill or thyme
- Lemon juice
- Salt and pepper
- Vinaigrette, or sauce such as Lemon Pepper Vinaigrette
Leftovers
You can store leftover instant pot carrots in a sealed container in a refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat them and serve them warm as a side dish with future meals, or re-use them in other dishes such as stews, casseroles, soups or salads.
You can also freeze the carrots, however keep in mind that they will be even softer when they are thawed. This option is great if you want to keep precooked frozen carrots on hand to make easy carrot purees or soups in the future.
Frequently asked questions
Carrots take 2 minutes to steam in the instant pot.
Absolutely, you can definitely pressure cook raw carrots, or any other raw vegetables for that matter.
You might also like these recipes
- Instant Pot Basmati Rice
- Air Fryer Carrots
- Spicy Roasted Carrots
- Instant Pot Chicken and Potatoes
- Roasted Carrots and Potatoes
- Instant Pot Cabbage
If you make this recipe, make sure to post a photo to Instagram with #hintofhealthy!
Recipe
Instant Pot Carrots
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 pound carrots
- 1 cup water
Instructions
- Peel the carrots, and slice them into 1-2 inch pieces. I like to cut them diagonally as it looks a little nicer.
- Pour the water into the instant pot, and place the carrots into a steaming basket over it. Cover the instant pot with the lid.
- Turn the venting valve to SEALING, and activate the steam setting on high pressure for 2 minutes, or 3 minutes if you prefer really soft carrots.
- When the carrots have finished steaming, carefully turn the valve to do a quick release of the pressure.
- Optionally, add some seasoning or garnish to the carrots, and serve immediately.
Video
Notes
- Add any garnish you like to the carrots before serving.
- Store leftovers in a sealed container in a refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Sofia
I love this recipe, so easy.