Quick and easy Instant Pot steamed artichokes! These pressure cooker artichokes are super speedy and cook perfectly every time.
Hello, Rhubarbarians! Here we are with yet ANOTHER Instant Pot recipe. I'm growing pretty darn fond of this handy kitchen gadget. I just can't get enough Instant Pot baked potatoes, but with the sun starting to shine I need a lighter go-to veggie: INSTANT POT STEAMED ARTICHOKES!
Man, I friggin love love love artichokes. I remember being so excited about them when I was a kid, back in my unconventional household where an artichoke was dinner. I definitely wasn't complaining. These days, I still love them. But we eat them as more of a side dish than a meal, LOL!
Steaming artichokes in the Instant Pot has become my absolute favorite way to cook them. It only takes 30 minutes to cook them from start to finish (including time to come to pressure) and you can cook 3-4 of them at a time. Gone are the days of steaming 2 small artichokes on the stove top for 45 minutes to an hour!
How to prep an artichoke for steaming
Steamed artichokes are, in my opinion, best cooked and served whole. That way you can make your way around the artichoke eating all the leaves and enjoy a whole artichoke heart to yourself (ahem... is there anything better?).
To prep a whole artichoke for steaming, start by using a large serrated knife like a bread knife. The leaves can be really tough to cut through so you need something that will really get the job done.
- Cut the stem down to about 1/2"
- Slice about the top 1/3rd off the top of the artichoke. You won't be eating the tops of the leaves and they can be very sharp.
- If the remaining leaf tips are sharp, snip those off with some kitchen scissors.
Watch this video on how to prepare an artichoke if you need a visual.
How to steam artichokes in your Instant Pot or pressure cooker
- You'll need to grab the steamer rack that came with your Instant Pot. Place that in the bottom of your pot along with 2 cups of water.
- Decide if you're going to use aromatics. They aren't necessary, but can add a lot of brightness and flavor to your artichokes. I recommend this if you aren't going to use a dipping sauce. Just add a squeeze of freshly squeezed lemon juice, a bay leaf, and a bit of salt to the water.
- Add your artichokes to the pot stem side up.
- Pressure cook. For small artichokes, 9 minutes. For medium artichokes, 12 minutes. For large artichokes, 15 minutes.
- Manually release the pressure and serve plain or with your fave dipping sauce!
So, how do you eat these things?
Artichokes can be a bit of a mystery if you've never eaten one before! I realized this quickly when I served one to my two year old last week, LOL!
- Start by eating the outermost leaves. Gently pull off a leaf and it should leave a soft, pulpy portion at the base. Place the base of the leaf in your mouth and pull the leaf through your teeth, removing that portion. Discard the leaf and continue eating the leaves this way until the leaves get translucent and the pulpy portion is no longer on the leaves.
- Now you'll have to clean up the heart. Use a small spoon to remove the translucent leaves and the artichoke hair that's left in the center. When all the hair is cleaned up, you'll be left with what's called the artichoke heart. This is the best part!
- The entire heart is edible. Either cut into pieces or pick up with your fingers and enjoy.
Dipping sauces for artichokes
I enjoy eating artichokes plain, but for a truly impressive appetizer or side dish, you'll want to have some dipping options.
- Melted butter
- Mayonnaise
- Lemon juice (with a bit of honey added, optional)
- Spicy garlic mustard
- Magic artichoke dipping sauce
- Vegan cilantro crema
Is a steamed artichoke an appetizer or a side dish?
It can be either one! We usually eat them with dinner alongside some spring pasta or a veggie burger. But they make amazing appetizers as well! There's something kind of fun about sharing an artichoke or two.
Here's a pro-tip:
Make sure you have a large bowl for the discarded leaves! They can pile up very quickly.
Instant Pot steamed artichokes recipe
Quick and easy Instant Pot steamed artichokes! These pressure cooker artichokes are super speedy and cook perfectly every time.
- 3 medium fresh artichokes, prepped
- 2 cups water
- fresh lemon juice, bay leaf, and/or a bit of salt (optional)
- dipping sauce of your choice (optional)
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Add the water to your Instant Pot and insert a steamer rack. If desired for aromatics, add the lemon juice, bay leaf, and a bit of salt. Place your artichokes stem side up evenly inside the pot. It's ok to stack them.
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Close the lid and make sure the valve is set to sealing. Pressure cook on high for 12 minutes*. When the timer goes off, hit cancel. Manually release the pressure with the pressure valve.
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Remove the artichokes with tongs and serve with a dipping sauce of your choice.
The cook time includes 13 minutes for the Instant Pot to come up to pressure.
*cook times will vary. Try 9 minutes for small or halved artichokes, 12 minutes for medium, and 15 for large.
If you make this recipe, please let me know on social media or in the comments below! Leave a star rating in your comment or tag me on Instagram with #Rhubarbarians.
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Hope you try out these Instant Pot steamed artichokes! 
Trish
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Quentin Johnston
I cooked 3 huge artichokes and they turned out perfectly at 15 minutes. I usually do a mix of mayonnaise with a bit of curry powder, turmeric, and cardamon. It adds a bit of spice go the usual mayo dip.
Trish Bozeman
I'm so glad they turned out well! That dip sounds great. 🙂
Ethel Hayes
My husband's family is of Italian origin. So, naturally I have always prepared these in the Italian manner. My family would not eat them if I changed it up. I could not cook them upside down in the Instapot as each leaf has been given a small chunk of hard Italian cheese. Otherwise, we eat them as described above, but with no dipping as the cheese is the main attraction. I only add salt and pepper prior to cooking. I am intrigued about cooking them upside down. Could they be cooked in the manner I prepare, only right side up?
Trish Bozeman
I wouldn't cook them upside down if you are stuffing them. I can't say for sure how it would work in the Instant Pot right side up with cheese. Is it a cheese that melts quickly? Maybe just give it a try!
Bobbie Einziger
Thank you so much for sharing this. I love artichokes and this might actually get me to use my Instant Pot.
Amanda
It never occurred to me that you could use an Instant Pot to steam artichokes! What a fantastic way to use it. I love how quickly they come together and I bet they're super tender. We often stuff our artichokes before steaming - I bet we could use the Instant Pot for those as well! Will be looking for artichokes at the market this week to try the IP method - thanks!
Jenni LeBaron
Artichokes are one of my favorite things to make in the instant pot this time of year. I think the pressure cooker does a much better job of cooking these evenly than the traditional method of boiling, and it's so quick! Great fool-proof recipe and prefect for seasonal eating!
Dana
Such a great idea. Is there anything the IP can't do? This makes things SO much easier for entertaining. I've always found stuffed and roasted artichokes to be so pretty, but the effort involved seemed a bit much for an app or side. This is a game changer. Can't wait to bust it out when entertaining this summer 🙂
Marisa F. Stewart
We love artichokes and tried to steam them once and they didn't turn out too well. This looks like the perfect method of making them. I can't wait to give it a try. The dipping sauce also looks scrumptious. The recipe is certainly a keeper, and easy to do.
Tina
This reminds me of the first time I had artichokes. My friends steamed them and they had to show me how to eat the leaves. We dipped in garlic butter. Thanks for the other ideas for dipping, especially the cilantro cream and the artichoke dipping sauce. Definitely going to try this. Thanks for such great ideas!
Gloria
I don't have an Instant Pot...or have I prepared artichokes this way. I will see if I can do this in my stovetop pressure cooker. We love artichokes but have never bought fresh ones.
Julia
Wow - they look fantastic! I have not tried artichokes in my Instant Pot yet but I really appreciate all your tips and suggestions in timings for different sizes. Thanks!
Melissa
Have you ever grilled these after you've taken them out?
Patricia Bozeman
I haven't tried that yet! But I bet it would be fantastic. Maybe you could stuff them with some garlic and lemon first too. 🙂
Michele Davies
My husband and I fell in love with the grilled artichokes at Lucille’s. They stopped having them on the menu, but one if the servers told us they steam them like normal then brush with balsamic glaze then put on the grill for just long enough to caramelize. They served them with the butter and some kind of mayo sauce. We had to order two because they were too good to share, and we would end up pouting about who got more!