This is how you make healthy Instant Pot fish and vegetables together in your pressure cooker. Cooked separately but at the same time, this flavorful dinner cooks in no time at all and comes out flaky and tender. If you’re looking to cook multiple dishes at once, pressure cooker recipes are great.
I don’t know about you but we are big fans of Instant Pot fish in our house! Let us show you how to make this and then you should go on to try our other Instant Pot recipes too. (affiliate links present)
Instant Pot Fish and Vegetables
We have created a bunch of easy pressure cooker fish recipes lately because they cook it to flaky perfection every time. You can cook another dish such as vegetables together, but separately, using these steamer insert pans or with a trivet / vegetable steamer basket.
Can I cook frozen fish in my Instant Pot?
Yes!! We have done this with our Instant Pot frozen fish similarly and believe it or not the cook time is basically the same. Since the fillets are rather thin, as long as they are separated from one another they can steam to flaky buttery bites.
Jump to:
- Instant Pot Fish and Vegetables
- Can I cook frozen fish in my Instant Pot?
- Pressure Cooker Ninja Foodi Fish Fillets
- How long does it take to steam a piece of fish?
- How to Cook Tilapia in a Pressure Cooker
- What type of fish can you cook in Instant Pot?
- How do you make Instant Pot fish tacos??
- Other easy fish recipes you’ll love
If you are new to pressure cooking we have a lot of easy one pot meal recipes for you here. To begin with let’s start with a few basic tips:
- Make sure to Bookmark our InstaPot recipes page. We add new ones each week!
- Then PRINT this —–> Instant Pot cooking times cheat sheet that will help you understand how long meat, vegetables and beans take to cook in your pressure cooker.
- I HIGHLY recommend you buy this non stick pot.
- You should know how to deglaze a pressure cooker after sautéing but it won’t have as many issues with this better liner.
For reference, this is the model I have (a 6 quart) and use for all recipe creations.
Pressure Cooker Ninja Foodi Fish Fillets
Such a delicious and healthy pressure cooker recipe right? Personally I think fish comes out great when it is steamed with just a bit of olive oil and a pinch of salt and spices.
I did the same thing with the mix of vegetables I cooked in the larger of the two pans and they were great and just tender enough without being too mushy.
I used 2 pieces of tilapia but you could use whichever type of fish you prefer. The pans are great at keeping the moisture in and when it’s done cooking and resting in the bit of olive oil you poured on top the flavor is pretty amazing.
Cooking them in separate pans but in your pressure cooker at the same time keeps the flavors of each in tact but allows you to walk away while they steam to perfection. Do a quick release, lift the lids on each and enjoy them together for lunch or dinner.
The possibilities for these double stackable pans though. Add cornbread or baked potatoes to the bottom and chili to the top and have a great meal too!
Why would you cook fish in your Instant Pot?
- Cooks quickly
- Comes out tender and full of flavor
- No fish smell while cooking (some released when steam valve is opened)
Easy one pot meal when cooked with vegetables using this pot in pot method
What you will need to make healthy Instant Pot fish and vegetable dinner
- Instant Pot steamer insert pans
- Fish – about 1 lb., skinless and deboned
- we used white fish, medium thickness
- Vegetables – sliced
- we used zucchini, yellow squash, carrots and onion
- Parchment paper
- Olive Oil
- Spices – I just lightly season with seasoned salt and basil
How long does it take to steam a piece of fish?
If you’ve never tried to pressure cook fish it is a game changer!! So flaky and tender with very little prep work or attention you need to give it along the way. Just set it and forget it until the timer goes off. 6 minutes for fresh or 8 minutes for frozen fillets is about right if set on a trivet. In stackable pans it is 28 minutes.
How to Cook Tilapia in a Pressure Cooker
If you do not have this insert pan you can alternatively cook Instant Pot fish this way:
- Put 1.5 c water into your pressure cooker
- Place a trivet / steam rack at the bottom (make sure water isn’t touching bottom of rack)
- Place your fish fillet on steam rack
Sprinkle seasonings on fish. Use whatever you’d usually season it with.
- Close lid and steam valve
- Set to high pressure for 2-3 minutes for fresh fish and 3-4 min. for frozen fillets (size of fish and variety will vary timing but this works well for a piece of salmon)
- We typically cook a 3/4 lb. piece of fresh salmon for 4 minutes and it is perfect
- Do a quick release
If you’re looking to cook fresh or frozen Instant Pot shrimp we have info on that as well as our recipe for Instant Pot shrimp alfredo pasta.
What type of fish can you cook in Instant Pot?
You can cook them all like this, on a trivet, steamed with a cup of water below! If you’re looking for more easy fish recipes we have a bunch. Like how to cook salmon fillets with a little lemon pepper and lemon juice perfectly below. With a light season with salt and pepper we can even make frozen salmon in the Instant Pot all the time too!
- There seriously isn’t anything you can’t do with an electric pressure cooker I say. Ok, well it can’t do my laundry but I honestly don’t use my stovetop or oven anymore!
Just place the skin side down on your trivet with lemon slices and butter on high pressure for 3 minutes or so (depends on thickness of fillet). Release the pressure and perfection!
Of course if you want to cook multiple items then use the pans I used above but this is another Instant Pot fish idea.
How do you make Instant Pot fish tacos??
- Use either the recipe below using white fish in the stackable pans, or the salmon recipe above
- Cook as directed
- Remove and break up into smaller pieces
- Add to small flour tortillas
- Load it up with cabbage and fish taco sauce
- We like a slice of avocado on the top too
We make Instant Pot tacos weekly whether it be with fish or shredded chicken in pressure cooker. It’s a cheap and healthy meal we all love so it’s on our meal rotation.
Other easy fish recipes you’ll love
- Looking for a low carb keto meal idea?? After your pressure cooker fish is done put some inside of an avocado and this makes a really yummy meal!!
- We love Instant Pot tilapia and air fryer tilapia for dinner too.
Have we convinced you that it’s worth getting an Instant Pot AND that this is the best way to cook fish??!! I hope so. The only close second that gets raving reviews is our smoked salmon recipe that is amazing but does take a lot more time to make and cook. SO if you’re looking for the best way to make Instant Pot fish this is it! Here’s the printable recipe and a video:
Instant Pot Fish
Equipment
- 1 pressure cooker
- 1 trivet or stackable pans
Ingredients
- 2 pcs fish, 3/4 of a lb. or so, skinned and deboned
- 3 tbsp butter
- 1/4 tsp seasoned salt
- 1/4 tsp basil, or other herb of choice
- 1-2 potato, cut into bite size chunks
- 1 carrot, peeled and cut into 1/2" pieces
- 1/2 onion, cut into strips
- 1 bell pepper, cut into strips
- 1/2 c water, or 1.5 with stackable pans
Instructions
- In stackable pans – Put parchment paper inside the bottom larger piece of your stacked pans and pour all vegetables inside. (use zucchini and yellow squash cut into dials instead of potato for this method)
- Pour 2 tbsp of oil oil on top and sprinkle half of your seasoned salt and basil on top. Place smaller stacked pan on top of that and put a piece of parchment paper inside of that pan. Lay pieces of fish inside, pour remainder of olive oil on top of fish with remainder of spices.
- Put lid on and close fastener so pans are securely closed together. Pour 1.5 c. water inside your Instant Pot and lower stacked pans down inside. Close lid and steam valve and set to high pressure for 28 minutes. Do a quick release.
- Using a trivet – Put your sliced vegetables into the bottom of your pot, then place a trivet on top of them so it sits flat. Place fish fillets on top of trivet. Pour your 1/2 c. broth or water on top of the fish so it drains down on top of everything.
- Mix spices together and sprinkle over the top of each piece so they're seasoned. Put 1 tbsp of butter on top of each fillet. Close lid and steam valve and set to high pressure for 6 min. for fresh fish and 8 minutes for frozen. Then do a quick release when done.
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
This really is a great recipe! So tasty!
What can you use if you dont have stack pans?
I just find a oven safe bowl (Pyrex) and cover it with aluminum foil to keep the water out.
I am loving the fact that both the fish and the veggies can be cooked at the same time, massive time saver! And such simple, delicious flavours too!
Love that you use parchment paper! All the aluminum others use is unhealthy. Can cause alzheimers. All the beer, soda, ect. cans also unhealthy.
PamD, I think most of these stackable pans are steel, not aluminum….but I still like the recommendation of parchment paper for easy clean up:)
Does it matter if you’re cooking about half the amount of fish? Or should time stay the same.
Could you stack foil pockets if you don’t have the pans?
Do it exactly as she describes and you will not be disappointed. The 28 minutes seems counter intuitive but it is spot on!!! I used fresh samon and for Vegas broccoli and cauliflower. I couldn’t stop eating!! Oh – well I also put real butter and garlic in mine so it was as healthy as butter can allow!!!
That was “ veges” not Vegas!!
Veggies
So glad you loved it too.
Absolutly wonderful …..
Glad you enjoyed it.
I was also skeptical about the time, especially for zucchini, but the veggies came out just perfect and the fish was also great! I love these stacking pans.
Am I reading this correct, set for 28 mins at high pressure and then there is only 2grams protein ?
28 minutes yes. I don’t calculate nutritional info., the recipe card does that so something is off.
Would I be setting the IP button to manual or steam for 28min?
Pressure high for the time listed. Manual button if you have one, and then pressure button.
First time using PIP cooking. At first I thought 28 minutes was way to long to cook fish but I made the recipe exactly and it turned out great. I would definitely make this recipe again. Thanks for sharing.