Pressure Cooker Carrots

Pressure cooker carrots can be made savory or sweet! They come out perfectly tender every single time in your Instant Pot or Ninja Foodi. Make them plain or as Instant Pot carrots and potatoes together.

If you’re looking for a vegetable side dish, steamed vegetables are so healthy and yummy! Made sweet or savory they come out tender and delicious every time. It’s one of our favorite Instant Pot recipes we make a lot.

With just a little liquid in the bottom and a vegetable basket you can make these perfectly cooked Instant Pot steamed vegetables way faster than making them on the stovetop and healthier than boiling them too.

Ninja Foodi Carrots

It doesn’t matter what brand you have. We’ve made them in our Ninja Foodi too! With this brand you use the lid that is not attached with the pressure cook button to make tender. And we have made air fryer carrots with the lid that is attached, all in the same pot!

Ingredient Notes

Carrots can be fresh, peeled and sliced into sticks or wide dials for the cook time listed below. You could use just orange or the multi colored variety.

Water is needed in the bottom to steam but really any liquid would work. If you wanted to add a little bit more flavor you could use broth instead.

And then season as you wish. I mean at least sprinkle on some salt and maybe pepper.

How Long to Cook Carrots in Instant Pot

Depending on how thick your pieces are, 3 minutes is usually perfect. Same goes for Ninja Foodi carrots (with the lid that is attached and pressure cook button). Much faster than if you made Crockpot carrots but just as tender.

Baby Carrots in Instant Pot

You would use the same timing for a bag of baby carrots in the basket or if you made carrot sticks after peeling the outside. These are my favorite sizes because they are easier to eat (especially with kids) when served so no cutting is necessary.

Can you cook whole carrots in Instant Pot?

I mean yes technically you could do that, I might just add 1 additional minute. The issue with this is that unless they are rather small they will likely be too long to comfortably fit inside the steamer basket.

How to Make Carrots Savory

What we usually top these with butter, parsley and some like a squeeze of lime. Salt and pepper are a given but garlic powder would be optional. Mess around with seasonings. I have even used everything seasoning for a bolder pop of flavor.

Candied Carrots in Instant Pot

Some like a sweeter touch with a light drizzle of honey or even real maple syrup with some butter. That way you get the savory element all at the same time with a sprinkle of salt. If you want to add sweetness just sprinkle brown sugar on top when they are done. OH MY either way thes eare fantastic.

Tips

Similar to how we cook carrots in microwave, you would want to dice for very soft or slice so they stay in tact

You begin by removing the outsides of your veggies with a peeler. This is kind of a given but let’s go step by step so nothing is forgotten. Slice in half so you have shorter pieces, or all equal pieces at least. Alternatively, a bag of baby carrots can be used. When done you can add your butter and parsley, to the top so the heat will then allow it to melt.

FAQ

More carrot recipes you’ll love

You can add them into our easy Instant Pot minestrone soup, it can be packed full of sliced carrots. Here’s how to make honey roasted carrots in the oven as a side dish.

Or add a bunch into our Instant Pot chicken noodle soup for a quick meal. Instant Pot cauliflower and Instant Pot corn are great too when we are all about Instant Pot fish for dinner. Instant Pot spaghetti squash is a great vegetarian choice to add to your meals also this week!