These garlicky Instant Pot artichokes are pressure cooked for a quick and fancy holiday side. They’re ultra tender and have a touch of fresh herbs that’ll make them a go-to at all your dinner parties from now on.
Easy Instant Pot Artichokes
These tender and naturally creamy Instant Pot artichokes are the perfect opportunity to impress all your holiday guests without slaving away in the kitchen. They’re pressured cooked to perfection and have a certain European flair that’s ready in 15 minutes. Infused with hints of garlic, sweet and tangy lemons, as well as fresh herbs, these freshly-made artichokes will be turning heads once you set them on the table.
Why You’ll Love This Artichoke Recipe
These Instant Pot artichokes are a simple but fancy side dish that’ll impress all your guests.
- Easy. After trimming and rubbing the artichokes with lemon, just toss them in the Instant Pot with some water.
- European flavor profile. This side dish has Mediterranean vibes thanks to the combination of lemon, garlic, and fresh herbs.
- Fast. You only need 20 minutes from start to finish!
- Beginner-friendly. There’s no need to be an experienced chef to make sure these artichokes come out perfectly tender.
What You’ll Need
Garlic, lemon, and herbs are a simple but very gourmet flavor combination. Scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of the post for exact amounts.
- Water – Veggie stock is a great swap.
- Medium artichokes – They need to be raw (fresh).
- Garlic – Fresh garlic is best, but feel free to use shallots instead.
- Lemon – You can use lime juice but reduce the amount by half because it’s more acidic.
- Fresh herbs – I love parsley, rosemary, and dill.
Why Cook Artichokes in the Instant Pot?
Using an Instant Pot means more elements are “controlled” like the amount of steam released and trapped, as well as the cooking time. On the other hand, using regular pots to boil or steam the artichokes takes longer (25-40 minutes) because the fibers are harder to soften, especially if the steam is escaping through the vent hole.
How to Make Instant Pot Artichokes
These easy Instant Pot artichokes get all their flavor from being pressure cooked with fragrant garlic, sweet lemons, and fresh herbs. Scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of the post for more detailed instructions.
- Prep them. Trim the artichokes’ stems, removing the top 1/3 using a serrated knife. Use kitchen shears to trim the tips of the leaves.
- Rinse them. Rinse the artichokes under running water, spreading out the leaves to allow water inside the layers.
- Rub with lemon. Grab the lemon wedges and rub them over the cut sections of the artichokes to minimize browning.
- Fill the pot. Place the garlic, lemon wedges, and fresh herbs in the Instant Pot. Add the trivet and pour water inside.
- Add the artichokes. Arrange the artichokes upside down in a single layer inside the Instant Pot. You may need to cook in batches.
- Seal it. Lock the lid in place, ensuring the release valve on the top is closed.
- Cook them. Use the “manual” mode to cook them on HIGH pressure for 15 minutes. Do a “quick release” when done.
- Serve. Remove the artichokes from the Instant Pot. Slice them in half, serve, and enjoy.
Tips & Variations
Crumbled feta and a dipping sauce can make these Instant Pot artichokes look like they’re straight out of a Michelin-star kitchen.
- Make them spicy. Sprinkle them with red pepper flakes, cayenne pepper, or add a drizzle of chili oil to taste for a kick of heat.
- Sprinkle cheese. Crumble feta or goat cheese and sprinkle it over the artichokes for some creamy tang.
- Choose them right. Choose fresh, firm artichokes with tightly closed leaves. The stem should also be firm and green. If they’re slightly yellow or the leaves are soft, they’re beginning to go bad.
- Avoid canned. Canned or jarred artichokes have been pre-cooked, so using them for this recipe would over-cook them. You need to use raw artichokes only.
- Add a dipping sauce. Dijonnaise (a mixture of mayo and Dijon mustard), tahini, or melted compound butter can add extra flavor to each bite.
Serving Suggestions
These Instant Pot artichokes are a great side for your holiday dinners. My Stuffed Mushrooms and Grilled Asparagus with Onion are other wonderful veggie sides. For soup ideas, try a bowl of my Baked Sweet Potato Soup. As for main dishes, go for my Orange Rosemary Pork Tenderloin or roasted turkey.
How to Store & Reheat Leftovers
Make them in advance to free up some kitchen space on Christmas Day.
- Fridge: Place it in an airtight container for up to 4 days. Keep it in the back of the fridge where it’s coldest and away from strong-smelling foods.
- To reheat them: Microwave them for up to a minute or until warm. You can also “steam” them. Add 1 tablespoon water to a pan over medium heat and place the artichokes inside. Cover the pan with the lid and let them steam for 9-12 minutes or until warm.
More Easy Veggie Sides
- Grilled Vegetable Plate
- Air Fryer Crispy Mini Potatoes
- Baked Zucchini Fries
- Sesame Roasted Asparagus
- Roasted Bok Choy
Instant Pot Artichokes
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups water
- 2 medium artichokes trimmed and prepped
- 2-4 cloves garlic to taste
- 1/2 lemon sliced into wedges
- fresh herbs
Instructions
- Prep your fresh artichokes by trimming the stem, removing the top 1/3 of it using a serrated knife.
- Using kitchen shears, trim the tips of leaves.
- Rinse your artichokes under water, spreading out the leaves to let water inside the artichoke’s layers.
- Take lemon wedges and rub over the cut sections of the artichoke. This step helps to minimize browning/oxidation
- Place garlic, lemon wedges and fresh herbs in your Instant Pot.
- Place the Instant Pot trivet on top and gently pour the water into the Instant Pot.
- Arrange your artichokes upside down in your Instant Pot in a single layer.
- Put the lid on and lock in place, be sure the release valve on the top is closed.
- Using the manual mode, cook the artichokes on HIGH pressure for 15 minutes.
- Once cooking time is up, let the pressure naturally release.
- Carefully do a quick release on the remaining pressure by switching the valve to venting.
- Remove the lid and carefully remove artichokes with tongs or a large spoon. Slice in half and enjoy warm with your favorite dipping sauce or as is!
