Instant Pot Artichokes are quick and easy to make with the help of your electric pressure cooker. Plus, this recipe gives them SO much flavor! Try them with this “Magic” Artichoke Dipping Sauce and you’re in for a real treat!
The Instant Pot doesn’t always meant that dinner happens in an “instant.” Some recipes can take just as long as the regular version when it comes down to it. It takes time for the pressure to build in the Instant Pot, so cooking time needs to also take into account the time for that pressure to build before the actual timer begins.
The more you have in the pot, the longer it takes for the pressure to build…
But in this case, these Instant Pot steamed artichokes are a total time saver.
Because there’s only a cup of water in the pot, that pressure builds super quick. And while steamed artichokes can take up to 45 minutes on the stovetop, these Instant Pot steamed artichokes only take about 15 minutes, add another 5 minutes or so for that pressure to build… So, 20 minutes total!
That’s like half the time. And that’s the perfect amount of time to make some of my yummy “magic” artichoke dipping sauce.
Serve these artichokes as an appetizer, or as a side dish. They’re perfect with some roasted chicken, chicken piccata, or a pasta dish.
🛒 Ingredients needed
- Artichokes – You can use small, medium or large artichokes. More on that below ↓↓↓
- Garlic & Lemon Juice – These add flavor to your artichokes, but they’re optional.
- Salt
- Water
- Artichoke Dipping Sauce – Optional, but so delicious!
📋 How to make them
Here’s the game plan: I trim my artichokes with a serrated knife, add a bit of garlic, lemon and salt to the pot, and place them on a trivet or steamer basket, cut side down (stem side up).
By placing them stem side up, it means that the water won’t drop down into the leaves and they steam away, instead, with the cut side down, the water will drip out of them as they become tender inside, meaning your artichokes won’t get waterlogged.
Also, I feel like all that pressure in the pot really helps those flavors to soak into the artichokes. I don’t have any scientific evidence to back me on this, but I really do think it makes a difference!!!
Once the cook time is up, quick release the pressure by turning the release valve. Use tongs or a large spoon to remove the artichokes from the pressure cooker and serve with melted butter or this yummy artichoke dipping sauce.
Just look at these beauties! ↓↓↓
🕕 How long to cook artichokes in the instant pot
- Small Artichokes – 5 Minutes
- Medium Artichokes – 10 Minutes
- Large Artichokes – 15 Minutes
TIP: Sometimes I will make a big batch of these in the Instant Pot – As many as will fit a single layer (3 large artichokes, or 4 small-ish ones) and then I’ll reheat them on a hot grill. Just cut them in half and let them get a bit charred on a hot grill (or grill pan). They take on a bit of a smoky flavor and reheat perfectly this way!
NOTE: The artichokes were flipped over at the end for photography purposes. This may be a bit misleading. They were in fact cooked stem side up in the Instant Pot.
✔️ More instant pot recipes
- Instant Pot Chickpeas {No Soak}
- The BEST Instant Pot Farro
- Instant Pot Refried Beans {No Soaking}
- Instant Pot Butter Chicken
- Instant Pot Corn on the Cob
🍽 More easy side dishes
- The Best Glazed Carrots Recipe
- Sunchokes
- Instant Pot Baked Potatoes
- Mashed Cauliflower
- Creamy Polenta with Parmesan
🍷 Wine pairings
- Artichokes (like asparagus) can be notoriously difficult to pair with wine. The pairings that I’ve found work best are Sauvignon Blanc, Rosé, or a light, fruity red wine, such as a Beaujolais.
Did you try this instant pot artichoke recipe?
If you loved these ip artichokes I would appreciate it so much if you would give this recipe a star review! Also, be sure to snap a picture of your finished dish and share it with me on Instagram using the hashtag #platingsandpairings and tagging me @platingsandpairings.
For more great Platings and Pairings recipes, be sure to follow me on Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest and Facebook.
PS – Be sure to try this “magic” artichoke dipping sauce!
Instant Pot Artichokes Recipe
Ingredients
- 2-4 artichokes
- 1 cup water
- 2 cloves garlic (crushed)
- 2 lemon wedges
- Salt
- Dipping sauce
Instructions
- Prepare artichokes for steaming: Snap off tough outer leaves. Cut off the top 1/3 of artichoke. Snip remaining sharp or spiky tips using kitchen shears. Trim stem of artichoke.
- Add water, garlic cloves, lemon wedges and a couple pinches of salt to your Instant Pot.
- Place artichokes in a single layer on the steamer basket, stem side up. Close lid and set the vent to “sealing”.
- Select “Manual” mode, leave the setting on High Pressure, and adjust the time based on the size of your artichokes: 5 minutes for small, 10 minutes for medium, 15 minutes for large. When the time is up, turn the vent to “venting” for a quick pressure release.
- Serve immediately with dipping sauce.
Nutrition
This post was originally published in 2018. It was updated in 2023 to add new photographs and content. The recipe remains the same. Enjoy!
I think you know how I’m feeling about my Instant Pot right now 😉 #OBSESSED. I wish I felt the same way about artichokes…I have never been able to get over the texture. However, I DO like including artichokes into party recipes because so many of my friends love them. I’ll have to share this recipe with them, and make this in my IP when friends come over! Those artichokes look beautiful!
Aren’t Instant Pots just the best?! Love, love, love!
I have ran into so many great recipes that require an instant-pot, including this one! I love artichokes anyway I can have them….I gotta invest in an instant-pot
You are talking about cooking the artichokes Stem Side up but all your pictures show CUT side up…kind of confusing… They look wonderful and I can’t wait to try them…stem side up? and yes they are hard to pair with wine but Sav blanc seems to be the best/
Yes – The pictures are a bit confusing, I’m sorry. To confirm – Yes, I like to cook them stem side up so that the water falls out of them as they steam. Hope this helps!
I would have give you a 5 star but after trimming all the leaves it becomes easy to spread open the center so the choke can be removed before steaming!
Am I correct that in each your photos of the Instant Pot artichokes recipe, the artichokes are shown stem side down, even though your recipe says stem side up???? Am I missing something??
Hi Diane – The artichokes are a bit misleading in the photos. But, yes, they should be cooked stem side up. I flipped them over just for the photographs.
I am not on an Instant Pot or any other bandwagon, but I do find it a very useful kitchen tool among others. Living as I do in France, I find this recipe extremely intriguing. By the way, I admire your realism about the timing of Instant Pot recipes – I find your site to be a lot more credible than some others as a result
Thank you! It must be amazing to live in France!
How long would I cook one artichoke?
Hi Madeline – Cooking time will be the same. Cheers!
Am I doing something wrong? Cooked for 15 minutes at high pressure and my artichokes aren’t even close to ready.
Hi Renee – They should definitely be done after 15 minutes. Was the pot sealed well? Sometimes if my pot does not seal properly, my food doesn’t cook properly in the IP…? Sorry that happened!
My artichokes were not done after 15 minutes. Vent sealed and high pressure…
Hi Tina – Unfortunately it seems that artichokes can vary so much depending on how dense they are and how large they are. I would add an additional three minutes if you find they’re not done.
I had the same issue as Renee after 15 minutes. I stuck the artichoke (now sliced in half) back in for another 6 minutes and they were still quite tough. Hoping it was just a bad artichoke because I’d love to be able to cook them in half the time.
I’m having the same issue as the last couple post. Undercooked artichokes. I’ve tried 15 min, 20 min and 30 min for a single artichoke and they still are undercooked.
Same issue – instapot is brand new
And top Is completely secure. Could it have anything to do with the type of artichoke – some are much more dense than others.
I too LOVE my IP and artichokes. I bought all the bells and whistles when I got my IP including a steamer basket. Your dipping sauce also looks wonderful. I am going to add 1 TBSP of the O Olive Oil Organic Meyer Lemons olive oil to this (just because this is a seriously good, very light and delicate olive oil) because I love the idea of lemon juice with artichokes.
I had 3 medium artichokes and it took 26 minutes to cook them thru. Still it is so much less time than the hour and a half on the stove a couple of weeks ago. And I didn’t have to watch the water. Thanks for the recipe.
You are so welcome Kerry! Thanks for the feedback!
You didn’t write anything about eating artichokes:( I didn’t know how to and treated it like most vegetables- I threw out the core and ate the other stuff. Bad bad idea
Emma,
You eat an artichoke leaf by leaf dipping it in butter or mayo. As you get down to the center and the leaves change you can pull off the ring before the husk and eat around that ring. Do not eat the husk, cut it off just before the soft part or what is called the heart. The heart is the best part of an artichoke. Enjoy!
My husband traditionally makes artichokes in the microwave for 30-45mins, depending on the artichokes. Ugh, I’m never a fan of cooking with the microwave! When I suggested this way he was not a fan. I did it anyway and the results were perfect! Thank you!
I’m so glad it was helpful!
Great recipe! Thanks
Hi Erin,
Thanks for the IP recipe for artichokes. It is perfect in timing! When I was a young kid, my family visited my gramma who lived on the beach in Santa Cruz for the summers. We would travel through Watsonville Ca and you were able to pick a burlap sack of artichokes for $1.00 a sack. My gramma would make all kinds of artichoke recipes with this load. Don’t forget the trip to Gilroy Ca where we loaded her up with fresh garlic. Yum!!!
Thanks
That sounds amazing Ron – Thanks for stopping by!
The elevation you live at may require additional pressure cooking g time.
Please note that almost all recipes shared on any website are for sea level cooking.
Tradtional baking recipes have always required high altitude adjustments. This is also required with pressure cooking recipes in the Instant Pot.
Water boils at a lower temperature the higher in elevation you go. This means it requires additional cooking time, even under pressure.
Any elevation above 2000 feet must add time, from a couple of minutes, or up to an additional 40% of time for pressure cooking.
You can find an Instant Pot high elevation adjustment chart on the internet.
I have had the same issue with an artichoke not being done in 15 min. I added a few more minutes and again tested a leaf. Seemed to take total of 20 minutes for one artichoke. I’m just glad to know I am not alone in the undercooked in 15 minutes.
Nice, Thanks! I use this foldable steamer basket, space-saving design, way better than the metal baskets. I got it on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07WDJB5W8/