Name: Instant Pot Shrimp and Broccoli
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 15 min
Ingredients: 12 ounce Shrimp (**340 g. Use de-shelled, de-veined frozen or fresh shrimp. You may or may not take the tails off.); 3 cups Broccoli (**made into florets and blanched or steamed. You can use thawed frozen broccoli too. Read NOTES below.); 1/2 tbsp garlic (**minced.); 1/2 tbsp ginger (**minced.); 1 tsp Sesame oil (**toasted sesame oil is a must for best flavor.); 1/3 cup Water; 6 tbsp Soy sauce (**Read NOTES below.); 2 tbsp oyster sauce; 2 tbsp Rice Wine; 2 tbsp Sriracha sauce. (**use less for non spicy version. Skip if making it for kids.); 1.5 tbsp brown sugar; 1 tsp red pepper flakes (**optional.); 2 tbsp Cornstarch; 2 tbsp Water; 1 tsp sesame seeds (**use white sesame seeds.)

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Instant Pot Shrimp and Broccoli is a quick and easy dump and start instant pot dinner recipe that you can make under 15 mins. This Instant Pot frozen shrimp and broccoli has the best homemade sauce ever.

Don't miss our easy Instant Pot recipes.

instant pot shrimp and broccoli served with white rice in a light blue bowl with a spoon — Instant Pot Shrimp and Broccoli

Instant Pot Frozen Shrimp and Broccoli

Today's shrimp and broccoli is inspired by our instant pot Chinese chicken and broccoli recipe, it's one of the very popular recipes on this website & much loved by our readers.

You just need zero minute pressure cook time to make this recipe. Yes, that's the time required to build up the pressure in the instant pot. And than thicken the sauce and serve immediately. A perfect quick weeknight dinner or summer meal!

Don't miss our amazing instant pot stir fry shrimp & here's our collection of popular Asian takeout recipes, each recipe is a huge hit!

Ingredients

Find the Ingredients with actual measurements at the bottom of the post. The list below is just a reference.

Shrimp: Use de-shelled & de-veined frozen shrimp or thawed shrimp to make todays shrimp & broccoli recipe. The zero minute cook time would work great for both varieties.
Broccoli: Use either blanched broccoli, steamed broccoli or frozen thawed broccoli to make todays recipe. Here's how to steam broccoli in the instant pot.
Aromatics: Minced ginger and garlic. Adds tons of flavor. Don't miss them.
Homemade sauce: Oyster sauce, Rice cooking vinegar, Sriracha sauce (use less or skip if heat intolerant), soy sauce ( use regular or light soy sauce or coconut aminos or liquid aminos if you are on a low sodium diet), red pepper flakes, brown sugar.
Liquid: Water.
Thickener: Cornstarch slurry which is equal parts cornstarch diluted in equal parts water. It is a gluten free thickener.
Flavor enhancer: Toasted sesame oil. This will make a huge difference and create that amazing takeout style flavor. Don't miss this secret ingredient. Use "toasted sesame oil", read the label before you buy it!
Optional garnish: White sesame seeds and chopped green onion also know as scallions (we did not use them).

best shrimp and broccoli in instant pot — Best Shrimp and Broccoli ever!

Tips & Tricks

Best Shrimp: Use either colossal, Jumbo or extra large shrimp. The small shrimp won't hold up well in this recipe and would shrink a lot.
Frozen or thawed shrimp: You can use either. The cook time would remain the same. Use de-shelled & de-veined with tails intact or taken off. We prefer the shrimp tails intact, they add more flavor and also makes the dish more presentable.
Prevent rubbery shrimp: Zero minute pressure cook time followed by a quick release will reward you with juicy plump shrimp that are not over-cooked or rubbery. Do not exceed the cook time even if you double the recipe.
Best flavor secret: Don't miss our homemade sauce ingredients & quantities, this sauce is the flavor bomb. Also, add toasted sesame oil instead of a regular sesame oil. This will make a huge difference!
Crisp broccoli secret: Do not pressure cook the florets. Add blanched (learn how to blanch at the bottom of the post in the NOTES) or steamed broccoli after thickening the sauce. The blanching or steaming the broccoli florets also helps preserve their bright green color.
Low sodium diet variation: Use coconut aminos or liquid aminos instead of soy sauce, if you are on a low sodium diet.

How to make instant pot shrimp and broccoli?

Find the detailed step by step recipe along with measurements + Video at the bottom of the post.

Step #1 Make the stir fry sauce

pouring best ever homemade stir fry sauce over frozen shrimp in instant pot — Best ever homemade stir fry sauce

Make sauce: Add all the sauce ingredients in a small mason jar or bowl. Whisk and set aside. The homemade stir fry sauce is ready. You can totally increase or decrease the spice level. Add more red pepper flakes or sriracha for extra spicy shrimp & broccoli or cut back if you do not prefer spicy food. Todays recipe is mildly spicy!

Step #2 Dump ingredients & Pressure cook

dumping ingredients in instant pot — Dump ingredients

pressure cooking shrimp in instant pot with homemade stir fry sauce — Pressure cook

Dump ingredients: Add the frozen shrimp directly from the freezer into the steel insert of the instant pot. Pour the homemade stir fry sauce, add the ginger & garlic, pour water. DO NOT stir or mix.
Pressure cook: Secure the lid and pressure cook on high for just Zero minute. Yes, you can adjust the cook time to zero. This is the time required to build up the pressure. After a quick release open the pot & CANCEL the pressure cook option.

Step #3 Thicken sauce, add broccoli & serve

thickening sauce and adding blanched broccoli in the instant pot — Thicken sauce

instant pot frozen shrimp and broccoli — Instant Pot Frozen shrimp and broccoli

Thicken sauce: Now, hit back SAUTE & set it on low heat. Pour the corn starch slurry, stir to mix everything well in the pot. Simmer for 1 min to thicken the sauce to your desired consistency. Turn off the instant pot.
Serve immediately: Add the blanched or steamed broccoli florets or thawed frozen broccoli florets. Stir to combine with the sauce. Serve immediately or otherwise the broccoli florets would over cook with the residual heat.

What goes with shrimp and broccoli?

The following dishes goes very well with instant pot shrimp and broccoli:

How to store?

Fridge: Instant pot shrimp and broccoli will last for 5 days in the fridge in air tight containers. However, the broccoli florets will turn soggy. Follow the reheating directions shared below.

Freezer: You can freeze it for upto 2 months in heavy duty freezer safe bags or containers. Find reheating directions below.

instant pot chinese shrimp and broccoli served with white jasmine rice in a light blue bowl — Chinese shrimp and broccoli

How to reheat?

From Fridge: Reheat the fridge cold pressure cooker shrimp and broccoli in the microwave oven until warm or hot. The shrimp will slightly cook down further and the broccoli will turn soft.

From Freezer: Thaw the frozen shrimp and broccoli over night in the fridge and follow the reheating directions shared above.