Instant Pot Bacon Brussels Sprouts Recipe - quick and easy side dish recipe with Brussels sprouts that are steamed and then sauteed with garlic, onion and crispy bacon. All in your Instant Pot!
I serve these sprouts as a side dish with Honey Mustard Chicken or my Chicken Francese.

If you thought that Roasted Brussels Sprouts are the best and only way to enjoy this vegetable, let me show you how to turn them into flavor-packed super quick side dish with bacon and sauteed onion and garlic, cooked right in your Instant Pot. It's the fastest way to make Brussels sprouts.
These Instant Pot Brussels Sprouts with Bacon are tender and delicious with bacon. After steaming in the Instant Pot for just 3 minutes, the sprouts are tender and melt in your mouth yet they are not mushy. The quick saute with bacon, onions and garlic adds a ton of flavor. It's a great quick side dish to be served for holiday dinners, weekend dinners or as a meal prep for the week.
HOW TO MAKE BRUSSELS SPROUTS IN INSTANT POT?
- Start by trimming ends of washed Brussels sprouts. Cut each in half.
- Add water to your Instant Pot insert. Place steamer basket inside. Arrange Brussels sprouts in the basket.
- Close the IP lid, set valve to sealing, press "manual" setting and set timer to 3 minutes. The pressure cooker will take a few minutes to come to pressure and will start cooking.
- Once done, remove Brussels sprouts from the Instant Pot. Drain water out of the insert. Set the IP to "saute" setting. Add olive oil to insert. Add onions and garlic and saute for 2 minutes. Add bacon and cook until crispy and browned. Add Brussels sprouts and stir, sauteeing for a few minutes. Turn off the IP. Remove Brussels sprouts onto serving dish.
MORE DELICIOUS BRUSSELS SPROUTS RECIPES:
Garlic Parmesan Brussels Sprouts - the best way to make crispy coated Brussels sprouts with cheesy and garlicky flavor.
Honey Balsamic Brussels Sprouts - instead of roasting sprouts in the oven, you can follow the recipe below and steam them in the IP, then toss with honey and vinegar mixture. So delicious!
Would you like to save this recipe?
Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Bacon and Cranberries - this recipe can also be made in the IP, just add cranberries.
WHAT DO YOU NEED FOR THIS RECIPE:
Instant Pot pressure cooker (I have a 6 qt Duo60 and 6 qt Ultra but I think the 3 qt mini will work too.)
steamer basket
wooden spoon
–>> Follow me on Pinterest, Facebook and Instagram for latest recipe updates!
If you like this recipe and make it, snap a photo and share it on INSTAGRAM! Tag me @crunchycreamysweet so I can check it out and leave a comment! 😀
Check out my Instant Pot Guide for Beginners, filled with all the info you need to get started with your new appliance!
INSTANT POT BACON BRUSSELS SPROUTS RECIPE
Instant Pot Bacon Brussels Sprouts recipe
Ingredients
- 16 oz. fresh Brussels sprouts
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- ½ white onion chopped
- 6 slices of bacon chopped
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Trim ends of washed Brussels sprouts. Cut each in half.
- Add 1 cup of water to your Instant Pot insert. Place steamer basket inside. Arrange Brussels sprouts in the basket.
- Close the IP lid, set valve to sealing, press "manual" or "pressure cooking" setting and set timer to 3 minutes. The pressure cooker will take a few minutes to come to pressure and will start cooking.
- Once done, quickly release pressure by switching the valve to "venting" position.
- Remove Brussels sprouts from the Instant Pot. Drain water out of the insert. Set the IP to "saute" setting. Add olive oil to insert. Add onions and garlic and saute for 2 minutes. Add bacon and cook until crispy and browned. Add Brussels sprouts and stir, sauteeing for a few minutes. Turn off the IP. Remove Brussels sprouts onto serving dish.
RickC says
I absolutely loved this. Any suggestions for alternatives to bacon, i.e. to add alternative flavours but keep it vegetarian. (My daughter will not eat meat.)
Anna says
Hi Rick! Maybe try mushrooms for that umami flavor. Thank you for making my recipe! I am so glad you enjoyed it!
Ralph says
Hi Anna, used small pieces of smoked ham instead of bacon; otherwise followed recipe exactly as written!
I loved it! ❤️
Thanks.
Next I’ll make Chicken Marsala!
Judy says
Tasted great, but don’t sauté onions and garlic first. Crisp the bacon, then add the onions and garlic and sauté in the grease. If you do it the other way, you’ll just burn the garlic while waiting for the bacon to crisp.
Jessica says
I'm glad I saw your comment before making this. Makes a lot more sense, and it turned out perfect!
Lisa says
I ended up having to put my bacon in the microwave to crisp it up
Monica says
Instructions say to sautee onions for two minutes, then add the bacon and cook til crispy. There was no indication how much longer to sautee the bacon once added. Even after 12 more minutes, unfortunately my bacon never "crisped." I transferred the bacon & onion mixture to the stove top, but that didn't help much either. Great flavor, nevertheless.
Next time, I would prepare the bacon separately in an oven and then toss it with the finished product. Not sure what went wrong...
Annie says
I completely agree. I've been cooking my bacon in the onion and garlic for 20 minutes now, and it's not crisping up at all. There's too much moisture. Will cook bacon separately next time!
Karen says
How do you avoid turning the bottom of instant pot black when saute bacon & onion? (Is the pot too hot or do I need to add more oil?)
Anna says
Hi Karen! Make sure that the IP is set to NORMAL during sauteeing. It helps prevent the burn.
Des says
Silly question, at what point do you add the salt and pepper?
Rich says
Dang these were good. I added some parmesan cheese to top it with. The flavor waves were incredible.
Anna says
Thank you so much for trying the recipe, Rich! Glad it was a hit!
Patricia says
Great recipe! The only modification was shortening the steaming of the Brussels Sprouts to two minutes. Everything else was perfect!
Lisa says
Will do that the next time. Three minutes was too long. They were mushy.
Diane says
Can you make this a day ahead
Steve says
With 3 mins in the instant pot the Brussels were so mushy I had to throw them out and start over with a traditional method.
Possibly it was because I used fresh farm raised sprouts that are not as dense as those one typically gets in the veggie isle.
Karen says
If you like more crisp brussel sprouts, set your IP to 0 minutes and then do a quick release.
carol slater says
How would you make this without an instant pot? Sounds delicious.
Anna says
Hi Carol! You can steam the sprouts in your microwave and cook the bacon in a skillet. Then mix all together. Hope this helps!
Neva says
Can this be prepared on top of the stove in a cast iron skillet
Anna says
Yep, that should work!
Lynn says
Can you make this in the Crock Pot?
Anna says
Hi Lynn! Unfortunately, I did not test this recipe in a slow cooker. I can't guarantee the result.
Ali says
Has any one made this with frozen sprouts? Wondering if it will still work or turn out mushy. I make a similar dish with cabbage and add mini potatoes, but am always looking for a great sprout dish.
Karen says
I love this recipe! I have made this three times, but next time I'm going to cook the bacon in the microwave and save the bacon fat to saute the onions, then add the bacon, and the Brussels Sprouts and combine.
It takes awhile to saute the bacon in the instant pot liner!!!
Lauren says
Wow! I would never think to make Brussels sprouts in the IP like this. LOVED it!! I can't wait to make them again!