If you’re looking for a quick, healthy, and budget-friendly vegetable side, this Instant Pot green beans recipe is the one to try! If you are preparing a weekday supper or organizing a holiday feast, these are an excellent choice for cooking in a pressure cooker because they cook incredibly well. This method locks in flavor and keeps your prep time short—perfect for when you need something simple and satisfying.
This recipe shows you exactly how to make Instant Pot fresh green beans, though you can use frozen if that’s what you have on hand. The pressure cooker method gives you perfectly tender green beans in just minutes, and the best part is you only need a few basic ingredients. It’s a fantastic way to make use of a fresh farmer’s market haul or make a garden at home and plant some green beans.
Using the green beans in Instant Pot method saves time compared to boiling or steaming. Plus, you can easily customize the flavor by seasoning with pepper, garlic, onions, or a splash of lemon juice. This dish is a favorite among families because it’s fast, healthy, and incredibly versatile!
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What We Love These Instant Pot Fresh Green Beans
- If you’re worried about your food budget, it’s great to know there are affordable foods at the grocery store or farmers’ markets. Fresh green beans in Instant Pot are a great example of this.
- They’re also packed with health benefits like fiber, vitamins, and minerals, and are low in calories and fat. And when cooked properly, they are delicious!
Love green beans? You can put them in our green bean casserole tater tots or tater tot casserole with turkey recipe.
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
- Fresh green beans: Trimmed and rinsed. You can also use frozen (no need to thaw first).
- Water: Needed to generate steam in the pressure cooker. Or use chicken broth to boost the savory flavor.
- Salt: Enhances the flavor. Add to taste!
- Butter (optional): Stir in for a rich, velvety finish.
Recipe Variations
- Season them with all-purpose seasoning for more flavor.
- Add olive oil and minced garlic and toss them.
- Grate parmesan cheese on top before serving.
- Make Instant Pot Green Beans with Bacon. Chop and saute the bacon in the Instapot. Then, remove the bacon with tongs on a paper towel. Then pressure cook (as per the recipe) and stir back in the bacon before serving.
Equipment Used in this Recipe
- Instant Pot (or electric pressure cooker)
- Steamer Basket
🎯 TFN Pro Tip
If you don’t have a steamer basket, you can use the trivet that came with your Instant Pot pressure cooker and make a foil sling (see below), or just add the green beans to the bottom of the pot over the water.
How to make a foil sling: Take two 30″ strips of heavy-duty aluminum foil and fold them into thirds, lengthwise. Then you can use the ends of the foil to make handles for lowering and raising the pan. Place them in the bottom of the pot, so they form a cross.
How to Make Green Beans in Instant Pot
- Prepare the beans. First, wash the fresh green beans and trim the ends.
- Then pour water and place the steaming basket. Use hot water to speed up the cooking process. Add the green beans and sprinkle salt on top.
- Pressure cook the green beans. Put the lid on the Instant Pot and make sure it is locked. Then, if necessary, turn or press the pressure valve to seal.
- Set the pressure cook time to high pressure to steam green beans in an Instant Pot for 1 minute.
If using frozen green beans, cook them at high pressure for 2 minutes.
- Ready to serve. Release the steam from the pressure cooker by pressing the quick-release button or turning the lever.
- Be sure to use a potholder to lift the steamer basket or trivet.
- Finally, season the instant pot fresh green beans to taste with salt and butter, if desired. (See other optional variations.)
Pressure cook your breakfast with this Instant Pot breakfast potatoes. If you love beans, this Instant Pot white beans no soak recipe and navy beans soup instant pot made with Instant Pot is a good choice. For a delicious and creamy dinner, you can try our chicken thighs and potatoes Instant Pot.
Serving Suggestions
These Instant Pot green beans make an easy side dish that pairs well with just about anything. Serve them alongside roasted pork, grilled chicken, or baked salmon for a full meal. You can even top them with shredded cheese for a cozy comfort food twist. Add them to main dishes like gnocchi chicken or chili cheese tater tot casserole for added veggies. They’re also great chilled as a crunchy snack with hummus or a creamy dip. However you serve them, these are a flavorful and flexible addition to your table.
Cooking in the Instant Pot is a great way to quickly get dinner on the table. And, since it’s a multi-pot, it can steam vegetables in addition to pressure cooking. You can even use the pot-in-pot method to make casseroles like Instant Pot recipe for cheesy hashbrown casserole.
Recipe FAQs
Yes, just use the wire trivet that came with your Instant Pot or pressure cooker and lay the beans over that. Layer them in the opposite direction of the trivet rack so they don’t fall through.
Alternatively, you can use a foil sling (refer to the directions above or the recipe card for instructions) and arrange them on it. You can also add the green beans to the bottom of the pot over the water.
You can cook fresh raw beans in an Instant Pot for about 1 minute. If you want frozen, they will cook within 3 minutes. The time it takes to cook frozen beans depends on the size of the pieces and how much water you use.
Yes, just follow the pressure cooking directions listed. The buttons on the front of the Ninja Foodi should be the same as that
For frozen green beans in the Instant Pot, increase the pressure cooking time by 1 minute.
These Instant Pot fresh green beans can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to four days. You can also freeze them for up to three months, though it is best to store them before cooking.
When you’re ready to eat them, just reheat them in the microwave or on the stovetop until they’re warm.
Love Easy Vegetable Recipes? Here’s More…
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Instant Pot Green Beans
Equipment
- Instant Pot - or other electric pressure cooker
- steamer basket - or Instant Pot trivet
Ingredients
- 1 pound green beans fresh or frozen
- 1 cup hot water *using hot water helps the IP come to pressure faster
- 1 teaspoon salt or more/less to taste
- 1 tablespoon butter optional
Instructions
- Place the beans in a colander and rinse with tap water. Use a knife to trim the ends off. Pour hot water into the inner pot of pressure cooker and place the steaming basket or trivet into the water. *Be sure that it sits higher than the water level.
- Place the green beans in the basket (or set them on the trivet) and season with salt. Twist the Instant Pot lid on, then turn or press the pressure valve to seal the pot, following the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Manually set the cook time for 1 minute at high pressure. *For frozen green beans, increase time to 2 minutes.
- When the pressure cooking is complete, perform a quick release of pressure, by depressing the sealing button or turning the sealing lever to ‘vent’.
- Using pot holders, carefully lift out the steamer basket, or use tongs to remove the steamed green beans from the trivet. Transfer to a serving bowl, and season to taste with salt and butter, if desired.
Notes
- Season them with all-purpose seasoning for more flavor.
- Add olive oil and minced garlic to your steamed green beans and toss them.
- Grate parmesan cheese on top before serving.
- Make Instant Pot Green Beans with Bacon. Chop and saute the bacon in the Instapot. Then, remove the bacon with tongs on a paper towel. Wipe out the pot. Then pressure cook the beans (as per the recipe) and stir back in the bacon before serving.
- If you don’t have a steamer basket, you can use the trivet that came with your Instant Pot pressure cooker and make a foil sling (see below), or just add the green beans to the bottom of the pot over the water.
- How to make a foil sling: Take two 30″ strips of heavy-duty aluminum foil and fold them into thirds, lengthwise. Then you can use the ends of the foil to make handles for lowering and raising the pan. Place them in the bottom of the pot, so they form a cross.
- These Instant Pot fresh green beans can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to four days. You can also freeze them for up to three months, though it is best to store them before cooking.
- When you’re ready to eat them, just reheat them in the microwave or on the stovetop until they’re warm.
Nutrition
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