Southern Style Instant Pot Fresh Green Beans

Cooking fresh green beans in the Instant Pot is a great way to enjoy a flavorful side dish in less time.

white bowl filled with Instant Pot green beans that were cooked from fresh

If you’re a fan of southern style green beans, you’re going to love these Instant Pot fresh green beans!

Note: This post may contain affiliate links for your convenience. If you make a purchase, this site may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. You can read my full disclosure policy here.

Southern style green beans are one of my favorite side dishes.

When they’re cooked low and slow, they become soft and tender, taking on the flavor of everything they’re cooked with, such as onions, salt, pepper, and sometimes even ham or bacon!

Truth be told, for the longest time, I very rarely cooked southern style green beans, because it took a lot of time. I had to remember to put them in the slow cooker so they could simmer all day, and I just didn’t always remember!

But then I learned how to make southern style green beans in the pressure cooker, using frozen green beans, and I was sold.

Then I also started cooking canned green beans in the Instant Pot, doctoring them up so they don’t taste like they’re from a can. I’ve also made Instant Pot green beans and potatoes.

Can you tell I have a love for Instant Pot green bean recipes? 🙂

But many readers have asked me about how to cook Instant Pot fresh green beans, which is how this recipe was born!

These delicious green beans are just like what you’d get at your favorite BBQ restaurant!

They make an easy pressure cooker Thanksgiving side dish or Easter side dish, and they also pair beautifully with copycat Cracker Barrel chicken and dumplings or a helping of creamy chicken and rice!

If you want your fresh green beans to be crisp instead of quite soft, check out my recipe for Instant Pot steamed green beans!

a bowl of fresh green beans that were cooked in the pressure cooker

Pressure Cooker Fresh Green Beans

I grew up sitting on a front porch snapping green beans in the summer.

If you’re like me, you probably remember doing the same, with a bowl on your lap, snapping off the pointy ends and snapping the long beans in half.

I love to take the time to do these sort of mindless activities–it’s a way to force myself to slow down and enjoy the small things in life.

So grab some fresh green beans from the farmer’s market, your own garden, or the grocery store and enjoy the simple pleasures in life!

These make a great side dish for comfort foods like pinto beans and cornbread or creamy chicken and rice!

No More Wondering What’s for Dinner!

Subscribe to get immediate access to the FREE Instant Pot Meal Plan Jumpstart to help you get a tasty dinner on the table in a flash!

    We won’t send you spam. Unsubscribe at any time.

    How to Pressure Cook Fresh Green Beans in the Instant Pot

    It’s really easy to cook fresh green beans in the Instant Pot!

    Ingredients You’ll Need:

    • Fresh green beans
    • Onion
    • Chicken broth
    • Salt
    • Pepper
    • Butter (optional)
    • Ham or bacon (optional)
    fresh green beans to be prepared for cooking in the Instant Pot pressure cooker

    How to Make It:

    (Full printable recipe is available below)

    It’s actually really easy to make Instant Pot green beans, even with no steamer basket!

    Snap and trim green beans. First you’ll trim/snap the green beans and add them to the insert pot of your pressure cooker.

    Add in the seasonings. Next, you’ll add in the onion, chicken broth, salt, pepper, and if desired, a pat of butter and a piece or two of bacon or ham.

    Instant Pot pressure cooker fresh green beans ready to be cooked

    Pressure cook. Close the lid and seal the vent. Cook on high pressure for 20 minutes.

    Afterward, you can either allow a natural release or perform a quick release.

    southern style fresh green beans in the Instant Pot

    How Long to Pressure Cook Green Beans

    How long you pressure cook the green beans really depends on the texture you prefer and what type of beans you’re using.

    When I cook frozen green beans in the Instant Pot, I use a slightly longer cook time of 25 minutes. For these fresh green beans, I found 20 minutes to be perfect.

    Technically, green beans actually require a much shorter cook time in order to be considered “cooked.”

    But since I like the soft and stewed texture of southern style green beans, I cook them longer to get them nice and soft.

    a mouthwatering bowl of southern style green beans that were cooked in the Instant Pot pressure cooker

    Notes and Adaptations:

    • This recipe makes about 4 servings. You can easily double or triple the recipe if you’re serving a crowd–just be sure to not exceed the maximum fill line on your model.
    • Feel free to adjust the seasonings to your taste. You can add garlic, more salt and pepper, seasoned salt, garlic pepper, etc.

    More Instant Pot Side Dishes:

    Recommended Equipment:

    Yield: 4 Servings

    Instant Pot Fresh Green Beans

    Instant Pot green beans in a white bowl

    These southern-style green beans are cooked from fresh in the Instant Pot, so they taste like they've simmered all day!

    Prep Time 5 minutes
    Cook Time 20 minutes
    Additional Time 30 minutes
    Total Time 55 minutes

    Ingredients

    • 1 lb fresh green beans, ends trimmed or snapped
    • 1/2 large onion, diced
    • 1 cup chicken broth
    • 1 tsp butter (optional)
    • 1/4 tsp black pepper (or to taste)
    • 1/2 tsp salt (or to taste)
    • Ham or bacon pieces (optional)

    Instructions

    1. In the insert pot of the Instant Pot, add fresh green beans and onions. Pour in the broth and sprinkle in salt and pepper. Add butter and ham or bacon, if using. Stir to combine.
    2. Close lid and set the valve to the sealed position. Select a cook time of 20 minutes at high pressure.
    3. After the cook time is complete, you can perform a quick release of pressure or a natural release.
    4. Adjust seasonings if needed and serve.

    Notes

    • Feel free to double this recipe if you need to serve more people.
    • Adding in bacon of ham is a great option, if you have some on hand.
    • This cook time allows the green beans to get nice and soft, just like they had cooked for hours.

    Nutrition Information:

    Yield:

    4

    Serving Size:

    1

    Amount Per Serving: Calories: 55Total Fat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 4mgSodium: 537mgCarbohydrates: 10gFiber: 3gSugar: 5gProtein: 3g

    Nutrition information is automatically calculated and is not guaranteed for accuracy.

    Want more delicious recipe ideas?

    Check out even more mealtime inspiration on my Pinterest boards!

    No More Wondering What’s for Dinner!

    Subscribe to get immediate access to the FREE Instant Pot Meal Plan Jumpstart to help you get a tasty dinner on the table in a flash!

      We won’t send you spam. Unsubscribe at any time.

      Be sure to save this recipe to your side dish board on Pinterest

      white bowl of fresh green beans cooked in the pressure cooker

      Categories:

      , , , , , ,

      Easy family-friendly recipes in your inbox!

      Leave a Reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

      9 Comments

      1. Enola Pickard says:

        In your recipe, you list prep time, cook time and additional time. What is the 30 minutes additional time?

        1. Chrysti Benner says:

          Hi Enola! The additional time of 30 minutes takes into account the amount of time for the Instant Pot to come to pressure (before it starts the 20 minute cook time), and also for a natural release of pressure, if you opt for that pressure-release method. Hope that helps! 🙂

      2. Karin Anne says:

        Do I need to adjust the cooking time if I triple this? Thanks!

        1. Chrysti Benner says:

          Hi Karin Anne! I would leave the cook time the same. Enjoy! 🙂

      3. I’ve got a batch of green beans that are big and tough because I left them on the plant too long. Do you think this cook time will soften them up, or should I add a few minutes?

        1. Chrysti Benner says:

          That’s a good question, Kristina! I would probably start with this cook time, then test them. If they’re still tough, you can always cook them for a couple more minutes. Hope you enjoy! 🙂

          1. Thank you, Chrysti!

      4. Do you use cooked or uncooked bacon?

        1. Chrysti Benner says:

          Hi JH–you can use either! I’ve done it both ways, depending on what I have on hand.

      You'll Also Love..