Instant Pot Green Beans: A recipe for fresh green beans steamed perfectly in the pressure cooker.
These Pressure Cooker Green Beans are delicious as a side dish to Chicken Marsala, Chicken Cordon Bleu, or New York Strip Roast.
My daughter and husband love green beans. And their favorite way to enjoy them is steamed and tossed with some butter and salt.
Simple. Perfect. Easy.
Steaming fresh green beans in an electric pressure cooker is the simplest way to make green beans.
It only takes a few minutes and the green beans turn out crisp-tender every single time.
How To Steam Green Beans in Instant Pot
Step One: Prepare Green Beans
- Wash green beans and drain well.
- Trim end off green beans.
Step Two: Place Green Beans in Instant Pot
- Pour 1 cup of water into the inner pan of the inner pot.
- Place steamer basket in the pressure cooker.
- Place green beans in the basket.
Step Three: Steam Green Beans in Instant Pot
- Place lid on pressure cooker and seal vent knob.
- Turn to high pressure and set for zero minutes.
- Do a quick release of pressure.
By the time the Instant Pot has reached pressure, the green beans will be crisp-tender. If you would like your green beans a bit on the softer side, set for 1 minute on high pressure.
Step Four: Season
- Remove green beans from Instant Pot.
- Place in a large serving bowl and season as desired.
Green Bean Seasonings
You can season these steamed beans any way you desire, but here are some of my favorite combinations.
- Butter, salt, and pepper
- Olive oil, freshly grated Parmesan cheese, and pepper
- Olive oil, crushed red pepper flakes, salt, and minced garlic
- Butter, salt, pepper, and juice and zest of lemon zest
Tips on Perfectly Steamed Green Beans
- If you are doubling this recipe, you may want to cook on high pressure for 1 minute instead of zero minutes.
- Feel free to saute the green beans in olive oil or butter after steaming for a crisp exterior.
- This is a great technique to use for any recipe that requires you to parboil green beans before proceeding with a recipe.
Instant Pot Essential Recipes
- Instant Pot Chicken Breasts (Fresh or Frozen)
- Instant Pot Chicken Stock
- Instant Pot Yogurt
- Instant Pot Quinoa
- Instant Pot Hard Boiled Eggs
Instant Pot Green Beans
Ingredients
- 1 pound green beans washed, ends trimmed
- 1 cup water
- desired seasonings
Instructions
- Place 1 cup of water into a 6 quart pressure cooker and 1.5 cups into an 8 quart pressure cooker.
- Place green beans into a steamer basket for the pressure cooker.
- Place the steamer basket into the Instant Pot and seal the lid closed.
- Set to high pressure and manual time of zero minutes. (Or 1 minute on high pressure for softer green beans.)
- Do a quick release of power once time has elapsed.
- Remove green beans from the pressure cooker, season, and serve as desired.
Notes
- I prefer seasoning these steamed green beans with a bit of butter, salt, pepper, and the zest and juice of half a lemon.
- Recipe can easily be doubled, but may desire to cook for 1 minute on high pressure.
Nutrition
Scott
Hi Kristen,
My Instant Pot will not allow “0” minutes. It will only toggle between “1” minute or “8” hours. Is there maybe something I’m doing wrong?
Kristen Chidsey
Hi Scott! Can I ask what model you have? But a workaround (that is a bit of a pain) Is to set for 1 minute and as soon as your instant pot beeps that it came to pressure hit cancel.
Kevin Reavis
Hi Kristen, would you change anything if starting with frozen green beans? Thank you and merry Christmas!
Kristen Chidsey
Hi Kevin. I would keep the recipe the same but cook for 1 minute. Merry Christmas
Barrie
Hmmmm...maybe because these are farmer's market/fresh green beans they took twice as long? They were thicker than string beans. Either way, after the second time, they came out perfect~
Kristen Chidsey
The thickness was probably why they needed longer. Most garden green beans are thicker than the fresh green beans purchased at the store. But glad you were able to adjust and make it work.
robertjm
Simple and to the point. Can't get any better than that!!
In my case I counted to 30 after the 0 minute alarm went off, and then did a quick release. Turned out just as I wanted them. Put some butter and pepper on them, with a splash of lime juice I had lurking in the fridge.
Will be making that again!
Kristen Chidsey
Wonderful! So glad this recipe produced the results you were looking for.
amy
Put 1 lb on for 0 minutes on manual hi P--the green beans turned soggy and khaki-colored.
Kristen Chidsey
Hi Amy, I have never had this happened. It is important to do a quick release immediately, and only use the outlined amount of water--using slightly more would result in longer time to come to pressure, which could change the outcome.
amy
Thanks Kristen! I only used 1 cup of water and QR. Perhaps it's just due to variation in green beans...
Trina
Can I cook these in the instant pot without a steamer basket??
Kristen Chidsey
Hi Trina! You can, but I would try to place them on the rack with the water underneath so they don't get soggy. Enjoy!
Caterina
Perfecto! So easy too! They were the best! I followed your recipe last night to a T and the texture, tenderness was just to our liking! Thank you so much for sharing for your expertise! 🙂
Kristen Chidsey
You are so welcome Caterina! I am so glad you enjoyed.
Brittany
This turned out perfect! Thanks for the recipe.
Kristen Chidsey
I am so glad you enjoyed Brittany! Thanks for taking the time to leave a review.