See my guide on how to use an Instant Pot.


Instant Pot Green Beans are quick to make and take less than 15 minutes from start to finish. One of the easiest Instant Pot side dishes!

Instant pot steamed green beans with lemon in a serving bowl.

When you’re trying to cook dinner for a family, keeping it simple is key. Especially when it comes to side dishes.

That’s why I love simple side dishes like these easy Instant Pot green beans. You just add water and fresh green beans to your Instant Pot and let the pressure cooker do the rest of the work. Even a steamer basket is optional.

If you’re a beginner to Instant Pot cooking, this Instant Pot green beans recipe is a great recipe to start with. It’s easy, with just a few simple steps. If you have questions about how to use your Instant Pot, my quick start Instant Pot manual is a great reference.

Instant Pot green beans are a healthy side dish that goes well with many easy meals. Using your pressure cooker, you can cook your green beans just how you like them: crisp-tender or softer. For more green bean recipes, try air fryer green beans, sautéed green beans, roasted green beans and green bean casserole recipes. You can even use these Instant Pot green beans in your homemade green bean casserole.

Green beans in a steamer basket in an Instant Pot.

How to cook green beans in an Instant Pot

To make Instant Pot green beans, you’ll start by prepping your fresh green beans. Rinse the green beans and remove the tough stem ends. You can either snap the ends off using your fingers or line up a bunch of green beans and trim the ends with a knife. You don’t need to trim off the end with the thin tip, as it is fine to eat.

Next, pour 1 cup of water into the inner pot of your Instant Pot. I steam my green beans in a simple steamer basket, but if you do not have a steamer basket you can cook the green beans right in the water. (See more of my favorite Instant Pot accessories.)

Put the green beans in the Instant Pot, either in a steamer basket or right in the water at the bottom of the pot. Close the Instant Pot lid and turn the steam release valve to the sealing position. Use the Pressure Cook/Manual setting to cook the green beans at high pressure:

  • For crisp-tender green beans, set the pressure cook time to 0 minutes.
  • For softer green beans, set the pressure cook time for 1 to 3 minutes, depending on how soft you want your green beans.

I like my cooked green beans to be tender yet still crisp, so I pressure cook them for zero minutes in the Instant Pot. You may be wondering how green beans can cook in the Instant Pot when the cook time is set to zero. Before the cook time starts, the Instant Pot takes about 8-10 minutes to pressurize. During that time, steam and heat are building and the green beans begin to cook.

When the cook time ends, you’ll want to do a quick release to release the pressure. If you wait for a natural release, the green beans would become overcooked and mushy. To do a quick release, carefully turn the steam release valve to the venting position. I like to use the handle of a long spoon to do this. Hot steam will immediately begin to escape from the valve. If the steam hits your ceiling, you can place a kitchen towel loosely over the valve to catch the steam. I don’t usually need to do this.

Once the steam is gone and the pin drops down, you can open the Instant Pot lid and serve your green beans. I like to add butter, salt, pepper and a squeeze of lemon juice, or some Parmesan cheese. If you want seasoned green beans, I’ve shared lots of green bean seasoning ideas here.

Green beans in a serving bowl with butter and lemon.

Tips for Instant Pot Green Beans

  • You can add some minced garlic or lemon slices to the cooking water in the Instant Pot to season your green beans.
  • Be sure to do a quick release as soon as the cook time ends to avoid over-cooked green beans.
  • You can use frozen green beans in this recipe.

These pressure cooker green beans are delicious served with my crispy baked chicken thighs, baked salmon, slow cooker chicken thighs and Instant Pot orange chicken.

Also try Instant Pot artichokes and Instant Pot Broccoli. See more healthy Instant Pot recipes.

green beans served in a bowl with lemon wedges
5 from 1 rating

Instant Pot Green Beans

Servings: 4 servings
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Pressurize Time: 9 minutes
Total Time: 14 minutes
Instant Pot Green Beans are quick to make and take less than 15 minutes from start to finish. One of the easiest Instant Pot side dishes!

Ingredients

  • 1 pound fresh green beans
  • 1 cup water
  • salt, pepper, fresh lemon, butter, etc., as desired for serving

Instructions
 

  • Wash the green beans and trim off the tough stem ends.
  • Pour 1 cup of water into the Instant Pot inner pot and add a steamer basket to the pot. Place the green beans in the steamer basket. If you do not have a steamer basket you can cook the green beans right in the water in the pot.
  • Close the Instant Pot lid and turn the steam release valve to the sealing position. Set the pressure cook time to 0 minutes at high pressure for crisp-tender green beans. Even though the pressure cook time is set to zero, the green beans will cook while the Instant Pot pressurizes. If you want your green beans softer, set the cook time for 1-3 minutes, depending on how soft you want your green beans.
  • The Instant Pot will take about 8 minutes to reach pressure. When the cook time finishes, the Instant Pot should beep a few times to let you know the cooking cycle has ended (assuming you haven't turned off the sound on your pot). Immediately quick release the pressure by carefully turning the steam release valve to the venting position. When the pin drops down carefully open the Instant Pot lid.
  • Serve green beans with butter, salt, pepper, and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice, or as desired.

Notes

  • Frozen green beans will also work in this recipe.
Calories: 35kcal, Carbohydrates: 8g, Protein: 2g, Fat: 1g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Sodium: 10mg, Potassium: 239mg, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 4g, Vitamin A: 782IU, Vitamin C: 14mg, Calcium: 42mg, Iron: 1mg
Nutrition information is an estimate.
Cuisine: American
Course: Side Dish
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