Instant Pot Southern Green Beans

These easy Instant Pot Southern Green Beans are the perfect side dish for Thanksgiving or Christmas because they do not take up space on the stove or in the oven. They are steamed in chicken broth and sautéed in bacon grease for extra flavor.

These Instant Pot green beans are my favorite basic green bean side, but this Fresh Green Bean Casserole is great if you want something a little more involved.

If you are looking for more holiday side dishes, try my Brown Sugar Honey Carrots Recipe, Creamy Homemade Mac and Cheese Sauce, or The Best Balsamic Glazed Roasted Brussel Sprouts.

Why You'll Love This Recipe

• One pot Instant Pot side dish
• Not mushy (al dente)
• Loaded with flavor from the garlic, onions, and bacon
• Only 6 ingredients including salt
• Perfect to pair with any protein 
• Great holiday side dish
• Ready in less than 15 minutes

Ingredients & Substitutions

• Chicken Broth: Swap for water. 
• White Onion: Substitute sweet or yellow onion. 
• Salt: I like a lot of salt so I add ½ of a teaspoon, but some find the bacon adds enough salt to the green beans and prefer less.

Complete list of ingredients and amounts is located on the recipe card below.

How To Make Instant Pot Southern Style Green Beans

Quick Overview

• Steam.
• Sauté bacon, onions, and garlic.
• Add green beans to bacon.

Step By Step Instructions

Step 1: Place the steamer basket or rack/trivet into the Instant Pot. Add the green beans on top of it and pour in the chicken broth.

Step 2: Select Pressure Cook (manual) and High Pressure. Set to 0 minutes (or longer see notes). Once the pot has come to pressure and shuts off, quick release (valve switched to venting) immediately and remove the lid.

Step 3: Remove the green beans and set aside. Select Sauté mode on the Instant Pot. Add the bacon and cook until it begins to brown, stirring frequently. Once it begins to brown, add the onion and sauté until translucent.

Step 4: Using a spoon, remove about 2-3 Tablespoons of the bacon grease. This will be almost all of it.

Step 5: Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute or until fragrant. Turn the pot off completely.

Step 6: While the pot is still warm, add the green beans in and toss well.

Expert Tips

• If you double this recipe, you do not need to double the chicken broth. The broth will still create enough steam to bring the pot to pressure and steam the green beans. 
• Use kitchen shears to cut the bacon. I love using my shears to dice the bacon. It is so much easier and faster than using a knife and cutting board. 
• Use fresh garlic. I do not recommend using jarred minced garlic. It does not have nearly as much flavor. 
• If you prefer your green beans softer, set the timer to 1-2 minutes. I prefer mine al dente so I set it to 0. 
• Release the pressure from the pot immediately. If you let the pot naturally release or leave the lid on after the timer has gone off, the green beans will over cook. 
• Don’t forget to remove some of the grease. After the onions and bacon have cooked, you want to remove most of the grease from the pot. The small remainder will be plenty to coat the green beans. You want the flavor from the bacon grease but you do not want the green beans to be oily.

Recipe FAQs

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5 from 8 votes

Instant Pot Southern Style Green Beans

These easy Instant Pot Southern Green Beans are the perfect side dish for Thanksgiving or Christmas because they do not take up space on the stove or in the oven. They are steamed in chicken broth and sautéed in bacon grease for extra flavor.

Servings4 people

Prep5 minutes minutes

Cook10 minutes minutes

Total15 minutes minutes

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Author: Brianna May

Ingredients:

• ▢ 12 ounces green beans trimmed
• ▢ 1 cup chicken broth
• ▢ 4-5 pieces bacon, diced
• ▢ ½ cup diced white onion*
• ▢ 4-5 cloves garlic, grated or minced finely
• ▢ ¼-1/2 teaspoon kosher salt*

Instructions:

• Review all recipe notes and instructions before beginning.
• Place the steamer basket or rack/trivet into the Instant Pot. Add the green beans on top of it and pour in the chicken broth.
• Select Pressure Cook (manual) and High Pressure. Set to 0 minutes (or longer see notes). Once the pot has come to pressure and shuts off, quick release (valve switched to venting) immediately and remove the lid.
• Remove the green beans and set aside. Select Sauté mode on the Instant Pot. Add the bacon and cook until it begins to brown, stirring frequently. Once it begins to brown, add the onion and sauté until translucent.
• Using a spoon, remove about 2-3 Tablespoons of the bacon grease. This will be almost all of it.
• Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute or until fragrant. Turn the pot off completely.
• While the pot is still warm, add the green beans in and toss well.

Notes:

Chicken Broth: Swap for water.

White Onion: Substitute sweet or yellow onion.

Salt: I like a lot of salt so I add ½ of a teaspoon, but some find the bacon adds enough salt to the green beans and prefer less.

If you double this recipe, you do not need to double the chicken broth. The broth will still create enough steam to bring the pot to pressure and steam the green beans.

Use kitchen shears to cut the bacon. I love using my shears to dice the bacon. It is so much easier and faster than using a knife and cutting board.

Use fresh garlic. I do not recommend using jarred minced garlic. It does not have nearly as much flavor.

If you prefer your green beans softer, set the timer to 1-2 minutes. I prefer mine al dente so I set it to 0.

Release the pressure from the pot immediately. If you let the pot naturally release or leave the lid on after the timer has gone off, the green beans will over cook.

Don’t forget to remove some of the grease. After the onions and bacon have cooked, you want to remove most of the grease from the pot. The small remainder will be plenty to coat the green beans. You want the flavor from the bacon grease but you do not want the green beans to be oily.

Did you make this recipe? Tag me on Instagram!Mention or tag @bites.with.bri_ or use the hashtag #biteswithbri