Pressure Cooker Green Beans and Bacon

Name: Fresh Green Beans in Instant Pot
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 10 min
Ingredients: 1 pound fresh green beans (ends cut and snipped in half); 3 to 4 slices thick cut bacon (bite size pieces); 1 clove garlic (minced, (or to taste)); 1/4 cup onion (diced); 3/4 cup water or chicken broth; 1/2 to 3/4 tsp kosher salt ((or to taste)); 1/4 tsp black pepper; red pepper flakes or dashes of hot sauce ((to taste - optional))

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Instant Pot Southern Style Green Beans and Bacon combine fresh green beans, smoky bacon, a little onion, and garlic. This pressure-cooked southern side is made in minutes and is so mouthwatering it’ll surely be a staple at your table too.

Instant Pot Southern Style Green Beans and Bacon in a white and blue bowl

Recently I had the opportunity to give a cooking class for the University of Florida Hillsborough County Extension Service in conjunction with AARP and their Foodie Fun Event. It was a fun event with about 30 people. We made Skillet Lemon Chicken and Potatoes, these Southern Style Instant Pot Green Beans, and a Butter Pecan Apple Dump Cake (Coming Soon).

We had a great conversation about pressure cooking and most of the attendees had not used an Instant Pot before. They loved the convenience of cooking all in one pot, being able to saute, and the safety features of the locking lid and the quick release capabilities.

I had not cooked in a pressure cooker before the Instant Pot, and they taught me some tips for using a stovetop pressure cooker, like to “quick release” or bring the pressure down by placing the pot into cold water. I love COOKING TIPS, so I will share a few more below in the post for IP Cooking.

They were the nicest group of people and we had so much fun cooking together. They loved participating and being hands-on, and I was thankful they got right in there and cooked with me. It was a fun day of food, fellowship, cooking, and laughter, and I even shared my love for decor and setting a pretty table.

But in reality, I think eating was everyone’s favorite part!

Instant Pot Green Beans Ingredients

Fresh Green Beans
Thick-Sliced Bacon
Onion
Garlic
Water or Chicken Broth or Stock
Kosher Salt
Black Pepper
Red Pepper Flakes or Hot Sauce (optional)

How to make Instant Pot Fresh Green Beans and Bacon

A colander filled with freshly washed bright green green beans

First Step. Set the Instant Pot to Saute. Let it get hot. This helps to keep the bacon from sticking.

Add bacon pieces and cook to render fat. I like to cook the bacon until it is a little crispy. I feel it adds a ton of flavor to the dish. (If you would like you may remove some of the fat if excessive)

Second Step. Add diced onions and garlic. As they cook continue to use a Wooden Spoon to scrape the bottom of the pot. It doesn’t all come up at this point. Don’t worry we will get them all up after the next step.

The onions will release water, which helps to deglaze the cooking pot. But you will need a little more for the cooking process and to finish off deglazing.

An overhead shot of the broth, onions, and bacon used to cook these southern-style green beans in the instant pot

Third Step. Add water or broth and scrape the bottom to get brown bits off the bottom of the pot (This keeps the IP from burning). Adding the liquid allows you to get them all up. There is also so much flavor in those brown bits and you want all that flavor!

A close up of fresh and bright green green beans with salt and pepper in the instant pot with the broth, onions, and bacon

Fourth Step. Hit Cancel to turn off saute function. Add, green beans, salt, and pepper (we like lots of pepper 😉 ).

If you want a little extra kick, add some red pepper flakes or a few dashes of your favorite hot sauce.

A closeup of an instant pot pressure cooker set to 5 minutes on high for this southern green beans recipe

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Fifth Step. Place lid on IP and turn to the locked position. Make Sure the valve is set to the closed position, if necessary on your pressure cooker. Set to manual high pressure for 5 minutes and cook green beans until tender. – See cooking times below for preferred doneness.

HOW LONG DO YOU COOK INSTANT POT GREEN BEANS?

Firm Crunchy Texture – High Pressure 0 Minutes (Beans will steam while coming up to pressure)
For a little Softer Bean but still Firm – High Pressure for 2 minutes
For Soft Bean but not mushy – High Pressure for 5 Minutes (Southern Style)

Tips and Tricks

To make a stainless steel pot non-stick, let it fully heat before adding any fat.
Use thick-sliced bacon so that it doesn’t disintegrate during cooking.
Chop up the bacon (I use kitchen scissors and cut it right into the IP) before cooking, as it will cook faster.
Scrape up browned bits in the bottom with a good spatula while the bacon is cooking and once again when water or broth is added.
Use regular, not flavored, bacon; this gives the most authentic green bean flavor.

How to Store Instant Pot Green Beans

Fridge: Once cooled, place them in an airtight container. They’ll keep fresh in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Reheat: To reheat, you can either warm them up in a skillet, the microwave, or toss them back in the Instant Pot on “saute” mode for a quick refresh.

How to Serve Pressure Cooker Green Beans

Southern-style green beans with bacon are deliciously versatile and make a perfect side for almost any meal. Here are some great ways to serve them:

Classic Southern Meal: Serve alongside oven-fried chicken, mashed potatoes, or meatloaf for a hearty, comforting plate.
Holiday Dinners: These beans pair wonderfully with turkey, ham, or roast beef—making them a fantastic addition to Thanksgiving, Christmas, or Easter dinners.
Over Rice: For a simple and filling meal, serve the green beans and bacon over a bed of fluffy white or brown rice. We love them with Instant Pot Southern Rice and Tomatoes.

A closeup of pressure cooked southern green beans with bacon aka instant pot green beans

Fresh Green Beans Instant Pot FAQs

Can you overcook beans in an Instant Pot?

Yes, it’s possible to overcook beans in the Instant Pot, especially green beans which cook very quickly. Overcooking them can lead to mushy or overly soft beans. To avoid this, always follow the recommended cooking time and quick release the pressure to prevent further cooking.

Why are my Instant Pot beans tough?

If your green beans are turning out tough, it could be due to not cooking them long enough or the Instant Pot not reaching proper pressure. Make sure the valve is set to “sealing” so the pot can build pressure. Once the Instant Pot reaches pressure, it will automatically start the cooking timer. If the beans are particularly large or mature, they may need a little extra cooking time to become tender.

Other Southern Recipes you may enjoy!

the pinterest image for this pressure cooker southern-style green beans with bacon recipe

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Instant Pot Southern Style Green Beans and Bacon combine fresh green beans, smokey bacon, a little onion and garlic. This pressure cooked side is made in minutes and so mouthwatering it’ll surely be a staple at your table too.

Ingredients

▢ 1 pound fresh green beans, ends cut and snipped in half
▢ 3 to 4 slices thick cut bacon, bite size pieces
▢ 1 clove garlic, minced, (or to taste)
▢ ¼ cup onion, diced
▢ ¾ cup water or chicken broth
▢ ½ to ¾ tsp kosher salt, (or to taste)
▢ ¼ tsp black pepper
▢ red pepper flakes or dashes of hot sauce, (to taste – optional)