Let me tell y’all something, these Instant Pot Southern Green Beans taste like they’ve been simmering on Grandma’s stove all day, but they’re ready in a fraction of the time. The Instant Pot locks in all that smoky, seasoned flavor so every bite tastes like Sunday dinner. We’re talking tender green beans cooked down with bacon, onions, and spices. This is the shortcut your grandma would’ve approved of (after tasting it, of course).
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If you love green beans, you will definitely love my Air Fryer Garlic Green Beans and Southern Green Beans with Bacon made on the stovetop.
Instant Pot Southern Green Beans Ingredients
- Bacon
- Onions
- Garlic
- Green Beans
- Broth
- Salt and Pepper
How to Make Instant Pot Pressure Cooker Southern Green Beans
Detailed measurements and full instructions can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- Sauté the bacon. Turn your Instant Pot to Sauté mode and toss in the bacon. Let it cook until it’s golden and starting to crisp, about 4–5 minutes. You want that smoky flavor and just enough rendered fat to season the whole pot.
- Add the onions and garlic. Once the bacon’s lookin’ right, add the chopped onions. Cook until they’re soft and starting to brown, then stir in the garlic for about 30 seconds. (Don’t skip this — this step is what makes your kitchen smell like Sunday dinner.)
- Add the green beans. Toss in the green beans and give them a quick stir to coat them in all that bacon flavor. This little moment lets the beans soak up that smoky base before you even start pressure cooking.
- Pour in the broth and season. Add your broth, salt, and pepper. If you’re feelin’ fancy, stir in a spoonful of Better Than Bouillon for that extra boost of rich, savory flavor. It’s optional, but chile… it takes things up a notch.
- Pressure cook. Secure the lid, set the valve to Sealing, and cook on High Pressure. When the timer’s done, quick release the pressure.
- Taste and adjust. Open the lid, give everything a stir, and taste for seasoning. Add more salt, pepper, or a splash of broth if needed.
- Serve it up. Spoon those green beans into a serving bowl, drizzle that flavorful broth right over the top, and get ready to pass ‘em around the table. Tender, smoky, and seasoned through and through, just like we like ‘em down South.
Instant Pot Southern-Style Green Beans
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Equipment
Ingredients
- 4 slices uncooked bacon sliced into small pieces
- 1 cup chopped white onion
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 1 pound fresh green beans stems removed
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 teaspoon Better Than Bouillon Chicken Flavor Optional for flavor.
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Turn the Instant Pot on the sautee function. Add the 4 slices of uncooked bacon. Cook for 3-4 minutes until the bacon crisps.
- Drain the excess fat from the Instant Pot. I reserved about a teaspoon of fat in the pot.
- Add the onions and garlic. Cook for 1-2 minutes until fragrant.
- Add the chicken broth and deglaze the pot with a spatula. Scrap up all the bits of cooked bacon in the pot.
- Add the Better than Bouillon, green beans, salt and pepper to taste. Stir.
- Cook for 15 minutes on Manual > High Pressure Cooking.
- When the pot indicates it has finished, quick release the steam.
- Cool before serving.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition Data
Macros are provided as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. This information is calculated using MyFitnessPal.com. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator. You are solely responsible for ensuring that any nutritional information provided is accurate, complete, and useful.
Frequently Asked Questions and Recipe Pro Tips
I like to cook green beans for 15 minutes with a quick release of pressure.
Yes, you can use frozen green beans. I prefer fresh green beans. The cook time will be the same, using frozen green beans. The pot will take longer to come to pressure.
Southern green beans are what my family grew up eating. For special occasions, like Sunday dinners or holidays we always prepared the dish using fresh green beans. On weeknights, we did frequently use canned green beans. Southern green beans are typically prepared with bacon. Before the Instant Pot, I would simmer the green beans, bacon, and seasonings on the stove.
You can use ham, sausage, a turkey leg....the sky is the limit!
I love to serve this dish around the holidays or on the weeknights with dinner. Be sure to check out my Instant Pot Green Bean Casserole recipe.
Yes. I recommend freezing them in the broth in air tight containers to retain flavor. You can freeze the green beans up to 3 months.
Pair this with Instant Pot Cabbage, Instant Pot Low Carb Tuscan Chicken Thighs, Instant Pot Risotto or Instant Pot Chicken Marsala.
More Instant Pot Recipes
Instant Pot Green Bean Casserole
Instant Pot Cranberry Sauce
Instant Pot Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Instant Pot Sweet Potatoes
More Southern Style Recipes
Southern Style Homemade Cornbread
Southern Style Baked Macaroni and Cheese
Southern Mustard Greens
Southern Candied Sweet Potatoes
Instant Pot Collard Greens
Instant Pot Brisket
Instant Pot Red Beans and Rice
Instant Pot Louisiana Gumbo
Instant Pot Southern Baked Beans
Southern Baked Beans
Southern Green Beans
Molly Kumar says
This is so yummm!! I love beans and bacon together and cooked in Instapot, this would be my new goto beans recipe.
Britni says
Love this! I am always looking for new easy recipes for my instant pot.
Lydia says
I've been searching for an amazing green bean recipe and this is it!! Made them for Thanksgiving and they were devoured! Thanks so much, from a fellow Kansas Citian!
staysnatched says
Hi there fellow Kansas Citian! I'm so happy it went well with you for Thanksgiving! My mom has already mandated I make these for Christmas!
Teresa says
Awesome green beans! Taste just like my moms!
Question, if I wanted to double the recipe, do I double the liquid?
staysnatched says
Yes, I would start by doubling the liquid. You will have the drain the liquid anyway, so if it is too much it won't hurt anything.
Tish Davis says
Made this tonight and I had to stop myself from eating the whole dang thing! I doubled the recipe because I had a 2 pound bag of green beans from Costco.
Sharon says
Could you can these?
staysnatched says
I don't can, but I would assume so.
Keri says
I made these for Easter as a side dish and they came out perfect! I grew up eating green bean casserole for holidays (lol) and these were a WELCOMED change in my household. I’ll make them from now on. Thank you! So great and so easy!
staysnatched says
Glad to hear you welcomed change!
Laura Crabtree says
DELICIOUS! I had to add an extra 5 minutes to the cook time to get them to my liking. I’ve been looking for a good bacon green beans recipe for a while and I think I just found a keeper. ??
staysnatched says
Wonderful! I'm glad you enjoyed them!
Aimee Kiser says
I grew up picking beans out of the garden, stringing them then we canned, froze, and ate them for the whole year. I've had them with bacon and fat back my entire life. Always wonderful! However I have found that using country ham adds a whole new level to them and turns them into a meal! Thanks for the great recipe!
staysnatched says
You're welcome! Glad you enjoyed it!
Laura says
Finally! Someone who cooks green beans longer than 2 minutes! I haven’t even tried your recipe yet, but they look like delicious Southern green beans should! I’m from Georgia! Thank you!
staysnatched says
I can't wait for you to try it!
Terri says
I made these yesterday. Absolutely amazing!!!!
staysnatched says
So glad you enjoyed them!
Tenedra says
Just made these for dinner tonight and they are so yummy! So quick and easy.
staysnatched says
I love quick and easy!
Lisa Kaye says
I have made this 2 times now and it keeps getting better!!! I followed the recipe and the 2nd time I added some Everglades seasoning to it. I really love this recipe!! Thank you
staysnatched says
I love the sound of that!
Eunice says
My favorite! Very quick and easy.
staysnatched says
Wonderful! I'm so glad you liked them.
Eliscia says
Another winner recipe! I'm adding this to my go-to recipe list. So easy yet, tastes like my grandma's green beans. The flavor was great without being too salty or over-seasoned. Can't wait to try another recipe. You gotta love the website name too!
staysnatched says
Thank you so much!
Orvina says
So yummy!!! I made these for meal prep this week and could not stop eating them!! So flavorful and the recipe is super easy!
staysnatched says
YES! That's what I like to hear!
John says
Can I make this recipe without an insta-pot? What changes?
staysnatched says
You would have to cook them on the stove for several hours until soft.
bob says
this is my 3rd time with this recipe..cut the cook time back to 5 min and turned out just right!!! thanks
staysnatched says
Yay! The perfect recipe!
Kristen says
Amazing green beans! Green beans are one of my favorite vegetables, but I always get caught in the same rut of preparing them (in stews or with almonds and lemon). I had just gotten an instant pot and used this recipe as a way to learn how to use it. These beans were fantastic! They ended up being our main instead of the intended side with almost no leftovers between the two of us.
staysnatched says
Wonderful! I'm so glad you enjoyed them!
Donna says
This is the way I make my green beans, except I use canned green beans snd cook for a few hours on the stovetop! Could I use canned green beans in this recipe?
staysnatched says
I wouldn't personally use canned green beans in the Instant Pot. I haven't tried it, so I don't have advice on cook time.
Grace says
It was so delicious. I didn't reserve extra bacon for topping though. I used center cut bacon because I like my beans meaty. I will definitely use this method from now on. It won't let me comment on website so I'll comment here. I did add a couple more minutes because I like them really tender.
Jessica says
I just made this recipe this week and my husband loved them so much he asked if we could have them for Thanksgiving. So so good!
staysnatched says
Yay! These are great for any ocassion!
Kristin Walker-Smith says
Quick, easy and tasted great! First time using the sauté function on the instapot but won’t be the last! Look forward to trying more dishes!
staysnatched says
Yay! I'm so glad you enjoyed these.
A.Mansion says
I made these for Thanksgiving. I got my bacon from a local meat market where they smoke their own meats in house. I peeled and diced a yellow potato and added it to the pot before the pressure cooking. So easy and so good! Thank you!
staysnatched says
That sounds amazing! Glad you enjoyed it.
Kayla says
I made these for Thanksgiving this year and these were the best green beans I’ve ever made!! This will be my go-to from here on out!
staysnatched says
Glad to hear you will make it a go-to!
Jillianjiggs55_tiu says
I was looking for a veggie side to go with my Thanksgiving dinner. This was a perfect. This recipe is very easy and full of flavor. Thanks for the recipe.
staysnatched says
You're welcome! I'm glad you enjoyed it.
Kendra says
This is so good! Thank you for the recipe!
staysnatched says
You're welcome! I'm glad you enjoyed it!
Shone says
How do you use smoked turkey wings with this recipe? Should I boil the wing in a pot separately and then add it to the instapot and add the greenbeans on top?
staysnatched says
Smoked Turkey wings are fully cooked. You can add it without modifying the recipe. If you are using a raw wing you will need to cook it first.
Monica Cole says
Great and easy side! Made these for Thanksgiving and they have become a regular side. I use frozen green beans and the recipe has worked well.
staysnatched says
I'm glad to hear you enjoyed it with frozen green beans.
Sabrina Boucher says
I made these for Thanksgiving and will definitely be making them again for Christmas! They were so good!
staysnatched says
Wonderful! These make a great side dish!
Krazy Kapricorn says
I absolutely love green beans & this recipe hit the spot. Normally, I do not make them myself. I will order take out beans at a local fast food 🤦🏾♀️Now I have a easy to make recipe that taste better and is a lot healthier than fast food. Can not wait to make her chili!
staysnatched says
Wonderful! I hope you enjoy the other recipes as well.
Amber says
Made this dish last night and it was so good! My husband and I both agreed this is the recipe for green beans moving forward. I love southern style green beans and being able to make them in the instant pot is incredibly easy and allows me to focus on other things while this dish is cooking. Barely needed any salt like stated in the recipe, so listen to the recipe before you preemptively add salt because I think you could easily mess it up.
staysnatched says
I'm glad you found that tip helpful.
Lacy says
Made them for thanksgiving and they were great! I plan on making tomorrow but I am out of chicken broth! Think it would be ok to use just water?
staysnatched says
It will probably be ok but they won't taste the same.
Sydney says
I made these as a Christmas side dish and they were amazing! And so easy to make!
staysnatched says
The perfect side dish!
Nikki says
This was the first recipe I made with my new instant pot I got today, and damn, these were delicious! I always have a hard time getting my green beans to cook just right... this recipe was perfect. Beans cooked to just the right texture and the flavor was on point! I'm so glad I have leftovers for tomorrow!🙌 I'll be making these again!
staysnatched says
Yay! I'm so glad you enjoyed these.
Jess says
This recipe tasted exactly like the green beans my Grandmother made. Thank you for bringing back those memories with an easy to make recipe.
staysnatched says
You're welcome! A family favorite for sure.
Kristen says
The past year has had me cooking my own holiday meals and Brandi’s recipes are the first place I look, this one did not disappoint as always!
staysnatched says
I'm so glad to hear it!
Cassandra says
These greens beans were very flavorful and so delicious. Even my mom (who swears she only likes canned green beans🙄) was raving about these recipe. Winner in my book!
staysnatched says
So glad to hear it!
Kesha says
Best green beans ever! Quick and easy you will not be disappointed
staysnatched says
I'm glad you enjoyed them.
Towanda says
Made these today for our Memorial weekend. Doubled the recipe and still came out great.
staysnatched says
I'm so glad you enjoyed them.
Lady Mac says
The absolute BEST!!! They taste like I slow- cooked them for hours. My non-vegetable eating teenagers even loved them!!! Definitely going to be a weeknight staple!
staysnatched says
Wonderful! Glad you enjoyed them!
Priscilla Wigham says
Great recipe but cook time is too long. I cooked mine for 5 minutes and let it cool for about 10 minutes then served them.
staysnatched says
The cook time is perfect for Southern style. Thanks for sharing.
Suzie says
These green beans are the best I have ever cooked and I have cooked lots! First time in the instant pot. I prepared the recipe exactly as printed. So delicious will be my go to now and we will be eating them often!
staysnatched says
I'm so glad to hear it!
Malika J. says
Yet another winner! Easy recipe to follow and delicious as always. Flavorful without having a ton of ingredients. My go to blog when I cook every time! Thank you Brandi!
staysnatched says
I'm so happy to hear that!
Kelley York says
Super simple, perfect for meal prep day, cook time and seasonings were spot on for taste and texture,
staysnatched says
I'm glad you found it simple.
Dorothy says
Followed the directions above and it came out amazing. So much flavor with very little effort.
staysnatched says
I love small effort!
Lauren says
Hello! These are amazing. I would like to make these this evening for a Christmas party, but it’s a larger gathering. If I triple the recipe what would you advise as far as cooking time changes?
staysnatched says
I’ve never tried it. You may not need to change anything. Start with the recipe, and add additional time if you end up needing it.
D. W. says
Had to run this recipe back because it’s just that good. So flavorful and a great way to get more veggies in.
staysnatched says
I'm glad you ran it back!
Jill says
I made these for the first time in 2020 for Thanksgiving and they have been a staple ever since. I love the crispy bacon.
staysnatched says
The best part!
Adairea Lynch says
Making these as a side dish for Sunday dinner tonight!! I will prep the rest for lunch for the week!! So easy and delicious!
staysnatched says
Such a great idea!