Instant Pot Green Beans [Fresh or Frozen]

Instant Pot green beans will help you perfectly steam green beans from fresh or frozen in about 10 minutes from start to finish! A versatile side for weeknight dinners, gatherings, and the holidays!

Why You'll Love Instant Pot Green Beans

Although green beans aren’t complicated to make, using an Instant Pot is my go-to simple method to cook green beans from fresh or frozen. Unlike boiled green beans, there’s no chance of waterlogged greens. The dish is also much lighter than a green bean casserole and healthier than brown sugar green beans.  

The method is quick, simple, foolproof, and produces even tender-crisp results every single time. Even better, green beans are a diet-friendly and healthy addition to your table. They’re packed with several vitamins and minerals (including vitamins A, C, and K, plus folate), loaded with antioxidants, and high in fiber while low in calories. Plus, they’re naturally gluten-free, vegan, low-carb, keto, and this method requires no oil.

You really only need a few ingredients to bring out the flavors in green beans (with plenty of ways to adapt the seasonings and add-ins to your liking!), too, for a crowd-pleasing, delicious, healthy side dish for family dinners, potlucks, parties, BBQs, and the holidays alongside other simple veggie sides like Instant Pot garlic mash and air fryer asparagus.

The Ingredients

• Green beans: It’s best to use fresh green beans (also called string beans/French beans), though you can also cook Instant Pot frozen green beans.
• Vegetable broth: Use your favorite veg broth (in liquid form or a bouillon powder/cube combined with water). Use reduced-sodium broth if preferred.
• Lemon: A small amount of lemon juice over the beans when serving really adds brightness and depth. Add even more zing with a little lemon zest, too.
• Salt & black pepper: To season the green beans to taste.
• Plant-based parmesan: (optional) or some nutritional yeast to garnish.

Tip when buying green beans: Look out for vibrant green beans with no bruising, brown spots, or mushiness. They should snap when bent and not look or feel too dry.

How Else Can I Season Green Beans?

Once cooked, the Instant Pot steamed green beans can be seasoned and paired with several additional ingredients to boost the texture, color, and flavor. Here are some of my favorite options.

• Dairy-free butter: To toss into the pressure cooker green beans before serving for a rich, 'buttery' flavor. A herby compound vegan butter/garlic butter would also taste delicious.
• Red pepper flakes: To add some heat.
• Garlic: Minced (when sauteed) or garlic powder.
• Vegan bacon: Fry a few slices of vegan bacon, chop into thin strips, and stir into the Instant Pot green beans when serving.
• Nuts/Seeds: Sprinkle the green beans with toasted walnuts, pecans, slivered almonds, pumpkin seeds, etc., when serving for a crunch and toasty flavor.

How to Make Instant Pot Green Beans

Follow just five super simple steps to prepare Instant Pot fresh green beans.

• 1) First, rinse and trim the green beans. It’s easiest to grab a bundle, line up the ends, and chop off the ends in one go. If you’re using a bouillon cube/powder, dissolve it in hot water now.
• 2) Then, place the steamer basket in the bottom of your Instant Pot/electric pressure cooker and pour the veg broth into the pot.

• 3) Spread the green beans across the steamer basket and then seal the lid and the vent knob and cook on manual HIGH pressure for 0 minutes (1-2 minutes for softer green beans) before carefully using the quick release, turning the valve to the venting position, to release excess steam.

How do the beans cook in 0-2 minutes? In the time it takes to bring the IP to full pressure, it will actually be cooking the beans!

• 4) Then, use tongs to remove the steamed green beans from the pressure cooker and transfer them to a bowl. Season with salt and pepper and some fresh lemon juice (I usually use about ½ lemon). Taste and adjust if preferred, and optionally garnish with vegan parmesan cheese – enjoy!

For Instant Pot frozen green beans: If the beans are fairly thin, they should still cook perfectly in ‘0’ minutes. For thicker green beans, 1 minute will work best.

For Sauteed Green Beans in Instant Pot

You can sauté the fresh green beans in the Instant Pot with just an extra couple of steps. After cooking the green beans, empty the water from the Instant Pot, place it back in the IP and turn to sauté mode. Next, add vegan butter or olive oil until hot/melted.

Then, optionally, add minced garlic if using and sauté for 30 seconds before adding the green beans and sautéing for just 2-3 minutes. Then season and serve.

FAQs

Top Recipe Tips and Notes

• Adjust the green bean texture: Cook fresh green beans for 0 minutes for tender-crisp green beans and 1-2 minutes for tender beans or if you’re cooking a double batch.
• For a slightly crisp texture: Transfer the steamed green beans to a hot skillet to sauté with a little olive oil or vegan butter.
• Save even more time: You may be able to purchase pre-trimmed fresh green beans.
• Use hot broth: If the liquid is already hot, the Instant Pot will take less time to reach full pressure.

Serving Suggestions

This Instant Pot green bean recipe is a versatile side dish that will pair with almost any meal, including a simple protein + grain + veggie combination, warm pasta dishes, potatoes, vegan burgers, family dinners, and as part of your holiday spread.

Storage Recommendations

Make ahead: You can trim the green beans a day or two in advance and store them in an airtight container in the fridge.

Store: Allow the green beans to cool, then store them in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-5 days.

Freeze: While you can freeze it for up to three months, the green beans will become softer upon thawing, so keep that in mind.

Reheat: You can reheat the steamed beans in a microwave or lightly sauté them with a little oil.

More Vegan Instant Pot Recipes

• Instant Pot Garlic Mashed Potatoes
• Instant Pot Quinoa
• Perfect Instant Pot Basmati Rice
• Vegan Instant Pot Mexican Rice
• Perfect Instant Pot Jasmine Rice
• Vegan Corn Chowder [Stove, IP + Crock Pot]
• Instant Pot Apple Cider

If you try this easy Instant Pot green beans recipe, I’d love to know your thoughts in the comments below. I’d also really appreciate a recipe card rating!

Photos by Alfonso Revilla