Best Instant Pot Green Beans

Share to save this recipe for later!

Need a simple veggie side dish with tender-crisp results? These Instant Pot green beans deliver every time, and steam in under a minute for the perfect texture. Toss them with butter, garlic, and lemon juice for a bright, flavorful finish.

What’s To Love About This Recipe

• You won’t believe how easy it is to make fresh green beans in the Instant Pot! Using the steam pressure, you can utilize the zero-minute cooking time feature to whip up this side dish in just minutes.
• The Instant Pot cooks fresh green beans to a tender-crisp texture while maintaining their vibrant green color. It’s the best method to use when you have other dishes cooking on the stovetop or oven.
• The steamer basket is a helpful feature that prevents the beans from becoming soggy. The basket elevates the green beans above the liquid, allowing them to steam to just the right tenderness.
• With just a handful of ingredients, you will get fresh, flavorful results. Garlic, butter, and lemon juice make a delicious trio of flavors to complement the fresh green beans!
• This is a quick and easy weeknight side dish to pair with main proteins, pastas, or casseroles. I make this weekly because it’s so easy, my family loves it, and it goes with plenty of our favorite main dishes.

Ingredients Needed

• Fresh green beans – Pick up some fresh green beans at the grocery store for a tender, crisp addition to your meal. Even better if you can purchase from a local vegetable source for the freshest flavor! Trim the green beans by snapping or slicing off both ends, or buy a bag of pre-trimmed fresh green beans.
• Water – Liquid creates the steam pressure necessary for the Instant Pot. Just 1 cup of water is enough to reach proper pressure since the beans do not need to be submerged.
• Butter – Add silky, rich butter to the green beans after cooking, tossing them together in a bowl to coat and preserve every bit of flavor. 
• Garlic – Finely mince a garlic clove, or use a fine grater to incorporate garlic flakes into the bowl after cooking. Adding the garlic to the beans after cooking preserves a fresh, bold taste.
• Salt and black pepper – Add simple seasonings to the green beans for a savory addition and a bit of warmth from the pepper. Freshly ground pepper adds the most vibrant flavor. Taste and adjust as needed.
• Lemon juice – A small amount of lemon juice adds brightness and freshness to the veggies while keeping it simple and light.
• Lemon zest (optional) – This optional addition adds elegance and brightness to the menu, taking average green beans to an elevated finish!

How To Make Instant Pot Green Beans

1. Place the steamer basket in the Instant Pot and add 1 cup of water.
2. Add the green beans to the steamer basket.

1. Lock the lid and set the Instant Pot to pressure cook on high for 0 minutes (or for 1 minute if your Instant Pot does not allow zero).
2. Once the cooking cycle ends, carefully perform a quick release of the steam pressure.
3. Remove the steamer basket and drain any excess water.

1. Transfer the green beans to a serving bowl.
2. While the beans are hot, add the butter and garlic. Toss until the butter is melted and coats the beans evenly.
3. Season with salt, black pepper, and lemon juice. Toss again.
4. Finish with lemon zest if desired and serve immediately.

Recipe Substitutions and Variations

• It’s easy to make tasty green beans from frozen, fresh, or canned! Canned green beans are already at their softest, so they are best reserved for the stovetop. In the Instant Pot, you can cook fresh or frozen, trimmed green beans, but frozen beans will likely need an extra minute to cook. 
• Instead of butter, you can also swap it with a small amount of olive oil for a lighter coating if desired.
• Since the green beans are cooked in a steamer basket, any additions to the final dish should be added after cooking. Feel free to add cooked, chopped bacon or ham (already heated) to the bowl and toss with the green beans. You may also wish to omit the lemon juice.
• This is a simple base recipe that can be modified with other flavors or additions, such as garlic butter, lemon pepper, or simple seasoning blends.
• If you prefer to try other cooking methods, try these green bean variations: Skillet Green Beans and Air Fryer Green Beans.

What To Serve With Instant Pot Green Beans

Lightly cooked and seasoned green beans make a fresh addition to any dinner plate! Add this simple veggie, tossed with butter, lemon, and garlic, as a side to the Perfect Turkey Meatloaf or Easy BBQ Chicken Thighs on the Grill. Pair with Mashed Potatoes and top with The BEST Brown Gravy for a truly delicious, home-cooked meal.

The leftovers also make a tasty addition to simple, healthy lunches! I love adding these to leftovers or meal-prep portions for an extra helping of tender-crisp veggies.

Storing and Reheating

How To Best Store Leftovers

Fridge

Store leftover green beans in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days. The texture will be best when served immediately after cooking.

How To Best Reheat Leftovers

Leftover green beans reheat well in a skillet over medium-low heat with a bit of butter or oil, or in short bursts in the microwave. 

More Instant Pot Side Dish Recipes

• Instant Pot Corn on the Cob
• Instant Pot Basmati Rice
• Easy Instant Pot Baked Beans
• Instant Pot Carrots
• How to Make Baked Potatoes in an Instant Pot

Share to save this recipe for later!