Instant Pot Southern-Style Green Beans Recipe

It’s hard to beat the slow-cooked, smoky meat flavor of Southern-style green beans. Tender and melt-in-your-mouth, these Instant Pot Southern Style Green Beans are full of savory depth and ready in under an hour.

When I first ordered green beans at a barbecue restaurant, I expected a crisp, fresh side. Southern green beans are different — simmered in a rich, meaty broth until tender — and the result is a comforting, deeply flavored dish that surprised me with how delicious it was.

Southern green beans are cooked until very tender in a broth that concentrates flavor from bacon, smoked turkey, ham hock, or other smoked meats. The beans soak up that savory essence, making them an unforgettable side. This Instant Pot version delivers the same slow-cooked taste much faster, making it perfect for weeknights or holiday tables alike.

This recipe is classic Southern comfort food. If you don’t have an Instant Pot, you can make the same flavors in a slow cooker by simmering the beans and meat for several hours until the beans are soft. The Instant Pot simply shortens the cooking time while preserving that deep, smoky flavor.

Instant Pot Green Bean Ingredients

Below is a concise ingredient overview for Instant Pot Southern Style Green Beans. Exact measurements and the complete method are included in the recipe section further down.

• Green beans – fresh or frozen (avoid canned for pressure cooking; they will become mush).
• Butter – salted is fine.
• Bacon – thick-sliced, diced for smoky, meaty flavor.
• Onion – yellow or Spanish, diced.
• Garlic – fresh minced cloves for best flavor.
• Kosher salt and black pepper – to taste.
• Spices – cayenne and red pepper flakes for optional heat; dried minced onion and dried minced garlic for extra depth.
• Chicken broth, stock, or bone broth – the cooking liquid; use vegetable broth to make a vegetarian version (omit bacon).
• Optional add-ins – ham hock, smoked turkey leg, diced ham, smoked sausage, or red potatoes (add extra broth if you include potatoes).

Special Equipment Needed

An Instant Pot or electric pressure cooker is required for this Instant Pot recipe. You can also adapt the method for a slow cooker if you prefer a longer, lower-temperature cook.

How to Make Instant Pot Green Beans

The Instant Pot makes it easy to get that “cooked all day” flavor without hours on the stove. Follow these streamlined steps for tender, flavorful Southern-style green beans.

1. Prepare the beans: If using fresh beans, wash and snap off the ends. If using frozen, rinse and drain any excess water and remove any stems or discolored pieces.
2. Prep aromatics and bacon: Dice the bacon, chop the onion, and mince the garlic. Measure your spices so everything is ready to go.
3. Saute: Set the Instant Pot to Saute. Add the butter and let it melt, then add the diced bacon and cook until mostly browned but not fully crisp.
4. Add onion and garlic: Stir in the onion and garlic and cook briefly—just until fragrant—being careful not to burn the garlic.
5. Deglaze: Pour in the chicken broth and scrape the bottom of the pot with a wooden spoon to loosen any browned bits. This prevents burning and adds flavor to the cooking liquid.
6. Combine beans and spices: Add the green beans and the dry seasonings (kosher salt, black pepper, dried minced onion, dried minced garlic, cayenne, and red pepper flakes). Stir to combine.
7. Add optional meats or potatoes: If using a ham hock, smoked turkey leg, diced ham, or potatoes, nestle them into the pot and make sure everything is submerged.
8. Seal and pressure cook: Close the lid, set the valve to Sealing, switch the Instant Pot to Manual (High Pressure), and cook for 20 minutes.
9. Release pressure: After the cook time ends, allow a natural release for 5 minutes, then perform a quick release to release any remaining pressure. Open the lid carefully.
10. Serve: Use a slotted spoon to transfer green beans to a serving dish, leaving excess cooking liquid in the pot. Serve hot as a savory side.

What to Serve with Southern Green Beans

Instant Pot Southern Style Green Beans pair beautifully with a wide range of mains and classic Southern sides. Try them with roasted or shredded chicken, blackened chicken, BBQ pork chops, country-style ribs, or cornbread and rice pilaf for a hearty meal.

How to Store Leftovers

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week. Reheat gently on the stove or in the microwave. The flavors often deepen after a day, so leftovers can be even better.

To freeze, pack the beans with their cooking juices in a freezer-safe container for a few months. Thaw and reheat slowly to preserve texture and flavor.

Helpful Tips

• Don’t overcook the garlic while sautéing; the Instant Pot surface heats quickly and burnt garlic tastes bitter.
• Always deglaze the pot after sautéing bacon or onions—scrape up any browned bits to avoid a burn warning and to boost flavor.
• Let the cooked beans cool slightly before tasting; they will be very hot straight from the pot.
• If you prefer more heat, increase cayenne and red pepper flakes to 1/4 teaspoon each, but adjust to your tolerance.

Instant Pot Southern Style Green Beans

Ready in about 40 minutes. Serves 6.

Prep: 5 mins   Cook: 20 mins   Pressurizing/Release: 15 mins   Total: 40 mins

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon butter
• 4 strips bacon, diced (more if desired)
• ½ cup onion, diced
• 4–6 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 cup chicken stock, chicken broth, or bone broth
• 8 cups green beans (fresh or frozen)
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• ½ teaspoon dried minced onion
• ½ teaspoon dried minced garlic
• ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper
• ⅛ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (use ¼ tsp if you like more heat)

Optional

• 1 ham hock or smoked turkey leg
• ½ cup diced cooked ham
• 1 cup red potatoes, quartered (add extra broth if using)

Instructions

1. Wash and trim fresh beans or rinse frozen beans and remove any stems.
2. Dice bacon, onion, and garlic and measure spices.
3. Set Instant Pot to Saute. Melt butter, then add bacon and brown until mostly cooked.
4. Add onion and garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1–2 minutes.
5. Pour in broth and scrape the bottom of the pot to deglaze and lift browned bits.
6. Add green beans and seasonings; stir to combine.
7. If using ham hock, ham, or potatoes, add them now and submerge under the beans.
8. Seal the lid, set to High Pressure, and cook 20 minutes.
9. Let pressure release naturally for 5 minutes, then quick release remaining pressure.
10. Open the lid carefully and serve, using a slotted spoon to leave excess liquid behind if desired.

Notes & Storage

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week. Reheat on the stove or in the microwave. To freeze, pack beans in their cooking juices for best results; they will keep for a few months.

Tips

• Avoid burning garlic when sautéing; the Instant Pot surface can get very hot.
• Always deglaze the pot thoroughly after sautéing to prevent a burn notice and to add flavor.
• Adjust heat levels to taste by increasing or decreasing cayenne and red pepper flakes.

Nutrition (approx.)

Serving size: 1 cup • Calories: 97 • Carbs: 15g • Protein: 4g • Fat: 3g • Fiber: 4g • Sodium: 474mg

Other Southern Side Dishes

• Southern-Style Collard Greens
• Copycat Raising Cane’s Sauce
• Shrimp, Corn, and Okra Succotash
• Classic Southern Coleslaw
• Crispy Fried Okra

More Instant Pot Recipes

If you enjoy Instant Pot southern green beans, try other pressure-cooker recipes that deliver big flavor with minimal fuss.