Make these for meal prep and serve them alongside main meals like chicken and salmon. Green beans are a nutritious and delicious addition to any meal and the best part is that they cook up in just minutes.
If you’ve ever wondered how to cook fresh green beans in the Instant Pot, I have got you covered. This simple, two-step process ensures crisp and tender green beans every single time. We first start out by learning how to steam green beans in the Instant Pot and then sauté them in the same pot to develop loads of flavor. Fast, flavorful, and simple side dish. Let’s get started!
Why Steam Green Beans in the Instant Pot
Steaming fresh green beans in the Instant Pot is the best way for them to turn out bright and flavorful. I love it because:
Perfect texture. Setting the Instant Pot to a ‘0’ minute cooking time results in tender yet crisp green beans every time. Less mess. No more pots and pans to worry about. All you need is the Instant Pot to steam and saute. Set-it-and-forget-it. That’s the benefit to steaming just about any vegetable with an electric pressure cooker.
Learn more about steamed vegetables in the Instant Pot in this detailed post: Instant Pot Steamed Vegetables
Ingredients - Notes & Substitutions
String beans in the Instant Pot require just a handful of fresh and pantry ingredients. We will need:
Green Beans: Pick up a 1-bag of already trimmed fresh green beans from the produce section, or purchase a pound from the bulk bin and trim them once you get home. Water: The quantity of water will vary based on the size of your Instant Pot. Use 1 cup water for 6 qt, or 2 cups water for 8 qt. Additional Ingredients for Sauteing (Optional) Olive Oil: Fresh, fruity olive oil is a heart-healthy oil to sauté the green beans. Seasoning: Garlic powder, salt, and pepper create a flavorful seasoning blend to add savory notes. Lemon Juice: Fresh citrus juice gives the green beans a final pop. Lime juice is a good sub.
Scroll to the recipe card for a detailed list of ingredients and quantities.
How to Cook Green Beans in Instant Pot
Instantpot green beans are a cinch to make. I like to first steam the greens beans, then saute them for additional flavor. Here’s how to do it:
Step 1: Steam Green Beans
Add water to the Instant Pot cooking pot (Pic 1). Place the washed and trimmed green beans on the steamer basket. Place the steamer basket in the Instant Pot (Pic 2). Close the lid (Pic 3). Press ‘Steam’ or ‘Pressure Cook’ for ‘0’ mins. When the cooking time is done, manually release the pressure (QR), remove the beans, and discard the water (Pic 4).
Step 2: Saute Beans
Wipe the pot clean. Turn on Saute and add olive oil. When the oil is hot, add steamed green beans, garlic powder, salt, and pepper, and saute for 2 minutes. Cancel Saute and transfer the beans to a serving platter. Squeeze fresh lemon juice over them. Optionally, sprinkle red pepper flakes and more black pepper if you like. Enjoy them warm with your favorite entrée.
Serving Suggestions
Instant Pot string beans are a versatile vegetable side dish that can be served with easy weeknight dinners like chicken, grilled lamb, or salmon. But they also pair lovely with chicken curry, rice and beans, or pasta. To add a bit of flair, feel free to serve them with lemon tahini dressing or green goddess dressing on the side.
How to Store
Leftover green beans will keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days, or in the freezer for 3 months. Reheating Instructions: Lay out into one even layer on a microwave-safe plate. Reheat in the microwave for 30-45 seconds, or until warmed through.
Recipe Tips & Notes:
Use fresh green beans: Fresh beans retain a nice crispness even after sauteing, which is hard to replicate in frozen beans. Garlic: Swap out the garlic powder for 1-2 cloves of fresh garlic instead. To reheat green beans, simply microwave leftovers for 30-45 seconds until warmed through.
More Instant Pot Steamed Veggies
These are all part of the Instant Pot Recipes collection:
📖 Recipe
