Instant Pot Green Beans

Instant Pot green beans are always perfectly steamed beans without the guesswork. Once cooked, they become become a side, snack, or precooked ingredient for recipes like this healthy Green Bean Casserole.

My appreciation for pressure cooker green beans is huge because they're one of those vegetables that can actually become unappealing if they're not cooked right. These are always the perfect texture because we use the same pressure cooker setting every time.

Once they're cooked, I like to shock them in ice water to retain their bright green color and perfect texture. As a result, they're pretty enough to hold their own with a veggie dip. Or, they can be sauteed in a skillet with a little olive oil, salt, pepper, and lemon juice and served with chicken, fish, or pork.

What we love about this recipe

• Minimal prep. Simply wash the beans before pressure cooking. There's no need to trim the ends, unless you want to.
• Toss and go. This recipe is hands-free, so no babysitting a stove.
• This recipe is diet friendly: vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, whole 30, paleo, and keto.
• Timing. These are ready in about 10 minutes from start to finish.
• Perfectly cooked every single time.

How to cook green beans in the Instant Pot

Step 1: Wash beans and trim the ends, if needed. Place in a colander or steam basket inside the cooker and add water.

Step 2: Close and lock the lid, turn pressure release valve to "Sealing" and pressure cook on HIGH for zero minutes for firmer texture or 1 minute for softer texture.

Step 3: When the cook cycle completes, carefully quick-release the steam until the float valve drops. Open the lid and transfer the colander out of the cooker.

Step 4: Place beans in ice water until they're no longer warm, stirring as needed. This is called blanching and it's what makes them retain their bright green color after being pressure cooked.

Step 5: Drain and enjoy immediately or refrigerate for later use.

Recipe tips

• Use any type of fresh green bean for this recipe.
• Don't be alarmed by the zero minute cook time. It simply means we bring the pot up to pressure and right back down. As a result, the beans are tender, yet firm enough for snacking, or sautéing for other recipes.
• If you don't have a steamer basket, any metal or silicone colander that fits your pressure cooker will work. Or, you can use a trivet to keep the beans from sitting in the water.

More pressure cooker meal prep staples

• Instant Pot Artichokes
• Instant Pot Corn on the Cob
• Instant Pot Chicken Breast
• Instant Pot Sweet Potatoes
• Instant Pot Quinoa
• Instant Pot Beets
• Instant Pot Chickpeas (Garbanzos)
• Instant Pot Black Beans