These Instant Pot green beans are simple, savory, and right at home on an Easter table.
Real Talk: I know this may sound a little backwards, but for this recipe, I actually prefer canned green beans. They give you that soft, familiar texture that just works here.
Not crisp. Not fancy.
Just tender green beans cooked with bacon, onions, potatoes, and a little vinegar to cut through the richness. These are holiday green beans. The kind that belong next to ham, mac and cheese, and everything else fighting for space on the table.
Instant Pot or Stovetop?
Both methods use the same ingredients and give you the same Southern-style flavor. The difference mostly comes down to what your kitchen looks like that day.
Use the Instant Pot if your burners are already full.
Use the stovetop if you want a little more control over the texture or if the Instant Pot is busy with something else.
Either way, you end up with the same savory, holiday-ready side dish.
Why This Recipe Works
- The flavor starts with bacon cooked right in the pot. That gives you rendered fat, browned bits on the bottom, and a smoky base that works through the whole dish.
- The apple cider vinegar does the quiet work here. It cuts through the richness so the dish does not feel heavy.
- And the canned green beans are not a shortcut. They are the point. They hold up beautifully and give you that soft, Southern-style texture this recipe is supposed to have.
More Southern-Style Sides
Ingredients for Instant Pot Green Beans
Bacon brings the smoky, savory base.
Onions and garlic build flavor.
Canned green beans bring the texture this dish is known for.
Potatoes make it feel hearty.
And apple cider vinegar keeps the whole thing from feeling too heavy.
How to Make Instant Pot Green Beans
Instant Pot Method
Cook the bacon.
Using the sauté setting, cook the bacon until it is almost crispy. Do not rush this step. It can take up to 10 minutes to render out all the fat, and that fat is flavor.
Add the onions, garlic, and vinegar.
Add the diced onions and cook for about 3 minutes, until soft and translucent. Stir in the garlic and cook for another minute, stirring constantly. Pour in the apple cider vinegar and scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot.
Add the green beans and potatoes.
Add the canned green beans with their liquid and the chopped potatoes. Season with salt and pepper.
Pressure cook.
Stir everything together, lock the lid, and cook at high pressure for 5 minutes. Quick release when done.
Stovetop Green Beans Instructions
If your Instant Pot is busy, the stovetop version gets you to the same place.
Follow the same steps through the bacon, onions, garlic, and vinegar.
Then add the green beans with their liquid, the potatoes, salt, and pepper, and stir everything together.
Bring it to a low simmer, cover, and cook until the potatoes are tender, about 25 to 30 minutes.
Stir once or twice along the way, but you do not need to babysit it.
The potatoes are your timer. Once they are tender, you are done. Pull it off the heat before they start to fall apart.
Expert Tips
- Do not rush the bacon. You want the fat rendered before anything else goes in.
- Do not drain the bacon grease. That is the flavor base for the whole dish.
- Canned green beans are the right call here. This is not the place for crisp-tender beans.
- Use the stovetop if you want a little more control over the potato texture.
- Leftovers reheat well. Store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
FAQs
You can, but this recipe is built around canned green beans. Fresh beans will give you a firmer texture and will need different timing.
Yes. Make them the day before, keep them covered in the fridge, and reheat gently on the stovetop or in the microwave.
That depends on your kitchen. If the stovetop is packed, use the Instant Pot. If the Instant Pot is busy with something else, use the stovetop. Both work.
Yes. Cook the onions and garlic in olive oil or butter instead. The flavor will be lighter, but still good.
Do not overcook them. Especially on the stovetop, once the potatoes are tender, go ahead and pull the pot off the heat.
Yes. Every ingredient in this recipe is naturally gluten-free. Just double-check your bacon and broth labels if you're cooking for someone with a gluten sensitivity, since brands vary.
★ Did you make these Instant Pot Green Beans?
Leave a rating below and let me know which method you used.
📖 Recipe
Instant Pot Green Beans
Ingredients
- 8 oz. bacon cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1 cup yellow onions diced
- 2 Tbsp. garlic paste or minced garlic
- 3 Tbsp. apple cider vinegar
- 100 oz. canned green beans undrained
- 2 tsp. sea salt
- ½ tsp. black pepper
- 1.5 lbs. red potatoes roughly chopped
Instructions
Instant Pot Method
- Using the sauté setting, cook the bacon until it is almost crispy. Do not rush this step. It can take up to 10 minutes to fully render the fat.
- Add the onions and cook for about 3 minutes, until soft and translucent. Stir in the garlic and cook for 1 more minute, stirring constantly.
- Pour in the apple cider vinegar and scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot.
- Add the canned green beans with their liquid and the potatoes. Season with salt and pepper, then stir to combine.
- Lock the lid and cook at high pressure for 5 minutes.
- Quick release the pressure and serve warm.
Becky
Finally someone posts a recipe using canned green beans. I bypass so many recipes that call for fresh which I never had much luck with. ( I can't seem to get all the strings off.) I tried these last night as I had all the ingredients and boy were they good! Easy and came out perfect!
Melissa
Anytime I see a recipe with fresh green beans I use canned. Never a problem.
Mari
This was so easy and good.
Eleanor Fetter
Step 2: "Add onions to pot (including liquid from can)" What? "Liquid from can," what liquid, what can? I think that belongs in step 3, after "Add green beans to pot." Other than that, it sounds good.
Gary
Oops, thanks for the heads up!
Cj Kolb
That is 5 stars ......just like Moms, Grandmothers, and every woman in this family
Sharon
Used this recipe except used one pound of fresh green beans and 3/4 c. water. Never had green beans and potatoes that were this GREAT! YUMMY!
jan mackinney
Do you pour off the fat from the bacon?
Gary White
Noooo!!! That's where all the flavor is. Fat equals flavor!
Olla
I don't want to add onion.
Connie Hamby
I canned green beans in the summer. I already have saved bacon grease. Can I just heat that up on saute mode? My green beans have liquid from canning. Can I use that juice?
Gary White
Yes to both of your questions!
Tricia
YUM! YUM! and YUM! Making this right now for like the 8th time!!!
Samina
This is absolutely, amazingly delicious. It will be in steady rotation in our house. I'm delighted to find your site. Many thanks!
Gregg V Rasor
Wow! That is amazing! Four of us had some and everyone loved it! Saying I have to make it again!
Tricia
This recipe is so good. I've made it several times.
Linda
Help! My daughter LOVES green beans and LOVES potatoes but is vegetarian 😐.
Can I use that morning star farm fake bacon? Or Bac'n bits? I know it won't be nearly as good but maybe good to her?
Gary White
I wish I could help, but cooking this without bacon, or with a bacon substitute, would yield a be a completely different result. The bacon fat is what makes this recipe come to life. It would most likely in your best interest to find a similar recipe that is written to be vegetarian.
We do have a delicious vegetarian potato soup she may enjoy: https://thefoodieeats.com/instant-pot-vegan-potato-soup/
Tricia
Making this for like the 7th or 8th time. Luv it and so simple. I never knew either of my grandmothers (dad's mom died when he was just 3 & my mom's mom died when I was only 6 months). So, I would like to think that they would have made something like this had they been around. Thank you for sharing this great recipe.
Gary White
Glad you enjoyed it!
Tricia
This is so good. Don't recall how many times I've made this. If you have not tried making it yet, believe me, it's a keeper and makes a good amount for family gatherings.
Lis
I made a vegan version by omitting the bacon, and used vegan butter to saute the onions. I also added a bit of liquid smoke to the mix. When serving, I sprinkle the bacon flavored bits to compensate for the lack of real bacon. My husband is from the Southeast and thinks that it tastes pretty southern to him. Thank you for the recipe!
Sandy
Green beans are so good for my husbands diabetes and this recipe is delicious ❣️ Easy and uses items I have on hand!