Instant Pot Garlic Green Beans are one of the easiest side dishes you can make, and they are full of simple, fresh flavor. This quick recipe is a great choice for busy weeknights, holiday dinners, potlucks, or any meal that needs a healthy vegetable on the table without a lot of extra work.
Fresh green beans cook beautifully in the Instant Pot because they become tender in a very short amount of time while still keeping their bright color and pleasant texture. With garlic, butter, stock, salt, and pepper, this side dish tastes savory and comforting without being heavy.
If you need a fast vegetable recipe that pairs well with turkey, chicken, beef, pork, ham, or a meatless main dish, these garlic green beans are a dependable option. They are also naturally low in carbohydrates, making them a welcome addition to many meal plans.
The best part about this Instant Pot green beans recipe is the cooking time. Once the pressure cooker reaches pressure, the beans need only 1 minute to cook. You will still need to account for the time it takes the pot to come to pressure, but the entire process remains very quick from start to finish.
In a 6 quart Instant Pot, the pot takes about 7 minutes to come to pressure, followed by 1 minute of cooking time. That means you can have a warm, seasoned vegetable side dish ready in about 8 minutes once everything is in the pot.
Preparing the Green Beans
Before adding the green beans to the Instant Pot, they need a little preparation. This recipe is designed for fresh green beans, which are commonly found in the produce section of most grocery stores. Look for beans that are firm, bright green, and free from soft spots.
The most time-consuming part of this recipe is trimming the ends. You can do this by lining up a handful of beans on a cutting board and slicing off the stem ends with a sharp knife. If you prefer, you can trim both ends, although the stem end is the most important part to remove.
For an even faster option, many stores sell fresh green beans in sealed bags with the ends already trimmed. These are convenient when you are preparing a holiday meal or trying to get dinner on the table quickly.
After trimming, you can cut the green beans into bite-size pieces or leave them whole. Smaller pieces are easier to serve and eat, especially at family dinners or potlucks. However, whole green beans also work well and look attractive on a serving platter. The cooking time remains the same either way.
Instant Pot Garlic Green Beans
Once the green beans are washed, trimmed, and cut if desired, add them to the liner of the Instant Pot. Pour in the chicken stock or vegetable stock, then sprinkle the beans with sea salt and ground black pepper. Stir gently so the seasonings and liquid are distributed throughout the pot.
Next, add the garlic. Fresh minced garlic gives this recipe its best flavor. You can mince the cloves with a knife, use a garlic press, or grate the garlic directly over the beans with a fine grater. Distributing the garlic over the top helps it blend into the cooking liquid as the butter melts.
Place small pieces of butter on top of the green beans. As the Instant Pot heats and comes to pressure, the butter melts into the stock and combines with the garlic, creating a simple sauce that coats the beans after cooking.
Lock the lid in place and move the valve to the Sealing position. Set the Instant Pot to Pressure Cook or Manual on High pressure for 1 minute. Although 1 minute may not sound like enough time, it is ideal for fresh green beans that are tender but not mushy.
As soon as the cooking time ends, cancel the Keep Warm function or unplug the pot, then perform a quick pressure release. This step is important because the green beans will continue to cook if they sit under pressure. Releasing the pressure right away helps preserve their texture.
If you prefer very soft green beans, you can increase the cooking time by 1 to 2 minutes. For a more crisp-tender result, keep the time at 1 minute and release the pressure immediately.
Carefully open the lid once the pressure has fully released. Stir the beans so they are coated in the garlic butter liquid. Taste and add more salt or pepper if desired.
Transfer the garlic green beans to a serving dish and serve them immediately while they are warm. This simple Instant Pot side dish is quick enough for everyday meals but flavorful enough for a special dinner.
Instant Pot Garlic Green Beans
Fresh green beans cooked in the Instant Pot with minced garlic, butter, stock, salt, and pepper. This quick vegetable side dish is simple, savory, and perfect for almost any meal.
Ingredients
- 1 lb green beans
- 1/3 cup chicken stock or vegetable stock
- 1/2 tsp sea salt
- 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
- 5 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 Tbsp butter
Instructions
- Wash the green beans, trim the ends, and cut them into bite-size pieces if desired.
- Add the green beans to the liner of the Instant Pot.
- Pour in the stock, then sprinkle the beans with salt and pepper.
- Add the minced garlic and place small pieces of butter on top of the green beans.
- Lock the lid and set the valve to the Sealing position. Cook on High pressure using the Pressure Cook or Manual setting for 1 minute.
- When the cooking time ends, cancel the Keep Warm function or unplug the pot, then perform a quick pressure release.
- Open the lid carefully, stir the green beans, transfer them to a serving bowl, and add more salt and pepper if desired.
Notes
Serve immediately for the best texture. If using frozen green beans, increase the cooking time to 2 minutes.