Southern Style Green Beans in the Instant Pot

There’s just something about a big pot of Southern-style green beans that makes a meal feel like good old-fashioned home cooking. Tender green beans simmered with savory seasonings until they’re full of flavor are one of those simple side dishes that go with just about anything. And while I love traditional cooking methods, sometimes it’s nice to let the Instant Pot do the work! Whether we’re using fresh green beans straight from the garden or beans we’ve put away for later, this is an easy way to get that slow-cooked, Southern-style flavor without spending hours at the stove. It’s simple, comforting, and a wonderful way to enjoy the harvest.

One of the things that makes these green beans so delicious is the combination of bacon, onions, and broth. The bacon adds that wonderful smoky, salty flavor, while the onions soften as they cook and add just a little sweetness. Everything cooks together in the broth, giving the green beans that rich, savory flavor you expect from traditional Southern-style green beans. They’re tender, flavorful, and so much more than just a plain side of vegetables!

I especially love recipes like this during the summer when the garden is producing more green beans than we know what to do with. We enjoy plenty of them fresh, but we also like having simple ways to prepare them that the whole family will enjoy. And even when garden season is over, this is a wonderful dish to make whenever we’re craving a little comfort food. And if you have frozen up some fresh green beans like I do every summer, you will be able to eat this all year long.

The Instant Pot makes this recipe especially convenient because it gives us that delicious, slow-cooked flavor in a fraction of the time. There’s no need to keep checking a pot on the stove, and it’s easy to prepare while working on the rest of dinner. Whether we’re serving these green beans alongside roasted chicken, pork, or a hearty Sunday meal, they’re always a welcome addition to the table.

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This recipe is easy to change up

One of the things I love about this recipe is how easy it is to adjust the amounts depending on how many green beans you have on hand or how many people you’re feeding. You can make a smaller batch for a family dinner or increase everything when you’re cooking for a crowd. There’s no need to be too exact with the measurements—just adjust the bacon, onions, and broth to go along with the amount of green beans you’re using.

I usually like to make a big batch because these green beans are just as delicious reheated the next day. Plus, my 6-year-old absolutely devours them, so I always have to make extra anyway! It’s definitely one of those recipes where leftovers are a good thing.

Ingredients

• 1-2 pounds fresh or frozen green beans 
  (you can also used canned, but cut the time in half and you don’t need to add all the chicken broth)
• 3 strips of uncooked bacon, diced
• 1 medium sweet yellow onion, diced  
• 1-3 tsp minced garlic 
• 1 cup chicken broth (homemade is excellent)
• 1 Tbs butter (optional)
• salt and pepper to taste

How to Make Southern Style Green Beans Step-by-Step

1. Turn on your pressure cooker to the sauté function. Throw in the bacon and cook up for a few minutes. It doesn’t need to be super crispy since it will soften up when cooked with the beans.
2. Add the green beans, diced onion, garlic, chicken broth, butter, and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
3. Give it a stir.
4. Put on the lid, seal, and make sure the vent is shut. Set to pressure cook for 12 minutes. This will make the beans pretty soft. If you would like them a little more firm, start with 6-8 minutes, and if you like them extremely soft, let them go for 16 minutes.
5. When the timer goes off, let the pressure cooker release on its own for a few minutes, and then you can do a quick release if wanted or naturally release while you cook the rest of dinner.

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