Name: Instant Pot Green Beans With Bacon | Pressure Cooker Green Beans
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 25 min
Ingredients: 1 cup White Onion (diced); 4 ounces Bacon (diced); 6 cups green beans (cut in half); 1 teaspoon Kosher Salt; 1 teaspoon Ground Black Pepper; 1/4 cup Water

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These Instant Pot Green Beans with Bacon combine fresh green beans, smoky bacon, and tender onions in one easy pressure cooker side dish. They are ready in about 25 minutes and can be cooked crisp-tender or Southern-style, making them perfect for weeknight dinners, potlucks, and holiday meals.

What Makes These Green Beans So Good?

Easy. It's practically not even a recipe. It's so so so simple and basically a pour and cook recipe.
Fast. Done in under 30 minutes.
Healthy. A great veggie side dish.
Low Carb. Only 7 net carbs per serving.
Yummy. Packed with bacon and onion flavor.

Given it's quick, nutritious, tasty, and low-carb, plus something I can either eat as a side dish or as my main meal, I find myself making it SO often.

And can I just tell you something? This is one of my most popular recipes. I know it looks like nothing, but fortunately for you, it tastes FANTASTIC. Just #trustUrvashi on this one. It's totally worth it.

Ingredients You'll Need

1 cup White Onion- The onion provides a savory, aromatic base that enhances the overall flavor of the dish. As it cooks with the bacon, it absorbs some of the smoky fat and develops a slightly sweet undertone, giving depth to the green beans.
5 slices Bacon- The bacon is the key flavor booster here. It renders fat that coats the beans and onion, infusing the whole dish with smoky, salty richness. Regular, not thick cut bacon allows for more even cooking under pressure.
6 cups Green Beans- The star of the dish, firm and fresh, whole green beans are hearty yet tender when pressure-cooked. Start by washing and trimming the ends. Cutting them in half ensures even cooking and makes them easier to eat while allowing them to soak up the bacon and onion flavors.
1 teaspoon Salt- Salt enhances all the natural flavors of the beans, bacon, and onion. Kosher salt is preferred for its clean taste and easy-to-control texture.
1 teaspoon Ground Black Pepper- Adds a gentle heat and earthy balance, cutting through the richness of the bacon and highlighting the freshness of the beans.
1/4 cup Water- Provides just enough liquid for a 6 Quart Instant Pot to build pressure and steam the beans. It prevents burning while keeping the dish moist without diluting the flavors too much.

How Long Does It Take To Cook A Pot Of Green Beans In The Instant Pot?

How long you pressure cook your green beans with bacon should be determined by the consistency you prefer. This recipe calls for 4 minutes under high pressure with a quick pressure release. They will turn out tender, but not mushy.

If you want them softer, increase the time under pressure by one minute. If you prefer them with more of a crisp bite, reduce the time under pressure by a minute.

Can You Overcook Green Beans?

Well, yes and no. It kind of comes down to preference. Typically, properly cooked green beans will have slight crispiness, but some people prefer them a little softer. I tend to cook them just enough, so they still have a slight bite for this Green Beans With Bacon recipe, but you can adjust to your personal preference.

Do You Have To Cook Bacon Before Putting It In Beans?

No, you do not need to sauté your bacon before adding it to your Instant Pot. The bacon cooks under pressure in the same amount of time as the green beans.

Even if you do choose to sauté your bacon before adding it to your pressure cooker, the moisture released from the green beans and onions will soften the texture while it all cooks together.

How to Make Instant Pot Green Beans and Bacon

Chopped up bacon being added to an Instant Pot liner

Chop up the bacon and place it into the Instant Pot. You do not need to sauté the bacon.

Diced onion being added to an Instant Pot with diced uncooked bacon

Add chopped white onion to the pot. You can use yellow onion, or frozen onions if you prefer.

Green beans in an Instant Pot with salt and pepper being added

Add cut green beans, salt, and pepper. You can also use frozen green beans. Do not use French-cut green beans as they are too thinly sliced for this recipe.

Water being added to an Instant Pot with green beans, bacon, and onion inside

Add just a little water. Remember, the onions and green beans will also be releasing very flavorful water. We don't want to make soup!

An Instant Pot with a timer reading 4 minutes

Set your Instant Pot or electric pressure cooker to 4 minutes on high pressure. At the end of the cooking time, release all pressure immediately by turning the valve to Venting.

Cooked Instant Pot Green Beans with Bacon

Done! I often eat just steamed green beans for dinner alone. With the addition of bacon, it really can be a complete high protein low carb recipe.

Tips and Tricks for Instant Pot Green Beans and Bacon

Sauté or not? I don't usually sauté the bacon. I put in all the ingredients and just set the pot for 4 minutes. Think of this as a faster version of boiled pork for seasoning. If you absolutely must have crispy bacon pieces, pull the bacon out after it cooks with the green beans in the Instant Pot, and crisp them up quickly in a skillet. Then, add them back to the cooked green beans.
Crunchy or Tender: These southern green beans are tender and full of flavor. If you like them crunchier, cook for 2 minutes under pressure. If you want them even softer, allow the pressure cooker to release pressure naturally for 10 minutes, and then release any remaining pressure--or just let it release pressure naturally all the way for even more well-cooked green beans.
Other meats: You can also cut up small pieces of ham instead of bacon.
Fresh or Frozen? Are you wondering how to cook frozen green beans for this green beans and bacon recipe? You do not need to defrost the beans, nor do you need to increase the cooking time.
No Pork: If you avoid pork, use chicken or beef sausage diced up into small pieces.

Variations

Garlic- Add minced garlic along with the diced onion before cooking.
Ham- Replace the bacon with diced ham.
Spicy- Add red pepper flakes or cayenne.
Smoky- Add a small amount of smoked paprika.
Tangy- Finish the cooked beans with apple cider vinegar or lemon juice.
Air Fryer- Try my air fryer green beans and bacon if your pressure cooker is busy with another delicious dish.

How Long Do They Last?

Instant Pot Green Beans are a great side dish to make for meal prep. Not only do they pair well with a multitude of main courses, but they also store and reheat very well.

For the best results, try to enjoy this tasty Green Beans and Bacon recipe within 4-5 days of preparing them. This will keep the green beans from becoming too soft.

What Pairs Well With Green Beans?

This Instant Pot Green Beans recipe is one of our best bacon recipes. It pairs well with so many of my favorite comfort foods, both low carb and not.

For a complete low carb dinner, serve these green beans with Pecan Crusted Chicken, Instant Pot Pork Tenderloin, or Sous Vide Steak. If you are planning a holiday menu, pair them with Cranberry Brussels Sprouts or browse these keto holiday recipes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why Are My Green Beans Mushy?

They were pressure cooked too long or left in the pot after cooking. Use an immediate quick release and remove the lid as soon as the pressure drops.

Why Are My Green Beans Too Firm?

The beans may be especially thick or mature. Return the lid to the pot and let them sit in the residual heat briefly, or use a slightly longer tested cooking time on the next batch.

Why Is the Bacon Soft?

Bacon softens when exposed to steam and pressure. For crisp bacon, reserve some cooked pieces and stir them into the green beans immediately before serving.

Why Did My Instant Pot Show a Burn Warning?

The pot may not have had enough thin liquid, or bacon and onion may have been stuck to the bottom.

Why Are the Green Beans Watery?

Fresh and frozen vegetables release moisture under pressure. Remove the lid, select Sauté, and cook briefly to evaporate excess liquid.

More Of Our Best Green Bean Recipes

Air Fryer Green Beans with Bacon recipe- Made easy in your air fryer.
Shawarma Green Beans- Ready for the table in just 15 minutes from start to finish!
Oven Shwarma Green Beans recipe- no air fryer? No problem.
Keto Green Bean Casserole- A must for your family get-togethers.
Keto Coleslaw- A tasty low carb version of a family favorite.

So whether you plan on using this recipe as a side dish or just plan on cooking it for a quick and easy keto-friendly meal, you're sure to love these Instant Pot Green Beans with Bacon. Make sure to share this recipe with your friends on Pinterest and Facebook so they can enjoy it as well!