Name: Instant Pot Green Beans The Soul Food Way
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 2 min
Total time: 9 min
Ingredients: 1 pound green beans (fresh or frozen); ½ cup chicken stock ((use vegetable broth for vegan and vegetarian)); 1 tablespoon unsalted butter ((Use a butter swap to make this recipe Vegan-friendly!)); 1 scallion (chopped); ½ teaspoon thyme (5-6 sprigs of fresh thyme); ½ teaspoon thyme (dry spice); ¼ teaspoon garlic powder; ¼ teaspoon salt; ½ teaspoon black pepper

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Soul food flavor, pressure cooker speed. Yes, you can have it all. These Instant Pot soul food green beans are tender, savory, and steeped in Southern tradition, but ready in a fraction of the time. Cooked with chicken stock, onions, and bold seasoning, they capture all the down-home goodness of Grandma’s stovetop pot, but without the long simmer.

Instant Pot Green Beans The Soul Food Way

Whether you’re feeding a crowd, prepping for Sunday dinner, or just craving a taste of home on a busy weeknight, this recipe delivers big flavor with modern ease. The Instant Pot does the heavy lifting. You just bring the appetite!

Why pressure cook green beans?

Pressure cooking green beans locks in flavor, tenderness, and nutrients all in a fraction of the time it takes on the stovetop. In soul food recipes, green beans are often simmered low and slow with smoked meat and seasoning until they’re deeply savory and melt-in-your-mouth tender. The Instant Pot recreates that same depth of flavor in minutes, rather than hours.

How long do green beans take to cook in a pressure cooker?

Fresh green beans cook quickly in an Instant Pot pressure cooker in just 2 minutes! Frozen green beans work just as well with the same 2-minute cook time. Canned green beans don’t need pressure cooking. Instead, use the Instant Pot’s ‘Slow Cook’ setting with this recipe’s seasonings for a rich, simmered flavor.

Ingredients

At the heart of this soul food green beans recipe are fresh or frozen green beans, simmered until tender and full of flavor. Whether you’re snapping them fresh or pouring them straight from the freezer, the key is letting them soak up the rich, savory base. That base starts with chicken stock, which adds depth and a comforting, slow-simmered taste in a fraction of the time.

Butter brings a touch of richness, while scallions add a mild onion bite that softens beautifully as they cook. Garlic powder and thyme layer in aromatic warmth, giving each bite a herby Southern backbone. A simple seasoning of salt and black pepper ties everything together—bold enough to stand on its own or pair with any main dish on your soul food table. It’s

How long do green beans take to cook in a pressure cooker?

How to cook Southern green beans in the Instant Pot

To make soul food green beans in the Instant Pot, simply add the green beans to the pot along with chicken stock, butter, chopped scallions, and seasonings. Seal the lid, pressure cook on high for 2 minutes, then allow a natural pressure release for about 2 minutes. The result? Tender, flavorful green beans that taste like they’ve been simmering for hours. But ready in a flash!

What are some common side dishes served with green beans?

Soul food green beans pair beautifully with a variety of classic Southern and comfort-style side dishes. Plus, when using the Instant Pot, you free up stovetop space for the rest of your soul food feast!

Here are some favorite options that round out a soulful, satisfying plate with green beans: oven-baked meatloaf (or meatloaf made in an Instant Pot), baked macaroni and cheese, and soul food candied yams.