Looking for a classic holiday side dish made quick and easy? This Instant Pot Green Bean Casserole delivers creamy, savory goodness in a fraction of the time. Made with fresh green beans, mushrooms, garlic, and a velvety cream sauce, it's topped with crispy fried onions for that irresistible crunch.
🕒 Ready In: 30 minutes
🍽️ Serves: 6
Ingredients
-
1 lb fresh green beans, trimmed and cut in half
-
1 tablespoon olive oil
-
1 small onion, finely chopped
-
2 cloves garlic, minced
-
8 oz mushrooms, sliced (white or cremini)
-
1 cup chicken or vegetable broth
-
1 cup heavy cream (or half-and-half for lighter version)
-
1 tablespoon soy sauce (or Worcestershire for richer flavor)
-
½ teaspoon black pepper
-
½ teaspoon salt
-
2 tablespoons cornstarch + 2 tablespoons water (slurry)
-
1½ cups crispy fried onions (store-bought or homemade)
Instructions
1. Sauté the Aromatics
-
Set the Instant Pot to Sauté mode.
-
Add olive oil, then sauté onions and garlic until soft, about 2–3 minutes.
-
Stir in sliced mushrooms and cook until they release moisture and start to brown, 5 minutes.
2. Pressure Cook the Beans
-
Add green beans, broth, soy sauce, salt, and pepper.
-
Cancel Sauté mode, close the lid, and set the pressure cook/manual mode to 1 minute.
-
Once done, quick release the pressure.
3. Make It Creamy
-
Open the lid carefully. Turn on Sauté mode again.
-
Stir in the cream and bring to a gentle simmer.
-
Mix cornstarch and water in a small bowl and pour into the pot. Stir until the sauce thickens (2–3 minutes).
4. Add the Crunch
-
Stir in ½ cup of fried onions.
-
Transfer to a serving dish and sprinkle the remaining 1 cup of fried onions on top.
5. Serve
-
Serve warm as a comforting side dish for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or any family dinner.
Tips & Variations
-
Fresh vs. Frozen Beans: Fresh beans offer the best texture. If using frozen, reduce pressure cooking time to 0 minutes.
-
Make It Vegan: Swap cream with coconut cream or cashew cream, and use plant-based fried onions.
-
Add Cheese: For extra richness, stir in ½ cup shredded cheddar or Parmesan before topping with onions.
Storage
-
Refrigerate: Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
-
Reheat: Warm in the microwave or oven. Add extra fried onions on top for texture.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
-
No need to use your oven during the holidays
-
A great make-ahead side dish
-
Comforting and full of classic flavor
-
Perfectly creamy with a crispy topping