This is a Southern recipe with an electric pressure cooker twist! These Green Beans and Potatoes in the Instant Pot are so flavorful and tender, and there’s bacon on top!
When it comes to classic Southern comfort food sides, it’s hard to beat a big pot of tender green beans simmered with smoky, savory turkey. This soul-warming combination screams old-fashioned Sunday dinner, but thanks to the speedy Instant Pot, you can now enjoy these flavors any night of the week. With just a few simple ingredients and steps, you’ll have the ultimate potluck-ready pot of Instant Pot green beans with smoked turkey ready in under an hour.
This easy pressure cooker recipe transforms humble frozen green beans into a complex, hearty side dish with melt-in-your-mouth texture and rich savoriness from the turkey and aromatics. It’s the perfect accompaniment for juicy fried chicken, fall-off-the-bone ribs, or your favorite meaty main. Read on for a complete step-by-step guide to creating this family-pleasing side with ease.
Benefits of Instant Pot Green Beans and Turkey
There are so many reasons to add this tasty combo to your regular recipe rotation
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Convenience – With the Instant Pot, no more waiting hours for the beans to soften Dinner is ready fast
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Flavor – Smoky turkey infuses the beans with savory depth and richness.
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Nutrition – Turkey provides lean protein while beans pack fiber, vitamins, and minerals.
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Comfort – The classic flavors bring a taste of homestyle cooking and old-fashioned Sunday dinners.
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Versatility – Beans pair deliciously with almost any entree from meatloaf to pot roast.
Now let’s look at how to easily recreate this soul food staple in your own kitchen.
Ingredients Needed
Part of what makes this recipe so simple is that it requires just a handful of easy-to-find ingredients:
- 1 pound frozen green beans
- 1 pound smoked turkey leg or wing
- 6-8 cups water
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 14-ounce can stewed tomatoes
- 1⁄2 teaspoon black pepper
- 4 cups turkey broth
That covers the aromatic veggie base along with the smoky turkey flavor booster.
Step-By-Step Instant Pot Instructions
With your ingredients prepped and ready to go, follow these simple steps:
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Place turkey leg or wing in Instant Pot and add enough water to cover, about 6-8 cups.
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Secure lid, set to High Pressure for 4 hours to fully cook turkey.
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Allow pressure to release naturally 10 minutes after cooking.
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Remove turkey, shred meat off bone and reserve cooking broth.
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Sauté garlic and onion 2-3 minutes in Instant Pot.
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Add remaining ingredients – green beans, tomatoes, pepper, turkey broth.
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Pressure cook 5 minutes on High.
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Quick release pressure and stir in shredded turkey.
In around 30 minutes total, your beans will transform into the perfect pot of soulful, southern deliciousness.
Handy Tips and Variations
The basic recipe provides foolproof results, but you can customize to suit your tastes:
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Use fresh green beans instead of frozen if desired.
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Mix in diced potatoes, carrots, corn or other veggies.
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Spice it up with a pinch of cayenne or red pepper flakes.
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Swap turkey for smoked ham, bacon or ham hocks.
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For a heartier one-pot meal, add more potatoes.
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Make it in a slow cooker if you don’t have an Instant Pot.
This versatile recipe also works great for meal prep. Just prepare a big batch and portion it out for quick side dishes all week long.
Serving Suggestions
These satisfying Instant Pot turkey green beans pair perfectly with classic soul food and comfort fare like:
- Fried chicken or chicken wings
- Smothered pork chops
- Meatloaf or meatballs
- Pot roast or beef brisket
- Fried fish like catfish or tilapia
- Turkey wings or drumsticks
Round it out with sides like mashed potatoes, cornbread, coleslaw or mac and cheese for a fully soul-warming feast.
Storing and Reheating Leftovers
Like most bean dishes, these green beans keep and reheat beautifully:
- Refrigerate leftovers up to 5 days.
- Freeze for up to 3 months.
- Reheat refrigerated beans on the stovetop or in the microwave.
- Reheat frozen beans in a slow cooker or after thawing.
Having a batch ready to go in the fridge or freezer makes putting together a delicious dinner even easier.
Satisfying Soul Food Flavor in Record Time
This Instant Pot turkey and green beans recipe delivers the comforting, homemade flavors you love without the fuss or long cook times. In just 30 minutes, you can enjoy a hearty side of tender beans and smoky meat flavor reminiscent of simmering all day on the stove. Simply add your favorite fried or roasted entree for an effortless soul food feast the whole family will love. So break out your Instant Pot and get ready to enjoy a little taste of Sunday dinner magic any night of the week!
Can I Double This Recipe?
If your Instant Pot is large enough to hold double the amount of ingredients, then yes! You shouldn’t need to alter the cook time at all since you’re using a pressure cooker.
Which Green Beans Should I Buy?
There are a lot of different kinds of green beans. Not all green beans are created equal! You want to buy haricot vert green beans. Pardon my French there! It is actually French for the long, slender green beans you can find in your produce section.
It is pronounced “heir covair,” not “harry cot vert.” Although I like to say “harry cot vert” in my brain because it sounds so dang funny! Say “heir covair” in your best French accent and you’ll be impressing all your dinner guests!
Haricot vert are thinner than green beans native to the U.S.A. and are picked at an earlier point in their growth, making them more flavorful.
Pressure Cooker Southern Style Green Beans w/ Smoked Turkey | My Gadget Kitchen | #192
FAQ
How long should I cook beans in an Instant Pot?
- Black beans: 20 to 25 minutes.
- Black-eyed peas : 20 to 25 minutes.
- Great Northern beans: 25 to 30 minutes.
- Navy beans: 25 to 30 minutes.
- Pinto beans: 25 to 30 minutes.
- Cannellini beans: 35 to 40 minutes.
- Chickpeas (garbanzo beans) : 35 to 40 minutes.
What is smoked meat for green beans?
Well, for starters, Southern green bean recipes usually have some smoked meat like turkey legs, turkey necks, turkey drumsticks, or smoked ham hocks. They’re also cooked in a flavorful broth, usually the same cooking liquid from the meat.
How to cook green beans in Instant Pot Pioneer Woman?
first wash your beans, add 1 cup of water to the instant pot, then put your steamer basket in. now I like to have cut the ends off of my green beans, put the beans in the pot, close up the pot, then set it to high pressure for 0 minutes. after the instant pot beeps that it’s done.
How do you cook green beans with smoked turkey?
Southern green beans with smoked turkey are simmered with green peppers, onions, garlic, vinegar, and red pepper flakes for a flavorful, hearty dish perfect for holidays or weeknight dinners. 1 Dutch Oven For this recipe, you’ll need a large pot 5 quarts or bigger works best.
How to cook green beans in Instant Pot?
Using a wooden spoon or a hard spatula with an edge, scrape the bottom of the Instant Pot to get off any burnt bits of bacon. Now, add the green beans and all of the spices. Stir everything together. If adding a ham hock, ham, or potatoes, add them now & submerge under the beans.
What are southern green beans with smoked turkey?
These are Southern country-style green beans with smoked turkey. Soul food green beans with smoked turkey make a perfect side dish for the holidays, a special occasion, and Sunday dinner, and they’re quite easy to make. Let me show and tell y’all how I make my Southern-style green beans recipe. What Are Southern Green Beans?
How do you cook green beans in a pressure cooker?
Serve the green beans with a slotted spoon. Press “sauté” on the pressure cooker. Once the display reads “hot,” add the butter and saute the onions for 4 minutes. Add the garlic and sauté for an additional minute. Press “cancel” on the pressure cooker. Add the turkey necks, chicken broth, water, cajun seasoning, and black pepper.
Can you substitute smoked turkey for green beans?
Substitute the smoked turkey with other smoked meats like bacon or a ham hock. Use creole seasoning rather than cajun seasoning. When choosing fresh green beans from the grocery store, look for a bright green color and a supple texture with no brown spots or soggy beans.
What to eat with smoked turkey & green beans?
Southern Green Beans is a delicious side dish with smoked turkey, fresh green beans, and cajun seasoning. This melt-in-your-mouth dish will be your new favorite way to take your Sunday dinner or special occasion to the next level. This post contains affiliate links, please read my full disclaimer here. recipe card at the bottom of the post.