Key Takeaways:
- Ready in just 30 minutes with minimal prep work
- One-pot meal saves time on cleanup
- Perfect balance of protein, vegetables, and starches
- Budget-friendly family dinner using leftover ham
Why You’ll Love This Instant Pot Ham Green Beans And Potatoes Recipe
Getting dinner on the table fast is a challenge we all face. This Instant Pot Ham Green Beans And Potatoes recipe solves that problem with a complete meal ready in under 30 minutes. Perfect for busy weeknights, this dish combines savory ham, fresh green beans, and tender potatoes in one pot.
What makes this Instant Pot Ham Green Beans And Potatoes dish special is how the pressure cooker infuses everything with amazing flavor. The ham seasons both the vegetables and the cooking liquid, creating a meal that tastes like it simmered all day.
Best of all, this recipe serves 4 people and uses simple ingredients you likely have on hand.
Nutrition Information for Instant Pot Ham Green Beans And Potatoes
| Nutrient | Amount Per Serving | % Daily Value |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 285 | |
| Total Fat | 7g | 9% |
| Saturated Fat | 2g | 10% |
| Cholesterol | 35mg | 12% |
| Sodium | 840mg | 37% |
| Total Carbohydrates | 35g | 13% |
| Dietary Fiber | 6g | 21% |
| Sugars | 4g | |
| Protein | 19g | 38% |
| Vitamin A | 15% | |
| Vitamin C | 30% | |
| Calcium | 6% | |
| Iron | 15% |
Percent Daily Values based on a 2,000 calorie diet
Equipment & Ingredients for Your Instant Pot Ham Green Beans And Potatoes
Kitchen Tools You’ll Need
| Tool | Purpose |
|---|---|
| 6-quart Instant Pot | Main cooking vessel |
| Knife | For cutting ingredients |
| Cutting board | Prep surface |
| Measuring cups | For liquids and ingredients |
| Measuring spoons | For seasonings |
| Wooden spoon | For stirring |
| Colander | Optional for washing green beans |
| Kitchen timer | To track cooking phases |
| Heat-resistant gloves | For safety when handling pot |
Complete Ingredients List
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Ham | 1 pound | Cubed or sliced |
| Fresh green beans | 1 pound | Ends trimmed |
| Yukon gold potatoes | 1.5 pounds | Cut into 1-inch chunks |
| Chicken broth | 1 cup | Low sodium preferred |
| Yellow onion | 1 medium | Diced |
| Garlic | 3 cloves | Minced |
| Olive oil | 1 tablespoon | |
| Salt | 1/2 teaspoon | Or to taste |
| Black pepper | 1/4 teaspoon | Fresh ground |
| Red pepper flakes | 1/4 teaspoon | Optional, for heat |
| Thyme | 1 teaspoon | Fresh or 1/2 teaspoon dried |
| Bay leaf | 1 | Remove before serving |
Possible Substitutions For Instant Pot Ham Green Beans And Potatoes
- Ham: Use smoked sausage or bacon instead
- Chicken broth: Vegetable broth or water with bouillon
- Yukon gold potatoes: Red potatoes or russet potatoes (though cooking time may vary slightly)
- Fresh green beans: Frozen green beans (reduce cooking time by 1 minute)
- Thyme: Rosemary or oregano
Super Detailed Step-By-Step Instructions
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 4
Preparation Phase For Beginners
- Gather all ingredients and tools
- Place all ingredients on your counter
- Ensure your Instant Pot is clean and the inner pot is inserted
- Check that the power cord is properly connected
- Make sure the sealing ring is properly installed in the lid
- Prepare the ham
- Take your ham out of the refrigerator
- Place it on a cutting board
- Using a sharp knife, cut ham into 1-inch cubes or slices
- If using leftover ham, make sure it’s been properly stored
- Place cubed ham in a bowl and set aside
- Prepare the green beans
- Rinse green beans under cold water in a colander
- Transfer to your cutting board
- Hold a few beans at a time and trim the stem ends using your knife
- If beans are very long (over 4 inches), cut them in half
- Place trimmed beans in a clean bowl
- BEGINNER TIP: Line up several beans at once to trim multiple ends at the same time
- Prepare the potatoes
- Rinse potatoes under cold water
- Place on cutting board
- Cut potatoes into 1-inch chunks (about the size of a game die)
- No need to peel Yukon gold potatoes as their skin is thin
- Try to keep all pieces similar in size for even cooking
- Place cut potatoes in a separate bowl
- BEGINNER TIP: Larger potato chunks will remain firmer, smaller chunks will be softer
- Prepare the aromatics
- Peel the yellow onion
- Cut onion in half from top to bottom
- Place flat side down on cutting board for stability
- Dice into small pieces (approximately 1/4 inch)
- Peel garlic cloves by placing them under the flat side of your knife and pressing down gently
- Mince the garlic cloves into very small pieces
- BEGINNER TIP: Let minced garlic rest for 5-10 minutes before cooking to enhance flavor
Cooking Phase For Your Instant Pot Ham Green Beans And Potatoes
- Start the Instant Pot
- Place your Instant Pot on a stable, heat-resistant surface
- Make sure the inner pot is properly seated
- Plug in your Instant Pot
- Press the SAUTÉ button
- The display should read “On” or start a timer
- Allow the pot to heat up for 1-2 minutes
- BEGINNER TIP: The Instant Pot will display “Hot” when it’s ready for sautéing
- Sauté the aromatics
- Add 1 tablespoon olive oil to the heated inner pot
- Tilt the pot gently to spread the oil evenly
- Add diced onion to the pot
- Using a wooden spoon, stir the onions occasionally
- Cook for 2 minutes until onions become slightly translucent
- Add minced garlic to the pot
- Stir continuously for 30 seconds (garlic burns easily)
- When garlic becomes fragrant, press the CANCEL button
- BEGINNER TIP: If onions or garlic start to brown too quickly, press CANCEL early
- Layer all ingredients in the pot
- Ensure the Instant Pot is turned off after sautéing
- Evenly distribute ham cubes on top of the onion-garlic mixture
- DO NOT STIR
- Add potato chunks in an even layer on top of the ham
- Carefully add green beans on top of the potatoes
- Measure 1 cup of chicken broth
- Pour broth along the sides of the pot, not directly on top
- BEGINNER WARNING: Layering in this order prevents the “BURN” notice by keeping denser ingredients closer to the heating element
- Add seasonings to your Instant Pot Ham Green Beans And Potatoes
- Sprinkle 1/2 teaspoon salt evenly over the ingredients
- Add 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- If using, add 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- Add 1 teaspoon fresh thyme (or 1/2 teaspoon dried)
- Place 1 bay leaf on top
- IMPORTANT: DO NOT STIR after adding these ingredients
- BEGINNER TIP: Layering prevents burn notices and allows flavors to distribute during cooking
- Seal and set the Instant Pot
- Check that the sealing ring inside the lid is properly seated
- Place the lid on the Instant Pot and rotate clockwise until it locks
- You should hear a sound indicating it’s properly closed
- Turn the pressure release valve to the SEALING position
- Make sure the valve is properly aligned with the sealing mark
- BEGINNER TIP: The valve should feel secure when properly set to sealing
- Program the cooking cycle
- Press the PRESSURE COOK button (or MANUAL on older models)
- Use the +/- buttons to set the time to 4 minutes
- Make sure the pressure level is set to HIGH
- The display will show “On” while the pot builds pressure
- It will take approximately 10 minutes to come to pressure
- Once pressurized, the display will show the 4-minute countdown
- BEGINNER TIP: The time showing on the display is only the cooking time, not including the time to build or release pressure
- Wait for pressure release
- When the cooking cycle completes, the Instant Pot will beep
- The display will show “L0:00” and start counting up
- Allow the pot to naturally release pressure for 5 minutes
- Set a kitchen timer for 5 minutes
- After 5 minutes, put on heat-resistant gloves
- Use a long utensil or the handle of a wooden spoon to turn the pressure valve to VENTING
- Stand back to avoid the hot steam that will release
- Wait until the floating pin/valve drops completely
- BEGINNER WARNING: Never put your hand, face, or any body part over the valve when releasing pressure
Finishing Your Instant Pot Ham Green Beans And Potatoes
- Open the Instant Pot safely
- Once the floating pin has dropped completely, the lid is safe to open
- Turn the lid counterclockwise to unlock
- Lift the lid away from you, allowing steam to escape away from your face
- Place lid upside down on counter or use lid holder if you have one
- BEGINNER TIP: Tilt the lid slightly toward the back of the pot as you open to direct steam away from you
- Check for doneness
- Test a potato chunk with a fork – it should pierce easily
- Green beans should be bright green and tender-crisp
- If not done, close lid and use PRESSURE COOK for 1 more minute
- If done, proceed to next step
- Final adjustments
- Remove and discard the bay leaf
- Using a wooden spoon, gently stir all ingredients to combine
- Be careful not to break up the potatoes
- Taste a small spoonful after cooling slightly
- Add additional salt or pepper if needed
- Let the mixture rest in the pot for 2-3 minutes with lid off
- This allows flavors to meld and excess liquid to be absorbed
- BEGINNER TIP: If mixture is too watery, press SAUTÉ and simmer for 1-2 minutes, stirring gently
- Serve your Instant Pot Ham Green Beans And Potatoes
- Use a serving spoon to transfer to a large serving dish
- Alternatively, serve directly from the inner pot (after unplugging)
- Make sure everyone gets an even distribution of ham, potatoes, and green beans
- Garnish with fresh thyme or parsley if desired
- Serve while hot
Troubleshooting Your Instant Pot Ham Green Beans And Potatoes
| Problem | Solution |
|---|---|
| “Burn” notice on Instant Pot | Make sure to layer ingredients as directed and use at least 1 cup of liquid. Never stir before pressure cooking. |
| Potatoes too firm | Cut into smaller, uniform pieces or increase cooking time by 1 minute. For next time, make sure potatoes are fresh (older potatoes take longer to cook). |
| Potatoes too soft | Cut into larger pieces or decrease cooking time by 1 minute. Yukon golds hold their shape better than russets. |
| Green beans overcooked | Use larger pieces or frozen beans next time. Reduce cook time to 3 minutes. Position beans on very top of other ingredients. |
| Not enough flavor | Try adding a ham bone or ham hock for extra flavor. Consider adding 1 teaspoon of Better Than Bouillon to the broth. |
| Too salty | Use low-sodium broth and reduce added salt. Rinse ham before using if it’s particularly salty. |
| Hard to remove lid | Make sure floating pin has dropped completely. If still stuck, press Cancel and try the pressure release valve again briefly. |
| Food sticking to bottom | Next time, make sure to add more oil during sautéing phase and don’t sauté for too long. |
Variations & Substitutions for Instant Pot Ham Green Beans And Potatoes
Southern Style
Add 1/4 teaspoon of smoked paprika and a tablespoon of butter for a deeper Southern flavor. This variation goes beautifully with other ham creations for a themed dinner.
Spicy Version
Double the red pepper flakes and add a diced jalapeño with the onions. Remove jalapeño seeds for moderate heat or leave them in for extra spicy.
Creamy Version
After cooking, stir in 1/4 cup of heavy cream and 1/4 cup of grated Parmesan cheese. Use the SAUTÉ function for 1 minute to thicken slightly if needed.
Vegetarian Option
Replace ham with 2 cups of sliced mushrooms and use vegetable broth. Add 1 tablespoon of soy sauce for umami flavor. Consider adding 1 tablespoon of butter for richness.
Low-Carb Adaptation
Replace potatoes with cauliflower florets. Reduce cooking time to 2 minutes with 5-minute natural release.
Storage & Reheating Your Instant Pot Ham Green Beans And Potatoes
Refrigerator Storage
- Allow leftovers to cool completely before storing (no more than 2 hours at room temperature)
- Store in airtight containers for up to 3 days
- Keep refrigerated at or below 40°F
- Separate into portion-sized containers for easier reheating
- BEGINNER TIP: Label containers with date and contents
Freezer Storage
- Freeze in portion-sized containers for up to 2 months
- Leave 1/2 inch space at top of containers for expansion
- Label with date and contents
- BEGINNER TIP: Green beans may become softer after freezing and thawing
Reheating Instructions
- Microwave Method:
- Place single portion in microwave-safe container
- Cover loosely with microwave-safe lid or paper towel
- Heat on 70% power for 2 minutes
- Stir gently
- Continue heating for 1-2 minutes until internal temperature reaches 165°F
- Let stand for 1 minute before eating
- Stovetop Method:
- Place leftovers in a saucepan or skillet
- Add 2 tablespoons of water or broth
- Cover with lid
- Heat on medium-low heat for 5-7 minutes
- Stir occasionally to prevent sticking
- Heat until internal temperature reaches 165°F
- Instant Pot Method:
- Place leftovers in Instant Pot inner pot
- Add 1/4 cup of water or broth
- Use SAUTÉ function set to LOW
- Stir occasionally until heated through (about 5 minutes)
- BEGINNER TIP: This method works best for larger portions
Safety Notes & Pro Tips for Instant Pot Ham Green Beans And Potatoes
Safety Precautions
- Always make sure sealing ring is properly installed before cooking
- Keep hands, face, and body away from valve when releasing pressure
- Use heat-resistant gloves when handling the hot inner pot
- Allow Instant Pot to cool before cleaning
- Check that the float valve moves freely before each use
- Never force the lid open – wait for pin to drop
- BEGINNER WARNING: Steam burns can be severe – always practice safe pressure release
Pro Tips for Perfect Instant Pot Ham Green Beans And Potatoes
- Broth choice matters: Using a good-quality broth makes a big difference in flavor
- Don’t overcrowd: Fill Instant Pot no more than 2/3 full for pressure cooking
- Fresh is best: Fresh green beans hold their texture better than canned
- Ham selection: This recipe is perfect for using leftover holiday ham. It’s also a great alternative to the traditional Crock Pot ham and green beans when you’re short on time.
- Even cutting: Cut potatoes the same size for even cooking
- Quick release technique: Use a wooden spoon to turn the valve to avoid steam burns
- Prep ahead: Cut vegetables earlier in the day and refrigerate until cooking time
- Flavor boost: For extra flavor, use the SAUTÉ function to brown the ham slightly before adding other ingredients
- Liquid matters: Don’t reduce liquid below 1 cup or you may get a burn notice
- Let it rest: Allow the dish to rest a few minutes before serving for best flavor and texture
Serving Suggestions for Your Instant Pot Ham Green Beans And Potatoes
This one-pot meal is perfect on its own, but you can elevate it with:
- A side of cornbread or crusty bread for soaking up juices
- A fresh garden salad with vinaigrette dressing
- Hot sauce on the table for those who like extra heat
- Fresh parsley garnish for color and freshness
- A squeeze of lemon juice just before serving for brightness
- A dollop of sour cream on top for richness
For a larger gathering, consider pairing this with a ham and noodle casserole without soup as a complementary dish that uses similar ingredients.
Final Thoughts on Instant Pot Ham Green Beans And Potatoes
This Instant Pot Ham Green Beans And Potatoes recipe proves that comfort food doesn’t have to be complicated. With minimal prep and cleanup, you’ll have a balanced, flavorful meal that the whole family will enjoy. The combination of savory ham, fresh vegetables, and tender potatoes creates a satisfying dinner that feels like it took hours to make, even though your Instant Pot did all the hard work in just 30 minutes.
Perfect for beginners and experienced cooks alike, this dish shows how pressure cooking can transform simple ingredients into something special. The layering technique ensures that everything cooks perfectly while creating a flavorful broth that ties the dish together. Whether you’re new to pressure cooking or looking for an easy weeknight dinner solution, this Instant Pot Ham Green Beans And Potatoes recipe deserves a spot in your regular meal rotation.
