Garlic Green Beans are a super simple and quick side dish. This recipe for fresh green beans with butter and garlic is a weeknight staple!
There are two kitchen tasks I truly hate: trimming green beans and peeling and mincing garlic.
Lucky for me, this Garlic Green Beans recipe includes them both. Womp. womp.
So why, you might ask, am I torturing myself with my two least favorite tasks?
Well, because Garlic Green Beans are worth it, that’s why.
This quick side dish transforms the humble green bean into a caramelized mess of buttery, garlicky goodness. It’s the kind of recipe that makes you want to eat vegetables for a midnight snack. I’m not even joking.
Despite the fact it includes two of my least favorite jobs, this one is going to be on regular rotation in my house. It takes only 20 minutes (even with aforementioned trimming and chopping), and the reward far exceeds the effort.
I think once you try them, you’ll agree this recipe is a keeper!
Quick and Easy Garlic Green Beans
This recipe is adapted from Food52’s Genius Recipes cookbook, a collection of recipes that uses surprisingly simple techniques to get the most out of every day recipes and ingredients. Despite my distaste for trimming green beans, I couldn’t resist trying their four ingredient recipe, and I was definitely glad I did.
The genius behind this green bean recipe is in both the simplicity of its ingredients and the way it’s cooked. While most recipes call for garlic to be sautéed in butter and oil then cooked with the green beans, this one turns that process on its head; first sautéing the green beans in butter until they’re nice and toasty brown, then tossing them with crushed garlic at the last possible moment.
This simple switch allows the green beans to develop their own slightly sweet, caramelized flavor before getting glazed in a pungent bite of fresh garlic. It makes a shockingly simple side dish that allows the flavor of the green beans to really shine.
How to Saute Green Beans
- Heat a few tablespoons of butter in a skillet over medium high heat.
- Add a pound of fresh green beans and allow them to cook, undisturbed, for 2-3 minutes. We’re trying to get some color on those beans, so it’s important to let them be! Toss them and cook an additional 1-2 minutes on the other side.
- Turn the heat down to low, cover the skillet, and cook for an additional 5-10 minutes, stirring every few minutes. When the beans are crisp-tender, remove from heat and immediately stir in the garlic. The warmth of the beans will be enough to release the scent and flavor of the garlic without muting it.
- Season to taste with plenty of salt and serve immediately.
Tips for Buying and Making Fresh Green Beans
- The peak season for fresh green beans is from May to September, but you can find them in most supermarkets year round. Look for green beans that are mostly free from brown spots or gashes and are firm. Avoid beans that are too bendy or floppy. They should snap apart easily when bent.
- Pick green beans that are a similar size so they cook evenly and for about the same length of time.
- Using a garlic press makes me hate chopping garlic slightly less. It’s worth the investment.
- Use a good quality sea salt to finish this dish. We use and love this flaked sea salt. It’s beautiful, has amazing flavor, and delivers a delightful crunch.
An Easy Green Bean Recipe for Any Occasion
These garlic green beans are a great quick side dish for busy weeknights, but they would also be right at home on your Thanksgiving menu. They make a fine accompaniment to Cast Iron Ribeye Steaks, Garlic and Herb Roasted Turkey, or Amish Chicken and Noodles.
You can easily adapt this green bean recipe by adding toasted almonds, French fried onions, or some freshly grated Parmesan cheese. If you’d like a little heat, add a pinch of red pepper flakes. For a hint of sweetness, finish the dish with a drizzle of balsamic vinegar.
Looking for roasted green bean recipes? Try my Balsamic Roasted Green Beans and Mushrooms or my Roasted Teriyaki Green Beans.
Garlic Green Beans
Garlic Green Beans are a simple, four ingredient side dish you can make for a busy weeknight or a special holiday.
Ingredients
- 1 lb. fresh green beans, ends removed
- 2 Tablespoons butter
- 2 cloves garlic, crushed
- Coarse or flake salt
Instructions
- Heat the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the green beans and allow them to cook, undisturbed, for 2-3 minutes. Toss the beans and allow them to cook again, undisturbed, for 1-2, or until they're starting to brown on multiple sides.
- Lower the heat, cover the skillet, and cook for an additional 7-10 minutes, stirring every few minutes. When the beans are crisp-tender, remove from heat and immediately stir in the garlicWnat . Season to taste with salt and serve immediately.
Notes
Want to dress these up? Try tossing the beans with toasted almond slices, French fried onions, or finish the dish with a drizzle of balsamic vinegar. You can also add red pepper flakes or Parmesan cheese.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 88Total Fat: 6gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 15mgSodium: 198mgCarbohydrates: 8gFiber: 3gSugar: 4gProtein: 2g
Please note nutritional information for my recipes is calculated by a third party service and provided as a courtesy to my readers. For the most accurate calculation, I always recommend running the numbers yourself with the specific products you use.
These are sooooo good and easy.