Don’t let your side dishes fall to the wayside like an afterthought. Our seasoned green beans match the impressive taste of a main dish but require as little effort as any easy side dish. Flavorful and vibrant, we’ll show you how to season green beans with more than just salt and pepper.
Ingredients for Seasoned Green Beans
- Green beans: We love fresh green beans, but frozen works perfectly well in this recipe, too. No need to thaw; simply add the frozen green beans to the steamer basket, and place the basket over the water. Adjust the cook time as needed until the beans are crisp-tender and warmed through.
- Butter: A bit of butter adds a rich flavor and helps the seasoning stick to the green beans.
- Seasoned salt: Buy seasoned salt from the store, or make your own seasoned salt at home.
- Chili powder: This is an unexpected knockout seasoning. Chili powder adds a touch of spice and color without being too overpowering.
- Garlic powder: We prefer using garlic powder here. Its finer consistency sticks to the green beans better than minced garlic.
- Onion powder: With its sharp pungency and ability to complement almost any savory flavor, onion powder is a must-have green bean seasoning.
Directions
Step 1: Steam the green beans
Nestle the green beans in a steamer basket, and place the basket in a saucepan over 1 inch of water. Bring the water to a boil. Cover and steam the green beans until crisp-tender, seven to eight minutes.
Editor’s Tip: Make sure your green beans are properly washed before steaming them. Discard any fully brown green beans.
Step 2: Stir together the seasonings
In a small bowl, stir the melted butter, seasoned salt, chili powder, garlic powder and onion powder together until well combined.
Step 3: Season the green beans
Drain the green beans, and place them in a bowl. Pour the butter mixture over the green beans, and toss everything to evenly coat.
Recipe Variations
- Don’t be afraid of spices: Want to really learn how to season green beans like a pro? Consider the other flavors in your meal, and sprinkle a complementing spice blend on the green beans. Keep your mind open to blends that may be a bit unfamiliar to you, like Greek, herbs de Provence, berbere, za’atar, or Jamaican jerk.
- Saute after steaming: Add even more flavor to seasoned green beans by sauteing them after steaming. Steaming gives the green beans a head start on cooking and ensures a snappy texture, and a quick saute adds caramelization—the flavorful browning we all know and love. After steaming for four to six minutes, place the green beans in a pan over medium-high heat with 2 tablespoons butter. Saute the green beans for two minutes, then turn off the heat, add the seasonings and serve.
- Brighten with citrus: As soon as the green beans are cooked and seasoned, squeeze over a bit of fresh lemon, lime or even orange juice. The citrus will brighten the overall taste beautifully. You could also grate the citrus and sprinkle the zest in with your seasonings.
How to Store Seasoned Green Beans
To store, allow the seasoned green beans to cool completely to room temperature. Place them in an airtight container, and keep them in the fridge for up to five days.
Can you freeze seasoned green beans?
Yes, you can freeze seasoned green beans. Allow them to cool completely to room temperature, then place them in a freezer-safe resealable bag or an airtight container. They can be frozen for up to three months. Gently reheat the frozen green beans in the microwave or in a skillet.
Seasoned Green Beans Tips
What do I serve with seasoned green beans?
Seasoned green beans make the perfect side dish to main courses like baked fish, sausage and potato skillet, mostaccioli and basically any chicken recipe.
What can I do with any leftovers?
Seasoned green bean leftovers are so easy to add in other dishes to spruce ‘em up. Chop up the green beans, and add them to salads, stir-fries, veggie-forward pastas, shepherd’s pie and omelets. Or just reheat them for a quick snack.
