Sauteed Green Beans

When fresh green beans are available, cooking them in a simple saute highlights their flavor and snappy texture. This sauteed green beans recipe uses creamy butter, garlic, bright parsley and dried herbs to bring out the best in garden-fresh green beans.

Green beans are a versatile side dish. Try them with teriyaki salmon or roast chicken.

Ingredients for Sauteed Green Beans

• Butter: Using butter as your cooking fat adds flavor and richness.
• Fresh green beans: Summer is peak green bean season. Wash the beans, then trim the ends and you’re ready to cook. We don’t recommend using frozen green beans in this recipe.
• Garlic: A minced fresh garlic clove adds strong allium flavor.
• Parsley: Stirring fresh parsley in at the end lends a bright freshness.
• Dried basil, oregano and cayenne: Dried herbs add concentrated flavor, and a bit of cayenne brings balancing heat.

Directions

Step 1: Saute green beans until crisp-tender and flavorful

In a large non-stick skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add beans and cook 5 to 7 minutes until desired texture is reached. Add garlic and cook 1 minute until aromatic. Stir in parsley, basil, oregano, cayenne and salt.

Sauteed Green Bean Variations

• Brighten it up: Squeeze a little fresh lemon juice or add a splash of vinegar at the end of cooking to add some balancing acid.
• Garnish with nuts: Chopped roasted almonds or hazelnuts are a crunchy way to finish the dish.
• Add shallots and bacon: If you have extra time, cook up chopped bacon and shallots in your skillet. Remove all but 1 tablespoon of the bacon fat, omit the butter and continue with the recipe as directed.

How to Store Sauteed Green Beans

Leftover green beans can be stored covered in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days.

How do you reheat sauteed green beans?

Gently reheat green beans in a skillet. Add a splash of water or chicken broth to loosen and add moisture.

Sauteed Green Bean Tips

How do you trim fresh green beans?

To trim green beans, simply snip off each end a sharp knife or kitchen shears. Try using a cutting board and a chef’s knife to trim several beans at once.

Are cooked green beans supposed to be crunchy or tender?

It’s your call! Green beans take a little longer to cook than other tender green veggies, but they taste delicious while still a bit snappy. Sample a bean every minute or so as they approach the end of their cook time until they reach the texture you prefer. Learn more about how to cook green beans.

Can you use frozen green beans instead of fresh?

The texture of the green beans is a highlight in this recipe, so we don’t recommend using frozen green beans. Frozen green beans lose their crisp-tender texture and will yield a mushy side dish. Instead, save your frozen green beans for soups and green bean casseroles.