Easy and Fresh Green Beans are a perfect side dish to feed a crowd! This simple recipe uses fresh beans not canned beans and is cooked on the stove for a delicious vegetable side dish.
Green beans are a family favorite. They appear on the dinner table at all major holidays. The problem is that most times we have green bean casserole. These beans are mushy, come from a can, are drenched in creamy soups, brown sugar or cheese. I was inspired to make this fresh green bean side dish as a healthy option that also highlights the freshness of the green bean.
Hosting can be hard! If you need another recipe that is a crowd pleaser, try Pineapple Baked Beans. These baked beans are so flavorful and use a variety of beans. They are the perfect side dish for summer barbeques. You can also never go wrong with pasta salad, especially a pasta salad that uses the best of summer produce! Try this Roasted Tomato and Corn Pasta Salad for an easy pasta that goes well at any gathering.
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Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- In less than 20 minutes, you can make a fresh side dish that is simple and healthy.
- These green beans have a crunch as opposed to canned green beans.
- You can taste the mildly sweet freshness of the beans.
- This fresh green bean recipe cooks on the stovetop saving valuable oven space.
Ingredients
These basic ingredients can be found at your local grocery store.
- Fresh green beans are used to keep this recipe as fresh as possible.
- The beans, white onions and garlic are cooked in salted butter.
- Lemon juice and cherry tomatoes add extra color and flavor pops in this recipe.
- Salt, black pepper and red pepper flakes season the beans.
- Don’t forget about the bacon! Cooked bacon gives the green beans some extra crunch with a salty flavor.
See below recipe card for exact measurements.
Substitutions and Variations
- For a healthier option, substitute some or all of the butter with Extra Virgin Olive Oil.
- Substitute the white onion with a sweet yellow onion.
- Adjust the amount of onion and garlic to your taste preferences. For more garlickly green beans, add extra garlic cloves!
- Substitute garlic cloves with garlic powder.
- Use bacon bits in place of fresh bacon. Or, eliminate the bacon all together to keep this a vegetarian side dish.
Step by Step Instructions
Step 1: Begin by blanching the green beans. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add green beans and cook for 2 minutes.
Step 2: Remove green beans from water and immediately transfer to a bowl of ice to stop the cooking process.
Step 3: Add butter to a large sauté pan over medium heat. When butter is melted, add green beans, white onions and garlic. Season with salt, pepper and red chili flakes. Cook for 5-10 minutes stirring often.
Step 4: Turn heat down to medium low. Add cherry tomatoes, lemon juice and chopped, crispy bacon. Stir together until tomatoes begin to wither about 2-3 minutes. Serve green beans warm with a little butter and lemon zest.
Storage
Refrigerate any leftover green beans in an airtight container. Green beans can be reheated in the microwave or on the stove top. Leftover green beans can also be used in a salad or a stir fry.
Top tip
Stay close to the green beans as they are cooking on the stove top. Cooking times can vary. Cook until the onions are soft and the green beans remain crunchy. Be sure to give the green beans a good stir throughout the cooking process.
FAQ
Take these steps in order to prepare green beans ahead of time:
1. Blanch green beans.
2. After the ice bath, dry green beans with paper towels and refrigerate.
3. Chop the onions, garlic and bacon. Store in refrigerator.
Follow the instructions beginning when at the sauté point. This is the best way to prepare the green beans ahead of time and is especially helpful when cooking for a crowd!
Blanching the green beans before sautéing allows the green beans to cook from the inside out. It makes the green beans crispy and is a great way to bring out the bright green color. Be sure to not skip on the ice bath after blanching. This stops the cooking process and keeps the green beans crunchy.
What is the difference between regular green beans and French green beans?
French green beans, also known as haricot verts, are thinner than regular green beans. These tender green beans are slightly more expensive than regular green beans.
Use leftover green beans in a green bean salad or a stir fry. These beans could also be added to a quiche for a healthy breakfast.
Related
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
Pairing
These are my favorite dishes to serve with green beans:
Easy and Fresh Green Beans Side Dish (for a crowd)
Equipment
- Large Pot
- Large Bowl
- Saute Pan
Ingredients
- 1 lbs Fresh Green Beans ends trimmed
- 2 tbsp Salted Butter
- 1/2 White Onion Sliced
- 2 Garlic Cloves Minced
- Salt and Black Pepper
- Red Pepper Flakes
- 1/2 Juiced Lemon
- 2 Slices of Bacon Cooked
- 1 cup Cherry Tomatoes Halved
- Ice Cubes for blanching
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a roaring boil.
- Add green beans and let boil for 2 minutes. Immediately, remove green beans and place green beans in iced water.
- Add butter to a sauté pan over medium heat. Add the onion, garlic and green beans. Season with salt and pepper. Cook for 5-10 minutes until the onions are soft.
- Add lemon juice, red pepper flakes and chopped bacon. Serve warm.
Morgan Perry says
This is the best weeknight veggie recipe! These green beans are guilt free and restaurant quality. I love making a big batch of these at a time to have leftovers throughout a busy week. They’re perfect to serve for a crowd or enjoy with a cozy meal at home.
Lynne Kenton says
Thank you for the review! I am so happy you enjoyed them 🙂