Sauteed Green Beans (Addictive!) (2024)

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Sauteed green beans are a deceptively simple side dish, but this version is addictive! Today I’m going to show you how to cook green beans so they are perfectly tender and flavorful every time.

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Benefits of Green Beans

If you’re not already a big fan of green beans, here’s more reason to love them:

What can you add to green beans for flavor? In this simple recipe, you’ll use fresh garlic, olive oil, and salt. It sounds simple, but it tastes unbelievably good.

Should You Steam Green Beans Before Sauteing?

No, you don’t need to blanch or steam green beans before sauteing them. They will become perfectly tender and bright green using this sauté method, and they’re ready to eat in just about 10 minutes!

How to Cut Them

Most stores will sell bags of “trimmed” green beans, but I usually like to trim those edges again, to avoid any dry-looking edges. I also recommend cutting the green beans into smaller, more bite-sized pieces, about 1- to 1 1/2-inches long.

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Longer green beans are pretty, but they are definitely more awkward to eat. I think your dinner guests will appreciate the bite-sized pieces, and they’ll cook faster, too.

How to Saute Green Beans

To saute green beans, heat a tablespoon of olive oil in a skillet over medium heat, and add in 2-3 minced garlic cloves. Stir those for 1-2 minutes, just until they smell fragrant.

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Pour in 1/4 cup of water to stop the garlic from cooking. It will most likely steam up your pan, which is a good thing!

Add in the green beans, a 1/2 teaspoon of salt, and stir briefly. Cover the pan and let the green beans cook until fork tender, about 5 minutes.

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If you want your green beans to still have some crunch to them, you might only want to cover the pan for 3 minutes. I like my green beans to be very tender, without being mushy.

The 5-minute mark is usually the sweet-spot for me, but this can vary based on how hot your stove top runs. If the green beans aren’t tender after 5 minutes, just keep stirring and you can cover again until they are to your liking. This shouldn’t take more than 10 minutes total.

How to Cook Frozen Green Beans

When you use frozen green beans, you’ll skip the cutting process and save time. You’ll cook these just like fresh, starting with the sauteed garlic, but you’ll add less water. I like to start with just 1 tablespoon, and add more, if needed.

The frozen beans will release water as they thaw in the pan, and should be tender in about 5 minutes, just like the fresh version. Be sure to check on them as they cook, so they don’t get too mushy.

How to Serve Them

Since this is such a fast side dish, you’ll want the rest of your meal ready to go when these are done. I like to serve them at Thanksgiving instead of green bean casserole, because they are so flavorful!

If you’d like to serve these at a holiday meal, like Thanksgiving, try placing them in a slow cooker on a warm setting to keep them warm longer. (You can add a 1/4 cup of water at the bottom, if you’d like to help keep them moist.)

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Sauteed Green Beans (Addictive!)

5 from 13 votes

Sauteed green beans are the best side dish! All you need is 4 ingredients to make them, and they cook in 10 minutes or less. The flavor is addictive!

prep10 mins cook7 mins total17 mins

Servings:4

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Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
  • 2 cloves garlic , minced (or more to taste)
  • 12 ounces fresh or frozen green beans , cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
  • 1/4 cup water

Instructions

  • Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat, and saute the garlic until fragrant, about 1 to 2 minutes.

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  • Add in 1/4 cup of water to stop the garlic from cooking; steam should fill the pan.

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  • Add in the green beans and salt, and toss briefly. Cover the pan with a lid and cook until the green beans are fork-tender, about 5 minutes. If you'd like the beans to have some crunch, check on them after 3 minutes instead.

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  • Remove the lid, and continue to stir the beans until all of the water has evaporated. Adjust any seasoning to taste, adding more salt or black pepper, if desired, then serve warm right away. Leftover green beans can be stored in the fridge for up to 5 days, and you can reheat them in a skillet to quickly warm them up again.

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Video

Notes

Nutrition information is for 1 of 4 servings, and is just an estimate, not a guarantee.

The seasoning here is really simple and so delicious, so I hope you'll try it as written. However, I think these are also delicious with a teaspoon of toasted sesame oil added in at the end of cooking, and tossing the beans with sesame seeds.

Nutrition

Calories: 60kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 297mg | Potassium: 179mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 587IU | Vitamin C: 11mg | Calcium: 34mg | Iron: 1mg

Author: Megan Gilmore

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: vegan

Keyword: sauteed green beans

If you try these sauteed green beans, please leave a comment below letting me know how you like them. And if you make any modifications, I’d love to hear about those, too! We can all benefit from your experience.

Reader Feedback: What’s your favorite vegetable side dish? The ones I tend to make most often are Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes and my favorite holiday salad.

Sauteed Green Beans (Addictive!) (11)

Megan Gilmore

Hi, I’m Megan. A former fast food junkie turned best-selling cookbook author. I create healthy recipes made with simple ingredients to make your life easier.

Read More

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Sauteed Green Beans (Addictive!) (2024)

FAQs

What are the effects of eating too much green beans? ›

Lectins are proteins present in green beans that help bind carbohydrates. Lectins cause digestive problems such as nausea, vomiting, bloating, and diarrhea. Cooking beans neutralizes the lectin, making them safe to eat, improves taste, and increases antioxidant levels.

What are the benefits of sauteed green beans? ›

The vegetable helps fight inflammation and is a good source of folate and potassium, which helps regulate blood pressure. Green beans also are a good source of protein and fiber, which helps lower cholesterol, Vadiveloo said. "Fiber is underconsumed by U.S. adults and children, and it's good for gut health," she said.

Are green beans good for mental health? ›

Green beans are high in vitamin K, and they also contain a decent amount of calcium. These nutrients are important for maintaining strong, healthy bones and reducing your risk of fractures. Getting enough folate isn't just important during pregnancy. The B vitamin is also important for reducing depression.

Do green beans detox your body? ›

Like all beans, green beans are loaded with phytonutrients, which may decrease the risk of heart disease and cancer by lowering cholesterol and detoxifying harmful metabolites.

When should you not eat green beans? ›

Fresh green beans in good condition will feel firm and should snap apart when bent. Older green beans that feel limp and have started to develop a slimy texture are no longer safe to eat. If you see any fuzzy mold on them, they are definitely too bad to eat.

Why do I like green beans so much? ›

Green beans are a rich source of vitamins and minerals that are essential for maintaining good health. They are particularly high in vitamins A, C, and K. These vitamins play crucial roles in supporting immune function, promoting healthy skin, and aiding blood clotting, respectively.

Why do I crave green beans? ›

Here are some reasons why your body might be signaling a need for green beans: Nutrient Deficiencies: If your body is lacking in certain nutrients that green beans provide, such as fiber or potassium, it might trigger a craving for them. Hormonal Fluctuations: Hormones play a significant role in hunger and cravings.

Are green beans a superfood? ›

Green beans — which can also be yellow or purple — are high in vitamins, minerals and fiber. They might seem like an average vegetable, but their nutritional content is exceptional.

Which is healthier green beans or broccoli? ›

Broccoli is a great source of Vitamin K and calcium. Green bean has more alpha-carotene than broccoli, however, broccoli contains more lutein + zeaxanthin than green bean. Both green bean and broccoli are high in Vitamin C, dietary fiber and potassium.

Do green beans stop cravings? ›

If you are craving sugar, try consuming green beans. It may appear random, but green beans have been demonstrated to almost immediately suppress sugar cravings. A specific phytochemical compound in green beans is responsible for this phenomenon.

Do green beans help you sleep? ›

Eat foods rich in sleep-promoting nutrients.

And magnesium-rich foods, like spinach, yogurt, nuts, beans, peas, and lentils, “may help enhance sleep,” Moore says, particularly if you're not meeting the required amount of hours. You might have heard of melatonin in supplement form.

What is the number one food for your brain? ›

Across the board, experts agree that eating leafy greens is essential for overall health, especially for your brain. Some of the green leafy vegetables that you can add to your meals are: Kale.

What happens if you eat a lot of green beans? ›

Yet, if you eat them, lectins are resistant to digestive enzymes. Thus, they bind to the surface of cells in your digestive system, causing symptoms like nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, and bloating if consumed in high amounts ( 2 ).

Are green beans a laxative? ›

Beans. Beans contain a fibre-like starch that can increase your stool's transit time in the colon. Aside from its mild laxative effect, they also help balance the good and bad bacteria in your gut.

What are the symptoms of eating too much beans? ›

The most common side effects of eating beans are gas and intestinal discomfort. These are not dangerous but can be unpleasant and even painful for some people. When a person adds beans to their diet, they should increase the amount gradually to give their gut time to adjust.

Are green beans hard on your digestive system? ›

Aid digestion

Green beans contain plenty of fiber, the indigestible part of plant foods. This nutrient is key to keeping your digestion moving as it should. “Fiber helps soften stool, making it easier to pass,” says Whitson.

What will happen to my body if I eat beans everyday? ›

In conclusion, beans are a versatile and incredibly nutritious food that can benefit both your body and mind. Regular consumption of beans has been linked to a reduced risk of obesity, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer, while also aiding in controlling blood sugar levels and promoting digestive health.

What are the effects of eating too much green vegetables? ›

Gas and vegetable bloating are the most common side effects of eating too many vegetables. Certain fibrous vegetables, especially those high in FODMAPs (fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols), can contribute to bloating and digestive discomfort in individuals with poor gut health.

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