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A hand holding a plate of perfect sautéed green beans. Showing the crisp tender green beans on a plate with shaved parmesan cheese, some nuts, bits of garlic and lemon zest

Sautéed Green Beans

Sautéed Green Beans are one of the easiest and quickest side dishes to make, and it all comes out in one skillet. We love  buttery sautéed green beans with bits of garlic, some shaved parmesan cheese, toasted nuts and hints of lemon. You can flavor them endlessly, but use this essential guide to this classic and must try side dish. 
Course side, Side Dish
Cuisine Mediterranean
Keyword green beans, green beans recipe, how to saute green beans, Sautéed green beans
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 8 minutes
Servings 4 people
Calories 292 kcal
Author Mahy

Ingredients

  • 3 Tablespoons Butter unsalted
  • 2 Garlic cloves minced
  • 5 cups Green Beans fresh or frozen
  • 1 Tablespoon thyme leaves
  • 1/4 teaspoon Salt and pepper
  • 2 Tablespoons water
  • 1 lemon zest and 1 teaspoon juice
  • 2/4 cup pine nuts or almond toasted
  • pinch chilli flakes
  • 1/2 cup Parmesan

Instructions

  1. The first step to sautéing green beans is to bring a skillet that would fit them all. We use a sauce pan with lid, because you'll need the lid to cook them.
    A skillet with butter and garlic sautéing
  2. Over medium heat, you'll begin to cook the garlic in butter for just a couple of minutes until fragrant. You're not trying to make it golden, as it could turn bitter.
  3. Then you'll add in the green beans right over the garlic butter in your sauce pan. Give that a good toss until you feel the beans have started to soften. Season them.
    The green beans are added to the sauce pan over the butter and garlic and a wooden spoon is mixing them
  4. To fully cook the beans, you'll add in a few tablespoons of water. You don't want to add in too much, just 2 tablespoons initially which are enough to cook the beans all the way through.
    A hand pouring in such a few tablespoons of water over the green beans
  5. Now you'll put the lid on, and turn the heat on medium low. This way the beans will absorb the water very gradually and soften up for you perfectly.
    The lid is put on to cover the sauce pan so the green beans can cook well
  6. When ready, the beans should feel soft and tender, and no more liquid is in the pan. Feel free to taste and add more water if you like them extra tender.
  7. And now you have it. A perfect skillet of sautéed green beans that you can serve and dress and garnish endlessly.
    Uncovered skillet with the green beans cooked perfectly over medium low heat for a few minutes until tender
  8. To the same saucepan we add lemon zest and juice of 1 lemon, half the toasted nuts. We adjust the seasoning and then we plate the beans.
  9. Over the plate we garnish with parmesan shavings, more nuts and some chilli flakes.
    close up of a plate of perfectly sautéed green beans garnished with parmesan shavings, some lemon zest, chilli flakes and toasted nuts

Recipe Video

Recipe Notes

 

Tips For Perfect Sautéed Green Beans

  1. The beans are the hero ingredient here. Make sure you use good quality fresh or frozen beans. If frozen, organic and baby green beans are best, you don't need to thaw them. If fresh, baby beans are great. 
  2. Make sure the beans are all the same size especially if fresh, if not, trim them so they cook evenly.
  3. The butter base is optional, you can use olive oil, ghee or avocado oil for a neutral tasting dish.
  4. The trick to perfectly tender green beans is to add some liquid for cooking. You can use stock or water. 
  5. Never add too much liquid as then the beans will be soggy. Start with 2 tablespoons and then if needed add a teaspoon at a time. 
  6. The ideal way for beans to cook well is to cook on medium low to low heat. This way they absorb the liquid well and cook all the way through.
  7. You can add more liquid if you prefer a softer texture, but do so gradually. 
  8. It's ready when the softness is up to your liking and you can then flavor it endlessly. 

Variations on Sautéed Green Beans

This is the BEST part. We have made this recipe as we had it n Europe years and years ago. We fell in love for its' simplicity, brightness and flavor profile. After all we are from the Mediterranean so it felt like home. However we have made it with a few variations and have LOVED it!

  • Asian: Add in some ginger with the garlic, and toss in some soy sauce and sweet chilli sauce. Finish off with sesame seeds and green beans. SO GOOD.
  • Sweet and Spicy. Finish off with extra butter and our Hot Honey Recipe.
  • Summer Greek: Toss in our Greek Salad Dressing when the beans have cooked and let is absorb the flavors. This is a summer favorite and a BBQ side dish you can't miss!
  • Cheesy: Finish off with a heaping amount of cheddar cheese and let it melt with the heat of the beans. 
  • Chili- Toss in some Chili Oil Recipe, or toss the beans in this Chili Lime Shrimp to soak up some sauce!
  • Cold salad tossed in some Garlic Parmesan Sauce when cooled down. 
  • Dressed up in our hit Dill Sauce with some feta crumbles. 

How to Serve Sautéed Green Beans

This is a great dish on its own. Seriously satisfying, hearty, nutritious and delicious. It also makes the perfect side dish to any type of protein.

Great with seafood like Butter Poached Lobster, Halibut, Chilean Sea Bass, Baked Cod Recipe and more.
Great with a piece of Ribeye Steak or Best NY Strip Steak along with some of our Best Mashed Potatoes Recipe.
Perfect with Turkey Tenderloin Recipe, Hot Honey Chicken, Chicken Scallopini, Chicken Caprese and more!

How to Make in Advance, Store Leftovers and reheat?

Since this is a relatively quick recipe, we prefer making it right away. However you can prepare it in advance, and once cooked in the saucepan, don’t dress it up. Simply place it n the fridge in a sealed container for up to 3 days. When ready to serve, reheat the green beans in the same sauce pan over low heat and garnish then. 

Leftovers are stored in the fridge for 3 days. To reheat, you can microwave them in a plate. We don't recommend freezing the cooked green beans as they become watery. 

Nutrition Facts
Sautéed Green Beans
Amount Per Serving
Calories 292 Calories from Fat 216
% Daily Value*
Fat 24g37%
Saturated Fat 8g50%
Trans Fat 0.3g
Polyunsaturated Fat 6g
Monounsaturated Fat 6g
Cholesterol 31mg10%
Sodium 423mg18%
Potassium 459mg13%
Carbohydrates 16g5%
Fiber 5g21%
Sugar 6g7%
Protein 10g20%
Vitamin A 1403IU28%
Vitamin C 34mg41%
Calcium 221mg22%
Iron 3mg17%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.