10-Minute Sautéed Green Beans
Sautéed greens beans are a classic veggie side. They are a healthy addition to any meal and quick to make in just 10 minutes! This is my tried-and-true method for flavorful crisp green beans that is always a crowd pleaser.
Veggie-loading a meal can be as simple as adding a great veggie side to the table! These easy sautéed greens beans are the perfect thing to throw together on a busy night since they take minutes to make! Loaded with flavor and great textures, your meal will be made just a little better then you add these sautéed green beans to the menu!
This recipe is…
Vegetarian, vegan, plant-based, dairy-free, Whole30, Paleo, and gluten-free.
Chef’s tips and tricks
- Don’t overcook them! Nothing is worse than a mushy, overcooked green bean. Crisp and slightly tender beans is the goal. To achieve this, taste a bean or two during the cooking process. If it is too crispy for you, keep cooking, testing another green bean in a minute or two. Stop when your desired texture is reached.
- Pull them from heat as soon as they are done cooking. Again, basically the only thing that can go wrong with this green bean recipe is overcooking. Even when you have turned the heat off on your stove, the burner and skillet will remain hot…continuing to cook the beans. And then your perfect sautéed green beans run the risk of going dark and mush. So, be sure to not only turn off the heat but use tongs remove the green beans from the hot skillet right away to keep those perfect green beans crisp and delish.
- Add additional seasonings to make these sautéed green beans fit your personal taste. This recipe is flavorful and simple, but don’t be afraid to put your own twist on these veggies! See some tried-and-true seasoning pairings for green beans below.
Seasoning suggestions for green beans
This sautéed green bean recipe is simple and minimal for a reason: green beans need very little oomph to make them fantastic. But a little pizzazz is always welcome and these are some amazing things you could add to your green beans to make them extra exciting to sit down to at dinner time.
- Bacon– cooked and chopped up sprinkled over the top *drool*
- Basil– Fresh, finely chopped and sprinkled over the top right before serving
- Butter– I mean, butter makes everything taste better…green beans included.
- Cheese– basically any kind you have on hand but Parmesan cheese is especially yum on top of sautéed green beans.
- Ginger– a little fresh ginger grated over these beans will totally level up the flavor for you ginger lovers!
- Lemon– zest, juice or both!
- Onions– sauté some up to serve with the green beans or get extra fancy and caramelize some onions to top this recipe with.
- Parsley– chop and sprinkle over the top before serving
- Vinegar– any kind carefully splashed over these green beans once cooked will add a lovely dimension of flavor.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use frozen green beans?
You can, but here are a few tips.
- Thaw then first and drain off the extra water before cooking.
- Know the texture won’t be the same as fresh. Sautéed frozen green beans are good, but they do have a very different texture than fresh. So just know to expect that.
- Use long frozen green beans over cut green beans. They just do better!
How can I store leftover sautéed green beans?
Sautéed green beans are best when enjoyed shortly after cooking. However, if you have leftovers, you can store them for future meals. Let them cool complete and then store in an air tight container in the fridge for about 3 days. The color of the beans might change after be stored, but they will still be delicious!
Other easy veggie sides to add to the dinner table
- Easy Sautéed Asparagus
- Instant Pot Broccoli
- Roasted Cauliflower
- Baked Potatoes in the Instant Pot
- Easy Roasted Radishes
Loving this green recipe and now you’re hungry for more?
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10-Minute Sautéed Green Beans
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil, or butter
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 pound fresh green beans
- 1/4 cup water or broth
- 1/4 teaspoon salt, or to taste
Instructions
- Wash and trim the green beans.
- In a large skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Once hot, add the garlic and saute for 30 seconds. Stir constantly to prevent burning.
- Once the garlic has been cooked, add green beans and water/broth to the skillet and cover. Increase the heat to medium-high and bring to a simmer. Cook green beans for about 5 minutes or until they are bright green and slightly tender.
- Remove lid and continue to cook bean for about 2 more minutes or until water/broth has cooked off.
- Season with salt, tossing to coat the beans. Taste and add more salt if desired.
- Remove from heat immediately and enjoy warm.