Sauteed Green Beans

Sauteed green beans are a simple side dish, but the cooking method is not always as simple as it could be. The first recipe I came across for these called for blanching the beans first, which means waiting at least 10 minutes for a pot of water to come to a boil before you can really get started.

As an impatient person, that method is not for me.

Instead, these sauteed green beans are cooked in about 10 minutes, using only one pan, and the seasoning is utterly irresistible. I look forward to you trying it this way!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Featured Review

“Megan, thank you for this recipe! It is the only way I can get my kids to eat green beans without a bunch of complaining! It’s amazing that such a simple recipe can taste so good.” – Christine

Ingredients You’ll Need

• Green Beans. I use fresh green beans for this recipe and you can cook 12 to 16 ounces at a time in a large pan. If you prefer to use frozen green beans, I have also tested this method with them. (See the FAQ section below.)
• Olive Oil. A drizzle of olive oil helps prevent sticking as these cook. (Any other oil will work, too.)
• Garlic. Freshly minced garlic is sauteed briefly, then cooked with the beans to add flavor. You could likely use garlic powder as a swap, if needed, though.
• Salt. This is the primary seasoning for this side dish, so be sure to add more if you think the green beans taste bland.

How to Sauté Green Beans

Step 1:

Start by washing and drying the green beans, if needed. 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.

This is makes them easier to eat in one bite. 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 this way, too.

Step 2:

Heat a large skillet (with a lid) over medium-high heat. Let the skillet preheat for a minute or two so the surface is hot when you begin. Then add a drizzle of olive oil and the garlic. Stir the garlic for 1 minute, or until it smells fragrant. (You don’t want it to burn.)

Immediately add the water to stop the garlic from cooking. You may sea the water start to steam right away, which is a good thing.

Step 3:

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

This amount of cooking time usually leaves you with beans that are easy to bite into, without being mushy. If you prefer crunchier beans, you may want to only leave the lid on for 3 minutes, instead.

When the timer goes off, remove the lid and continue stirring over the heat until the water evaporates. This should take 3 to 5 more minutes. It’s ideal if the bottom of the pan develops a bit of “fond,” a brown layer that can form during cooking. If you see brown on your pan, add a splash of water and stir again. The green beans and garlic will pick up that brown coating and develop an amazing flavor from it.

Serving Tips

Taste the beans and season with extra salt, if needed. Then serve these right away for the best flavor and temperature. (Although they are delicious as they cool, too.) I usually can’t stop eating these directly from the pan, so we are lucky when there are enough left by the time it comes to serving them.

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

Sauteed Green Beans (Easiest Ever!)

5 from 13 votes

Sauteed green beans might not sound like an "exciting" side dish, but once you taste this version, I think you'll be excited. Unlike other recipes, you don't need to blanch the beans before getting started. Instead, they cook all in one pan and are ready to eat in no time, with a simple but flavorful seasoning.

prep10 mins cook7 mins total17 mins

Servings:4

PrintSaveSavedRate

Ingredients

 

US CustomaryMetric

 

1x2x3x

• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 cloves garlic , minced (or more to taste)
• 12 ounces fresh green beans , cut into 1-inch pieces
• ½ teaspoon fine sea salt
• ¼ cup water

Instructions

• Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat, and saute the garlic until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add ¼ cup of water to stop the garlic from cooking; steam should fill the pan.
• 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.
• 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.

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

Get your FREE 7-Day Kick Start!

Sign up for my weekly email newsletter and receive a 7-day kick-start guide. You’ll get meal ideas & new recipes in your inbox every week! (You can unsubscribe at any time.)

Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.

Email *

Subscribe

More Side Dish Recipes to Try

• Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes (easiest ever)
• Apple Walnut Salad
• Mushroom Quinoa Risotto
• Roasted Sweet Potatoes
• Fresh Cranberry Relish

If you try these sauteed green beans, please leave a comment and star rating below to let me know how you like them. I appreciate your feedback!