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Home Recipe Index Sides & Salads Vegetables

Garlicky Green Beans

★★★★★ 5 /5
Jump to Recipe Rate Recipe
Polly Conner
By: Polly ConnerPosted: 3/16/23Updated: 10/30/23

This post may contain affiliate or sponsored links. Please read our disclosure policy.

These crisp-tender Garlic Green Beans are perfectly browned and then tossed in a buttery, garlic sauce at the end that will have you crawling back for more. They are easy to make and done in 15 minutes.

Garlic Green Beans served on a white plate with bacon pieces sprinkled on top.

 

“A quick, easy way to make green beans that everyone loves!” ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ – Carla

Table of Contents
  • Reasons You’ll Love this Recipe
  • Ingredients Needed
  • How to Make Garlic Green Beans
  • My Favorite Sauté Pan
  • Add-Ins & Variations
  • Recipes that Pair with Garlic Green Beans
  • Recipe: Garlic Green Beans
  • More Easy Veggie Side Dish Ideas

Reasons You’ll Love this Recipe

  • It’s fast. Garlic Green Beans are done from start to finish in less than 15 minutes. This makes them a perfect side dish for busy weeknights.
  • It’s easy. After trimming the green beans, you’ll only be working with one pan. It’s a simpler version of our Skillet Green Beans.
  • All ages like garlic green beans. The flavor is simple enough for younger eaters to not be offended by but flavorful enough for the seasoned eater to enjoy.
  • Green beans are so healthy for you! “This 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.” – Source
Garlic green beans with bacon sprinkled on top ready to be served.

Ingredients Needed

The ingredients you need are incredibly simple:

  1. Green Beans – Fresh green beans are necessary for this recipe. Canned or frozen won’t work.
  2. Garlic – To save time, I almost always buy pre-minced garlic. I can’t tell the difference.
  3. Butter – This is for the sauce at the end.
  4. Salt & Pepper
Garlicky Green Bean ingredients measured in bowls and labeled.

How to Make Garlic Green Beans

Trim the Green Beans

To make trimming green beans quick and easy, line up several green beans on a cutting board. Slice the tough ends off. Flip them around and do the same thing on the other end of the beans.

Fresh green beans lined up on a cutting board with a knife next to them.
Fresh green beans lined up on a cutting board with a knife cutting off the tips.

Sauté the Green Beans

Preheat oil in a large pan. It should be hot but not smoking. Add the green beans to the pan and give them a toss so the oil covers them. Lightly salt and pepper them and sauté the beans for about 4-5 minutes, until they start to get a little brown.

A ceramic saute pan with oil drizzled in it.
Fresh green beans with tips trimmed off added to saute pan heated with oil.

Steam the Green Beans

Add a little water to the skillet and cover it with a lid. You will want the green beans to steam for about 2 minutes. Remove the lid and let the rest of the water evaporate.

Sauteed green beans in a blue ceramic saute pan with a lid about to be put on top.
Green beans that have been sauteed and steamed in a blue ceramic pan.

Add the Butter and Garlic

Stir in the butter, garlic, and a little more salt. Toss the beans in the sauce for about 1 minute. The garlic will start to become fragrant but should not be getting too brown.

Remove from heat.

Butter and garlic added to sauteed green beans in ceramic pan.
caraway saute pan

My Favorite Sauté Pan

For this recipe (and many others like it) I use my Caraway Sauté Pan. It has a non-toxic ceramic-coated interior and has a durable non-stick surface. Plus it’s super pretty!

Lean More

Serve and Enjoy!

Garlic Green Beans like to be eaten right away. Don’t wait too long or they will begin to shrivel up a bit. I tossed mine with some bacon bits but this is totally optional. Serve alongside our Oven Roasted Turkey Breast or Savory Chicken for a delicious meal!

Garlic green beans on a white serving platter with bacon sprinkled on top.
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Add-Ins & Variations

Because this recipe is so basic, there are lots of ways to mix it up. Here are some ideas:

  • Bacon: Top the beans with some cooked and crumbled bacon. Here is a bacon-cooking hack you must use!
  • Lemon: Add some fresh lemon juice or a touch of lemon zest over the green beans.
  • Parmesan cheese: Sprinkle freshly grated Parmesan cheese over beans.
  • Almonds: Sprinkle some toasted almonds over the top. This adds some amazing texture and flavor.
  • Add a touch of soy sauce: This adds depth to the flavor.
  • Maple syrup: Add just a touch at the end of cooking for a delicious combo of sweet & savory. This is especially good if you are adding bacon!
Garlic green beans on a small plate with crumbled bacon on top.

Recipes that Pair with Garlic Green Beans

spiral sliced crockpot ham slices on a platter with pineapple sauce on the side

Crockpot Ham

4-Ingredient Gourmet Grilled Cheese

pan seared pork chop on a white plate with mashed potatoes and broccoli

Easy Pan Seared Pork Chops

baked cheese tortellini in glass dish

4-Ingredient Baked Tortellini

Did you make this? Snap a photo and tag us on Instagram at @thrivinghome so we can see your creations and cheer you on!

Garlic Green Beans on a white serving platter with bacon crumbled on top.
★★★★★ 5 from 3 reviews

Garlic Green Beans

This will become a go-to side dish. It is easy to make and done in 15 minutes. The green beans are perfectly browned and then tossed in a buttery, garlic sauce at the end that will have you crawling back for more.

Yield: 4 servings 1x
Prep: 5 minutesCook: 7 minutesTotal: 12 minutes
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Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil or avocado oil
  • 1 pound green beans, trimmed
  • Salt and pepper
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
  • 2–3 garlic cloves, minced
  • Optional garnish: crumbled, cooked bacon

Before You Begin! If you make this, please leave a review and rating letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business thrive & continue providing free recipes.

Instructions

  1. In a large skillet, heat oil over medium heat until shimmery. 
  2. Add the green beans in and lightly season with salt and pepper. Sauté the green beans for about 4 minutes, until you start to see some browning.
  3. Add water to skillet and cover with a lid. Let steam for about 2 minutes until the green beans are bright green. 
  4. Remove the lid and once water has fully evaporated, add in the butter, garlic, and 1/4 teaspoon salt (note: use a little less salt, if using salted butter). Stir the green beans around for about 1 minute, until garlic starts to become fragrant.
  5. Remove from heat. Taste and adjust seasoning. Serve warm. 
© Author: Polly Conner
Cuisine: American Method: Stirfry

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More Easy Veggie Side Dish Ideas

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Maple Glazed Carrots

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Oven Roasted Asparagus

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Microwave Corn on the Cob

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Polly Conner

Polly Conner

As co-founder of Thriving Home, Polly’s passionate about helping busy parents get dinner on the table. With a house full of kids, dogs, and (usually) a DIY project in the works, she knows firsthand how every minute (and every dollar) counts. As a business owner, she enjoys wearing multiple hats and serves best as a project manager for Thriving Home.

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Recipe rating ★ 5 Stars ☆ ★ 4 Stars ☆ ★ 3 Stars ☆ ★ 2 Stars ☆ ★ 1 Star ☆

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  1. AvatarKishia says

    Posted on 8/13/23 at 8:46 pm

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  2. AvatarSandy says

    Posted on 4/2/23 at 10:31 am

    Going to make for passover dinner, without bacon, but I think it will be delicious addition to meal. Thanks

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Carla from Thriving HomeCarla from Thriving Home says

      Posted on 4/3/23 at 11:35 am

      I think it will be a delicious addition to your meal as well Sandy! 🙂 Glad you found it.

      Reply
  3. AvatarCarla says

    Posted on 2/14/23 at 12:12 pm

    Quick, easy way to make green beans that everyone loves!

    ★★★★★

    Reply

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