Cook this Fresh Green Beans Recipe in just 2 minutes using a covered skillet and a little water. Finish with butter, kosher salt, and black pepper for a vibrant, tender-crisp side dish that pairs perfectly with almost any meal.
Stovetop green beans make an elegant side dish for holiday roast turkey dinners, yet they’re easy enough to serve with almost any weeknight meal.
Recipe Highlights: Fresh Green Beans Recipe
- Flavor: These green beans are fresh and mildly sweet with a slightly crunchy bite. They have a rich, buttery finish with peppery warmth.
- Skill Level: Very easy to make, even for beginner cooks. All you need is one skillet and just a few ingredients.
- Time-Saver: You can purchase washed and trimmed fresh green beans for very little prep.
- Prep Ahead: Wash and trim the beans early in the day or the day before, dry them well, and refrigerate until cooking time.
- Serving: Green beans make an excellent side dish with whole chicken, air fryer salmon, pork tenderloin, or beef kabobs.
Total Time: 12 Mins Servings: 4 Cooking Method: Stovetop
Ingredients
- Green Beans: Choose French, green, or yellow beans for this recipe. Fresh is best, but unlike most vegetables, green beans freeze and thaw really well. Add a few minutes to the cook time if boiling from frozen.
- Baking Soda: Have no fear, the baking soda can not be detected in the flavor, as long as you don’t use too much. But it does keep the beans bright green and slightly firm.
- Butter: Coats the green beans with rich flavor that pairs perfectly with their earthiness, while keeping the recipe uncomplicated.
- Salt and Pepper: All that is needed to make green beans shine. Sometimes, simple is best!
Variations
- Olive oil is a great substitute for butter.
- For a herbal finish, sprinkle the cooked beans with fresh parsley, basil, dill, or thyme.
- A squeeze of lemon juice, lime juice, or some finely grated zest adds a fresh and zesty touch.
- Scatter toasted sliced almonds over the beans just before serving.
- Top the hot green beans with a little freshly grated Parmesan for extra flavor.
- Stir minced or roasted garlic, or even garlic powder into the melted butter for savory, aromatic flavor.
How to Cook Green Beans
- Wash green beans and trim ends.
- Bring water to a boil and add beans. Sprinkle with baking soda.
- Cover and boil (full recipe below).
- Drain beans, add butter, and season.
Keep Leftovers Fresh
- Refrigerate cooled beans in a sealed container for up to 4 days.
- Warm green beans gently in a skillet or microwave until heated through.
- Add leftovers to salads, pasta, grain bowls, or sauté them with garlic and sprinkle with Parmesan and bacon bits for a whole new dish.
- Fresh green beans can be frozen raw in zippered bags for up to a year. I recommend blanching them first before freezing.
To Blanch Fresh Green Beans
- Once the green beans are drained, plunge them into ice-cold water to stop the cooking process.
- Pat them dry and freeze them in a single layer on a baking sheet (this keeps them from freezing to each other).
- Once frozen, transfer beans to a zippered bag for up to a year.
Easy Sides For Fresh Dinners
Did you make this Fresh Green Beans Recipe? Leave comment and rating below.
Fresh Green Beans Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4 cups green beans or 12 ounces
- 3 cups water more or less
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 Tablespoon butter
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt or to taste
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper or to taste
Instructions
- Wash beans and trim ends.
- To a skillet, add water, adding more or less to fill to about ½ inch deep. On high heat, bring water to a boil.
- Add beans, then quickly sprinkle with baking soda, cover, and boil for 2 minutes, turning the heat down slightly if it starts to boil over. Check beans for doneness, cooking until they reach the desired texture.
- Remove from heat and drain water (or use tongs to remove beans to a bowl).
- Add butter, salt, and pepper to taste and toss to coat. Serve immediately.
Notes
- Refrigerate leftovers for up to 4 days.
- Warm gently in a skillet, or microwave until heated through.
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information does not include optional ingredients or garnish and is an estimate. It may change based on actual ingredients and cooking methods used.
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