It doesn't get much easier than these delicious sauteed green beans, and they make a flavorful, healthy side dish! This simple recipe requires fresh green beans but there is no blanching required, and you will have perfectly tender-crisp green beans every time!
Sauteed green beans are a slam-dunk veggie side dish for any occasion!
Green beans are an American classic. We eat them in casseroles for holidays, roasted with a hearty beef or pork roast, and with garlic and bacon or cheddar.
Sauteed green beans are a fast and straightforward way to make your vegetables, and they’ll go well with anything you decide to make alongside them. This recipe highlights garlic and onion flavors alongside the fresh taste of the green beans. They’re impossible not to like.
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With just a few ingredients from your spice cabinet and some hot oil, you can have a savory side packed with all the healthy things we look for in vegetables. There’s no bacon, cheddar, or gravy. Just green beans and some seasoning.
It’s a light dish that goes well with a light lunch or balances out an indulgent steak dinner. There’s a reason this is one of my well-loved go-to's.
💭 Angela's Tips & Recipe Notes
Super Easy! There are only 3 steps to this supremely easy and tasty side dish!
It’s simple! Minimal ingredients allow the taste of the green beans to be the star!
Family-Friendly! This garlic green beans recipe is a favorite of all ages!
🥘 Ingredients
These are simple ingredients for a simple recipe. The flavor, however, is anything but.
- 1 ½ tablespoons Olive Oil (extra virgin) - EVOO not only provides fat to cook in, but it helps the seasonings stick.
- ¾ pound Green Beans - Make sure these are fresh, washed, and trimmed before you begin.
- ½ teaspoon Onion Powder - You can also use ½ tablespoon dried, minced onion.
- ½ teaspoon Garlic Powder - If desired, you can also try this with 1 clove of minced garlic, but be careful not to let it burn.
- ¼ teaspoon each, Salt & Pepper (to taste) - These staple spices are just what you need to highlight the green bean flavor.
*Be sure to see the recipe card below for ingredients, amounts & instructions!*
🔪 Step-By-Step Instructions
Get out a colander, a spatula, and a skillet for this recipe. There are only 3 quick and easy steps.
- Heating the skillet and oil. Start by heating 1 ½ tablespoons olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. When it begins to shimmer, add ¾ pound green beans and toss to coat.
- Season and saute. Sprinkle green beans with ½ teaspoon onion powder, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, and ¼ teaspoon each of salt and pepper. Stir and saute for another 5 to 10 minutes, or until green beans are as tender as you want them to be.
- Serve. Remove from heat and serve hot.
Green beans are good with nearly everything, but I especially love serving them with a bechamel pasta bake or beef stroganoff. For an extra pop of flavor, garnish with a bit of Parmesan or asiago cheese.
💭 Angela's Tips & Recipe Notes
- No need to blanche. This recipe was created for those who prefer not to blanche their green beans before cooking. It’s not necessary for sauteing. That said, if you prefer to do so, they will also turn out very tender.
- Add more flavor. Thyme, bacon, onions, lemon zest, feta, and pesto all make delicious additions to green beans. Pick 1 or 2 to highlight. Keep it simple for the best results.
- Want your green beans more tender? Cook these easy sauteed green beans for as long as you like. Serve once your desired level of tenderness has been reached.
- For extra buttery goodness, toss the green beans with a tablespoon or two of butter before removing from the heat and serving.
- Add more veggies. onion, peppers, or mushrooms can be sauteed with the green beans if desired.
🥡 Storing & Reheating
To store extras, use an airtight container. In the fridge, leftovers will be good for 3 to 5 days.
If you freeze any leftover green beans, do so in an airtight container. Thaw and eat them within 6 months.
Reheating Sauteed Green Beans
To reheat, transfer leftovers into a skillet and heat slowly over medium-low heat until the desired temperature. Note that sauteed green beans that have been frozen may reheat slightly softer than originally made.
🍽️ More Easy Side Dishes!
- Hawaiian Macaroni Salad
- Instant Pot Buttered Cabbage
- Microwave Baked Potato
- Succotash
- Cucumber Vinegar Salad
📋 Recipe
Sauteed Green Beans
Ingredients
- 1 ½ tablespoon olive oil
- ¾ lb green beans (fresh, trimmed)
- ½ teaspoon onion powder (or ½ tablespoon dried, minced onion)
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon each, salt & pepper (to taste)
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat, then add green beans and toss to coat with the oil.1 ½ tablespoon olive oil, ¾ lb green beans
- After adding the green beans, season them with onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Saute until the green beans reach your desired tenderness, usually about 5-10 minutes.½ teaspoon onion powder, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, ¼ teaspoon each, salt & pepper
- Remove from heat and serve immediately.
Notes
- No need to blanche. This recipe was created for those who prefer not to blanche their green beans before cooking. It’s not necessary for sauteing. That said, if you prefer to do so, they will also turn out very tender.
- Add more flavor. Thyme, bacon, onions, lemon zest, feta, and pesto all make delicious additions to green beans. Pick 1 or 2 to highlight. Keep it simple for the best results.
- Want your green beans more tender? Cook these easy sauteed green beans for as long as you like. Serve once your desired level of tenderness has been reached.
- For extra buttery goodness, toss the green beans with a tablespoon or two of butter before removing from the heat and serving.
- Add more veggies. onion, peppers, or mushrooms can be sauteed with the green beans if desired.
Nutrition
Angela is an at home chef that developed a passion for all things cooking and baking at a young age in her Grandma's kitchen. After many years in the food service industry, she now enjoys sharing all of her family favorite recipes and creating tasty dinner and amazing dessert recipes here at Bake It With Love!
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