Sauteed Green Beans

These sauteed green beans are cooked in butter, garlic and an assortment of fresh and dried herbs. A ten minute side dish that pairs perfectly with roasted chicken, steak, pork chops and seafood.

I’m always on the hunt for super easy side dishes to go along with dinner. Some of my favorites include roasted root vegetables, garlic mashed potatoes and these fresh and colorful sauteed green beans.

I always have a bag of green beans in the fridge – they’re inexpensive, nutritious and can be flavored in some many different ways. These sauteed green beans are coated in a simple garlic butter sauce and are the perfect accompaniment for pretty much any meal.

HOW DO YOU PREPARE FRESH GREEN BEANS?

To get your green beans ready to cook, all you need to do is give them a good wash, then trim off the stem end. The fastest way to trim off the stem end is to line up a handful of green beans, then cut the stems off all at once. It makes prep time go a lot faster. Sometimes you can even purchase bags of cleaned green beans that have already been trimmed to save even more time.

How do you make sauteed green beans?

Melt the butter in a pan, then add the green beans. Cook the beans until they’re just tender. Stir in the garlic and seasonings, then cook the veggies for a few more minutes. Add a sprinkle of fresh parsley, then serve and enjoy.

Tips for the perfect side dish

• This recipe works with any fresh string beans, including traditional green beans, baby green beans (haricot vert), wax beans or romano beans. I used haricot vert green beans in these photos, which can be found in bags in the produce area of most grocery stores.
• You can use whole green beans or cut them into 1 inch pieces. The smaller pieces cook quicker but aren’t quite as elegant looking!
• To make this recipe vegan, use olive oil instead of butter.
• Add the garlic towards the very end of the cooking time so that it doesn’t burn.
• This recipe calls for dried Italian seasoning which is a blend of herbs such as oregano, parsley, and basil. It is available in the spice aisle of most grocery stores. Alternatively, you can substitute your favorite dried herbs in the same amount.

SAUTEED GREEN BEANS FLAVOR VARIATIONS

While I enjoy this recipe as-is, sometimes I add other ingredients that I happen to have in the house to spice things up a bit!

• Sun Dried Tomatoes: Add 1/3 cup chopped oil packed sun dried tomatoes after the green beans have cooked through.
• Mushrooms: Cook up 8 ounces of sliced mushrooms before you add the beans to the pan.
• Shallots: Substitute 1/4 cup minced shallots for the garlic.
• Olives: Add 1/3 cup sliced kalamata olives to the finished dish.
• Cheese: Sprinkle 1/4 cup feta or parmesan cheese over the green beans before serving.
• Pine Nuts: Add 1/4 cup toasted pine nuts right before serving.

Are green beans healthy?

Green beans are a healthy vegetable and are packed with nutrients including Vitamin A, C and K, potassium, iron, and calcium. Green beans are also low in calories, sodium and carbohydrates, and contain plenty of fiber.

I love that this dish is easy enough to whip up on a busy weeknight, yet looks elegant enough to serve to company. You can’t go wrong with these simple but satisfying flavors!

More easy side dishes

• Crock Pot Baked Beans
• Sweet Potato Fries
• Honey Roasted Carrots
• Sauteed Brussels Sprouts
• Candied Sweet Potatoes

Sauteed Green Beans Video