The Best Sauteed Green Beans
Sauteed green beans are crisp, fresh green beans seasoned and pan fried with butter, olive oil, and aromatics. This quick and easy veggie side dish is a healthy addition to any meal.
For more delicious vegetable side dish recipes, try my Easy Oven Roasted Broccoli with Bacon, Delicious Grilled Zucchini and Squash, and Roasted Balsamic Glazed Brussel Sprouts.
Sauteed green beans are coated with caramelized garlic and onions for a mouthwatering savory side dish. This flavorful dish is made easy on the stovetop so there is no need to heat up the stove. Once you know how to make sauteed green beans, you will always have a quick, healthy side dish to whip up in minutes to go with dinner!
Why you will love Sauteed Green Beans:
Quick and Easy! It takes just 15 minutes to cook fresh green beans.
So Versatile! Jazz up this simple side dish with a variety of spices, herbs, sauce, and veggies. I have some delicious additions!
Great for Big Meals! Whether it is a holiday, Sunday dinner, or a busy weeknight, sauteed string beans are a healthy side dish for a hearty meal.
Ingredients for Sauteed Green Beans Recipe
To make easy green beans, you will need the following ingredients:
- Fresh green beans: Clean and trim them before cooking.
- Butter: Use unsalted butter in order to control the sodium.
- Olive oil: Use this and the butter to cook the green beans.
- Aromatics: Chopped small onion and minced garlic cloves are sauteed until caramelized. You should definitely use fresh garlic here. It makes a delicious difference!
- Seasoning: I season simply with seasoned salt, garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper.
How to Sauté Fresh Green Beans
Saute Onions and Garlic
Add butter and olive oil to a large skillet over medium heat. Then add the chopped onion and sauté until softened and translucent. This should take about 3-5 minutes.
After that add fresh minced garlic and sauté for an additional 1-2 minutes until fragrant (be sure to stir continuously so the garlic does not burn).
Toss Green Beans
Then add clean green beans to the skillet with the onions and garlic. Toss to combine and cover the skillet and cook for about 7-10 minutes until the green beans are heated through. Make sure the green beans are coated in the garlic and onion mixture.
Once the green beans are tender and crisp, add the seasoning.
Steam Green Beans
Then remove the skillet from the heat and cover it. This allows the green beans to steam in their own heat for at least 5 minutes.
Serve
Finally, serve the garlic and onion sautéed green beans hot as a side dish with your favorite main course. Enjoy!
Tips and variations for Sauteed Green Beans
Asian Sauteed Green Beans. This is a popular variation of this recipe. Instead of butter and olive oil, use sesame oil. Add soy sauce, freshly grated ginger, and rice wine vinegar.
More Add-Ins. For extra flavor, consider adding one or more of the following: mushrooms, bacon, almond slivers, lemon juice, red pepper flakes, or shallots.
Blanched and sauteed Green Beans. Blanching is an optional step. After sautéeing green beans for 2-3 minutes, place them in ice-cold water. This softens the green beans and retains their bright green color.
FAQ
How long does it take to sauté green beans?
Fresh green beans take about 7-10 minutes to saute. Cook time varies based on the size and thickness of the green beans.
Do you have to boil green beans before sautéing them?
Nope! With this recipe, you will have perfectly tender green beans without boiling them beforehand.
Is it better to steam or sauté green beans?
That depends on the texture you prefer. For this green beans recipe, we simmer and then steam for the best results.
The green beans retain their color and light crispness. If you prefer firmer green beans, skip the steaming process.
What is the difference between string beans and green beans?
They are one and the same. String bean references the fibrous string that runs along the seam of green beans.
Can I make this recipe with frozen green beans or canned green beans?
I do not recommend sautéeing frozen or canned green beans. Both have too much moisture and will be soggy.
More delicious side dishes you’ll love
- Cajun Fried Corn on the Cob
- The Perfect Baked Microwave Sweet Potato
- Delicious Steakhouse Mashed Potatoes
Ingredients
- 1 pound Fresh green beans cleaned and trimmed
- 2 tablespoons Butter unsalted
- 1 tablespoons Olive oil
- 1 small onion chopped
- 3 cloves Garlic minced
- ½ tablespoon Seasoned salt
- 2 teaspoons Garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons Onion powder
- 1 teaspoon Black pepper
Instructions
- Heat the butter and olive oil in a large sauté pan over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and sauté until softened and translucent, about 3-5 minutes.
- Next, add the minced garlic and sauté for an additional 1-2 minutes until fragrant (stir continuously so the garlic does not burn.
- Add the green clean green beans to the skillet with the onions and garlic. Toss to combine and cover the skillet and cook for about 7-10 minutes until the green beans are heated through and coated in the garlic and onion mixture.
- Once the green beans are tender crisp, season them with the seasoned salt, garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper.
- Remove the skillet from the heat and cover it to allow the green beans to continue to steam in their own heat for at least 5 minutes.
- Serve the garlic and onion sautéed green beans hot as a side dish with your favorite main course. Enjoy!
