Easy Green Beans is one of my absolute favorite side dishes! They’re easy to make and so good that my kids actually eat them… Crazy, right?! All you need is garlic, butter, and a little salt and pepper to dress up these simple veggies.

GREEN BEANS RECIPE

Easy Green Beans

Easy Green Beans are a quick and easy side dish that I whip up all the time! Big family dinners like Christmas Eve and Thanksgiving are usually a little less stressful when I make this recipe. I also love making a big batch of Easy Green Beans on a weeknight when I want something on my plate that’s nutritious, delicious, and fast.

While I love different seasonings and flavorful additions to dress veggies up with, sometimes, it’s nice to stick with simplicity. The natural flavor of green beans is already delicious, so I like to compliment it with garlic, butter, and just a pinch of salt and black pepper. As per usual, I’ve added what I think is plenty of garlic and butter, but feel free to measure those with your heart!

One of my biggest pet peeves when making green beans is overcooking them. When they’re soggy and limp, they just don’t hit the spot. That’s why I blanch the green beans first before cooking them in the melted garlic butter! Blanching the green beans helps them stay vibrant and green, crisp, and still perfectly tender. Trust me, with this easy method, you’ll have perfect green beans every time!

The Best Green Beans Recipe

If you’re in a rush, this is the green beans recipe for you! With just ten minutes of prep and 15 minutes of cook time, you’ll have these perfect veggies on the table in under half an hour.

How to make green beans

Ingredients for Easy Green Beans

You only need these four inexpensive ingredients to make this tried and true recipe.

  • GREEN BEANS – 2 pound fresh green beans, trimmed and cut in half
  • BUTTER – 8 Tablespoons butter
  • GARLIC – 2 Tablespoons minced garlic
  • SEASONINGS – Salt and pepper to taste
how to make fresh green beans with garlic

How to Make Easy Green Beans

After following these hassle free steps that always yield the best green beans, you’ll never cook them another way again!

BLANCH THE GREEN BEANS. Place green beans into a large skillet and cover with water. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until beans start to soften, about 5 minutes. Drain water and green beans. Leave the green beans in the strainer.

green beans with butter and garlic

MAKE THE GARLIC BUTTER. Add butter and garlic to the skillet. Cook and stir until butter is melted, about 4-6 minutes.

green beans

SAUTÉ THE GREEN BEANS. Add the green beans back to the skillet and stir them into the butter mixture until fully coated. 

ENJOY! Sprinkle it with salt and pepper to taste. Serve immediately.

garlic green beans

Tips for the Best Green Beans

  • Don’t skip the blanching step! Is it absolutely necessary to blanch green beans? No. However, doing so will ensure that your green beans are cooked to perfection and not limp and soggy.
  • Try to use a good quality butter, so you’ll actually get that nice buttery taste. If you use margarine or another fake butter, the flavor won’t be nearly as good.
  • DO NOT use canned or frozen green beans! This method of preparation (the blanching and sautéing) requires fresh green beans.

Serving Suggestions

Here are just a few of my favorite entrees to plate with Easy Green Beans.

garlic butter green beans
Make sure you eat all your veggies the right way – by making them the most delicious they can be! Life’s too short to eat bland vegetables, which is why I love recipes like Air Fryer Asparagus, Instant Pot Brown Sugar Glazed Carrots, and Crispy Ranch Zucchini Fries!

 

EASY GREEN BEANS RECIPE
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Servings: 8 servings

Easy Green Beans

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Easy Green Beans is one of my absolute favorite side dishes! They’re easy to make and so good that my kids actually eat them… Crazy, right?! All you need is garlic, butter, and a little salt and pepper to dress up these simple veggies.
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Ingredients

  • 2 pound fresh green beans, trimmed and cut in half
  • 8 Tablespoons butter
  • 2 Tablespoons minced garlic
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions
 

  • Place green beans into a large skillet and cover with water. Bring to a boil. 
  • Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until beans start to soften, about 5 minutes. Drain water and green beans. Leave the green beans in the strainer.
  • Add butter and garlic to the skillet. Cook and stir until butter is melted, about 4-6 minutes.
  • Add green beans back to the skillet and stir them into the butter mixture until fully coated. 
  • Sprinkle it with salt and pepper to taste. Serve immediately.

Notes

  • Don’t skip the blanching step! Is it absolutely necessary to blanch green beans? No. However, doing so will ensure that your green beans are cooked to perfection and not limp and soggy.
  • Try to use a good quality butter, so you’ll actually get that nice buttery taste. If you use margarine or another fake butter, the flavor won’t be nearly as good.
  • DO NOT use canned or frozen green beans! This method of preparation (the blanching and sautéing) requires fresh green beans.
Calories: 139kcal, Carbohydrates: 9g, Protein: 2g, Fat: 12g, Saturated Fat: 7g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 3g, Trans Fat: 0.5g, Cholesterol: 30mg, Sodium: 97mg, Potassium: 251mg, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 4g, Vitamin A: 1132IU, Vitamin C: 14mg, Calcium: 49mg, Iron: 1mg
Cuisine: American
Course: Side Dish
Author: Jennifer
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