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Home Veg and Salad Sides Green Bean recipes

Sautéed Green Beans with Garlic

By:Nagi
Published:6 Oct '21Updated:18 Dec '22
93 Comments
Recipe v Dozer v

Sautéed Green Beans with crispy bits of garlic is an easy, classic preparation for a green beans side dish. Though not the most explosively exciting recipe on my website, it’s a life essential recipe that will serve you well for the rest of your days!

I serve this as a side with all cuisines. Yes, even Asian food – read on!

Garlic Sautéed Green Beans on a plate ready to be served

Sautéed Green Beans with Garlic

I have a surprising number of recipes starring green beans on this website. From sides to mains (Sichuan Green Beans with Pork, anyone??), it turns out that green beans may just be my favourite vegetable. Second perhaps only to potato which, as my mother would quickly point out, doesn’t have great nutritional value and thus qualify as a vegetable whose vast intake you ought to boast about.

Saying I love green beans on the other hand does make me feel somewhat virtuous.

Having said that, to date all the green bean-centric recipes have been things I classify as interesting or just plain fabulous (pretty sure there’s been an excessive use of both these words in all these recipes). Like Ottolenghi’s herb loaded Green Bean Salad. Or a luxe Green Bean Casserole. And this Green Bean Salad with a Creamy Avocado Dressing.

All worthy dishes, but they’re either a wee bit on the rich side and/or are a little more involved. In other words, not the simple green bean side that I make “all the time”. Rather that place is often filled with today’s recipe: Sautéed Green Beans with crispy little golden garlic bits!

Fork picking up Garlic Sautéed Green Beans
Everybody loves the golden garlic bits on the green beans!

Handy tip: Prepare ahead!

To get ahead, boil the beans then let it cool, dry, and store the beans in the fridge. Then when you’re ready to serve, you just need to toss with the garlic which takes a mere 2 minutes. An instant side dish, ready on demand!

What you need to make Sautéed Green Beans with Garlic

Here’s what you need to make Sautéed Green Beans with Garlic:

Garlic Sautéed Green Beans ingredients
  • Green beans – Look for fresh perky ones, not sad and floppy ones speckled with black dots.

  • Garlic – Two smallish cloves or one large one. Finely mince the garlic using a knife. Do not use a garlic press/crusher. This makes the garlic go wet and pasty so you won’t get nice golden bits, like pictured. In fact, the garlic will just spit when it hits the skillet.

    As for jarred garlic paste? Not on my watch! This stuff doesn’t really taste like garlic and it’s oddly sour due to the preserving agents. Plus it’s wet so it too will spit like crazy.

  • Olive oil or butter, if you’d like a buttery flavour on your beans. If you want to dial up the butter factor, use clarified butter / ghee instead!


How to cook Sautéed Green Beans

Boil the beans for 4 minutes until they become bright green and are barely tender. Drain and then toss the beans in a skillet with the garlic.

Well … you could toss … or be a normal person and just STIR!!! I promise it works just as well. 😂

  • Cooking Garlic Sautéed Green Beans
  • Cooking Garlic Sautéed Green Beans
  • Cooking Garlic Sautéed Green Beans

Garlic Sautéed Green Beans in a skillet

What to serve with Sautéed Green Beans

The beauty of this dish is that it’s so simple and neutrally pitched that it goes with almost anything. It would be great with an elegant piece of fish with white wine sauce or a big juicy steak, or from a giant pan of paella to a big cosy lasagne.

And although you wouldn’t think of it, this dish works alongside Asian foods too! Either serve it as-is, or give it an Asian-inspired touch by adding a bit of minced ginger, and finishing with a drizzle of sesame oil or a sprinkle of sesame seeds.

No recipe video is included today because it’s a quick and easy side! However if there’s a process in this recipe you’d like to specifically see, I’d be happy to do a quick little video for you. Just leave your request in the comments section below! – Nagi x


Overloaded with green beans? More ideas!

Close up of Yotam Ottolenghi's Green Bean Salad
Ottolenghi’s Green Bean Salad
Close up of Green Bean Casserole in a casserole dish, fresh out of the oven
Green Bean Casserole perfection!
Close up of Green Bean Avocado Salad with Avocado Dressing
Chargrill Charlie’s Green Bean Avocado Salad (copycat!)
Close up of Pork Stir Fry with Green Beans in a black skillet, fresh off the stove
Pork Stir Fry with Green Beans
Pouring lemon dressing over green bean salad
Green Bean Salad
Close up of Green Bean Avocado Salad with Avocado Dressing
Chargrill Charlie’s Green Bean Avocado Salad (copycat!)
Close up overhead photo of Green beans in creamy parmesan sauce with bacon, fresh off the stove ready to be served
Green Beans in Creamy Parmesan Sauce – with bacon!
Fork picking up Garlic Sautéed Green Beans
Green Bean recipes

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Garlic Sautéed Green Beans on a plate ready to be served

Sautéed Green Beans with Garlic

Author: Nagi
Prep: 5 minutes mins
Cook: 8 minutes mins
Side Dish
Western
5 from 26 votes
Servings2 – 4
Tap or hover to scale
Print
This is a wonderful,classic preparation for a green beans side dish – simmer beans until bright green then toss with garlic until golden and crispy. Serve as a side with everything, any cuisine, from Western to Italian, Middle Eastern to French!
If serving with Asian food, I like to add the tiniest drizzle of sesame oil at the end and sometimes a sprinkle of sesame seeds. Just gives it that little Asian-esque finishing touch!
Love green beans? So do I! See all my Green Bean Sides.

Ingredients

Blanched Green Beans:

  • 250g/ 8oz green beans , trimmed (Note 1)
  • 1 tsp salt

For Sautéing:

  • 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil (or… butter!)
  • 2 garlic cloves , finely minced (~ 2 tsp), do not use jar or garlic crusher (Note 2)
  • 1/8 tsp salt
  • 1 pinch black pepper

Instructions

  • Blanch beans: Bring a large saucepan of water to the boil with 1 teaspoon of salt. Add beans, cook for 4 minutes (they will turn bright green), drain, then rinse under cold tap water to cool. (There's really no need to shock in ice water). Shake off excess water.
  • Sauté: Heat oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Add green beans and garlic. Toss (or stir!) for 2 minutes until the garlic is golden and crispy. Add salt and pepper, then toss.
  • Serve: Transfer beans to serving dish. Serve warm!
  • Prepare ahead: Blanch beans per step 1, cool and dry, store in fridge until required. When ready to serve, just toss with garlic. It's an instant on-demand side!

Recipe Notes:

Serves – 4 as a small side, or 2 as a large side if it’s the only veg side on the plate.
1. Trimming green beans – Only the stem tip of the beans needs to be trimmed before eating. ie the part that was attached to the rest of the plan. However, if the other pointy end is a bit scraggly looking, I will trim them too.
To trim, line up a handful of beans so all the tips are facing the same way. Then cut the tips off. If you are trimming the fine pointy end, repeat.
Cutting size – I like to keep the green beans whole because it looks a little more elegant than cutting the beans into smaller pieces. It’s how most fine dining restaurants will serve green beans. But feel free to cut the beans to your preferred size.
2. Garlic – Use a knife! Do not use a garlic crusher/press as this makes the garlic wet and pasty. It will stick to the pan, spit, and burn in little clumps.
Jar garlic paste simply doesn’t have the same flavour as fresh, plus it’s sour. It’s also wet and pasty which means you won’t get nice little golden garlic bits, as pictured. It will just smear and burn.
3. Nutrition per serving, assuming this serves 2.

Nutrition Information:

Calories: 102cal (5%)Carbohydrates: 9g (3%)Protein: 2g (4%)Fat: 7g (11%)Saturated Fat: 1g (6%)Polyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gSodium: 153mg (7%)Potassium: 252mg (7%)Fiber: 3g (13%)Sugar: 4g (4%)Vitamin A: 783IU (16%)Vitamin C: 15mg (18%)Calcium: 48mg (5%)Iron: 1mg (6%)
Keywords: green beans recipe, sauteed green beans
Did you make this recipe?I love hearing how you went with my recipes! Tag me on Instagram at @recipe_tin.

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I believe you can make great food with everyday ingredients even if you’re short on time and cost conscious. You just need to cook clever and get creative!

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93 Comments

  1. Linda M says

    December 9, 2023 at 7:30 am

    5 stars
    Absolutely delicious! I cooked it with the sesame seeds, which along with the garlic and ginger, formed a yummy crumble sprinkled throughout the beans. The splash of sesame oil was the perfect touch.

    Reply
  2. Emma W says

    December 6, 2023 at 9:30 pm

    5 stars
    Delicious side dish

    Reply
  3. Tyhre says

    November 30, 2023 at 12:34 pm

    5 stars
    I made this with some Chicken Marsala paired really well. Simple dish and gives you a break in the kitchen when you want a veggie but still would like some flavor.

    Reply
  4. Forrest says

    November 27, 2023 at 10:40 am

    5 stars
    I am SO glad to see someone mention blanching the string beans first! A lot of people don’t realize how important that is!

    Reply
  5. Jodi Kaye says

    August 18, 2023 at 9:42 am

    So excited. I’m about to make your green bean garlic recipe. Wish me luck!

    Reply
  6. shalini says

    July 12, 2023 at 11:38 pm

    5 stars
    Great simple and very tasty!

    Reply
  7. Sam says

    April 2, 2023 at 9:01 am

    5 stars
    Constantly coming back to this recipe!! The green beans are the perfect amount of crunchy from blanching and I always add extra garlic because, well, we love garlic 🙂 So good!

    Reply
  8. Lana says

    March 5, 2023 at 8:15 pm

    5 stars
    These were absolutely yummy.
    Thanks again Nagi ☺️

    Reply
  9. Bill says

    February 26, 2023 at 10:17 am

    5 stars
    These were great! I added in cherry tomatoes sliced in half and the acid tasted great in the dish. The remaining olive oil, garlic and tomato juice was great to soak up with crusty bread.

    Reply
  10. Ann says

    January 24, 2023 at 6:07 am

    5 stars
    I usually don’t like green beans. Too squeaky and lacking flavour. Not any more !! I finished with Maldon salt flakes. Super recipe – thank you!

    Reply
  11. Jess says

    January 23, 2023 at 11:43 am

    5 stars
    Perfect and delicious.

    Reply
  12. Jess says

    January 23, 2023 at 11:42 am

    5 stars
    Perfect

    Reply
  13. Michael says

    December 28, 2022 at 9:08 am

    5 stars
    I can’t believe you said potatoes don’t have great nutritional value. That’s completely ignorant because potatoes are a literal superfood containing almost everything you need to live, and are loaded with vitamins and minerals as well as having a decent amount of fiber and protein.

    Reply
  14. Katie says

    September 5, 2022 at 8:10 am

    5 stars
    These are delicious green beans!! I like to add Ajika Georgian seasoning blend to this too

    Reply
  15. Grammy says

    September 4, 2022 at 7:11 am

    5 stars
    On a soft diet, had to cook the life from beans. The beans were the last picking from my garden and these were over done, so tough and stringy and normally would have been headed to the compost pile. Used mostly butter to sauté them in and a little extra garlic (also home grown). First time at your site, so anxious to look around. My grandson has a stuffed golden retriever also named Dozer (came from the sleep number bed, Dozer was their mascot.) Loved the recipe!!!

    Reply
  16. SACCHETTI Gabriella Elena says

    July 2, 2022 at 3:05 am

    5 stars
    Add sliced almonds please!

    I’ve made this recipe for years. One thing you would appreciate is adding sliced or slivered almonds to the pan of oil and butter (I use both) and garlic. Gently infuse the oil and butter with garlic and at the same time toast a handful of almonds in the fats so they get some colour. Then I toss in my parboiled green beans and bring up the heat so they’re warmed though (and coated with the flavours and almonds). Everyone asks for this recipe; at times I’m embarrassed to share it as it is so easy compared to its wonderful taste and presentation !

    Reply
  17. TM says

    January 23, 2022 at 8:56 pm

    We’ve been using this recipe for years but you are missing an essential ingredient: Lemon. Squeeze one or two lemons before serving. You should try it sometime.

    Reply
    • Christina says

      November 24, 2023 at 4:57 am

      Agree with some lemon and chili flakes

      Reply
  18. Amanda says

    January 22, 2022 at 11:25 am

    5 stars
    Delicious and easy recipe. Thanks for the tip about garlic. I always wondered why mine burned.

    Reply
  19. Gaye says

    December 12, 2021 at 2:40 pm

    Can you freeze left over beans. I live alone, so like to cook more than one meal at a time. Thank you

    Reply
    • Nagi says

      December 13, 2021 at 9:02 am

      Hi Gaye – these don’t freeze well, sorry. they go mushy. N x

      Reply
      • Russ says

        June 30, 2022 at 8:57 am

        5 stars
        Thank you, Nagi, you answered my question about freezing green beans. But, too late, I froze my first batch yesterday. 🙁 I am amazed at how you go through a recipe and hit every note on what can go right and what can go wrong and how to deal with it. Thank you much.

        Reply
  20. Mark says

    October 26, 2021 at 2:24 pm

    I am lovin’ your posts etc, I have cooked quite a few of your wonderful recipes I read them then watch the video which helps me tremendously, so thank you. Keep up the great work. Cheers Marko

    Reply
    • Nagi says

      October 27, 2021 at 4:53 pm

      So glad you enjoyed them Marko! N x

      Reply
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Hi, I'm Nagi!

I believe you can make great food with everyday ingredients even if you’re short on time and cost conscious. You just need to cook clever and get creative! Read More

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