These are the best sautéed green beans with garlic that everyone will love. Fresh green beans are quickly cooked, dried, then sautéed with olive oil and garlic for the perfect healthy side dish even the kids will devour!
Green beans are hands down my absolute favorite vegetable. And this new sauteed green beans recipe has to be one of the best green bean dishes I have ever made! Plus it is so easy, ready in minutes and goes with almost any main dish!
The win with this green beans recipe is that my kids loved it! Now that they are a bit older (11 and 13), they eat more of the foods my husband and I eat, which makes meal time that much easier. For them it’s the garlic and the fact that green beans have a more subtle flavor.
You may also love these green bean fries or green beans and potatoes (another kid favorite).
Why you’ll love this recipe
- Quick and easy to make
- The perfect side dish that goes with almost anything
- Garlicky green beans that are packed with flavor and nutrition
- Literally the best way to enjoy green beans
Ingredients needed for this green beans recipe
You only need 4 simple ingredients to make this incredible cooked green beans recipe. Here is what you’ll need:
- Fresh green beans – you will need about 1 pound of fresh green beans that have been trimmed. You can find these at almost any grocery store (yes, the bagged ones are fine) or produce stands.
- Extra virgin olive oil – the oil is used to coat the pan with the garlic to create a nice bed of flavor for the green beans, while they are sauteed.
- Fresh garlic – 2-3 cloves of fresh garlic, peeled and minced. I say 2-3 cloves since they come in different sizes and everyone’s taste preference is different. So adjust the amount of garlic used based on your own preference.
- Salt and pepper – are used to season the green beans and enhance the other flavors.
- Optional for serving – lemon wedges and red pepper flakes
Recommended Kitchen Tools
- Pot
- Saute pan
- Kitchen tongs
How to make sautéed green beans
Here is a summary with step by step photos for how to make easy sautéed green beans with garlic and lemon. Get the complete list of recipe ingredients, instructions and nutrition in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- Add the green beans to a pot of boiling water seasoned with about 1 teaspoon of salt. Let that boil for 4-5 minutes.
- Remove the green beans with a slotted spoon and allow them to dry for a few minutes on a paper towel lined plate or in a lined bowl as shown.
3. Heat a skillet to medium heat with the oil and garlic, add the green beans and toss and cook them for 3-5 minutes. Remove and allow to cool.
4. Serve warm on a platter with a squeeze of lemon and red pepper flakes, if desired.
Recipe Variations
- Oil free – while you can use water in the place of the oil in this recipe, I find that the oil makes it so much better.
- Lemon parmesan – once the green beans are done cooking, garnish them with a squeeze of lemon and sprinkle of grated parmesan cheese.
- Frozen green beans – while I prefer making this green beans recipe with fresh green beans, you can use frozen green beans as well. I would let them boil in the water for a few minutes longer until tender before removing them prior to sauteeing.
- Almond green beans – add a squeeze of lemon and slivered almonds for the last 1-2 minutes during the sauté step for almond green beans.
How To Store Cooked Green Beans
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop until fully heated through.
More Easy Healthy Side Dishes
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
Did you try this sautéed green beans recipe? If you did, then please leave a rating and comment below. I would love to hear how yours turned out!
Sautéed Green Beans
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 4–5 servings 1x
Description
Perfectly sauteed green beans simmered with fresh garlic and finished off with a hint of lemon. A simple healthy side dish that is ready in 15 minutes, easy to make, vegan, gluten-free, and kid-friendly.
Ingredients
- 1 pound fresh green beans – trimmed
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 2–3 cloves of garlic – peeled and minced
- Salt and pepper – to taste
- Optional – lemon wedges, red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Bring a medium-large pot of water seasoned with 1 teaspoon of kosher salt to a boil on the stovetop. Once the water is boiling, add the green beans and toss them in the water. Cover and allow to boil for 3-5 minutes until the green beans are tender.
- Remove the green beans from the water with kitchen tongs or a slotted spoon and place them onto a paper towel line plate or in a lined bowl. Allow them to dry for a few minutes.
- Heat a skillet to medium heat on the stovetop. Add the oil and let it heat for about 1 minute then toss in the garlic and green beans. Toss and cook for 3-4 minutes until fragrant.
- Remove the pan from the heat and season with salt and pepper, a squeeze of lemon juice and pinch of red pepper flakes if desired.
- Serve warm and enjoy!
Notes
- How do you trim green beans? Line the beans up in a bunch so the ends are all even and place them onto a cutting board. Use a sharp kitchen knife to cut off the tough fibrous ends.
- Use good quality fresh green beans. Since this recipe only contains a few ingredients, it is important that you choose the freshest green beans you can find at local farmers’ markets or higher-end grocery stores like whole foods and Earthfare. Or simply opt for bulk organic greens beans that are typically available at most local grocery stores.
- Use a cast-iron pan if you have one. The cast-iron pan just gives this recipe a good punch of flavor. If you do not have a cast-iron pan then any heavy-bottomed pan with a lid will work.
- Use fresh garlic for the best flavor.
- Opt for fresh lemon juice. Again, since this recipe only calls for a few simple ingredients, you want to make sure you use the juice from a fresh lemon rather than bottled lemon juice.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 6-10 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Cuisine: American
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