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Sauteed skillet green beans makes a quick and easy side dish out of fresh green beans that turns any entree into a delicious meal!
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Why you'll love this recipe
- minimal ingredients - Fresh green beans, garlic, olive oil, salt, and pepper are all you need to make a wonderfully flavorful green bean side.
- nutritious - Green beans are loaded with fiber and other valuable nutrients.
- simple tools - A basic frying pan or skillet is the only cookware needed.
- quick and easy - Once you know how to cook green beans in 10 minutes, you'll be hooked on the convenience and the flavor!
- family-loved - Even kids enjoy them as a healthy snack.
- the perfect side dish - Sauteed green beans go well with any entree, such as skillet pork chops, the juiciest oven baked chicken thighs, and mouthwatering chicken drumsticks.
Ingredients for sauteed green beans with garlic
- fresh green beans - Any green bean variety can be turned into skillet green beans, including French beans or haricot vert, string beans, or common green beans, which is what you see in my photos.
- garlic - I recommend using fresh garlic cloves for its peppery and savory flavors, but a sprinkle of garlic powder adds an interesting surface texture.
- extra virgin olive oil - You can any oil or butter in place of olive oil.
- salt and pepper - Season skillet green beans right before serving.
How to make this recipe
We know green beans are essential to a holiday green bean casserole recipe, but let's make them part of the dinner routine all year. Here's how to cook the best green beans on the stove in 15 minutes.
Step 1. Heat OLIVE OIL in the skillet over medium-high heat. Carefully lower GREEN BEANS into the skillet. Sauté the beans about 5 minutes until they are tender and slightly blistered, stirring as needed.
Step 2. Add GARLIC and continue sauteing for about 1 minute, stirring as needed to prevent it from browning.
Step 3. Remove skillet from heat and add SALT and PEPPER, to taste. Serve warm.
Recipe tips
- At the grocery store, select bright green beans with smooth, firm pods that snap when bent. Pre-cut green beans may also be available for added convenience.
- You can saute any variety of green beans. It's fun to experiment and find your favorite kind, especially for kids!
- When prepping green beans, trimming the ends is optional. I prefer to use untrimmed, whole green beans for convenience and visual interest.
- Blanching isn't required, but it does soften the beans. To do so, boil green beans for 3 minutes until slightly tender and transfer to an ice bath. Once cooled, continue to the recipe instructions for sauteing.
- When sauteing green beans, don't crowd the skillet. This promotes efficient cook time and creates more opportunities for surface browning.
Recipe variations
- Make blistered green beans by pan frying the beans long enough to make them turn brown and crispy before adding the garlic.
- garlic is optional - Since the garlic is added to the skillet after the green beans are fully cooked, add as much or as little as you like. It makes the best green beans either way.
- vegetable add-ins - Add other vegetables to the skillet, such as mushrooms, onions, or bell peppers for more flavor and interesting textures.
- mix-ins - When serving, add other flavorful ingredients, such as crumbled bacon, lemon zest, lemon juice, Parmesan cheese, or chili crisp oil.
Easy vegetable sides
- Oven Roasted Mushrooms
- Air Fryer Green Beans
- Sauteed Asparagus
- Crispy Smashed Potatoes
- Air Fried Mushrooms
- Sour Cream Mashed Potatoes Recipe
- Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts
📖 Recipe
Sauteed Green Beans With Garlic
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When scaling the recipe 2x or 3x, the gray ingredient note stays the same. Adjust quantities accordingly.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- ½ pound Fresh Green Beans
- 4 cloves Fresh Garlic, minced
- Salt and Pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Rinse GREEN BEANS and dry completely to prevent oil splatters.
- Heat OLIVE OIL in large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Add GREEN BEANS to skillet and sauté about 5 minutes until beans are tender and slightly blistered, stirring as needed.
- Stir in GARLIC and continue sauteing for about 1 minute, stirring as needed to prevent it from browning.
- Sprinkle SALT and PEPPER over beans and serve warm.
- To store, allow beans to cool completely and refrigerate in an airtight container up to 5 days.
Equipment
- measuring spoon optional
- garlic press or knife and cutting board
- 12 inch skillet
Recipe Notes
- At the grocery store, select bright green beans with smooth, firm pods that snap when bent. Pre-cut green beans may also be available for added convenience.
- You can saute any variety green beans. It's fun to experiment and find your favorite kind, which is especially fun for kids!
- When prepping green beans, trimming the ends is optional. I prefer to use untrimmed untrimmed, whole green beans for convenience and curb appeal.
- Blanching is not a requirement for this recipe. However, if you need a softer texture, boil green beans for 3 minutes and transfer to an ice bath. Once cooled, continue to the recipe instructions.
- Make green beans a little crispy by pan frying them slightly longer before adding the garlic. Kids love this!!
- Check out the recipe variations too!
rebecca says
yum! sauteed is my favorite way to enjoy green beans. there's something special and comforting about simple olive oil, s/p, and garlic topping for them
Traci says
Yes!! So glad you're loving them as much as we are. Thanks for sharing your experience!
Dana Sandonato says
The absolute perfect way to enjoy green beans, honestly! Garlicky goodness. These go with any main too, so it's awesome. Thanks for another winner, my friend!
Traci says
Yay! You're so welcome. Thanks for sharing your experience!
Ned says
I love how simple and delicious this is! Thank you for this awesome recipe!
Traci says
You're so welcome! Glad you enjoyed. Thanks!
TAYLER ROSS says
I made these green beans with dinner last night and they might just be my new favorite side dish! The garlic is the perfect flavor and they were so easy to make!
Traci says
Yay! So glad you went for it and enjoyed. I love the garlic too. Thanks for sharing your experience!
Stacey Crawford says
I love how simple this green bean recipe is to prepare with only a few ingredients and still packs so much flavor.
Traci says
Yay! So glad you're enjoying it. Thanks for sharing your experience!
Sara Welch says
Enjoyed these with dinner last night and it was a savory success! Turned out light yet hearty and packed with flavor!
Traci says
Yay! I'm so glad you were able to enjoy it. Thanks for sharing your experience!
Beth says
I love this recipe so much. The garlic is the perfect match to the mellow green bean flavor.
Traci says
I couldn't agree more with that flavor match. I'm so glad you're enjoying it too! Thanks for sharing your experience!
Elizabeth says
I love eating green beans fresh from the summer garden. Preparing them this way is so simple and delicious. The garlic flavor is terrific!
Traci says
Yay! I'm so glad you're enjoying this recipe. Thanks for sharing your experience!
Suja md says
Absolutely delicious! thank you for this fantastic recipe! Very straightforward and easy to make. The dish came out perfectly. I will make it again!!
Traci says
Yay! I'm so glad you're enjoying this recipe. Thanks for sharing your experience!
JB says
Excellent green beans recipe. Quick, uncomplicated, and so good! Thanks for another winner, KG. We'll be making these on the regular 🙂
Traci says
Yay! I'm glad you love them as much as I do 🙂 Thank you!!!