Sautéed Lemon Garlic Herb Green Beans
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Sautéed Lemon Garlic Herb Green Beans
Sautéed Lemon Garlic Herb Green Beans are a simple and versatile dish that elevates any meal that it's added to. Rich olive oil, smoky garlic, and tender green beans come together in a few short minutes and is entirely hassle-free. Works as a make ahead and meal prep option---whether for Thanksgiving or Weeknight meals. This recipe on how to cook green beans is a simple step path to delicious results. All dairy-free, vegan, + gluten-free. Nut-free option.
This Sautéed Lemon Garlic Herb Green Beans is truly the perfect side dish. It's the perfect thing for the holidays, gatherings, and even weeknight meals on a regular day! Plus, it's made completely over the stove top and is super easy and hassle-free to make. It's definitely a classic recipe that is worth having a part of your table every single time and the best part is that it only requires a few staple pantry ingredients.
Of course, in addition to these beans, I love making other must haves for Thanksgiving like this Southern Maple Sweet Potato Casserole and Vegan Sweet Cornbread. However, if you enjoy less traditional sides----especially if you're into salads, then you'll love this Spicy Chipotle Sweet Potato Chopped Salad, Fall Harvest BBQ Chickpea Kale Salad, Ultimate Summer BBQ Chopped Kale Salad, and Baked Jamaican Jerk Chicken Salad.
The most amazing part of these green beans is that it's entirely easy to whip together (check out a few tips for making them perfectly crispy), vegan, gluten-free, and dairy-free which makes it perfect for the entire family. Of course, you can mix and match ingredients to meet the need for all of the eaters in your family (i.e. omitting nuts) and you don't have to use just green beans as your base and instead add your favorite veggies to the mix like asparagus, Brussels sprouts, you name it.
Jump to:
- What Are the Three Types of Green Beans?
- Reasons Why You'll Love These Sautéed Lemon Garlic Herb Green Beans:
- How to Make Sautéed Lemon Garlic Herb Green Beans
- The Ingredients
- Ingredient Swaps and Substitutions
- Topping + Ingredient Suggestions for These Green Beans
- How To Make Herb Butter?
- Common Q + A's for these Sautéed Lemon Garlic Herb Green Beans
- What to Serve with these Sautéed Green Beans
- MADE OUR RECIPE(S)?
- Sautéed Lemon Garlic Herb Green Beans
What Are the Three Types of Green Beans?
If you're aware that there are more than one type of green beans, then here's a brief breakdown of the three main types:
String beans (aka snap beans) -- which are more round + have a flat pod.
French beans (aka stringless) -- which don't include a fibrous string along the length of the pod. They tend to be more tender + flavorful.
Runner beans -- They are stronger in flavor + coarser in texture. In addition, they are also much longer and have purple beans inside their pods.
Reasons Why You'll Love These Sautéed Lemon Garlic Herb Green Beans:
- It's super easy to make and uses a handful of staple ingredients.
- A true staple during Thanksgiving and the holiday season.
- Comes completely dairy-free, gluten-free, and vegan. Entirely kid-friendly for those not allergic to nuts!
- Fresh and
- Makes for the perfect side situation.
- Perfect Fall vibes---thanks to the green bean+ spices!
- Did I mention, it's just TOO good to pass up?
How to Make Sautéed Lemon Garlic Herb Green Beans
Start by prepping your string beans by trimming the ends and soaking them in vinegar + water (for the best clean). Then you rinse and drain. Everything is sautéed in a skillet, starting with he minced garlic and then the freshly washed green beans. Season and toss them until they become tender and crispy. Wallah!
The Ingredients
Here's what you need to make this simple roasted vegetable side dish:
- Green beans. As I've mentioned, the three main types are: string beans, French beans, and Runner beans. In this recipe, I use string beans and you'll need to prep them by trimming the ends. You can also parboil the beans before sautéing them for a more tender texture, if desired.
- Olive oil. You can also use unsalted butter, Grapeseed oil, Avocado oil, or coconut oil as well. Using butter adds a nice taste!
- Herbs. I love to use a mix of salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and oregano for added flavor. You can also add basil, onion powder, and thyme if desired.
- Lemon. You'll need freshly-squeezed lemon juice for a nice freshness + brightness of flavor and acidity. Add lemon zest for an extra burst of flavor!
- Garlic. This creates a nice flavor profile with the lemon and remaining herbs for the beans. If in a pinch, just substitute with ½ teaspoon of garlic powder.
- Walnuts. Feel free to use any kind of nut to top your green beans. Pine nuts, hazelnuts and pecans would also be great! For a nut-free option, you can use sunflower seeds or pumpkin seeds. See below for more topping ideas!
Ingredient Swaps and Substitutions
Here are a few simple swaps in case you don't have every ingredient on the list or just want to switch things up when making these Sautéed Lemon Garlic Herb Green Beans:
- Use garlic powder instead of fresh garlic if you're in a pinch.
- Swap the olive oil with a herb butter compound which adds amazing flavor to your beans. See below for ingredients for the compound.
- Use another nut, such as pecans, pine nuts, hazelnut or almonds.
- Add a nice kick of spice! A sprinkle of red pepper flakes adds a bit of heat and goes well with the green beans.
- Top with your favorite ingredients: grated parmesan, bacon, etc.
Topping + Ingredient Suggestions for These Green Beans
I like to add a bit of crunchiness to the top of my Sautéed Lemon Garlic Herb Green Beans, which is why I chose to use toasted walnuts as garnish. But I wanted to share a few more ideas incase you make these green beans more than once and want to switch things up!
Other topping + ingredient ideas include:
- Crispy candied bacon, chopped (You can use vegan bacon crumbles, tofu, etc. for a meat-free option).
- Grated parmesan cheese for umami flavor.
- Additional nuts (i.e. pecans, pine nuts, almonds, hazelnuts, etc.).
- Bourbon or white wine (For a nice adult kick) when sautéing!
- Pesto sauce
- Tahini-based dressing or sauce
- Dried cranberries
- Pomegranate arils
- Drizzle of honey or maple syrup
- Panko breadcrumbs
How To Make Herb Butter?
It's as easy as mixing all the ingredients together until you achieve a smooth and soft consistency. This is truly my secret weapon when it comes to adding extra flavor to dishes!
INGREDIENTS FOR HERB BUTTER
- 4 Tbsps unsalted butter, softened
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp dried parsley
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp dried basil
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- Pinch of sea salt
Feel free to customize the herb selection to suit your taste!
Common Q + A's for these Sautéed Lemon Garlic Herb Green Beans
Place any leftovers in a tightly sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop when ready to serve.
Nope! You don't have to---however, quickly boil or steam your green beans for a few minutes until "al dente" if you don't want to have a little crunch adding them directly to the skillet. DO NOT COOK UNTIL SOFT! Once cooked, drain, and add to a large bowl of iced cold water immediately to stop the cooking process. Resume with recipe.
Yup! To make your green beans ahead of time, simply parboil your green beans, drain completely, and store in a tightly sealed container in the refrigerator. When ready to serve, add the olive oil and sauté the garlic and green beans---following the remaining steps.
Absolutely! To make a bigger batch of this recipe, especially for Thanksgiving---simply double or triple the ingredients.
You can definitely add flavor to your green beans in two ways: add seasonings when sautéing (like this recipe does) or simmer your beans in veggie or chicken stock when boiling.
Yes and no! Generally, beans should soak for 8 to 10 hours overnight, at most. If they are soaked for longer than 12 hours, they can lose their familiar flavor and become overly mushy. For the best result, refrain from soaking them for too long.
The only part of the bean that always needs to be removed is the tip of the stem end (this is sometimes called "topping" the bean), where the pod was once attached to the rest of the plant.
Fresh green beans in good condition will feel firm and should snap apart when bent. Older green beans that feel limp and have started to develop a slimy texture are no longer safe to eat. If you see any fuzzy mold on them, they are definitely too bad to eat.
What to Serve with these Sautéed Green Beans
This is a classic holiday side dish, but it really pairs well with all kinds of main dishes, both meat-based and plant-based. Try serving your sautéed green beans with these recipes:
- Southern Maple Sweet Potato Casserole
- Maple Herb Glazed Carrots + Cranberries
- Flaky Sweet Potato Biscuits
- Cranberry Maple Roast Chicken
- Baked White Mac + Cheese with Bacon
- Southern Baked Gnocchi Mac + Cheese
- Crispy Southern Hot Honey Fried Chicken
- Maple Chili Sweet Potato Bowl
- Ultra Creamy Cheesy Garlic Vegan Mashed Potatoes
- Crispy Oven Fried Chicken
- Stovetop Southern Mac and Cheese
MADE OUR RECIPE(S)?
If you tried this Sautéed Lemon Garlic Herb Green Beans recipe or any other recipe on my website, please please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how you go in the 📝 comments below. I love hearing from you.
Sautéed Lemon Garlic Herb Green Beans
Ingredients
GREEN BEANS:
- 1 lb. organic green beans
- 2-3 Tbsps Extra virgin olive oil (You can sub with unsalted butter instead)
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ lemon, freshly-squeezed
GARNISH:
- Chopped walnuts, toasted
- Lemon zest
Instructions
PREP THE GREEN BEANS:
- Begin with trimming the ends off the green beans and soaking them in vinegar + water to remove all dirt for about 5-10 minutes. Rinse and drain.
SAUTE THE GREEN BEANS:
- In a medium-sized deep skillet, add the olive oil. Once heated, add the minced garlic, sautéing it for 1-2 minutes or until fragrant. Add the green beans and continuously toss them around in the oil as they begin to sauté and turn a bright green color. Season with salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and oregano----and continue to toss the beans as they cook. Reduce the heat to medium-low and squeeze half the lemon atop all of the beans.
- Cover the beans with a lid and let them "steam" for about 8-10 minutes, tossing the green beans until they are fully cooked. NOTE: When done, they should be tender but still crisp, without squeaking between your teeth when you chew them. Add toasted walnuts, toss to incorporate and wallah!
- Remove from heat and serve immediately. Garnish with lemon zest if desired.
- Bon Appetit!
Tips & Tricks
- STORAGE: Place any leftovers in a tightly sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop when ready to serve.
- PRE-COOK: Quickly boil or steam your green beans for a few minutes until "al dente" if you don't want to have a little crunch adding them directly to the skillet. DO NOT COOK UNTIL SOFT! Once cooked, drain, and add to a large bowl of iced cold water immediately to stop the cooking process. Resume with recipe.
- MAKE AHEAD: To make your green beans ahead of time, simply parboil your green beans, drain completely, and store in a tightly sealed container in the refrigerator. When ready to serve, add the olive oil and sauté the garlic and green beans---following the remaining steps.
- SERVING SIZE: To make a bigger batch of this recipe, especially for Thanksgiving---simply double or triple the ingredients.
Nutrition
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