Sautéed Green Beans & Garlic
One of the easiest side dishes I make for the holidays is this fresh Sautéed Green Beans & Garlic. There are many variations of simple green bean side dishes. There are green beans sauteed with garlic, bacon with green beans, onions and garlic with green beans, simple green beans with soy sauce, and the popular Chinese ones that I love. This green bean recipe, however; is simple, festive, and with just a little bit of heat! I love them, my family loves them, and I think you will too!
Affiliate disclosure: Sweet Humble Home is a participant in Amazon's affiliate program. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This is no extra cost to readers.
So tell me this – how much time do you spend thinking up side dishes for your holiday meals? Personally, I used to spend a good deal of time trying to come up with something different every time. My family would then ask me: “Where are the green beans you made last time”? Or something that sounded like “I really enjoyed that veggie side dish last time, mom”. Even when you’re someone who loves to experiment in the kitchen there comes a point that you decide it’s sometimes just better to give them what they love!
Not your mama’s green beans
My mother is an amazing cook. Many of my recipes are hers or hers with little variation. My poor mother would try to experiment and give us something new and we’d all complain (still do to this day). “Your recipes are perfect – why are you changing it”?? That being said, I don’t remember string beans being a delicacy in our home. Mom always spiced them up with salt and pepper, and she’s the best person to tell you how to cook fresh green beans, but they weren’t really any different than the ones I would eat at friends houses. Mom’s recipe for fresh green beans was to keep them fresh, and cook them a little too long, because that’s how dad likes them.
When started to cook my own Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners I was looking for something a little “more”, and I have a husband who enjoys all of his dishes with a little kick. That’s when I started to develop a recipe for fresh cooked green beans that was easy to make, but was a little less ordinary. Of course there is a long history of Green Bean Casserole – it’s just not a favorite in our home.
How do you cook green beans?
Green beans don’t need a lot of time, and although I say that mom’s needed something a little more, when they came fresh out of dad’s garden, they were tasty just as they are. It doesn’t take a lot to prep and cook green beans. Here are the steps to prepping them for this Sautéed Green Beans & Garlic recipe:
- Choose beans that are long and firm. You don’t want to choose beans that have become too floppy or have started to discolor.
- Gently rinse the beans in cool water removing any residue.
- Place in a strainer to let the remaining water drip off.
- Make a small cut on either side of the green bean
That’s it. They’re ready for cooking!
What’s different about this recipe from regular green beans? Sautéed Green Beans & Garlic are a twist on the traditional!
In this recipe there is no boiling involved. Boiled green beans are super common (and super boring). In this recipe we blister the green beans in a little olive oil and add a little spice with crushed red pepper flakes. They’re different and delicious!
These easy and tasty green beans bring a little something different to the table. They're blistered, with a touch of onion and garlic - and if you're anything like my husband - you can add a kick of heat as well. Green beans are something you need to make the day of - so if you're adding these easy green beans to your Thanksgiving menu, cook them the day of. Make sure you wait to add the garlic as mentioned above. Cooking it longer may result in bitter garlic, which doesn't taste good at all. Variations on this recipe: This recipe can be eaten hot or cold! As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Sautéed Green Beans & Garlic
Ingredients
Instructions
Notes
Recommended Products
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4
Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving:
Calories: 150Total Fat: 11gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 9gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 295mgCarbohydrates: 14gFiber: 5gSugar: 6gProtein: 3g
Enjoy,
JJ
PS: Try these other holiday sides to complete your table:
Fabulous recipe! I used a bit more garlic than you did, because I love it. I am so happy with the flavor of this dish. Thank you!
I’m so glad you enjoyed the recipe! Adding more garlic is something my mom always does with this recipe as well! Yum!