Incredibly easy but so full of flavor, these simple sautéed green beans have the perfect texture and come together in under 10 minutes. Let me show you why blanching isn’t necessary, and all the ways to flavor green beans.
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Are Sautéed Green Beans Healthy? Keto? Low Carb?
Green beans are a great source of vitamins and minerals, including folate and Vitamin C (more on that here). As far as their carb count goes, 1 cup contains 3.6 g net carbs, making them a great option for those eating keto or looking for low carb beans.
How to Trim Green Beans
Working with about 10-15 beans at a time, stack them so their ends are along your knife’s edge. Trim the ends, flip and repeat on the other side.
What You Need to Make Sautéed Green Beans
These easy sautéed green beans are delicious with simple seasoning, olive oil, and garlic. But you can get as fancy as you like (suggestions below). Here are some ingredient notes to keep in mind:
- Fresh vs. frozen green beans – Opt for fresh whenever possible, they have a much better texture. If using frozen, be sure to fully defrost first. Either way, make sure your beans are completely dry before adding them to your hot oil.
- Garlic vs. garlic powder – Fresh garlic will release oils and lend much more flavor.
- Oil vs. butter – Oil is best, as the butter will burn and ruin the dish. Butter is often used to flavor blanched green beans that call for a shorter sauté time.
What seasonings are good in green beans?
You really can’t go wrong here, green beans are delicious in just about every way they’re seasoned. Consider adding:
- Smoked paprika and a bit more garlic
- Ginger and a dash of soy sauce (decrease the amount of salt)
- Finish with lemon zest
- Topped with sliced almonds for an easier take on green beans almondine
- Cook bacon, remove and chop into pieces. Saute green beans in bacon grease (can skip the oil), then top the finished dish with crumbled bacon.
How to Make Sautéed Green Beans with Garlic
Sautéed green beans come together in about 10 minutes, with hardly any prep on your end! Here’s how:
- Saute. Add the oil to a pan over medium heat. Once shimmering, add your green beans. Toss the green beans in oil, and allow them to soften slightly before adding the seasoning (this will help them to better adhere).
- Final touches. Once the green beans are done, add the garlic and cook until fragrant. Garlic should be added only at the end, otherwise, it’ll burn and ruin the dish.
But wait, should I blanch fresh green beans before sautéing?
You certainly can blanch your green beans before sautéing them–this will preserve their bright green color while adding a bit more crunchy texture. That said, I absolutely love the taste and texture of sautéed green beans without blanching–plus it saves time and dishes!
How to Serve Sautéed Green Beans
These sautéed green beans make an incredible side dish to all your favorite proteins, think pork tenderloin or baked salmon. They’re also one of my top substitutes for keto french fries.
More Roasted Veggies
Sautéed Green Beans
Print Recipe Pin RecipeIngredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 8 ounces green beans trimmed
- 1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt
- Pinch Black pepper
- 2 garlic cloves minced
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Once shimmering add the green beans and toss to coat in the oil. After a minute or two, sprinkle with salt, and pepper. Continue to saute green beans until they're almost completely done, about 9-11 minutes.
- Stir in the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1-2 additional minutes. Remove from heat immediately and enjoy!
