Garlic Butter Green Beans Flavorful and Simple Side

by Harper on February 8, 2025

If you’re looking for a quick and tasty side dish, garlic butter green beans are perfect! These vibrant green beans get a flavor boost from rich butter and savory garlic. I will show you how to make this simple dish that everyone will love. Plus, I’ll share tips, variations, and storage ideas to help you elevate your meal. Read on to make your table shine with this delightful side!

$To start, you need 1 pound of fresh green beans. Look for beans that are bright green and firm. Trim the ends to remove any tough bits. Fresh beans give the best taste and crunch. You will use 4 tablespoons of unsalted butter. The butter adds richness and flavor. You also need 4 cloves of garlic, minced. Fresh garlic creates a strong and savory taste. Together, they make a tasty garlic butter. For seasoning, you need 1 teaspoon of lemon zest and 1 tablespoon of lemon juice. These add a bright, fresh taste. Don't forget salt and pepper to taste. If you like a bit of heat, add ¼ teaspoon of red pepper flakes. Finally, chop some fresh parsley for garnish. It adds color and freshness to your dish. {{ingredient_image_1}} To start, fill a large pot with water and add salt. Bring the water to a boil. Once boiling, add the trimmed green beans. Cook them for about 3-4 minutes. You want them to be bright green and tender-crisp. After cooking, drain the beans right away. Quickly plunge them into a bowl of ice water. This stops the cooking and keeps the color. Drain the beans again and set them aside. Next, grab a large skillet and place it over medium heat. Add 4 tablespoons of unsalted butter to the pan. Let the butter melt completely. Once it is melted, add 4 cloves of minced garlic. Sauté the garlic for about 30 seconds. You want it to smell great but not turn brown. If it browns, it can taste bitter. Now it's time to add the blanched green beans to the skillet. Increase the heat to medium-high. Toss the green beans in the garlic butter. Make sure each bean gets coated well. Sprinkle in 1 teaspoon of lemon zest and 1 tablespoon of lemon juice. Season with salt, pepper, and optional red pepper flakes for spice. Sauté the beans for another 2-3 minutes. You want them heated through and shiny with butter. Remove the skillet from heat. Finally, sprinkle some chopped parsley on top before serving. Enjoy your tasty side dish! Cooking green beans just right keeps them bright and crisp. Start with boiling salted water. Blanch the beans for 3-4 minutes. They should be tender but still firm. Then, quickly cool them in ice water. This stops cooking and keeps color. If you overcook them, they can turn mushy. To boost flavor, consider adding lemon zest and juice. These add a fresh, bright taste. You can also toss in red pepper flakes for spice. Try adding nuts like almonds for crunch. Fresh herbs like thyme or dill can also bring great taste. Experiment with these to find your favorite mix. To get a nice texture, make sure you blanch the beans well. The ice bath is key for keeping them crisp. When you sauté, do not overcrowd the pan. This ensures even cooking. Toss the beans gently in garlic butter for a nice coating. This helps them stay crunchy yet flavorful. Pro Tips Blanching is Key: Blanching the green beans in salted water not only retains their vibrant color but also enhances their flavor and texture. Garlic Timing Matters: Add the minced garlic to the melted butter just until fragrant to avoid burning, which can lead to a bitter taste. Customize Your Heat: Adjust the amount of red pepper flakes based on your heat preference, or omit them for a milder dish. Freshness is Essential: Always use fresh parsley for garnish; it adds a burst of color and freshness that elevates the dish. {{image_2}} To add a kick to your dish, try making spicy garlic butter green beans. Simply mix in ¼ teaspoon of red pepper flakes when you sauté the garlic. This small change brings heat and depth to the dish. If you like it extra spicy, add more flakes. Adjust to your taste! For a bright twist, add lemon and Parmesan. After cooking the green beans, toss them with 1 tablespoon of lemon juice and 1 teaspoon of lemon zest. Finish with fresh grated Parmesan cheese. This addition gives a tangy flavor and a creamy texture. It enhances the dish beautifully. You can mix in other vegetables too. Carrots, bell peppers, or snap peas work well. Just chop them into similar sizes as the green beans. Blanch them with the green beans for even cooking. This adds color and different flavors, making your side dish more exciting. Feel free to experiment with these variations and find your favorite! Store leftover garlic butter green beans in an airtight container. This keeps them fresh for up to three days. Place the beans in the fridge once they cool. To prevent sogginess, do not cover them until they are fully cool. To reheat, use a skillet on medium heat. Add a small amount of butter to help bring back the flavor. Toss the beans until they are warm. You can also use the microwave. Heat them in 30-second bursts, stirring in between. This way, you avoid overcooking. You can freeze garlic butter green beans for up to three months. Blanch them first as you did before cooking. Then, cool and pack them in freezer bags. Remove as much air as possible. When ready to use, thaw overnight in the fridge. Heat them on the stove for the best taste. To make garlic butter green beans, you need fresh green beans, butter, and garlic. Start by boiling salted water. Add trimmed green beans and cook for 3-4 minutes. This keeps them bright green and tender-crisp. Then, cool them in ice water and drain. Next, melt butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds. Then, toss in the blanched green beans. Add lemon zest, lemon juice, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes if you like heat. Sauté for 2-3 more minutes. Garnish with chopped parsley before serving. Yes, you can use frozen green beans. They save time and are easy to find. Cook them according to package instructions before adding them to the garlic butter. Make sure to drain excess water to avoid a soggy dish. They may not have the same crunch as fresh beans, but they will still taste great. Garlic butter green beans go well with many dishes. They are a great side for grilled chicken or steak. You can also serve them with baked fish for a light meal. For a vegetarian option, pair them with quinoa or rice. They add a fresh touch to any dinner plate. Cooking garlic butter green beans is easy and fun. You only need fresh green beans, butter, and garlic. Blanching gives them a bright color. Sautéing brings out their rich flavor. Remember to watch the cooking time for the best texture. You can add some spice or cheese for fun variations. Store leftovers easily, and they freeze well too. Try this recipe for a tasty side dish, and enjoy your meal even more! Cooking can be simple and rewarding. You have the skills to make a great dish!$

Why I Love This Recipe

Fresh and Vibrant: The bright green color and fresh taste of the green beans make this dish visually appealing and delicious.
Simple Ingredients: With just a few pantry staples, you can create a flavorful side dish that complements any meal.
Quick Cooking Time: This recipe can be prepared in just 20 minutes, making it perfect for busy weeknights.
Customizable: Feel free to adjust the seasoning or add your favorite herbs to make it your own!

Ingredients

Fresh Green Beans

To start, you need 1 pound of fresh green beans. Look for beans that are bright green and firm. Trim the ends to remove any tough bits. Fresh beans give the best taste and crunch.

Butter and Garlic

You will use 4 tablespoons of unsalted butter. The butter adds richness and flavor. You also need 4 cloves of garlic, minced. Fresh garlic creates a strong and savory taste. Together, they make a tasty garlic butter.

Seasoning and Garnish

For seasoning, you need 1 teaspoon of lemon zest and 1 tablespoon of lemon juice. These add a bright, fresh taste. Don’t forget salt and pepper to taste. If you like a bit of heat, add ¼ teaspoon of red pepper flakes. Finally, chop some fresh parsley for garnish. It adds color and freshness to your dish.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Blanching the Green Beans

To start, fill a large pot with water and add salt. Bring the water to a boil. Once boiling, add the trimmed green beans. Cook them for about 3-4 minutes. You want them to be bright green and tender-crisp. After cooking, drain the beans right away. Quickly plunge them into a bowl of ice water. This stops the cooking and keeps the color. Drain the beans again and set them aside.

Preparing the Garlic Butter

Next, grab a large skillet and place it over medium heat. Add 4 tablespoons of unsalted butter to the pan. Let the butter melt completely. Once it is melted, add 4 cloves of minced garlic. Sauté the garlic for about 30 seconds. You want it to smell great but not turn brown. If it browns, it can taste bitter.

Sautéing and Combining Ingredients

Now it’s time to add the blanched green beans to the skillet. Increase the heat to medium-high. Toss the green beans in the garlic butter. Make sure each bean gets coated well. Sprinkle in 1 teaspoon of lemon zest and 1 tablespoon of lemon juice. Season with salt, pepper, and optional red pepper flakes for spice. Sauté the beans for another 2-3 minutes. You want them heated through and shiny with butter. Remove the skillet from heat. Finally, sprinkle some chopped parsley on top before serving. Enjoy your tasty side dish!

Tips & Tricks

Perfecting the Cooking Time

Cooking green beans just right keeps them bright and crisp. Start with boiling salted water. Blanch the beans for 3-4 minutes. They should be tender but still firm. Then, quickly cool them in ice water. This stops cooking and keeps color. If you overcook them, they can turn mushy.

Enhancing Flavor with Additional Ingredients

To boost flavor, consider adding lemon zest and juice. These add a fresh, bright taste. You can also toss in red pepper flakes for spice. Try adding nuts like almonds for crunch. Fresh herbs like thyme or dill can also bring great taste. Experiment with these to find your favorite mix.

Achieving the Best Texture

To get a nice texture, make sure you blanch the beans well. The ice bath is key for keeping them crisp. When you sauté, do not overcrowd the pan. This ensures even cooking. Toss the beans gently in garlic butter for a nice coating. This helps them stay crunchy yet flavorful.

Pro Tips

Blanching is Key: Blanching the green beans in salted water not only retains their vibrant color but also enhances their flavor and texture.
Garlic Timing Matters: Add the minced garlic to the melted butter just until fragrant to avoid burning, which can lead to a bitter taste.
Customize Your Heat: Adjust the amount of red pepper flakes based on your heat preference, or omit them for a milder dish.
Freshness is Essential: Always use fresh parsley for garnish; it adds a burst of color and freshness that elevates the dish.

Variations

Spicy Garlic Butter Green Beans

To add a kick to your dish, try making spicy garlic butter green beans. Simply mix in ¼ teaspoon of red pepper flakes when you sauté the garlic. This small change brings heat and depth to the dish. If you like it extra spicy, add more flakes. Adjust to your taste!

Garlic Butter Green Beans with Lemon and Parmesan

For a bright twist, add lemon and Parmesan. After cooking the green beans, toss them with 1 tablespoon of lemon juice and 1 teaspoon of lemon zest. Finish with fresh grated Parmesan cheese. This addition gives a tangy flavor and a creamy texture. It enhances the dish beautifully.

Adding Other Vegetables

You can mix in other vegetables too. Carrots, bell peppers, or snap peas work well. Just chop them into similar sizes as the green beans. Blanch them with the green beans for even cooking. This adds color and different flavors, making your side dish more exciting.

Feel free to experiment with these variations and find your favorite!

Storage Info

Storing Leftovers

Store leftover garlic butter green beans in an airtight container. This keeps them fresh for up to three days. Place the beans in the fridge once they cool. To prevent sogginess, do not cover them until they are fully cool.

Reheating Instructions

To reheat, use a skillet on medium heat. Add a small amount of butter to help bring back the flavor. Toss the beans until they are warm. You can also use the microwave. Heat them in 30-second bursts, stirring in between. This way, you avoid overcooking.

Freezing Garlic Butter Green Beans

You can freeze garlic butter green beans for up to three months. Blanch them first as you did before cooking. Then, cool and pack them in freezer bags. Remove as much air as possible. When ready to use, thaw overnight in the fridge. Heat them on the stove for the best taste.

FAQs

How do you make garlic butter green beans from scratch?

To make garlic butter green beans, you need fresh green beans, butter, and garlic. Start by boiling salted water. Add trimmed green beans and cook for 3-4 minutes. This keeps them bright green and tender-crisp. Then, cool them in ice water and drain. Next, melt butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds. Then, toss in the blanched green beans. Add lemon zest, lemon juice, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes if you like heat. Sauté for 2-3 more minutes. Garnish with chopped parsley before serving.

Can I use frozen green beans for this recipe?

Yes, you can use frozen green beans. They save time and are easy to find. Cook them according to package instructions before adding them to the garlic butter. Make sure to drain excess water to avoid a soggy dish. They may not have the same crunch as fresh beans, but they will still taste great.

What other dishes pair well with garlic butter green beans?

Garlic butter green beans go well with many dishes. They are a great side for grilled chicken or steak. You can also serve them with baked fish for a light meal. For a vegetarian option, pair them with quinoa or rice. They add a fresh touch to any dinner plate.

Cooking garlic butter green beans is easy and fun. You only need fresh green beans, butter, and garlic. Blanching gives them a bright color. Sautéing brings out their rich flavor. Remember to watch the cooking time for the best texture. You can add some spice or cheese for fun variations. Store leftovers easily, and they freeze well too. Try this recipe for a tasty side dish, and enjoy your meal even more! Cooking can be simple and rewarding. You have the skills to make a great dis

Garlic Butter Green Beans

A delicious side dish featuring fresh green beans sautéed in garlic butter with a hint of lemon.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 10

Total Time 20

Course Side Dish

Cuisine American

Servings 4

Calories 120 kcal

Ingredients

1 pound fresh green beans, trimmed
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon lemon zest
1 tablespoon lemon juice
to taste salt and pepper
¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
to taste fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)

Instructions

Blanch the Green Beans: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the green beans and cook for about 3-4 minutes until they are bright green and tender-crisp. Drain and immediately plunge them into a bowl of ice water to stop the cooking process. Drain again and set aside.
Make the Garlic Butter: In a large skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Once melted, add the minced garlic and sauté for about 30 seconds until fragrant, but not browned.
Add Green Beans: Increase heat to medium-high and add the blanched green beans to the skillet. Toss to coat the beans in the garlic butter.
Season and Combine: Sprinkle in the lemon zest and lemon juice. Season with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes if using. Continue to sauté for another 2-3 minutes until the green beans are heated through and coated with the butter mixture.
Garnish and Serve: Remove from heat and sprinkle with chopped parsley for freshness. Serve immediately as a side dish.

Notes

For extra heat, add red pepper flakes.

Keyword garlic butter, green beans, vegetable side