Steam-Sauteed Green Beans

Steam-sautéed green beans are my go-to vegetable side dish.

Recipe by Mike Vrobel on September 30, 2025

Prep time: PT5M

Cook time: PT15M

Total time: PT20M

Keywords

Sauteed green beans, steam-sautéed green beans

Put the beans in a medium to large sauce pan with a lid, and add the water. Sprinkle with the salt and pepper, and then put the butter on top. Cover the pan and heat the pot over medium-high heat. Wait for the water to come to a boil (when steam starts to escape around the lid), then cook, covered, for 6 minutes.
Remove the lid and continue to cook, stirring and tossing the beans occasionally, until all the remaining water boils away and the beans are sizzling and just starting to brown in the remaining butter, about 1 minute. (Normally the water is gone when I remove the lid, but if there is any left, and I don't hear sizzling, I'll cook the beans until the water boils away and the beans start sizzling.) The beans will be cooked through, but still firm; I check by biting a bean to make sure it is cooked through.
Pour the lemon juice over the beans (I use a lemon squeezer and squeeze it over the pot), and toss to coat the beans with lemon juice and the butter in the pot. Pour the beans, butter and lemon juice onto a serving platter. Sprinkle with the lemon zest, serve, and enjoy!