This is a wonderful,classic preparation for a green beans side dish - simmer beans until bright green then toss with garlic until golden and crispy. Serve as a side with everything, any cuisine, from Western to Italian, Middle Eastern to French!If serving with Asian food, I like to add the tiniest drizzle of sesame oil at the end and sometimes a sprinkle of sesame seeds. Just gives it that little Asian-esque finishing touch!Love green beans? So do I! See all my Green Bean Sides.
Prep time: PT5M
Cook time: PT8M
Rating
4.99 stars (55 reviews)
Keywords
green beans recipe, sauteed green beans
Ingredients
250g/ 8oz green beans (, trimmed (Note 1))
1 tsp salt
1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil ((or... butter!))
2 garlic cloves (, finely minced (~ 2 tsp), do not use jar or garlic crusher (Note 2))
1/8 tsp salt
1 pinch black pepper
Categories
Side Dish
Cuisine
Western
Steps
Blanch beans: Bring a large saucepan of water to the boil with 1 teaspoon of salt. Add beans, cook for 4 minutes (they will turn bright green), drain, then rinse under cold tap water to cool. (There's really no need to shock in ice water). Shake off excess water.
Sauté: Heat oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Add green beans and garlic. Toss (or stir!) for 2 minutes until the garlic is golden and crispy. Add salt and pepper, then toss.
Serve: Transfer beans to serving dish. Serve warm!
Prepare ahead: Blanch beans per step 1, cool and dry, store in fridge until required. When ready to serve, just toss with garlic. It's an instant on-demand side!
Nutitrion
Serving Size: 1 serving
Calories: 102 kcal
Carbohydrates: 9 g
Protein: 2 g
Fat: 7 g
Saturated Fat: 1 g
Sodium: 153 mg
Sugar: 4 g
Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
Reviews
Gretchen Carlson on 2026-04-20 (5 stars): Hi Nagi, this green bean recipe was so simple and delicious that I ended up eating the whole serving I made before I finished making the star of my anticipated lunch which was freshly milled flour bread French toast. And the beans were so good that I am already planning when I can make the them again! (This has never happened with green beans.) I usually use pressed garlic if I cook with it but I minced it like you recommended and it was fantastic. Thanks again!
deb on 2026-04-19 (5 stars): This os by far, my Fav recipe for sauted greenbeans, I skip the blanching, cooking the beans till bright green in the olive oil, stirring to completely cover in olive oil .. then season, then add the garlic.. turn off heat and put a lid on .. by the time it takes me to take a quick shower (10mins) Im back and they are perfect .. still somewhat crunchy but not too much .. perfect .. btw love the idea of adding mushrooms , soysauce and vinager .. will have to try that next time
DONIELLE on 2026-03-24 (5 stars): This recipe was great. Simple and even my picky eater loved it!
Ann Jennings Shackelford on 2026-03-18 (5 stars): Have cooked this twice recently and it was delicious both times - much better than the simplicity of the recipe would suggest!
Mita on 2026-02-23 (5 stars): This was an easy and delicious side dish to the baked fish with lemon cream sauce, but I expect this would go with almost anything!
TKL on 2026-02-19 (5 stars): This recipe was great. It was simple and produced really good string beans. I would have never thought to boil them first. This makes all the sense in the world. I made mine extra garlicky and love it. Thank you.
Kara on 2025-12-10 (5 stars): This was a great recipe. However, my beans were still too crunch y after 4 minutes of blanching & cooking for about 5 minutes with the garlic and oil. I think I either needed to cook longer or maybe it was the green beans.
Kara on 2025-12-10 (5 stars): This was a great recipe. However, my beans were still too crunch y after 4 minutes of blanching & cooking for about 5 minutes with the garlic and oil. I think I either needed to cook longer or maybe it was the green beans.
Nyssa on 2025-12-09 (5 stars): Delicious and easy!
Renee on 2025-07-21 (5 stars): Super easy and delicious side dish. We had it with Nagi’s cottage pie but I can see how you could serve it with just about anything.
Helen on 2025-04-19 (5 stars): Paired this with the Easter slow cooked lamb. They were delicious. You are amazing the comments and notes on your recipes are always so helpful.
Velva on 2025-04-03 (5 stars): Thank you for the hint prepare beans ahead. I plan to make these for company in a couple day. Will this work with frozen Hariot Verts from Trader Joes?
Ulyana on 2025-03-13 (5 stars): Added some mushrooms, touch of white wine vinegar and a splash of soy sauce and it turned out extremely good!
Chelle on 2025-03-09 (5 stars): Restaurant quality side dish that is super yum 😋
Sandi on 2025-03-01 (5 stars): Love this recipe! Because we love garlic, I use garlic infused olive oil, as well as the fresh garlic, and then add crisp crumbled bacon when done and always season with sea salt.
Linda on 2025-02-04 (5 stars): Delicious
Desiree Kramer on 2024-12-20 (5 stars): These were absolutely delicious, easy to make and everybody loved them! 10 out of 10!!
