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    Garlic Butter Green Beans

    This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my affiliate disclosure.

    Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe
    Photo collage with text overlay "Sauteed Green Beans With Garlic Butter + Parmesan"

    Sauteed green beans tossed in delicious garlic butter and parmesan – Yum! These garlic butter green beans are a delicious and easy-to-make side dish recipe that everybody will be begging for seconds of.

    Sauteed garlic butter green beans in a white serving dish with parmesan shavings and pine nuts on top.

    Sauteed green beans are a veggie side dish that my whole family loves. Even the kids will gobble them up without any whining or complaints. Especially when they have been tossed in garlic butter and parmesan!

    This recipe for garlic butter green beans is incredibly delicious, easy to make and is a versatile side dish that complements just about any main meal. Let’s make some!

    Close up photo of garlic butter green beans with parmesan and pine nuts scattered on top.

    Ingredients You’ll Need

    Here’s what you will need…

    • Green Beans: Use fresh green beans.
    • Butter: Salted or unsalted are both fine! You could also use ghee instead.
    • Garlic: I like to grate my garlic using a handheld fine grater. So quick and easy!
    • Parmesan: Use freshly grated parmesan.
    • Nutmeg: This is optional but so good with green beans. I prefer to use whole nutmeg since it is so fragrant when freshly grated. Just use a fine grater to grate a touch directly over the green beans. However, you could also use a pinch of ground nutmeg instead.
    • Salt + Pepper: Season to taste.
    Overhead photo of ingredients needed to make garlic butter green beans.

    Detailed ingredient list and directions located in the recipe card below.

    How To Prep Green Beans

    The green beans need to be trimmed before cooking. You will need to cut the stem ends off unless you purchased them already trimmed. Simply line up a handful of green beans with the stem side all facing the same direction and slice them off with a knife. Continue until they have all been trimmed.

    Green beans with ends trimmed off and a knife sitting on a wood cutting board.

    How To Make These Garlic Butter Green Beans

    This is an easy 3-step process: blanch, saute, garnish and serve! Let’s make some garlic butter green beans!

    Step 1: Blanch. Blanch the green beans by cooking them in a pot of boiling water for 2-3 minutes (tender crisp). Transfer immediately to an ice water bath to stop the cooking process. Once cool, drain and set aside.

    Blanching green beans

    Step 2: Saute. Melt butter in a large pan over medium-high heat. Add the minced garlic and stir until fragrant (about 30 seconds).

    Sauteeing garlic in butter in a large frying pan.

    Add in the green beans and toss until evenly coated and heated through. Season to taste with salt, pepper and a pinch of nutmeg.

    Green beans in a large pan being tossed with tongs.

    Remove from heat and stir in the parmesan.

    Sauteed green beans in a stainless steel frying pan.

    Step 3: Garnish and serve. The garnishes are optional but highly recommended! They add extra texture, flavour and look great. Some garnish options include…

    • Parmesan shavings
    • Toasted pine nuts
    • Toasted slivered or sliced almonds
    • Chopped pistachios
    • Lemon zest
    • Chili flakes
    • Crispy bacon bits
    • Crispy onions or fried shallots
    • Crumbled goat cheese or blue cheese
    Dish of garlic butter green beans with gold serving spoons next to it.

    Make Ahead + Storage Tips

    • Make Ahead: The green beans can be blanched ahead of time and stored in the fridge. Simply saute in the garlic butter when ready to serve. I use this approach a lot – especially for holiday meals!
    • Storage: Blanched green beans can be stored in the fridge for 3-5 days. Leftovers of the fully prepared dish can also be stored in the fridge for a few days.
    • To Reheat: Best served immediately once fully prepared but any leftovers can be reheated on the stove in a little olive oil or butter.

    FAQ

    Are string beans and green beans the same thing?

    Yes – they are one and the same! Green beans used to have fibrous “strings” running down the length of the pod similar to snap peas. However, modern green bean varieties no longer have these strings and now can only be found in some heirloom varieties.

    How do you make green beans taste good?

    I love using the blanch and saute method. Blanching first gives you the tender crisp texture and vibrant colour. Then you saute in flavourful ingredients to make them taste amazing. In this recipe, we saute in garlic butter and toss with parmesan and toppings. Believe me, these green beans taste good!

    What To Serve Them With

    These garlic butter green beans are a versatile side dish that go with just about anything. For an easy weeknight dinner, just pick a protein and serve it with these green beans. They also make an excellent side dish for holiday meals and look great next to the Thanksgiving turkey!

    White serving dish containing garlic green beans garnished with parmesan and pine nuts.

    More Vegetable Side Dishes

    Eat your veggies! Here are a few more delicious cooked vegetable sides:

    • Roasted Pumpkin and Beetroot Salad
    • Maple Roasted Delicata Squash
    • Fajita Veggies
    • Instant Pot Acorn Squash

    Let me know if you make this green beans recipe. Leave me a comment below!

    Print
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    Garlic Butter Green Beans

    ★★★★★ 5 from 6 reviews
    • Author: Vanessa | Maple + Mango
    • Prep Time: 5 min
    • Cook Time: 10 min
    • Total Time: 15 min
    • Yield: 4 1x
    • Category: Side Dish
    • Method: Stovetop
    • Cuisine: American
    Print Recipe
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    Description

    These Garlic Butter Green Beans are a delicious and easy to make side dish that everybody will be asking for seconds of.


    Ingredients

    Scale
    • 1 pound green beans, trimmed (454 g)
    • 2 tablespoons butter
    • 4 cloves garlic, minced
    • pinch of nutmeg
    • salt + pepper, to taste
    • 1/4 cup freshly grated parmesan
    • Optional toppings (see notes for ideas)

    Instructions

    1. Blanch:  Blanch the green beans by cooking them in a pot of boiling water for 2-3 minutes (tender crisp).  Transfer immediately to an ice water bath to stop the cooking process.  Once cool, drain and set aside.
    2. Saute:  Melt the butter in a large pan over medium-high heat.  Add the minced garlic and stir until fragrant (about 30 seconds).  Add the green beans and toss until evenly coated and heated through.  Season to taste with nutmeg, salt and pepper.  Remove pan from the heat and stir through the parmesan.
    3. Serve:  Garnish and serve.  Toppings are optional but highly recommended!  See notes for ideas.

    Notes

    • Butter:  Salted or unsalted are both fine.  You could also use ghee instead.
    • Nutmeg:  I prefer using whole nutmeg.  I grate a small amount of it directly over top of the green beans with a handheld fine grater.
    • Toppings:  Garnishing with a few toppings is optional but highly recommended for some additional textures and flavours.  Some ideas include: parmesan shavings, toasted pine nuts or almonds, chopped pistachios, lemon zest, chili flakes, crispy bacon bits, crispy onions or fried shallots, crumbled goat cheese or blue cheese.
    • Make Ahead:  The green beans can be blanched ahead of time and stored in the fridge for a few days.  Simply saute in the garlic butter when ready to serve.

    Keywords: garlic butter green beans, green bean recipe, sauteed green beans

    Did you make this recipe?

    Tag @maple_and_mango on Instagram and hashtag it #mapleandmango

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    Green beans with parmesan and pine nuts with text overlay "Garlic Butter Green Beans"
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Sean

      November 22, 2020 at 7:40 pm

      Great simple side – and I’m so glad you mentioned nutmeg! I had forgotten how nicely nutmeg works with green beans. I have to say, I’m quite partial to the pine nuts as well. Cheer!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Vanessa | Maple + Mango

        November 25, 2020 at 2:31 pm

        Nutmeg just adds something special to cooked green veggies of any sort!

        Reply
    2. Nancy Wu

      November 20, 2020 at 5:53 pm

      wow i love this simple tasty bean recipes

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Vanessa | Maple + Mango

        November 20, 2020 at 6:01 pm

        So easy yet so good!

        Reply
    3. Joss

      November 19, 2020 at 11:07 am

      These are my kind of green beans. Yum!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Vanessa | Maple + Mango

        November 19, 2020 at 9:31 pm

        Glad you love them!

        Reply
    4. Lisa

      November 19, 2020 at 12:21 am

      I love the idea of topping with pine nuts and Parmesan shavings…the flavor combination is delicious!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Vanessa | Maple + Mango

        November 19, 2020 at 10:00 am

        I agree! It is one of my favourite flavour combos! Not only are pine nuts and Parmesan shavings delicious on these green beans but also amazing on salads, pasta, risotto and more!

        Reply
    5. Sharon

      November 18, 2020 at 4:36 pm

      This was a hit! I used your make-ahead technique and blanched the beans when I got home with my groceries then made them with dinner the next day. Super easy and we both enjoyed having a new side dish. Thanks!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Vanessa | Maple + Mango

        November 18, 2020 at 9:34 pm

        I’m so happy to hear that you enjoyed it!

        Reply
    6. Julia Pinney

      November 18, 2020 at 5:11 am

      Green beans have become a new favourite side dish at our place. I really like how you blancehd them first. I know I should do this, but end up too lazy!!! They look so much better in the end and I bet are crisper. I’m trying your way next time! Thanks for sharing.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Vanessa | Maple + Mango

        November 18, 2020 at 9:36 pm

        Whenever I skip the blanching, I kind of regret it after since they just don’t have the same satisfying texture. But I totally hear you on being lazy sometimes!

        Reply

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