When you are in need of a quick and easy side dish that is both healthy and delicious these Garlic Butter Green Beans are absolute perfection! Fresh green beans steamed to just tender crisp and then tossed in freshly melted garlic butter is the perfect accompaniment to any meal.
Healthy and delicious dinners do not have to be complicated! These fabulous Garlic Butter Green Beans are proof of that.
This recipes takes 10 minutes at the very most and is packed with delicious garlic butter flavor. The key to success with this recipe is simply to not overcook it, that includes the green beans and the garlic. Manage that and you will have a perfect side dish you're sure to make again and again!
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More side dish recipes you will love!
Equipment
- Pot or skillet with steaming basket: I personally love the Always Pan from Our Place for quick steaming jobs.
- Cutting board and knife
- Colander
Ingredients
- Green beans: To save even more time purchase the green beans that have already been prepped and washed. Some of them you can even just steam straight in the bag!
- Butter: I love using Kerrygold Salted Butter for this recipe (and pretty much everything else too). But feel to use your favorite high quality butter.
- Garlic: I highly recommend purchasing fresh garlic and chopping it yourself. The kind you buy pre minced in those little jars has a weird a texture and doesn't test as fresh and potent. You can really taste the garlic in the recipe so take the extra minute to prep it fresh and you won't regret it!
- Lemon: You'll need the juice of about ½ a lemon for this recipe. You can use bottled lemon juice is that's all you have on hand.
- Salt & pepper
- Grated parmesan cheese (optional): This is completely optional but I like the flavor.
- Red pepper flakes (optional): Gives a nice extra kick if that's what you're into.
Step by Step Instructions
Time needed: 10 minutes
- Prep the green beans and chop the garlic.
- Steam the green beans & drain.
- Melt the butter and cook the garlic.
- Toss the green beans in the garlic butter and season.
- Top with parmesan cheese and red pepper flakes if desired. Enjoy!
Recipe FAQ
You can also par boil the green beans for a few minutes for steam in the microwave. See the note below on different options.
I do not recommend it. Those little jars of pre-minced garlic may seem like a tempting time saver but they don't have the same flavor or texture you get from fresh garlic.
Yes, you can substitute fresh lemon juice with bottled lemon juice in a pinch.
This recipe is best using fresh green beans. However, while I have not tried it, I imagine the garlic butter would be delicious poured on cooked from frozen green beans as well. The texture would just be much softer.
You can if you want but I don't think it is necessary for this recipe. Simply rinse the green beans with a little cold water after draining to stop the cooking process.
What if I don't have a steaming basket?
If you don't have a steaming basket here are some alternative options for cooking the green beans.
Boil the green beans.
Place a pot of water over high heat until you reach a rolling boil. Add the green beans and parboil for 2-4 minutes until just tender crisp. Then follow the remaining recipe steps.
Microwave the green beans in a bowl.
Place the washed green beans in a microwave safe bowl. Add a few tablespoon of water and then cover with a microwave safe plate. *Make sure the bowl is cover loosely. You don't want it to be air tight.*
Microwave on high for 4-5 minutes until tender crisp. Then follow the remaining recipe steps.
Microwave the green beans in the bag.
Some fresh green beans come in bags that are designed to be microwaved in. If this is the case, simply follow then instructions on the bag, reducing the time by about a minute.
*Do not microwave green beans in a plastic bag unless there are specific instructions on the bag about a safe way to do so. *
Tips for perfect Garlic Butter Green Beans.
- Do not overcook the green beans. You want a tender, bright green bean with a bit of a bite. Overcooking the green beans will make them much softer and possibly mushy.
- Do not burn the garlic. The garlic only needs about 30 seconds to a minute cooking in the butter before it is ready. Be sure to stir constantly as it cooks and watch closely to prevent burning. If you cook it too long it can burn and become bitter, which is not ideal.
Other recipes you might enjoy.
Classic British Roasties (roast potatoes)
Grilled Pepper and Mozzarella Sandwiches
Made this recipe? Let me know what you think in the comments!
Recipe
Garlic Butter Green Beans
Ingredients
- 1 lb green beans, washed with the ends trimmed
- 3 tablespoon butter
- 4 large cloves garlic, peeled and chopped
- salt & pepper
- ½ lemon, juice of about ½ to 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- parmesan cheese optional
- red pepper flakes optional
Instructions
- Chop 4 large cloves of garlic and set aside.
- Fill a pot or deep skillet with about an inch of water and bring to a boil. Add the washed green beans to a steaming basket and place over the boiling water. Cover with a lid and steam on high heat for 1-2 minutes until the green beans are just tender crisp. Remove the basket from the pan and rinse the green beans with cold water. Set aside.
- Add 3 tablespoon of butter to a medium skillet and melt over medium heat. Add the chopped garlic and cook on medium to medium high heat until the garlic is fragrant and lightly golden. Be careful not to burn the garlic. Remove the pan from the feat and immediately add the green beans. Toss the green beans in the garlic butter until well coated. Add a squeeze of lemon juice and salt and pepper to taste. If desired, topped with a little freshly grated parmesan and red pepper flakes. Enjoy!
Lima Ekram
Parmesan flakes were delicious on those green beans - a real game changer!
Kristen
These beans are delicious! Love the garlic butter!
Suzy
This was the easiest way to cook them! They have so much flavor too!
Jacqueline Meldrum
I could happily sit down to a bowl of these on their own.
veenaazmanov
Perfect and flavorful veg food. This definitely is healthy and crunchy and best for a light Dinner too.
Sheri
Quick and easy side dish that I'll be making again and again. The lemon juice brightens the flavor of the garlic butter. Yum!