These Sauteed Green Beans are a quick and easy side dish with the most tender and delicious skillet green beans. Made in just one pan with just a few simple ingredients using fresh greens, garlic, salt and pepper and ready in just 15 minutes.
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Easy Sautéed Green Bean Recipe
Whipping up a healthy side dish is easier than ever before with these sautéed green beans. You can keep them simple or dress them up however you’d like – their versatility makes them a fail-proof side dish for all sorts of different main courses! From big holiday feasts to light weekend lunches, these tender-crisp green beans make an amazing addition to any meal.
These green beans are fancy enough to fit in at the holiday table, but they’re easy enough to make that they can become a go-to in your kitchen year round. Plus, they’re super healthy! Not only do they have the best taste and texture, but they also supply your body with plenty of vital nutrients. They’re a wonderful source of vitamins, magnesium, dietary fiber and more! Plus, this recipe ensures that they remain vegan, gluten-free, keto/low-carb, paleo-friendly and Whole30 compliant.
What You’ll Need
You only need a handful of ingredients to make flawless sautéed green beans. Feel free to add or sub in any seasonings you’re in the mood for.
- Fresh Green Beans: Be sure to choose brightly colored green beans with no blemishes.
- Vegan butter: You can also use avocado oil, ghee or unsalted butter if not dairy-free.
- Fine-Grain Sea Salt: Or kosher salt, added to taste.
- Freshly Ground Black Pepper: To taste.
- Almonds: We like raw sliced almonds
- Shallots: Finely diced.
- Garlic cloves: Finely minced.
- Lemon: Be sure to use freshly squeezed lemon juice.
- Chopped fresh parsley: For garnish.
Can I Use Frozen Green Beans Instead?
Fresh green beans will give you the best flavor, but frozen ones can be used if that’s all you have on hand. Simply thaw them out in the fridge before working with them. You could also thaw them out in a bowl of cool water if preferred.
How to Trim Green Beans
After you cut the ends off of your green beans, it’s important to give them a good wash and then dry them off thoroughly. This removes any potential dirt or pesticides from the surface of the beans.
- Line Them Up: Grab a handful of green beans and line them up on a cutting board so that all of the ends on one side form a straight line.
- Cut Off the Ends: Press a sharp kitchen knife down toward the tips of the lined-up green beans and cut off the ends all at once.
- Flip & Repeat: Line up the opposite ends of the green beans and trim off the tips all at once. Repeat the process with any remaining green beans until all of the ends are removed.
- Wash & Dry: Place the trimmed green beans into a large bowl filled with cold water and let them sit for 15-20 minutes. Then rinse them off with cold water and pat them dry with paper towels.
How to make Sauteed Green Beans:
- Toast the almonds: Heat a large skillet over medium-low heat. Add 1 teaspoon butter then add the almonds and toast until golden brown, about 2 minutes, stirring frequently. Transfer to a plate and set aside.
- Sauté the aromatics: Return the skillet to medium-heat and melt the remaining butter in the same pan. Add the shallots and garlic and cook for 3-4 minutes, or until fragrant and lightly caramelized.
- Cook the green beans: Add the green beans to the skillet along with 1 tablespoon of water to the pan. Cook, while tossing occasionally, until the green beans are tender, about 4-5 minutes.
- Season: Season with salt, black pepper and lemon juice. Stir in half of the almonds, reserving the rest for serving.
- Serve: Transfer the green beans to a large plate or serving platter and sprinkle with the reserved almonds along with chopped parsley. Serve warm.
Variation Ideas
You can take these fried green beans in tons of different directions. Here are some easy ways to change them up:
- Add More Seasonings: We often add half a teaspoon of garlic powder and 1/4 teaspoon of onion powder to our green beans for extra flavor. You could even throw in some crushed red pepper for a kick of heat!
- Make Balsamic Green Beans: Balsamic vinegar tastes amazing on top of crispy air fried green beans. It gives them a satisfying tang that’s guaranteed to make a splash at the dinner table.
- Make Cheesy Green Beans: Adding a sprinkle of nutritional yeast is a diet-friendly way to give your green beans a cheesy flavor. You can use grated Parmesan cheese if you’re not dairy-free or vegan.
- Add Bacon: If your diet permits, introduce some protein by sprinkling cooked and crumbled bacon over your finished green beans. Yum!
- Make Them Festive: Serving these green beans on Thanksgiving or another holiday? Garnish them with pecans and dried cranberries for a festive finishing touch.
Serving Suggestions
These green beans make a great healthy snack by themselves, though we usually serve them as a side dish during lunch or dinner. We’ve listed some of our favorite entrees to pair them with below.
- Serve with Falafel: This classic Falafel can be cooked in the Air Fryer, over the stove or in the oven! No matter which route you take, it’s guaranteed to be a tangy, savory and spicy delight.
- Pair with Teriyaki Salmon: So long as you’re not vegan, this Teriyaki Salmon is an absolute must-try. Made with a sumptuous pineapple orange sauce, it tastes lovely alongside air fried green beans.
- Serve with Sesame Tofu: I don’t know about you, but our family is always in the mood for Sesame Tofu. Especially when it’s homemade!
Storing and Reheating Air Fryer Green Beans
Once your green beans have cooled completely, transfer them to an airtight container or a resealable storage bag. Place them in the fridge and enjoy them within 4 days. Reheat them in a 350°F Air Fryer for about 5 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through, until the beans are warmed through.
Do These Freeze Well?
They do! Place the cooled green beans into an airtight container and freeze them for up to 6 months. Thaw them out in the fridge overnight before reheating and enjoying them.
Are Green Beans Keto?
Yes! Not only are green beans a healthy vegetable, they are also, paleo, Whole30, gluten free and can fit into a low carb keto lifestyle. The nutritional info for one serving of sauteed greens is:
- 98 calories
- 3g Net Carbs : 7g Total carbs – 4g Fiber
- 2g Protein
- 7g Fat
More green bean recipes:
These Sauteed Green Beans are a quick and easy side dish with the most tender and delicious skillet green beans. Made in just one pan with just a few simple ingredients using fresh greens, garlic, salt and pepper and ready in just 15 minutes.
- 3 tablespoons vegan butter ghee or unsalted butter, divided
- ⅓ cup raw sliced almonds
- 1 lb French green beans haricot verts, trimmed
- 2 medium shallots finely diced
- 2 medium garlic cloves finely minced
- 2 teaspoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
- Fine grain sea salt or kosher salt to taste
- Freshly cracked black pepper to taste
- 1-2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
- Heat a large skillet over medium-low heat. Add 1 teaspoon butter then add the almonds and toast until golden brown, about 2 minutes, stirring frequently. Transfer to a plate and set aside.
- Return the skillet to medium-heat and melt the remaining butter in the same pan. Add the shallots and garlic and cook for 3-4 minutes, or until fragrant and lightly caramelized.
- Add the green beans to the skillet along with 1 tablespoon of water to the pan. Cook, while tossing occasionally, until the green beans are tender, about 4-5 minutes.
- Season with salt, black pepper and lemon juice. Stir in half of the almonds, reserving the rest for serving.
- Transfer the green beans to a large plate or serving platter and sprinkle with the reserved almonds along with chopped parsley. Serve warm.
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