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    Home » Budget Recipes

    Easy Garlic Green Beans

    Published: Apr 20, 2011 · Modified: Jun 30, 2021 by Jessica Fisher

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    Green beans are such an easy side dish! I keep a bag in the freezer for this quick-fix dinner dish. It’s one of those easy sides to serve with mac and cheese and grilled meats.

    Easy Garlic Green Beans | Good Cheap Eats this …

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    I love meals that are quick and delicious. Who doesn’t, really? But, I seek these out. I search high and low for recipes that can come together in a snap. I lie awake at night dreaming….

    OK, I exaggerate — a little.

    But, I do love it when a meal plan comes together in quick fashion without a lot of fuss or prep work. These green beans are one of the major players in that game.

    I regularly stock up on bags and bags of frozen green beans, usually of the Trader Joe’s variety. One, they are an easy side dish; and two, my pickiest vegetable eater adores them. That second point is as equally valid, if not more so, than the first. Ha!

    Containing only five ingredients — frozen organic green beans, oil or butter, salt, pepper, and garlic — these Easy Garlic Green Beans take about ten minutes to pull together. These beans are great hot. But, if you use olive oil, they are fantastic served cold or at room temperature.

    Since the dish is made from the pantry or the freezer, you can whip up a tasty side dish lickety split.

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    This recipe is featured in Good Cheap Eats Meal Plan 4. Click this box to get the free 3-day meal plan, all the budget-friendly recipes, tips for what to do with leftovers, and the customizable grocery list.

    Must have kitchen tools for this recipe:

    These two tools are really all you need and it makes the cooking process so quick and simple.

    • large skillet with lid – I have two of these since I love this model so much.
    • Ergo Chef cooking tongs – I love these! They are my favorite cooking tongs.
    A plate of green beans, potatoes, and salmon

    Easy Garlic Green Beans

    Containing only five ingredients: frozen green beans, oil or butter, salt, pepper, and garlic, they take about ten minutes to pull together.
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Side Dish
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 3 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 7 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Servings: 4
    Calories: 49kcal
    Author: Jessica Fisher

    Ingredients

    • 2 cup frozen green beans
    • ¼ cup water
    • 1 tablespoon butter or olive oil
    • 1 clove garlic chopped
    • salt
    • black pepper

    Instructions

    • In a large skillet with a lid, place the beans and water. Turn the heat to medium high and cover the pan. Allow the beans to steam cook for about 5 to 7 minutes or until tender. Drain off any water that remains.
    • Push the beans to the side of the pan and add the butter or oil as well as the garlic. Heat, stirring until the butter and garlic are evenly distributed and the beans are hot.
    • Season to taste with salt and pepper.

    Notes

    Promptly store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator, for up to 4 days.
    Nutritional values are approximate and based on ½ c beans.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 49kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 4mg | Potassium: 116mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 380IU | Vitamin C: 7mg | Calcium: 20mg | Iron: 1mg
    Tried this recipe?Tell us what you think! Your reviews help us develop better recipes and give newcomers the confidence to try your favorites. Scroll down to leave a starred comment.
    Easy Garlic Green Beans | Good Cheap Eats
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Amber

      November 15, 2022 at 8:14 am

      5 stars
      I keep frozen veggies on hand as an easy go to, but I don’t really enjoy them – but this recipe is actually delicious! I used the thin frozen green beans. How would it change the flavor to use minced garlic instead of chopped? Would it just be more garlicky?

      Reply
      • Jessica Fisher

        November 15, 2022 at 11:04 am

        Yes, I think you might get more coverage from minced. Use whatever you like, even garlic powder in a pinch. We also use Everything Seasoning on veggies as well.

        Reply
    2. Cheri A.

      November 19, 2021 at 2:46 pm

      5 stars
      I have reviewed this recipe before. Just stopping in to say that I’m still making this recipe, still love it! I’ve made it with fresh green beans and frozen green beans.

      Reply
    3. Stephanie @ The Good Stuff

      June 24, 2013 at 5:07 pm

      We were approaching dinner time tonight and I realized I didn’t really have a plan for the fresh green beans that I had other than maybe steaming them, which sounded boring to me. So I googled and your recipe popped up. I read your blog regularly so I decided to see what you had for me. Sounded easy so I decided to try it and I was so pleased with the outcome! Super easy to make and great flavor! I do enjoy steamed green beans (and other veggies), but sometimes I’m just looking for a little something more. With minimal effort I had a great side and even my 3 year old enjoyed them.. Thanks for a great recipe! I will definitely be making green beans this way again!

      Reply
      • Jessica

        June 25, 2013 at 3:04 pm

        Isn’t it amazing what just a little “something” can do for it. Glad you enjoyed it!

        Reply
    4. Carla

      June 05, 2013 at 1:34 pm

      Thanks for the recipe. Our favorite is roasted with garlic, olive oil, and pepper. However, with hotter weather upon us, I will give this a try on one of those “no oven” days.

      Reply
    5. Maggie@SquarePennies

      November 20, 2011 at 9:08 am

      Great recipe & wonderful for the holidays when we need quick side dishes. Love the color on the plate too! Thanks for this one!

      Reply
    6. Cheri A.

      November 18, 2011 at 9:53 am

      I have been wanting to try this green bean recipe for months, but I always forget about it until it is too late. I finally made these last night. They were a hit with my family. 🙂 I am going to make these for Thanksgiving because we never have the traditional green bean casserole due to my daughter’s allergies. Thanks!!

      Reply
      • Jessica

        November 18, 2011 at 10:10 am

        So glad you liked them!

        Reply
    7. amanda

      April 22, 2011 at 8:33 am

      oh this is fun! i am so happy to find so many bloggers doing these sort of blog hops! i’m finding all sorts of good recipes!!

      Reply
    8. Amanda

      April 20, 2011 at 12:35 pm

      Hello! Glad I found this blog and party 🙂 Can’t wait to contribute more and try some of those yummy recipes!

      Reply
    9. melissa @IWasBornToCook

      April 20, 2011 at 11:18 am

      thanks for hosting…the beans look great!

      Reply
    10. The Gentle Mom

      April 20, 2011 at 9:37 am

      These look delicious. I’ve made a similar recipe, with a few sliced red peppers thrown in for color and crunch. It works really well!

      Reply
    11. SnoWhite @ Finding Joy in My Kitchen

      April 20, 2011 at 8:33 am

      We just use plain basil on our green beans — Love it! But, now you have me thinking: garlic and basil 🙂

      Reply
    12. Roz

      April 20, 2011 at 6:58 am

      Hi and thanks for hosting! I’m your newest follower and linked up a Farfalle Carbonara recipe. I have your button on my post too. I hope you stop by and also join me on my weekend foodie blog hop. I’d be happy to have you join in with all those who share every weekend! Roz

      Reply
    13. Katie

      April 20, 2011 at 6:17 am

      Garlic + Geen Beans + Easey = a perfect combo!

      Reply
    14. Amanda (TheHomemadeKitchen)

      April 20, 2011 at 5:31 am

      That looks like a yummy plate of food:) I love the combination of green beans and garlic.

      Reply
    15. Ruth H.

      April 20, 2011 at 4:36 am

      Sauteed green beans are practically a staple at our house. They are one of the only veggies everyone will eat without complaint. We have an Aldi nearby that has some of the very best frozen green beans I have ever encountered–closest thing to fresh I’ve found.

      Reply
    16. Jen Blacker

      April 20, 2011 at 4:24 am

      Thank you for hosting. Those beans look so yummy!

      Reply
    17. Debbi Does Dinner Healthy

      April 20, 2011 at 3:35 am

      What a beautiful plate of food! love beans, love garlic, thanks!

      Reply
    18. Beverly

      April 20, 2011 at 3:16 am

      I love fresh green beans with garlic, it is the only way I will eat them!

      Reply
      • Cheri A.

        August 30, 2020 at 3:42 pm

        Just stopping back to post that this is hands-down my fam’s fav recipe for green beans! I make them often. Tonight we’re having them again, and the only thing I’ve changed is that I add some onion in there too. During the summer we love to eat fresh rather than frozen!

        Thanks, Jessica!

        Reply
        • Jessica Fisher

          August 31, 2020 at 6:19 am

          So great to hear!

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    Hi, I'm Jessica! I'm a 4x cookbook author and 6x mom. I know what it is to be in a hurry and on a budget. I believe anyone can prepare delicious meals -- no matter what's on their plate. I've been featured on Good Morning America, PBS News Hour, and NBC.

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