Delectable Garlic Butter Green Beans are a quick and easy side dish that's ideal for your holiday table and simple enough to enjoy all year long. This simple recipe is ready in less than 20 minutes and requires just 3 everyday ingredients plus salt and pepper (and a sprinkle of parsley if you like).
You've got several options for cooking your green beans and I've included directions for my favorite methods (steam, roast, blanch or grill). Whatever method you choose, you'll douse the tender green beans in a garlic butter sauce to make them irresistible.
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Ingredients You Need to Make Garlic Butter Green Beans
- Green Beans: ideally thin green beans (haricot verts)
- Butter: salted or unsalted butter
- Garlic: fresh garlic cloves
- Kosher Salt and Freshly Ground Black Pepper
- Fresh Parsley: for garnish, optional
Cooking Options for Green Beans
For this recipe, I typically steam the green beans, but you can also roast, blanch or grill them. Swap any of these options for step 1 of the recipe.
- To roast green beans: Toss trimmed green beans in a bowl with a little olive oil, salt and pepper; spread in an even single layer on a parchment lined, rimmed baking sheet. Roast in an oven preheated to 425˚F for 12-15 minutes, depending on the thickness of the beans and how tender you like them.
- To blanch green beans: In a wide saucepan or skillet bring salted water to boil, you'll want just enough to cover the green beans. Add beans to boiling water and cook 4-5 minutes, until bright green and tender to your liking.
- To grill green beans: Toss trimmed green beans in a bowl with a little olive oil, salt and pepper. In a grill basket or grill pan over medium-high heat, grill, stirring often, for 10-12 minutes, or to your desired level of tenderness. (See my Grilled Green Beans recipe for photos and a video.)
More Holiday Worthy Vegetable Side Dishes
- Bacon Wrapped Green Beans
- Roasted Potatoes and Broccoli
- Roasted Broccoli and Cauliflower
- Bacon Wrapped Asparagus
- Rapini with Raisins and Hazelnuts
- Green Beans and Mushrooms
How to Make Garlic Butter Green Beans
Steam green beans in a steamer basket set over boiling water in a covered pot until tender-crisp. (See other cooking options above.) Transfer to serving platter.
Meanwhile, make garlic butter sauce: heat butter in a skillet over medium heat until sizzling, add garlic and cook garlic, just until fragrant. Season to taste with salt and pepper and spoon sauce over green beans. Garnish with fresh parsley and serve.
Garlic Butter Green Beans
Ingredients
- 1 pound green beans washed, stem ends trimmed
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 4 large garlic cloves minced
- kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
- 1 tablespoon minced fresh parsley for garnish, optional
Instructions
- Bring one inch of salted water to boil in a large pot with a steamer insert. Once water is boiling, place green beans in the steamer in an even layer. Cover pot and steam for 7 minutes, or until beans are tender-crisp (recipe notes #1 and #2) With tongs or a slotted spoon, transfer green beans to serving platter (blotting off moisture with a clean kitchen towel if necessary).
- Meanwhile, heat butter in a medium skillet over medium heat until sizzling. Add minced garlic; cook and stir until fragrant, about 30 seconds (or longer to mellow the garlic flavor). Remove from heat and season to taste with salt and pepper. Spoon sauce over green beans and garnish with fresh parsley if desired. Serve immediately.
Notes
- Test one green bean to see if they are cooked to your liking. Larger green beans will take longer to cook.
- Here are a few more options for cooking green beans. Use any of these to replace step 1 of the recipe.
- To roast green beans: Toss trimmed green beans in a bowl with a little olive oil, salt and pepper; spread in an even single layer on a parchment lined, rimmed baking sheet. Roast in an oven preheated to 425˚F for 12-15 minutes, depending on the thickness of the beans and how tender you like them.
- To blanch green beans: In a wide saucepan or skillet bring salted water to boil, you'll want just enough to cover the green beans. Add beans to boiling water and 4-5 minutes, until bright green and crisp tender.
- To grill green beans: Toss trimmed green beans in a bowl with a little olive oil, salt and pepper. In a grill basket or grill pan over medium-high heat, grill, stirring often, for 10-12 minutes, or to your desired level of tenderness.
These look delicious with lots of wonderful flavours
Thanks so much, Pauline! I hope you'll love them.
Garlic butter should always be on hand as far as I'm concerned. 🙂 I love how vibrant these green beans are - they almost sparkle in the garlic butter. These would be so pretty for any occasion. 🙂 ~Valentina
We often include minced garlic in our green beans, too. However the butter is new! I like it - it would add a nice richness to the beans. I need to try this recipe soon!!
Looks so beautifully green and crunchy!