This easy garlic butter green beans recipe delivers perfectly cooked, flavorful green beans in just 15 minutes!
Watch the Video
Fresh green beans are so versatile, and I love how quick and easy they are to cook. They’re seriously delicious!
My go-to methods are roasting them (like in my Roasted Green Beans Recipe) or giving them a quick sauté on the stovetop (as we do in the recipe below).
What You Need to Make Sautéed Green Beans
Green beans are such an easy side dish. To make our basic green beans recipe, you will need:
- Skillet
- Fresh green beans with the stems trimmed
- Olive oil, salt & pepper
- Water or Stock
Basic green beans are perfectly delicious, but you can always add a few more ingredients to jazz them up and add more flavor.
I’ve included my favorite garlic butter version in the recipe below. We’ve also shared these Ginger Butter Green Beans.
How to Sauté Green Beans
We like our beans to be bright green with a few blistered spots on the outside and tender and flavorful in the middle.
Cook fresh green beans in a wide skillet with oil and salt, tossing them every few minutes. The beans won’t cook through, but you should see a few blistered spots.
Then, to cook them through so they are tender, pour in a small amount of liquid — like water or stock — and cover with a lid.
Cook, covered until the green beans are tender (about 2 minutes).
Uncover and then serve or add more flavor with minced garlic, butter, and other spices you love.
Toss around for a minute or two, and then serve! So easy!
Should I Blanch Green Beans Before Sautéing?
In this recipe, the green beans are not blanched. The step of adding a bit of liquid and covering the skillet achieves the same results.
I save blanching green beans for making Green Bean Casserole or salads, like this Green Bean Salad with Crispy Shallots or this Green Beans and Potatoes Salad.
How to Avoid Mushy Green Beans
Forget about mushy green beans! Here’s how to get them perfectly tender every time:
- Start fresh: Using fresh green beans makes a huge difference.
- Cook them fast: Our recipe cooks them quickly in a skillet with oil.
- Cover with a lid: After blistering them in the oil, we add a splash of water and cover the skillet for 2 minutes. This makes them bright green and perfectly tender.
Cook Ahead and Save Time
Green beans are perfect for cooking ahead of time. Follow our recipe, allow the green beans to cool, and then store them in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 to 4 days.
Gently reheat them in a skillet over medium heat and enjoy!
What to Serve With Green Beans?
This green beans recipe is fast. It’s one of the best ways to cook fresh green beans, so we make it often! Here are a few of our family’s favorite dishes to serve them with:
- Turkey Meatloaf (see our secret for making sure it isn’t dry)
- Juicy Skillet Chicken Breasts
- Lemony Baked Chicken Breasts
- Juicy Skillet Pork Chops
- Amazing Chicken Parmesan
- Lemon Herb Baked Salmon
For more sautéed vegetable recipes, see our Sautéed Zucchini, Sautéed Brussels Sprouts, Sautéed Cabbage, or this Sautéed Bok Choy.
Garlic Butter Sauteed Green Beans
- PREP
- COOK
- TOTAL
This easy garlic butter green bean recipe delivers perfectly cooked, flavorful beans in just 15 minutes! It’s a family favorite that everyone will love.
The recipe below is our basic method. We’ve included an optional step to finish the beans with a delicious garlic butter sauce for even more delicious flavor.
Watch Us Make the Recipe
You Will Need
Basic Sautéed Green Beans1 teaspoon olive oil
1 pound fresh green beans, stem ends snapped off
1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
1/4 cup water or stock
Lemon wedges, for serving
Optional Garlic Butter1 tablespoon butter or vegan butter
3 medium garlic cloves, minced, about 1 tablespoon
1/2 teaspoon lemon zest
1/4 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
Directions
1Add oil to a wide skillet over medium-high heat. Add the green beans and ¼ teaspoon of salt.
2Cook for about 5 minutes until lightly blistered, tossing frequently so they cook evenly.
3Pour in water (or stock). Cover the skillet (or use foil if needed) and cook for 2 minutes.
4Uncover, reduce heat to medium-low, and cook until the remaining liquid evaporates.
5If desired, stir in butter, garlic, lemon zest, and pepper. Cook for another minute, stirring the garlic. Serve!
Adam and Joanne's Tips
- Nutrition facts: The provided nutrition facts are estimates. Garlic butter is included.
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These were delicious! I used the chicken stock and my very favorite French butter, omitted the lemon as not a fan. Very good recipe! Much appreciated.
Would this green bean recipe be ok making in advance?
Hi Diane, Yes, these sautéed green beans are great for making ahead of time.
I made these last night, it was so easy to make and so delicious, this is definitely my go to recipe for fresh green beans
I’ve made these before and they are delicious! Wondering, though, if I could make them ahead of time and reheat in a skillet?
Hi Darcy, we are thrilled you enjoy the recipe. Yes, you can definitely make these and then store in the fridge for a few days. To reheat, toss them back into a skillet and warm over medium heat.
I didn’t have green beans, but used the sauce on asparagus and it was soooo good. Can’t wait to try it with the green beans.