These elegant lemon and garlic green beans are the perfect side dish to any meal. I promise that they’ll even win over the biggest green bean hater! Bright lemon and aromatic garlic add vibrant flavours that will keep you reaching for more. This versatile side dish only takes 15 minutes to prepare and tastes like spring on a plate! Update your veggie rotation and try this fresh, flavourful and fast recipe now.
Ingredients for Lemon & Garlic Green Beans
This side dish only requires 4 ingredients, plus salt and pepper! If you’ve already got the green beans in your fridge, chances are that you’ve got the other ingredients lying around in your pantry. Here’s what you need for these epic green beans:
- Green beans: Green beans are the star of this side dish. Make sure they are fresh and firm. Regular green beans or French green beans (haricot verts) both work just fine.
- Butter: Use good quality butter to create a luscious garlic butter sauce. Or go for an extra virgin olive oil to keep this dish vegan and light.
- Garlic: Garlic adds so much depth of flavour to these beans.
- Lemon: Lemon adds a zingy, fresh flavour to this dish. We’re using both the zest and the juice, so make sure to use an organic lemon.
- Salt & pepper: A pinch of salt and pepper brings all the flavours together. Try a flaky sea salt as a finishing salt.
How to prepare this green bean side dish?
Making this side dish is super simple and takes less than 15 minutes. You need a cooking pot, skillet and a large bowl of ice water.
Step 1:
Start by preparing your green beans. Trim the pointy ends and wash the beans. Next, salt a pot of water and bring to a boil. Add the beans to the boiling water and cook for about 3 minutes. You want to blanch the beans until they are bright green and crisp-tender.
Step 2:
While the beans are cooking, prepare an ice bath. This will stop the cooking process and helps to keep the beans bright green. Simply add water with ice cubes to a bowl and plunge the beans in once they’re done cooking.
Step 3:
Next, it’s time to sauté the beans in a skillet. Start by heating a large skillet over low heat. Add the butter and let it melt (or use extra virgin olive oil instead of butter). Then, add the minced garlic and let it infuse the butter until fragrant. Be careful not to burn the garlic.
Step 4:
Remove the blanched green beans from the ice bath and let them drain, then add them to the melted garlic and butter. Toss the beans until they are well coated with the garlic butter.
Step 5:
Zest your lemon and add the zest to the beans. Also, add the juice of half a lemon to the skillet. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Mix it all through until the beans are heated through and coated in all the flavours.
Transfer your beans to a serving dish and serve immediately.
How to serve these green beans?
These sautéed green beans are super versatile and can be matched with almost any dish. I love pairing them with roast chicken, grilled fish or a seared steak for a balanced and flavourful meal. Serve them with a side of roast potatoes and you’re all set!
These flavourful beans also work well as a salad ingredient! Serve them warm or cold, either way, they add so much brightness and bite.
Make a Buddha bowl with these lemon and garlic green beans as one of the veggie toppings. Add some quinoa or rice, extra veggies and a protein of choice to complete the bowl. A drizzle of salad dressing, tahini dressing or even simple hummus and hot sauce work perfectly to finish the bowl.
Green Bean Recipe Tips & Alternatives
- Vegan version: Use a good quality extra virgin olive oil, instead of butter.
- French beans: Use French green beans (haricot verts) instead of regular green beans. Haricot verts are thinner and make for a super elegant side dish!
- Parmesan cheese finish: Freshly grated Parmesan cheese works perfectly well with the other flavours. Add freshly grated Parmesan right before serving when the beans are still piping hot, this way the cheese will partly melt into the beans.
- Meal prep tips: Cook the beans ahead of time and keep them in the fridge. Then you only have to finish them off in the skillet with butter, garlic and lemon.
- Avoid soggy beans: Do not overcook your beans. You don’t want them soft and mushy but firm and snappy. It’s better to slightly undercook them, as you’ll be finishing them off in a skillet anyway.
- Storage tips: Keep any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge. You can serve them cold or reheat them when needed. They’ll keep in the fridge for about 4 days.
Are you looking for more vibrant spring recipes?
- This mouthwatering Spring Risotto with Green Asparagus and Peas is full of fragrant fresh herbs, luscious green spring vegetables and a hint of lemon.
- This Classic Chunky Egg Salad is the perfect spring-inspired topping for a sandwich or wrap. To make this fresh and tasty egg salad you only need simple ingredients and pantry staples.
- Serve this fresh and vibrant Pico de Gallo with all your favourite Mexican dishes! This fresh salsa recipe is vibrant, zingy and full of flavour.
- This Authentic Guacamole recipe is easy to make and perfect to serve with tortilla chips or Mexican dishes.
- Serve these Truffle Deviled Eggs at your next brunch! These delicious appetizers can be made ahead of time and a touch of truffle gives them an elegant twist.
