38 Green Bean Recipes Even Veggie-Haters Will Love (2024)

The Thanksgiving staple has legs for the rest of the year too.

By Mackenzie Filson
38 Green Bean Recipes Even Veggie-Haters Will Love (1)

If you're only busting out green beans around Thanksgiving, you're missing out. These recipes dress up the crisp, fresh beans with savory, spicy, and sweet punches of flavor that will have everyone (even those who swear they don't like any green vegetables) asking for seconds. Make these versatile green bean recipes for the holidays, or even just to spice up a weeknight meal.

First things first: Green beans might just be the easiest vegetable to cook up as a healthy side dish for your favorite proteins, especially pork, tofu, and steak. Did you know you can air-fry, steam, roast, blanch, and even grill green beans? Now you do! Personally, we're pretty partial to air-frying green beans since it often results in these crispy, crunchy air-fryer tempura-inspired green beans that are very ideal for dipping in an herby sauce. Even if you go a more simple route by stir-frying green beans with bacon, you're guaranteed to have a side dish that's bound to upstage the main event.

And don't worry, we've also got plenty of clever spins on green bean casserole, whether you're a purist or craving something a bit non-traditional for Thanksgiving or Christmas. Looking for a lighter spin on the classic casserole? Try our healthy, from-scratch version of green bean casserole, or even our easy vegan green bean casserole. Looking for a version that's more potluck-friendly? Look no further than our recipes for and our green bean casserole bundles. Everyone at your party will flip.

1

Green Bean Casserole

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For this recipe, we ditched the canned cream of mushroom soup and went for fresh instead. By sautéing mushrooms with thinly sliced onion in butter, you're building a base with some serious depth of flavor. Trust us, it's SO worth it.

Get the Green Bean Casserole recipe.

2

Air Fryer Tempura-Inspired Green Beans

38 Green Bean Recipes Even Veggie-Haters Will Love (4)

We set out to make crispy delicious tempura green beans, minus the deep frying. Boy, did we succeed, thanks to panko breadcrumbs! They give all the crunch you love, without the need for a pot of hot, spattering oil.

Get the Air Fryer Tempura-Inspired Green Beans recipe.

3

Parmesan Roasted Green Beans

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This side is like if green beans dressed up as cheesy garlic bread. 😍 Tossed in garlic and black pepper and showered with cheese, this simple, yet irresistible side will steal the spotlight at every holiday table.

Get the Parmesan Roasted Green Beans recipe.

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4

Crockpot Green Bean Casserole

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Is it even Thanksgiving without this cozy side? This recipe makes green bean casserole even simpler; instead of using an oven, it can be mixed and cooked in your slow cooker. Save all that oven space for the turkey!

Get the Crockpot Green Bean Casserole recipe.

5

Brie & Green Bean Bundles recipe

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If you're looking for the easiest last-minute appetizer, look no further than these cheesy brie & green bean bundles. Perfect for a Thanksgiving potluck or holiday party appetizer, these bundles of joy turn the classic green bean casserole into a handheld delight, all wrapped in flaky crescent dough.

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6

Green Beans Almondine

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Sautéed with shallots and garlic, tossed with buttery, toasted almonds, and finished with lemon, these French green beans are quick enough to serve for a weeknight dinner while also being fancy enough for holiday meals and dinner parties.

Get the Green Beans Almondine recipe.

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7

Cheesy Green Bean & Mushroom Tart

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These flavors are a classic combo we never tire of, and that goes double for this shareable tart. Fresh blanched green beans are layered onto a creamy blend of ricotta and goat cheese, topped with garlicky mushrooms and cheddar cheese, then baked on a puff pastry crust until perfectly melty.

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8

Niçoise Salad

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Since no two Niçoise salads are exactly alike, we figured we’d we follow our stomachs and gather some of our favorite ingredients. Drizzled with a mustard-spiked vinaigrette, this salad features a pleasant balance of flavors and textures that makes for a satisfying lunch or dinner.

Get the Niçoise Salad recipe.

9

Roasted Green Beans

38 Green Bean Recipes Even Veggie-Haters Will Love (11)

For a vegetable side to reach the regular weeknight rotation, it has to be delicious and a no-brainer—just like these shallot-y roasted green beans. Simply toss fresh beans in olive oil and season with some salt and pepper before roasting on high heat, then finish under the broiler.

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10

Green Bean Salad

38 Green Bean Recipes Even Veggie-Haters Will Love (12)

If your family cookout doesn’t feature a big bowl of this salad, you’re seriously missing out. Fresh green beans are tossed with cherry tomatoes, olives, and feta in a simple red wine vinaigrette for a Greek-inspired side that’s as light and fresh as it is seasonal.

Get the Green Bean Salad recipe.

11

Thanksgiving Crunchwrap

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Tired of the same ol' leftover Thanksgiving sandwich? This crunchwrap is the perfect way to shake things up. Don't have all the leftover ingredients? No worries! Just use what you've got. Pretty much everything short of pumpkin pie will work just fine. 😎

Get the Thanksgiving Crunchwrap recipe.

12

Ginger Beef Stir-Fry With Ramen

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This stir-fry has a ginger-garlic kick that you won't be able to resist. It's our favorite way to class up a pack of instant ramen!

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13

Air Fryer Green Beans

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Quick, easy, and made with the simplest ingredients, air fryer green beans give you tender, crispy results without having to turn on your oven. This rendition also comes with a treat: 8 cloves of creamy, buttery garlic that get air-fried alongside the green beans for bites of delicious roasted garlic.

Get the Air Fryer Green Beans recipe.

14

Green Bean Casserole Bundles

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Looking to switch up your Thanksgiving menu but don't want to upset any of traditionalists? Look no further than these green bean casserole bundles. We took our favorite green bean casserole and then wrapped individual portions in bacon. It's genius, really.

Get the Green Bean Casserole Bundles recipe.

15

How To Cook Green Beans

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Green beans are one of the most versatile and delicious summer veggies. There are so many ways to prepare them, and even more ways to serve them. (With feta! With toasted nuts! Squeezed with lemon!) Whatever mode you choose, you'll have a pretty killer side dish.

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16

Stir-Fried Green Beans

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Stir-fries are fast, easy, and simple, and this classic green bean offering is no different. We go the extra mile here and use 2 slices of bacon for some extra smoky flavor, but you can simply substitute in extra-virgin olive oil if you prefer to go the vegetarian route.

Get the Stir-Fried Green Beans recipe.

17

Healthy Green Bean Casserole

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Never fear, this lightened-up green bean casserole is here to help you save room for pumpkin pie. Forgoing canned cream of mushroom for a quick homemade mushroom gravy, we'd argue this version is healthier and more delicious than the classic.

Get the Healthy Green Bean Casserole recipe.

18

Balsamic-Glazed Roasted Cauliflower

38 Green Bean Recipes Even Veggie-Haters Will Love (20)

A whole roasted cauliflower makes for a fantastic vegetarian main dish. This one is roasted around extra veggies and has a slightly sweet balsamic glaze over it. It's easy to throw together and will leave you feeling full, not heavy. Win!

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19

Gluten-Free Green Bean Casserole

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Never has there ever been a holiday table (looking at you, Thanksgiving) without green bean casserole. We love this gluten-free version because it gets more forks involved, but even more for its rich, punchy flavors.

Get the Gluten-Free Green Bean Casserole recipe.

20

Pizza Niçoise

38 Green Bean Recipes Even Veggie-Haters Will Love (22)

Pizza Niçoise is exactly how it sounds—a mashup of classic Niçoise salad toppings piled on top of a warm, doughy crust. It’s a taste of the Mediterranean right from your kitchen table.

Get the Pizza Niçoise recipe.

38 Green Bean Recipes Even Veggie-Haters Will Love (2024)

FAQs

What to put in green beans for flavor? ›

I use regular salt & pepper and get the lemon flavour from a T of lemon juice. Next time, I'll use some lemon zest as well! I also tend to add a good dash of cayenne pepper when I want to kick it up a little! The family enjoys it every time, even my picky eater!

Can I freeze fresh green beans? ›

Green beans can be frozen in their raw state, but consider blanching and shocking them for the best results. Not only does cooking them this way lock in their vibrant green color, but Registered Dietitian and Chef Abbie Gellman says it also eliminates surface microorganisms and dirt, preventing deterioration.

Do green beans count as a vegetable? ›

Green beans are in the other vegetables subgroup, which includes onions, iceberg lettuce, celery, and cabbage. Beans, peas, and lentils (or pulses, as they are also known) include the dried edible seeds of legumes.

How can I make my beans more flavorful? ›

Add Aromatics (and Some Salt)

We're talking onions, shallots, garlic, and chiles. Or maybe some fresh herbs like rosemary, sage, bay leaves, and thyme. This is where the flavor really starts to build. Salt the liquid again (lightly) after about an hour of simmering.

How to get bitterness out of green beans? ›

Blanch Them

Blanching your greens is key to getting that bitterness level down. Because glucosinolates are water-soluble compounds, a lot of them are leached out into the water, allowing for a less bitter green.

How long do green beans last in the fridge? ›

It's best to store your fresh green beans in the fridge, otherwise store green beans in the freezer if you want them to last longer. You can also store unwashed and unblanched green beans in the refrigerator for up to about seven days before you need to store your green beans in the freezer.

Do you have to blanch green beans before cooking? ›

No matter how you plan to prepare green beans—sautéed, blistered, or baked into a casserole—blanching is a good place to start. Sautéeing blanched green beans ensures they're cooked from the inside out, while the final kiss of heat provides an opportunity to introduce flavorful char, plus sauces or seasonings.

What do green beans do for your body? ›

The vegetable helps fight inflammation and is a good source of folate and potassium, which helps regulate blood pressure. Green beans also are a good source of protein and fiber, which helps lower cholesterol, Vadiveloo said. "Fiber is underconsumed by U.S. adults and children, and it's good for gut health," she said.

Why are green beans not legumes? ›

In other words: all beans are legumes, but all legumes aren't necessarily beans. This explains, for instance, why green beans aren't actually beans in the technical sense. Because the fruit of the green bean plant is in a pod, green beans are actually just legumes, not beans.

Are peas or green beans better for you? ›

Green bean has 62% less calories than pea. Green bean has more alpha-carotene than pea, however, pea contains more lutein + zeaxanthin than green bean. Both green bean and peas are high in Vitamin C, dietary fiber and potassium.

What can you do to can green beans to make them taste better? ›

Pour the green beans and the reserved half of the canning liquid into a skillet. Add butter, onion powder, salt and pepper. Simmer, uncovered and stirring occasionally, until almost all of the cooking liquid has evaporated. Taste and adjust seasonings if necessary.

What good things are in green beans? ›

Not only are they relatively inexpensive, green beans are rich in vitamin C and beta-carotene, an antioxidant that gives fruits and vegetables their color. The vegetable helps fight inflammation and is a good source of folate and potassium, which helps regulate blood pressure.

How to get seasoning to stick to green beans? ›

Prep – Rinse and trim the green beans. Melt butter in a large skillet, and add the green beans and seasoning. Toss to coat over medium high heat. Sauté until they achieve the desired tenderness and salt to taste.

What tastes good on beans? ›

Toss drained/rinsed/dried beans with a bit of olive oil (or avocado oil) and your favorite seasonings. You can add crushed whole seeds (coriander, cumin, fennel, mustard, etc.), woodsy herbs (thyme, oregano, rosemary, sage), red pepper flakes, crushed garlic cloves, and of course salt and pepper.

References

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