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Buttery Sautéed Green Beans: The Ultimate Quick & Easy Garlic Lemon Side Dish

Get ready to elevate your dinner table with these incredibly quick and easy Sautéed Buttery Green Beans! This delightful side dish can be ready in under 10 minutes, making it a perfect last-minute addition to any meal. With a generous kick of garlic, the rich smoothness of butter, and a bright hint of fresh lemon juice, you’ll quickly fall in love with this versatile green bean recipe.

Our buttery sautéed green beans are truly the PERFECT accompaniment to almost any main course. Imagine them alongside a juicy butter-basted steakhouse steak, a succulent garlic herb roast chicken, a flavorful crispy roast pork, or tender Greek lamb chops. The possibilities are truly endless, and these vibrant green beans will complement and enhance any culinary creation.

Why This Green Beans Recipe Is a Must-Try

Every exceptional dinner deserves an equally incredible side dish. While classics like Easy Creamy Mashed Potatoes, Parmesan Roasted Carrots, or Garlic Mushrooms are fantastic, this sautéed green beans recipe stands out for its sheer simplicity and outstanding flavor. It’s so easy to make, yet tastes like it came straight from a gourmet kitchen!

The secret lies in the harmonious blend of butter and garlic, creating a rich, aromatic flavor profile that clings beautifully to each tender-crisp green bean. This recipe is designed to yield vibrant green beans with a perfect bite – not too soft, not too crunchy. However, you can adjust the cooking time slightly if you prefer them softer. For those seeking a dairy-free option, simply swap the butter for an equivalent amount of olive oil or another cooking oil of your choice, maintaining that delicious sautéed goodness.

Pro Tip: Using a combination of butter and oil to sauté the beans is key. The oil helps to raise the smoke point of the butter, preventing it from burning too quickly and ensuring a golden, nutty flavor rather than a scorched taste.

The Blanching Debate: Achieving Perfect Green Beans

When it comes to cooking green beans, many people have their preferred methods. Some opt for throwing beans straight into a hot pan without any pre-treatment. While this can work, we personally find that blanching the green beans in boiling water first yields a superior texture and a much more vibrant, eye-catching green color. This crucial step ensures that the beans are cooked evenly, setting them up for that ideal tender-crisp finish when sautéed.

To save on washing up, use the same pan for both blanching and sautéing! Less mess means more time to enjoy your meal.

Should You Pre-Boil (Blanch) Your Green Beans? Absolutely!

Yes, pre-boiling (blanching) your green beans is highly recommended for this sautéed recipe. Here’s why and how:

Vibrant Color: Blanching locks in that beautiful bright green hue, making your side dish visually appealing.
Perfect Texture: A quick 3-minute boil softens the beans just enough, ensuring they become tender-crisp in the sauté pan without being mushy or raw.
Even Cooking: All beans will cook to a similar doneness.
Stopping the Cooking: Immediately after boiling, transfer the beans to an ice bath. This crucial step stops the cooking process dead in its tracks, preserving their vibrant color and crisp texture.
Meal Prep Friendly: You can blanch green beans up to 2 days in advance! After the ice bath, pat them thoroughly dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture (this is important for good sautéing!) and store them in an airtight container in your refrigerator. When you’re ready to sauté, pull them out about 15 minutes beforehand to allow them to lose some of their chill before hitting the hot pan with oil and butter.

Tips for the Best Sautéed Green Beans

While this recipe is fantastic as is, here are some tips to add even more flavor and versatility:

Add More Veggies: Before adding your green beans to the oil/butter mixture, consider sautéing other quick-cooking vegetables. Thinly sliced onions, colorful bell peppers (capsicum), or sliced mushrooms can add extra depth and texture. Cook them until slightly softened before introducing the blanched green beans.
Herbalicious Boost: Fresh herbs can take these green beans to another level. Sprinkle in some finely chopped basil, parsley, oregano, or rosemary during the last minute of sautéing for an aromatic finish. Thyme also works wonderfully.
Proper Trimming: Always trim the tough, fibrous ends of your string beans. While some varieties are “stringless,” removing the ends ensures a pleasant eating experience.
A Touch of Spice: For a little kick, a pinch of red pepper flakes sautéed with the garlic can add a welcome warmth.
Nutty Crunch: Toasted slivered almonds or chopped pecans added at the very end can provide a delightful textural contrast and nutty flavor.

Can I Use Frozen Green Beans?

Yes, absolutely! You can certainly use frozen green beans in this recipe, making it even quicker when fresh isn’t available or convenient. There’s no need to blanch them first, as they’ve typically been pre-blanched before freezing. Just remember these simple steps:

Thaw Them Out: Allow them to thaw completely, either in the refrigerator overnight or by running them under cold water.
Pat Dry: This is crucial! Excess water will steam the beans instead of sautéing them, leading to a less desirable texture. Pat them very dry with paper towels before adding them to the hot pan.
Adjust Cooking Time: Frozen beans might cook slightly faster as they are already partially cooked from the blanching process before freezing. Keep an eye on them to achieve your desired tender-crispness.

More Green Bean Recipes to Explore

Green beans are incredibly versatile and can be cooked with so many different sauces and flavors, truly making them one of the easiest and most adaptable green vegetables. If you love green beans, you might also enjoy these other recipes:

Cheesy Roasted Green Beans
Green Beans with Parmesan
Classic Green Bean Casserole
Chicken, Green Bean and Butternut Squash Curry

What to Serve with Buttery Sautéed Green Beans?

These garlic buttery green beans are an all-star side dish that pairs well with an incredibly wide range of main courses. Their fresh, savory, and slightly tangy flavor profile complements rich meats, poultry, and even fish beautifully. Here are just a few ideas:

Roasts: A grand Juicy Prime Rib Roast, a simple Weeknight Roast Chicken, or a savory Pork Tenderloin.
Steak & Chops: Perfect with any cut of steak, from a humble Pan-Seared Sirloin to a luxurious Ribeye, or with grilled Lamb Chops.
Fish & Seafood: Light and fresh alongside Baked Salmon, Garlic Butter Shrimp, or a flaky Pan-Seared Cod.
Pasta Dishes: A refreshing green contrast to creamy pasta like Chicken Alfredo or a rich Lasagna.
Vegetarian Mains: Excellent with a hearty Lentil Loaf or a flavorful Mushroom Risotto.

Sautéed, buttery green beans covered in garlic with tongs leaning on side of pan.

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4.84 from 12 votes

Buttery Sautéed Green Beans

By Karina

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 8 minutes

Total Time: 13 minutes

Servings: 4 serves as a side dish

These Buttery Sautéed Green Beans, infused with a good kick of garlic and a hint of lemon juice, are the PERFECT side dish, ready to serve in under 10 minutes!

Ingredients

▢ 1/4 cup water
▢ 1 lb green beans ends trimmed
▢ 1 pinch coarse salt for blanching
▢ 1 tablespoon olive oil
▢ 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
▢ 4 garlic cloves minced
▢ 1 pinch cracked pepper to season
▢ 1-2 tablespoons lemon juice fresh squeezed

Instructions

First, prepare for blanching: Heat a large sauté pan over medium-high heat.
Add the green beans and water to the pan along with a good pinch of salt (approximately 3/4 teaspoon). Bring the water to a rolling boil and cook the green beans for exactly 3 minutes. This quick boil is crucial for vibrant color and tender-crisp texture.
Carefully drain the blanched beans. For best results, immediately plunge them into an ice bath to stop the cooking process, then drain again and pat them very dry with paper towels. Set aside.
Using the same pan (no need to wash it!), heat the olive oil and butter together over medium heat. Once the butter has fully melted and starts to lightly foam, add the dried green beans. Sauté for about 1 minute, tossing them continuously to ensure they are evenly coated in the fragrant oil and butter mixture. Next, add the minced garlic, another pinch of salt, and cracked pepper. Continue to sauté for an additional 30 seconds, or until the garlic becomes wonderfully fragrant. Be careful not to burn the garlic.
Immediately remove the pan from the heat. Squeeze fresh lemon juice over the top of the beans, toss one last time to combine all the flavors, and serve these delicious buttery sautéed green beans warm. Enjoy!

Notes

Additional Tips & Variations:

Dairy-Free Option: To make this recipe dairy-free, simply replace the unsalted butter with an additional tablespoon of olive oil or your preferred cooking oil. The garlic and lemon will still provide plenty of flavor!
Optimal Color & Texture: For the most vibrant green color and perfect tender-crisp texture, we highly recommend blanching the green beans in hot water before sautéing in the pan. Don’t skip the ice bath and thorough drying!
Flavorful Additions: Consider sautéing additional vegetables like thinly sliced onions, bell peppers, or mushrooms in the oil/butter mixture before adding your blanched green beans for extra flavor and substance. Fresh herbs like basil, parsley, or dill also make a wonderful addition at the end.
Make Ahead: You can blanch the green beans up to 2 days in advance. After the ice bath, pat them completely dry and store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Sauté when ready to serve.

Nutrition

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Tried this? Leave a comment below!

In conclusion, these Buttery Sautéed Green Beans are more than just a simple side dish; they are a culinary staple that delivers incredible flavor and visual appeal with minimal effort. Whether you’re a seasoned chef or a home cook looking for a reliable, delicious recipe, these garlic-infused green beans will become a firm favorite. They are quick, easy, and endlessly adaptable, promising a perfect addition to any meal. Give them a try tonight and taste the difference!