26 Green Bean Recipes That Make It Easy to Eat Your Veggies

Green beans are more than just a side dish. This good-for-you ingredient can be the base of casseroles and stir-fries, a super salad mix-in — and just about everything in between!

January 27, 2023

By: Food Network Kitchen

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Photo By: Armando Rafael

Photo By: David Malosh

Photo By: Armando Rafael

Photo By: Christopher Testani

Photo By: Tara Donne

Photo By: Armando Rafael

Photo By: Tara Donne

Simply Delicious

Whether you're baking them into a Thanksgiving green bean casserole or simply trimming a batch of fresh beans to serve alongside an easy, family-friendly main dish, there's no denying that this versatile veggie deserves a spot on your table. Once you've mastered the basics of how to cook green beans, then all you need are a few relaible recipes—like these ones. They're all delicious but we can't get enough of this simple take; all you need to turn green beans into a winning side is a little bit of salt, pepper, butter and some sweet, onion-y shallots!

Get the Recipe: Classic Buttered Green Beans

Green Bean and Kale Caesar Salad

Getting your daily dose of greens never looked so good! This simple salad (made with tender baby kale) is made even more wholesome by the addition of tender green beans.

Get the Recipe: Green Bean and Kale Caesar Salad

Almost-Famous Green Bean Fries

Pro tip: Make a double batch and freeze one of the batches before frying. Next time a craving hits, just pop the frozen fries in heated oil for a crispy side that’s ready in minutes!

Get the Recipe: Almost-Famous Green Bean Fries

Green Beans with Warm Bacon Vinaigrette

Grill the green beans for this side dish and you'll boost the flavor even more. Either way, they'll be savory and delicious, thanks to a bacon-mustard dressing.

Get the Recipe: Green Beans with Warm Bacon Vinaigrette

Pork and Green Bean Fried Rice

Stir-fry ground pork and green beans with ginger, soy sauce and scallions for a flavorful fried rice.

Get the Recipe: Pork and Green Bean Fried Rice

Green Beans and Bacon

Bacon makes everything better, and that includes these green beans. The mild, almost buttery flavor of the beans pairs exceptionally well with the salty, smoky crumbles of bacon.

Get the Recipe: Green Beans and Bacon

Green Bean Casserole

Ree uses fresh green beans and a homemade cream sauce in her take on a traditional green bean casserole. Grated Cheddar and rich bacon add a touch of decadence to this extra-special side dish.

Get the Recipe: Green Bean Casserole

Green Bean and Coconut Stir-Fry

Toss green beans with a curried grated-coconut sauce for an unexpected (but totally delicious) twist on a classic side dish.

Get the Recipe: Green Bean and Coconut Stir-Fry

Green Beans with Shallots

These green beans have it all: tangy Greek yogurt, a pinch of sweet-and-spicy cinnamon and savory pan-fried shallots.

Get the Recipe: Green Beans With Shallots

Green Beans Gremolata

Ina livens up her green beans with garlic and lemon zest, then tops the dish off with a Parmesan and pine nut gremolata.

Get the Recipe: Green Beans Gremolata

Best Ever Green Bean Casserole

Alton says the trick to green beans is to treat them like pasta – he boils his beans until al dente in a gallon of heavily-salted water. A rich mushroom sauce and crispy baked onions complete his version of this holiday classic.

Get the Recipe: Best Ever Green Bean Casserole

Green Beans with Mushroom and Shallots

Olive oil, salt and pepper are all you need to make Ellie’s super-healthy veggie recipe. It’s simple yet delicious.

Get the Recipe: Green Beans with Mushroom and Shallots

Spicy Turkey and Green Bean Stir-Fry

Looking for a weeknight dinner? Food Network Kitchen’s flavorful stir-fry is healthy, simple and ready to go in just 30 minutes.

Get the Recipe: Spicy Turkey and Green Bean Stir-Fry

Green Beans with Lemon and Garlic

Lemon zest adds a citrus kick to this quick and simple veggie dish.

Get the Recipe: Green Beans with Lemon and Garlic

Baked Green Bean Fries

Heading to a tailgate? Trisha’s baked green bean fries are the perfect option for healthier game-day eats.

Get the Recipe: Baked Green Bean Fries

Best Green Beans Ever

What’s Ree’s secret to the best green beans ever? Bacon! She cooks her veggies in leftover bacon grease for a simple, savory flavor.

Get the Recipe: The Best Green Beans Ever

Green Beans with Magic Sauce

Sweet meets savory in Molly’s magic sauce, which is made from a blend of soy sauce, tahini and honey. Great for newbies in the kitchen, this dish is simple enough to be made as an easy intro to Chinese cooking.

Get the Recipe: Green Beans With Magic Sauce

Green Bean and Celery Salad

Need to switch up your salads? Try this vibrant, healthy recipe — it combines fiber-rich veggies, tangy capers and a Dijon mustard vinaigrette.

Get the Recipe: Green Bean and Celery Salad

Green Beans with Caramelized Onions and Almonds

Tyler uses toasted almonds and gooey caramelized onions to keep his green beans rich and delicious. Even better, everything is cooked in one pot to develop the flavors and minimize the mess.

Get the Recipe: Green Beans with Caramelized Onions and Almonds

Blistered Green Beans

Side dishes should be easy and fuss-free, and Ree’s recipe is just that. She cooks her beans in soy sauce and butter for a tasty vegetable that’s ready in just 10 minutes.

Get the Recipe: Blistered Green Beans

Make-Ahead Green Bean Casserole

Dedicate just a little bit of your freezer space to this crowd-pleasing casserole and save yourself some time at your next holiday meal. Make the green bean-and-mushroom favorite (no canned soup required), then freeze and forget it. To serve, just reheat (from frozen) and top with crunchy fried onions.

Get the Recipe: Make-Ahead Green Bean Casserole

Fresh Green Beans

What could be better than a yummy side dish made from just three ingredients (that are most likely in your pantry already)? Trisha’s green beans take just 15 minutes from start to finish – the hardest part is tossing the beans with butter at the end!

Get the Recipe: Fresh Green Beans (a.k.a Tom Cruise Green Beans)

Roasted Green Beans

Ree roasts green beans, onion and bacon all together for a side dish that she says is “out of this world.” Plus, the whole thing is assembled right on the sheet pan for easy cleanup.

Get the Recipe: Roasted Green Beans

Chicken and Green Bean Noodle Bowl

This fresh, vibrant dish starts with two readily available pantry items — canned green beans and ramen noodles. The addition of colorful vegetables and chicken makes it a filling weeknight meal.

Get the Recipe: Chicken and Green Bean Noodle Bowl

Broccoli and Green Beans

Giada says her easy broccoli and green beans are the “perfect weeknight vegetable dish.” She boils the veggies quickly to preserve their crispy texture, then sautés them in a garlic-infused olive oil for just a few minutes more.

Get the Recipe: Broccoli and Green Beans

Italian Green Beans

Sandra’s simple side dish is the definition of convenience. She uses microwavable green beans for an easy, flavorful side dish that’s ready to eat in minutes.

Get the Recipe: Italian Green Beans