Pan Fried Fresh Green Beans Recipe (2024)

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My favorite side dishes to make are like thisPan Fried Fresh Green Beans recipe. This dish only requires a few ingredients, is inexpensive, healthy, and quick and easy. I love it when that happens!

Pan Fried Fresh Green Beans Recipe (1)

These green beans differ from the canned type because these are firmer. I do eat the canned variety at times. When my kids were little and we were on a very tight budget that is all we ate. My sautéed green beans are packed with vitamins, and I can feel better about feeding them to my family.

Pan Fried Fresh Green Beans Recipe (2)

You could use vegetable oil, but olive oil has the “healthy fat”, so these are better for you if you use olive oil. Since we are trying to eat healthier I make little tweaks like swapping oils, using fresh instead of canned, and using less salt. I figure if I make little changes here and there it will add up to an overall healthier lifestyle. So far I haven’t made any changes that I haven’t liked, and felt good about making. For this recipe I take help form the grocery store by using the kind of garlic that comes in a jar, it is chopped and ready to go. I find myself using this more and more because it is so convenient.

I tend to go with a less is more philosophy when I cook (most of the time), so a little garlic, salt and pepper make the most delicious green beans, in my opinion.

Pan Fried Fresh Green Beans Recipe (3)

Ingredient Notes:

See recipe card below for exact measurements.

Five ingredients are all you need to make this perfect side dish that goes with just about any main dish you can think of.

Green Beans – we buy them in bulk in the produce section. My Walmart has them in a package that are already washed and trimmed and I buy them if they are out of the bulk ones.

Olive Oil – this has the healthy fat to make this the perfect healthy side dish.

Garlic – use a little or a lot depending on your personal preference. Fresh garlic or the kind in the jar both work perfectly.

S&P – Regular or Kosher salt will work and you can use freshly ground or already ground black pepper.

Pan Fried Fresh Green Beans Recipe (4)

How to Make Pan-Fried Green Beans:

  1. Wash green beans and trim ends.
  2. Heat a medium or large skillet over medium-high heat. Add green beans and water to the hot pan, bring to a boil then reduce to medium heat, cover and cook for 8-10 minutes or until beans are tender, stirring occasionally.
  3. Uncover, raise heat to medium-high, add olive oil, garlic, salt, and pepper; cook until water evaporates, stirring often, about 2 minutes.

Pan Fried Fresh Green Beans Recipe (5)

How to Select Green Beans:

Look for beans that are a bright green color free of brown spots. They should also be crisp and they should not feel slimy.

Recipe Note:

We like our beans to be tender. If you would like crisp tender beans then adjust the cook time down a couple of minutes to accomplish this.

Pan Fried Fresh Green Beans Recipe (6)

Omissions Substitutions & Additions:

  • Not a fan of garlic? Just leave it out.
  • Swap the olive oil with a little butter, though the olive oil is healthier.
  • Add some red pepper flakes for a little kick.
  • Lemon juice or lemon zest would be a nice addition for a burst of fresh flavor.
  • Add a little soy sauce for an Asian flair.
  • Don’t have garlic then use garlic powder instead.
  • Add some onion powder for added flavor.

Pan Fried Fresh Green Beans Recipe (7)

Other Healthy Side Dish Recipes:

Pan Fried Brussels Sprouts

Honey Glazed Baby Carrots

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Pan Fried Fresh Green Beans Recipe (8)

Mindy Boyd

Super Easy Pan Fried Fresh Green Beans combine string beans, olive oil, garlic, salt, pepper, and water to make a healthy, tasty, quick, and easy side dish.

4.92 from 24 votes

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Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 12 minutes mins

Total Time 17 minutes mins

Course Side Dish

Cuisine American

Servings 4

Ingredients

  • 1 pound fresh green beans washed and trimmed
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1 teaspoon olive oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon minced garlic
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper

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Instructions

  • Heat a medium skillet over medium-high heat. Add green beans and water, bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium, cover and cook for 8-10 minutes or until beans are tender, stirring occasionally.

    1 pound fresh green beans, 1/2 cup water

  • Uncover, raise heat to medium-high, add olive oil, garlic, salt, and pepper; cook until water evaporates, stirring often, about 2 minutes.

    1 teaspoon olive oil, 1/2 teaspoon minced garlic, 1/4 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon pepper

Notes

Nutritional information is approximate.

See tips, notes, and suggestions in the post above.

Bookmark this page to find it quickly when you are ready to make this recipe!

Nutrition Facts

Calories: 45kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 0.2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 154mg | Potassium: 242mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 783IU | Vitamin C: 14mg | Calcium: 44mg | Iron: 1mg

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Pan Fried Fresh Green Beans Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How do you know when green beans are cooked enough? ›

So the next time you're boiling green beans, take a moment to taste one before declaring them cooked. If they taste more like grass than vegetable, give them another minute or two in the pot. Same thing for any other vegetable you're eating cooked.

What can I add to green beans for flavor? ›

A little butter, minced garlic, and lemon-pepper seasoning are all you need to bring the best out of fresh green beans.

How to make Paula Deen green beans? ›

Add green beans to pan and sauté over medium heat for 2 minutes, stirring frequently. Add boiling water to pan and cover. Cook for about 15 minutes, just until beans are tender. Add vinegar, butter and salt and pepper and stir.

What happens if beans are not fully cooked? ›

Eating raw or undercooked kidney beans can lead to food poisoning, including symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Only a few beans are needed to cause poisoning. Kidney beans, or red beans, contain a natural protein, Lectin, that is found in many plants, animals and humans.

Do fresh green beans need to be soaked before cooking? ›

Should I Soak Green Beans Before Cooking? Fresh green beans do not need to be soaked. To help tenderize the beans, blanch them in a large pot of salted water.

Do fresh green beans have to be cooked? ›

While some recipes call for raw green beans, eating them uncooked may lead to nausea, diarrhea, bloating, and vomiting due to their lectin content. As such, it's best to avoid raw green beans. Cooking not only neutralizes their lectins but also improves their taste, digestibility, and antioxidant content.

How long to soak green beans before cooking? ›

Overnight Soaking

To soak beans the traditional way, cover them with water by 2 inches, add 2 tablespoons coarse kosher salt (or 1 tablespoon fine salt) per pound of beans, and let them soak for at least 4 hours or up to 12 hours. Drain them and rinse before using.

What is the best tasting green bean? ›

Maxibel ~ If you only get one bush bean variety, make it Maxibel. This is a full-size (7-inch pods) French filet bean that has straight, dark green pods. A very gourmet-type bean, Maxibel has a flavor that can't be beat.

How to fancy up green beans? ›

Pour the cans of green beans into a pot liquid and all. Add the beef bouillon, bacon bits, dried minced onion, salt and pepper. Stir everything together, bring to a simmer and let cook for 10-15 minutes. Serve and enjoy!

Do you season green beans before or after cooking? ›

After the green beans are boiled, remove them from the pot and strain them through a colander and then immediately pour them into your buttered pan. Season the green beans with salt and pepper.

How to make beans taste homemade? ›

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.

Is it bad to overcook green beans? ›

Don't overcook them!

Nothing is worse than a mushy, overcooked green bean. Crisp and slightly tender beans is the goal. To achieve this, taste a bean or two during the cooking process. If it is too crispy for you, keep cooking, testing another green bean in a minute or two.

Can you eat not fully cooked green beans? ›

Green beans and other legumes can be eaten in raw form, but food handlers should always consider the health risks when serving raw legumes. As mentioned, beans and other legumes are highly susceptible to foodborne pathogens and other food safety risks. As such, food businesses are advised to cook beans before serving.

What color should cooked green beans be? ›

Cooked green beans can be a vivid green color, or they can turn gradually less colorful, sometimes becoming greyish or brownish. The new science of "Molecular Gastronomy", which is (in part) dedicated to determining the chemistry behind "Culinary Dictums", or cooking traditions that are sometimes without basis.

Can green beans be undercooked? ›

When you eat raw green beans, the lectin in them binds to the surface of the cells in your digestive tract. This can lead to stomach upset like nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and bloating. Consuming a large amount of lectin could even damage the good bacteria in your gut.

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