Quick Look at these Easy Steamed Green Beans
- Ready In: 10 minutes!
- Serves: 6 (easily adjust the amount to what you need)
- Main Ingredients: fresh green beans and water!
- Dietary Info: Whole30, Paleo, Dairy-Free, Gluten-Free, Vegetarian
- Cooking Methods: stove top with a steamer basket, without a steamer basket, and in the microwave.
- Best For: a simple side dish for any dinner, holiday side dish, or dress them up a bit like these garlic green beans.
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Why You’ll Love This Green Bean Cooking Method
- Perfectly crisp, yet tender green beans in only 10 minutes!
- No special equipment – notes included to skip the steamer basket or use the microwave.
- Easy to dress up – salt, pepper, lemon, garlic, herbs, or red pepper flakes for a kick!
- Works with anything – a simple side dish to enjoy with chicken, steak, pork, salmon, etc.
Key Ingredients + Substitutions
Be sure to see the recipe card below for a full listing of ingredients, instructions, and estimated nutritional information.
- Fresh Green Beans – highly recommend fresh haricot verts from the garden in the summer, but you can also find some at your local grocery store, available year-round!
- Water – just enough to cover the bottom of the pan with 1/2 – 1 inch.
How To Prepare Green Beans Before Cooking
Give the fresh green beans a quick rinse under cold water and then cut off any stems. You can leave the curled tip end of the green beans on. That’s it! So easy and they are ready to go.
How To Steam Green Beans On The Stove Top
Step 1 – Place a steamer basket in a saucepan with green beans. Add about a 1/2 inch of water in the bottom.
Step 2 – Cover and boil for about 5 minutes. Check to see how crisp they are and continue cooking until they reach your desired doneness.
Steaming Green Beans Without a Steamer Basket
If you don’t have a steamer basket or don’t want to use one, simply add about 1/2 – 1 inch of water to the bottom of the saucepan and place the green beans directly in the water. They should not be fully covered, just enough water to cover the bottom. Toss regularly while cooking with the lid on top.
How To Steam Green Beans In The Microwave
Step 1 – Place about a 1/2 – 1 inch of water in a microwave safe container, add beans, and cover.
Step 2 – Microwave on high for 2 minutes, toss, check their firmness. Continue cooking in 1 minute increments to your desired doneness.
How Long to Steam Green Beans
On the stove top (with or without a steamer basket) – 5 minutes to start and then check until they are soft, yet firm.
Microwave – 2 minutes to start and then continue in 1 minute increments to desired firmness.
*They should be bright green in color, tender but not mushy. Check by piercing with a fork.
Best Ways To Serve Steamed Green Beans
You could serve this simple side dish with pretty much any main dish! We love to enjoy this perfect side dish with a whole roasted chicken, grilled steaks, baked pork chops. Or some favorite recipes, like our Easy Short Rib Ragu or Grilled Chicken Thighs. Here in the midwest, we love to keep dinner simple with a protein, vegetable, and potato! So, we also love to include some Instant Pot mashed potatoes, perfectly grilled potato wedges, or easy sweet potato mash.
Steamed Green Beans FAQs
Absolutely! There are so many options. We love a fresh squeeze of lemon juice, lemon zest, garlic, balsamic vinegar, garlic butter, sliced almonds, fresh herbs, parmesan cheese, or red pepper flake to add a little kick of heat. Share with us your favorite seasoning!
Simply place them in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-5 days! If you have fresh green beans but aren’t ready to cook them, place them in a freezer-safe bag in the freezer to store for up to 3 months or when you are ready to cook.
Other Easy Side Dish Recipes You Might Like
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Ingredients
- 1 pound fresh green beans
- water
Instructions
- Prep: Rinse 1 pound fresh green beans under cold water and trim ends, if needed. Take a medium saucepan and add enough water to cover the bottom, about ½ inch. Place the steamer basket inside.
- Steam Beans: Place green beans in the basket, cover the pot with a lid, and bring to a boil. Let it boil for about 5 minutes, tossing occasionally. Check the crispness of the green beans and continue cooking until they reach your desired doneness.
- Serve: Drain and enjoy right away!
Notes
- No Steamer Basket? No Problem! Just put about an inch of water in the bottom of a saucepan and put the green beans directly in the water. Cover the pan and steam as instructed above.
- Microwave: Add about an inch of water to the bottom of a microwave safe container and add your desired amount of fresh green beans. Place a microwave safe lid on top. Heat on high for 2 minutes. Toss, check to see how crisp they are and continue cooking in 1 minute increments until they reach your desired doneness. Drain and serve!
- Serving suggestions: option to squeeze some fresh lemon juice on top; sauté in some ghee, garlic and lemon zest; or sauté in some coconut aminos with red pepper flakes!
- Storage: place in airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Nutrition
Original post published on 12/10/19. Retested and new photos added on 9/1/26.
Kat says
I made these steamed beans and then added a touch of toasted sesame oil to the finished beans along with white sesame seeds. Delicious!
Jessie says
Super easy – I’ve always used a steamer basket but I got new pots and pans and the one I have doesn’t fit. Felt silly having to look up how to steam green beans, but this recipe was convenient and worked well!
Erin says
So glad you found it helpful!