Easy Steamed Green Beans
These traditional steamed green beans are a weekly staple in our house and family-favorite! A delicious side dish recipe that is so versatile that it can be part of a busy weeknight dinner or a big holiday meal! Plus, you can keep them simple with a sprinkling of salt (our favorite way to enjoy them) or add a variety of other flavors to the mix. No matter how you enjoy this steamed green beans recipe, they continue to be a crowd-pleaser again and again!
Looking to steam some more fresh green vegetables? Check out our Steamed Broccoli or Steamed Asparagus!
What You Will Need
- fresh green beans – we love grabbing some fresh haricot verts from the garden in the summer months, but you can also find some at your local grocery store, available year-round!
- kosher salt & fresh ground pepper – simple seasoning that always hit the spot.
How To Prepare Green Beans Before Cooking
Simply give your fresh green beans a quick wash and then cut off the stem end of each one. 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
The first steps to making this easy recipe are to pour about 1/2 inch of water in the bottom of a saucepan. Place beans in the pot, cover with a lid, and bring to a boil. Give the beans a toss, cover again, and let them continue cooking for 1 minute or until they reach your desired crispness. For best results, keep an eye on them because nobody likes overcooked green beans.
Once the cooked beans are done to your liking, drain, and transfer green beans to an ice bath to cool.
Place them in a serving bowl and toss with salt and pepper.
Best Way 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 mashed potatoes, grilled potato wedges, or sweet potato mash.
Recipe FAQ
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 Green Bean Recipes You Might Like
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Ingredients
- 10 oz fresh, raw green beans
- kosher salt and ground black pepper
Instructions
- Rinse green beans under cold water and trim ends, if needed.
- Take medium saucepan and add enough water to cover the bottom, about 1/2 inch. Place green beans inside, cover the pot with a lid, and bring to a boil.
- Once boiling, uncover, and toss to ensure all of the green beans are turning bright green.
- Cover and turn down to a simmer for 1 minute.
- Meanwhile, take a medium bowl and fill with water and ice. When green beans are done cooking, drain, and place in the bowl of ice and water (this stops the cooking process).
- Allow to cool for 1-2 minutes.
- Place in a large bowl, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and serve.
Notes
- Steamer Basket: You can also use a steamer insert in the pan, but if you don’t have one this works perfectly every time!
- 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.
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!