13 Fresh Green Bean Side Dishes

Crisp, bright, and endlessly versatile, fresh green beans deserve better than a can. These thirteen side dishes roast, sauté, and glaze them into holiday-worthy stars.

Below you’ll find 13 reader-favorite recipes, each with a photo, ingredients, and step-by-step instructions. Save your favorites and enjoy!

1. Garlic Green Beans with Almonds

Snappy green beans with garlic and crunchy toasted almonds.

Ingredients

• 1.5 lb fresh green beans, trimmed
• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp black pepper
• 1/3 cup sliced almonds, toasted
• 1 tbsp lemon juice

Instructions

1. Blanch the green beans in salted boiling water for 3 minutes.
2. Shock in ice water and drain well.
3. Heat the olive oil and sauté the garlic 30 seconds.
4. Add the beans, salt, and pepper; toss 4 minutes.
5. Squeeze over the lemon juice.
6. Top with toasted almonds and serve.

2. Classic Green Bean Casserole

The beloved creamy casserole with a crispy onion crown.

Ingredients

• 1.5 lb fresh green beans
• 1 can (10 oz) cream of mushroom soup
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1 tsp soy sauce
• 1 1/2 cups crispy fried onions
• 1/2 tsp black pepper

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
2. Blanch the green beans 4 minutes; drain.
3. Mix the soup, milk, soy sauce, and pepper.
4. Fold in the beans and half the fried onions.
5. Pour into a baking dish.
6. Bake 25 minutes; top with remaining onions and bake 5 minutes more.

3. Bacon Brown Sugar Green Beans

Smoky bacon and caramelized brown sugar glaze.

Ingredients

• 1.5 lb fresh green beans
• 1/2 lb bacon, chopped
• 1 onion, diced
• 2 tbsp brown sugar
• 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 1/2 tsp black pepper

Instructions

1. Cook the bacon in a skillet until crisp; remove.
2. Sauté the onion in the bacon fat 4 minutes.
3. Add the green beans and 1/4 cup water; cover and steam 6 minutes.
4. Uncover and stir in the brown sugar and vinegar.
5. Cook 3 minutes until glazed.
6. Top with the crisp bacon.

4. Sesame Honey Green Beans

Asian-inspired glossy beans with sesame and honey.

Ingredients

• 1.5 lb fresh green beans
• 2 tbsp sesame oil
• 2 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tbsp honey
• 1 tsp grated ginger
• 1 tbsp sesame seeds
• 2 green onions, sliced

Instructions

1. Blanch the green beans 3 minutes; drain.
2. Heat the sesame oil and add the ginger; cook 30 seconds.
3. Add the beans, soy sauce, and honey.
4. Toss 3 minutes until glazed.
5. Top with sesame seeds and green onions.
6. Serve hot.

5. Parmesan Roasted Green Beans

Crispy roasted beans crusted with savory Parmesan.

Ingredients

• 1.5 lb fresh green beans
• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 1/3 cup grated Parmesan
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp black pepper
• 1 tbsp lemon zest

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 425°F.
2. Toss the beans with olive oil, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
3. Spread on a baking sheet.
4. Roast 15 minutes.
5. Sprinkle with Parmesan and roast 5 minutes more.
6. Finish with lemon zest.

6. Creamy Mushroom Green Beans

Luxe creamy beans with browned mushrooms and Parmesan.

Ingredients

• 1.5 lb fresh green beans
• 8 oz mushrooms, sliced
• 3 tbsp butter
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 1/3 cup grated Parmesan
• 1/2 tsp thyme

Instructions

1. Blanch the green beans 3 minutes; drain.
2. Sauté the mushrooms in butter until deeply browned.
3. Add the garlic and thyme; cook 1 minute.
4. Pour in the cream and simmer 3 minutes.
5. Stir in the Parmesan until melted.
6. Toss with the green beans and serve.

7. Green Beans with Blistered Tomatoes

Sweet burst tomatoes and basil over tender beans.

Ingredients

• 1.5 lb fresh green beans
• 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/4 cup basil, torn
• 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
• Salt and pepper

Instructions

1. Blanch the green beans 3 minutes; drain.
2. Sauté the tomatoes in olive oil until blistered, 4 minutes.
3. Add the garlic; cook 30 seconds.
4. Add the beans and toss 2 minutes.
5. Drizzle with balsamic.
6. Top with basil and serve.

8. Sweet Chili Green Beans

Sticky sweet-heat glaze with a sesame finish.

Ingredients

• 1.5 lb fresh green beans
• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 2 tbsp brown sugar
• 1 tbsp rice vinegar
• 1 tsp sriracha
• 1 tbsp sesame oil
• 1 tbsp sesame seeds

Instructions

1. Blanch the green beans 3 minutes; drain.
2. Whisk the soy sauce, brown sugar, vinegar, and sriracha.
3. Heat the sesame oil and add the beans.
4. Pour in the sauce and toss 3 minutes until sticky.
5. Top with sesame seeds.
6. Serve hot.

9. Feta Cranberry Green Beans

Festive red-and-white beans with tangy feta.

Ingredients

• 1.5 lb fresh green beans
• 1/2 cup crumbled feta
• 1/4 cup dried cranberries
• 1/4 cup chopped pecans
• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 tsp honey

Instructions

1. Blanch the green beans 3 minutes; drain and cool slightly.
2. Whisk the olive oil, lemon juice, and honey.
3. Toss the beans with the dressing.
4. Top with feta, cranberries, and pecans.
5. Serve at room temperature.
6. A perfect make-ahead holiday side.

10. Lemony Almondine Green Beans

The French classic: brown butter, almonds, and lemon.

Ingredients

• 1.5 lb fresh green beans
• 4 tbsp butter
• 1/4 cup sliced almonds
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 tsp lemon zest
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 2 tbsp chopped parsley

Instructions

1. Blanch the green beans 3 minutes; drain.
2. Brown the butter in a skillet until nutty, 3 minutes.
3. Add the almonds and toast 1 minute.
4. Add the beans and salt; toss 2 minutes.
5. Add the lemon juice and zest.
6. Top with parsley.

11. Balsamic Roasted Green Beans

Caramelized roasted beans with sweet balsamic glaze.

Ingredients

• 1.5 lb fresh green beans
• 1 red bell pepper, sliced
• 1/2 red onion, sliced
• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 2 tbsp balsamic glaze
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning
• 1/3 cup shaved Parmesan

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 425°F.
2. Toss the beans, pepper, and onion with olive oil and Italian seasoning.
3. Roast 18 minutes until charred at the edges.
4. Drizzle with balsamic glaze.
5. Toss and roast 3 minutes more.
6. Top with shaved Parmesan.

12. Greek-Style Green Beans

Mediterranean beans with olives, tomatoes, and feta.

Ingredients

• 1.5 lb fresh green beans
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes
• 1/2 cup kalamata olives
• 1/3 cup crumbled feta
• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tbsp red wine vinegar
• 1 tsp oregano

Instructions

1. Blanch the green beans 4 minutes; drain.
2. Toss warm beans with olive oil, vinegar, and oregano.
3. Add the tomatoes and olives.
4. Top with feta.
5. Serve warm or at room temperature.
6. Drizzle with extra olive oil to serve.

13. Prosciutto-Wrapped Green Bean Bundles

Elegant little bundles of beans wrapped in crisp prosciutto.

Ingredients

• 1.5 lb fresh green beans
• 6 slices prosciutto
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tbsp maple syrup
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1 tbsp Dijon mustard

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 400°F.
2. Blanch the green beans 3 minutes; drain.
3. Bundle 8 to 10 beans and wrap with a prosciutto slice.
4. Whisk the olive oil, maple syrup, mustard, and pepper; brush over bundles.
5. Bake 12 to 15 minutes until the prosciutto crisps.
6. Serve warm.