These Sauteed Green Beans with shallots are tender-crisp, buttery and bursting with savory flavor. The combination of French green beans, shallots and garlic is simple yet elegant, perfect for holiday dinners or weeknight meals. This easy side dish comes together in under 20 minutes using one large skillet.
Cooked until just tender and vibrant green, these sautéed green beans are simple yet full of flavor. A sprinkle of kosher salt and black pepper highlights their natural freshness, making them a perfect side for both holiday dinners and easy weeknight meals.
We often serve them alongside favorites like our Chicken Thighs with Honey or Marinated Chicken Thighs for a simple, flavorful meal.
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Why You Will Love This Recipe
- Simple and Quick: Just a few pantry staples and one pan make this an easy recipe for any day of the week.
- Versatile Side Dish: Serve it with anything, these green beans play well with many cuisines.
- Crowd-Pleaser: These beans are just the right mix of crisp and soft, earning them a second helping from even picky eaters.
Ingredients
This buttery garlic green bean recipe uses simple ingredients you likely already have on hand.
See the recipe card below for the exact quantities of each ingredient.
- Fresh Green Beans: French green beans offer texture and a quicker cooking time.
- Shallots: Adds a soft bite and sweet depth.
- Garlic Cloves: Brings in that buttery, garlicky finish.
- Unsalted Butter: Helps everything get golden without adding too much salt.
For this simple side recipe, you'll want to have on hand a sharp knife, large skillet and a spatula.
Variations
- Use Olive Oil or Coconut Oil: Both make the dish dairy-free. Olive oil gives a lighter finish, while coconut oil adds a subtle tropical note that pairs well with holiday roasts.
- Add Lemon Zest: For a bright, citrusy finish.
- Finish with Toasted Almonds: Sprinkle on sliced almonds for a little crunch and a nutty note.
- Splash of Balsamic Vinegar: A small drizzle at the end adds tang and enhances the sweetness of the shallots.
How to Make Sauteed Green Beans with Shallots
This quick and easy dish comes together fast, just look at the images below!
With just a few steps and one large saucepan or skillet, this is the perfect last minute side dish.
Prep your beans by trimming off the ends.
Over medium heat, melt butter in and cook shallot, about 3-5 minutes (cook for about 10 minutes for a caramelized shallots).
Add garlic and cook until fragrant.
Place the beans into the pan and cook to your desired tenderness, about 6-10 minutes, stirring occasionally for even cooking.
Hint: Let the shallots soften and develop flavor before adding garlic, which cooks faster and can easily burn.
Recipe Tips
- Don’t Overcook: Be sure not to overcook the beans, aim for a bright green color and slight snap.
- Use Medium-High Heat at the End: To get a light char and add a bit of texture use medium-high heat the at tend for a couple minutes.
- Try an Ice Bath: For extra crispness, blanch the beans in boiling water, then shock in ice water bath before sautéing.
- Use a Slotted Spoon: When transferring to a serving platter, use a slotted spoon to keep the butter and bits from pooling.
Our Green Bean Casserole is another delicious bean side dish you’ll want to try next.
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Storage Instructions
- Refrigerator: Once cooled, store and leftover beans in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
- Freezer: For the best texture we do not recommend freezing but if you do seal them well in a freezer-safe container (preferably vacuum-sealed) for up to 1 month.
- Reheating: Thaw in the fridge overnight and warm in a nonstick skillet over medium-low heat with a little bit of water or butter.
Serving Suggestions
- Main Dish Recipes: Serve alongside Herb Butter Turkey, baked ham or maple glazed salmon.
- Comforting Sides: Mashed Potatoes, White Cheddar Mac and Cheese, Green Bean Casserole or Roasted Carrots.
Green Beans Sauted with Garlic Recipe FAQs
Yes, you can use any onion. Red gives a mild flavor, yellow is sweeter and white has the strongest bite.
Not required. For softer beans, blanch first, but I prefer cooking them with a splash of water and the lid on to save time.
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Sauteed Green Beans with Shallots
Equipment
- Medium Skillet or Frying Pan
- Spatula
- Kitchen Scale
Ingredients
- 8 ounce French green beans
- 1 shallot minced
- 2 cloves garlic roughly chopped
- 2 tablespoon butter, unsalted
Instructions
- Prep your beans by washing and trimming off the ends.
- Over medium heat, melt butter in and cook shallot, about 3-5 minutes (cook for about 10 minutes for a caramelized shallots).
- Add garlic and cook until fragrant.
- Place the beans into the pan and cook to your desired tenderness, about 6-10 minutes, stirring occasionally for even cooking.
Notes
- Deepen the Flavor: Let the shallots soften and develop flavor before adding garlic, which cooks faster and can easily burn.
- Don’t Overcook: Be sure not to overcook the beans, aim for a bright green color and slight snap.
- Use Medium-High Heat at the End: To get a light char and add a bit of texture use medium-high heat the at tend for a couple minutes.
- Try an Ice Bath: For extra crispness, blanch the beans in boiling water, then shock in ice water bath before sautéing.
- Use a Slotted Spoon: When transferring to a serving platter, use a slotted spoon to keep the butter and bits from pooling.
Nutrition
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Rick says
A great side dish
Eva says
I love how simple and delicious this recipe is, and a different way to cook one of our families favorite veggies!
Eva Filer says
Thank you for the review.