Blistered Green Beans with garlic are the best veggie side dish recipe for any meal! Fancy enough for holiday dinners and easy to make for busy weeknight dinners! Just 5 ingredients and done in only 15 minutes! You will love this unique green bean recipe.
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Why You'll Love This Green Beans Recipe
- Simple recipe ingredients.
- Quick to make.
- Family & kid-friendly and great for picky eaters.
- Customizable according to your taste.
- Easy to make any time of year.
- Works for Thanksgiving dinner, Christmas holiday dinner, or Easter brunch.
- Serve as an easy side dish to add to your main course or weeknight dinner recipe.
- So flavorful!
- Tastes fried but cooked on the skillet instead!
- Healthy, nutritious, gluten-free, paleo, dairy-free, Whole30, and vegan.
- Low calorie, low fat, and made with a little olive oil.
Ingredients for This Recipe
Here are the ingredients you need to make this recipe. Reference the recipe card at the bottom for exact measurements and the notes below for substitution ideas.
Green beans are a nutritious vegetable full of folic acid and other vitamins and minerals.
Fresh or frozen green beans are best for this recipe. I do not recommend canned.
Sometimes fancy green beans are named haricots verts or French green beans.
Olive oil or butter provides a fat source to help pan-fry the green beans.
Salt and pepper provide simple seasoning.
Fresh garlic enhances the flavor of this recipe.
Flavor Variations
Adding miso, soy sauce, red pepper flakes, and peppers make this a spicy Chinese version.
Try adding in any of these: lemon juice, tomatoes, almonds, pistachios, or fried shallots.
Taste and Texture
These fancy green beans have the taste of green beans with a slight bitterness of browned garlic and oil. It is a pleasing flavor combination thanks to the caramelization of the brown bits.
These are a nice mix of crunch and firmness with great savory flavor.
Blistered green beans have a more crunchy texture than traditional green bean recipes. This is due to them being flash-cooked while boiling and crisped in the hot skillet.
How to Make This Recipe
Below are step-by-step instructions for how to cook this recipe with the best results. The recipe card at the bottom shows the exact cooking time and temperatures.
Step 1
Start by blanching the green beans in four cups of boiling water for 4-6 minutes, depending on your desired doneness. Then, drain the beans using a colander.
In a large skillet, heat two tablespoons of oil over medium-high heat.
Step 2
Once the oil is hot, turn the heat down to medium heat and add the grated garlic to the hot pan. Stir it for 30 seconds, and do not allow it to burn.
Step 3
Return the heat to medium-high, add the blanched green beans in a single layer, and stir in the skillet. Cook them until they are blistered to your liking, usually around 5 minutes.
Step 4
Season with salt and black pepper, and serve.
How to Serve
These blistered green beans with garlic are a delicious veggie side dish to salmon, air-fried turkey breast, Italian quesadillas, and chicken parmesan - all weeknight dinners, tons of main dishes, or holiday meals.
Serve immediately or at room temperature. They will lose their crisp texture the longer you wait to serve.
How to Store and Reheat Blistered Green Beans
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Blistered green beans will lose their crispy texture as they are refrigerated.
They are best eaten right after making them.
To reheat, place them back in a heated skillet and allow them to re-crisp and heat through, for about 2-3 minutes over medium heat.
Expert Tips
- Allow them to brown longer to get a more crispy version.
- Make sure the oil in the pan is hot before frying.
- Do not make this recipe ahead of time to keep the beans crispy. Prep the green beans by cleaning and trimming them, but leave the cooking for the day of.
- Do not overcrowd the pan.
- Do not freeze.
- The recipe can be doubled for a larger gathering and served on a serving platter.
Recipe FAQs
This is a personal choice. I generally buy green beans that are already cleaned and trimmed.
If you are cleaning fresh green beans, you may snip off the ends.
To prevent overcooking, keep an eye on the skillet and remove the skillet from the heat once the green beans have reached your desired level of blistering.
Pre-cooking fresh string beans in boiling water, also known as blanching, will reduce your skillet and cooking time.
Place the fresh green beans in boiling water for 4-6 minutes to partially cook them (par-boiled). Drain them and then add them to the hot olive oil and garlic.
Frozen works just as well as fresh. Do not use canned green beans for this recipe.
Although green beans with spots are safe to eat, they are not the freshest green beans. Brown spots mean they are starting to age.
Select green beans that are tender, long, stiff, yet flexible. Avoid limp or slimy beans.
Other Easy Side Dish Recipes
Best Blistered Green Beans with Garlic Recipe
Equipment
- colander
- spatula
Ingredients
- 1 pound green beans cleaned and trimmed
- 2 cloves garlic grated
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- salt + pepper to taste
Instructions
- Bring a pot filled with 4 cups of water to a boil. Add cleaned green beans to boiling water and boil for 4-6 minutes, depending on your desired doneness. Then, drain the beans.1 pound green beans
- In a skillet, heat 2 tablespoon of olive oil over medium heat. Once hot, turn the heat down to medium-low and add the grated garlic.2 tablespoon olive oil, 2 cloves garlic
- Add the blanched green beans and stir in the skillet until beans are blistered to your liking. Season with salt and pepper.salt + pepper
Notes
- Allow them to brown longer to get a more crispy version.
- I don't recommend making these ahead if you want crispy ones. If you don't mind them being less crispy you can make them ahead and reheat in the microwave or air fryer.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Do not freeze.
- Add in customizations if you want! A few ideas are tomatoes, fried shallots, lemon juice, almonds or pistachios, or a spicy Chinese version with red pepper flakes, miso and soy sauce.
- Recipe can be doubled for a larger gathering.
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marta says
Quick, easy, and absolutely delicious!
Lyndsey says
I'm so glad you liked it Marta! Thanks for your comment and rating!
Shari says
Lyndsey, we absolutely love your Garlic Green Beans as your recipe offers the cook to go “outside the box” and add her own creative touch! This is my third time and I’ve added fresh tarragon and toasted sliced almonds! Thanks for your detailed recipe sharing! You’re the BEST!!!
Lyndsey says
Thank you so much! I love the additions you made as well. I appreciate the comment and rating so much!