30 Green Beans Recipes You Should Try at Least Once (2024)

My family and I love greens beans! They’re easy to prepare, and they go with so many other things. Really, I can’t think of many dinner meals that wouldn’t taste just a little bit better with some green beans, either on the side or mixed in. If you’re not sure you agree with you me, you’ve come to the right place because I’ve gathered some of my favorite green beans recipes and I’ll share them here with you.

Having a favorite green beans recipe is are a great addition to your repertoire because, while humble, this vegetable is so simple to cook, packed with flavor and loaded with nutrients.

There are so many ways to cook green beans, and you should have no trouble serving up a side dish everyone is going to love. In fact, I can almost guarantee that any of these recipes will turn a green bean hater into a green bean lover with just one bite. Go ahead – give them all a try.

1. Parmesan Roasted Green Beans

These Parmesan Roasted Green Beansare on regular rotation at my house because they have such a subtle saltiness, but you still get the crunch you’ve come to know and love from green beans. Roasting the beans gives them a slightly smoky flavor that gets better with every bite.

What I love most about these green beans is that they have a mild taste, which means you can serve them with everything from chicken to pork chops to a nice, thick steak. No matter what you serve them with, I think you’ll agree that this is one of the best ways to eat green beans.

2. Garlic Roasted Green Beans and Mushrooms

Give these Roasted Green Beans a little something extra by adding some mushrooms to the pot. Why? Because their soft texture offsets the crunch of the green beans in the best way. Here’s another reason why I love making this recipe as a side dish – served on their own, my kids won’t eat mushrooms, but mixed in with green beans, they’re a bit more receptive to giving them a try.

I can’t get enough of this mixture on its own, but this delicious side dish can quickly become a full meal by piling it on mashed potatoes or steamed white rice. If you want some meat, spoon it over a grilled chicken breast or a piece of salmon. You won’t be sorry!

3. Brown Sugar and Bacon Green Beans

This is one of my favorite green beans recipes because the sweet and salty flavors you get from the bacon and brown sugar are superb. I mean, let’s be honest here – what doesn’t get better when you add bacon? Well, I can assure you that green beans have a taste that begs for some crunchy bacon on top.

This recipe has a bit of a Southern flair, so I like to serve these green beans with a pulled pork sandwich and some corn on the cob. My kids love them served alongside a plate of hot wings. I’ve even been known to gobble up the leftovers as a midnight snack after the kids have gone to bed and I don’t have to share.

4. Country Ranch Green Beans and Potatoes

You’re not going to be able to get enough of these Ranch Green Beans with Potatoes. I promise you that. I have a special place in my heart for potatoes, and I don’t think you can ever go wrong by serving them. But for some reason, they get even better when you mix in some soft cooked green beans and mix them all up with some ranch seasoning.

If your mouth isn’t watering yet, I suggest getting in the kitchen and getting started making this side dish. My favorite way to serve this is with an egg on top. It’s sort of like a riff on breakfast hash and makes you see green beans in a whole new light.

5. Greek Green Beans

I’m always looking for new salad recipes because it’s a healthy addition to a meal, but it’s also something my whole family enjoys eating. These Greek Green Beans are a quick, easy and refreshing side dish for a busy night. The feta cheese melts most deliciously over the top of the green beans, and the herbs give it a yummy flavor.

Here’s what I love best about this salad – you can eat the leftovers cold for lunch the next day. This is something I look forward to tossing in my lunchbox. As you can probably imagine, this delightful salad is best served with grilled chicken or fish, but feel free to make it anytime the mood strikes. Which will be often.

6. Brown Butter Almond Green Beans

Almonds are one of the best things to pair with green beans and these Brown Butter Green Beans prove it in the most delicious way. When you go to a fancy restaurant and order green beans, they often come with almonds because they add a nice crunch, but they also give the beans a gourmet flair.

Because these green beans are cooked in brown butter, they also have a nice salty finish that makes them something more special than a plate of plain old steamed green beans. My recommendation? Break out this recipe when you have friends for dinner. You’ll impress everyone that way and who doesn’t love that?

7. Green Bean Cobbler

This Green Bean Cobbler is kind of like the green bean casserole you eat at Thanksgiving every year. Which just so happens to be my favorite part of the holiday. I could eat a couple of pounds of that stuff. So if you share my love of green bean casserole, you haven’t lived until you’ve tried this version.

There’s fresh garlic and shredded cheese in here, which is enough to tell you how wonderful it tastes. The breadcrumb topping is something I love because it gets crunchy and gives the cobbler texture and taste. Next time I make green beans, I think this is the recipe I’ll pull out.

8. Pasta with Green Beans and Pesto

I love a meal that can be made in one pot, which is why thisPasta with Green Beans and Pestomight be one of my top favorite meals. With the pasta and pesto, you will feel full even without any meat, and the green beans add a fun color and a nice crunch to the salad.

Topped with basil and almonds, you’re going to have a tough time finding a green bean recipe that is more satisfying than this one. I like to make a double batch so that everyone can take it in their lunch the next day. Talk about easy!

9. Cheesy Green Bean Casserole

Do you love cheese as much as I do? You’re covered when you serve these Cheesy Green Beans. Just look at them. You want to dig in, don’t you? Because there’s nothing better than a vegetable covered in cheese, am I right? Well, wait until you find out how easy this recipe is to make.

These cheesy wonders are the perfect thing to serve with baked tilapia or some thick grilled pork chops. You won’t even need a potato because the cheese will fill you up. We all want something to make us happy, and I think this recipe will do the trick.

10. Potato, Green Bea, and Bacon Soup

Green beans are a surprising, but delicious addition to this Potato Soup. Never had green beans in your soup? You are missing out. And again, we don’t turn down meals with bacon in them, right? All joking aside, this soup is filling and will stick to your ribs, making it one of my go-to choices for a chilly night.

And when I make soup, I always make a double batch, so there’s an easy dinner ready for next week. Simply pull it out and heat it up and dinner is served. As a busy working mom, that’s invaluable to me, and I think you’ll feel the same. Plus, you’re going to want to eat this soup all the time because it tastes that good.

11. Garlic Roasted Green Beans Au Gratin

Melted cheese and fresh garlic make these Green Beans Au Gratin a gourmet touch to any dinner. Instead of the usual bowl of ho-hum steamed green beans, imagine the delight on your family’s face when they sit down and see this side dish.

Garlic and cheese rev up the dish without taking away the taste and texture of the green beans. Don’t even feel guilty about all that cheese because it’s full of calcium and that means it’s good for you. I like to serve this side dish with beef, such as hamburgers or patty melts, but the sky is the limit so eat it whenever you want to. We don’t judge.

12. Green Bean Mushroom Skillet

I love stir-fry like this one-pot Green Bean Mushroom Skillet because it’s easy to make without a lot of hassle, but offers up something a bit different on a regular weeknight. I am so often tempted to reach for the local Chinese takeout menu, but I know it’s too expensive and not that healthy.

While this has a decidedly un-Oriental flavor to it, the ingredients scream stir-fry, so that’s why I almost always serve it with white rice. But it’s also good on mashed potatoes or egg noodles. Or on its own – whatever you like.

13. Green Bean and New Potato Coconut Curry

You’ve never had a curry quite like this one with New Potatoes and Green Beans. Curry is a classic dish that you see on a lot of takeout menus, but that doesn’t mean you can’t be successful making it at home. Hey – if I can do it, anyone can.

Like I said before, I adore potatoes, so I am naturally drawn to this meal several times each month. It’s great any time of year because green beans are always easy to find and never cost too much. Some rice on the side and you have a meal fit for a queen. That would be you.

14. Roasted Green Beans with Cranberries and Almonds

The Cranberries and Walnutslend just the right touch of crunch and sweetness to these green beans. I know they look like a holiday dish, but whosays you can’t serve them to celebrate Wednesday? I have a thing for walnuts, and I think they’re just the thing to make vegetables more enticing.

Dried cranberries have a subtle sweetness that for some reason works so well here. If you’ve been afraid to try the ever-popular fruit and vegetable mixture in recipes, I think you’ll see that the idea has merit once you taste this yummy recipe.

15. Bacon Green Bean Bundles

These Bacon Green Bean Bundles are perfect for serving at a dinner party. I know, I know. Dinner parties don’t happen all that often. At least they don’t at my house. Which is why I’ve thrown all caution to the wind, and just made these for myself and my family on an ordinary weeknight. Why wait for a special occasion to make something this good?

As the bacon crisps up, it’s grease is released, which soaks into the green beans and gives them a lovely flavor. Serve these little gems with a nice thick steak and a pile of garlic mashed potatoes. Yum, right?

16. Green Bean, Tomato, and Onion Basil Summer Salad

If you already love green beans but are looking for a new way to enjoy them, try thisGreen Bean Summer Salad. That’s precisely what I did a few days ago, and I wasn’t sorry in the least. Summer is the perfect time to pull some tomatoes from your garden, and they work well with fresh green beans.

Next time you go to a backyard barbeque arrive with this dish, and you’ll be the star of the show. The salad looks pretty, but it tastes even better than it looks. I can’t get enough of it, and I know you’ll feel the same.

17. Green Beans, Cabbage,and Cheese

If you love macaroni and cheese, you are going to adore this Cheesy Green Beans and Cabbage dish. I was initially drawn to it because I have a strange weakness for cooked cabbage. Just between you and me, the cheese in this dish is a great way to “trick” your kids into eating vegetables.

I love this as a main dish – who needs meat when you have all that cheese? But, of course, serve it with burgers or pork sandwiches if you so desire.

18. Roasted Pumpkin, Green Bean, and Quinoa Salad

ThisQuinoa Saladwasn’t my top choice when I was looking for a new way to serve green beans. I mean, pumpkin? But boy,am I glad I went ahead and gave it a try. The soft pumpkin, the nutty quinoa, and the crisp green beans? So yummy!

I’m not usually a fan of cooking squash because it’s so hard to cut up, but I’m glad I made an effort here because I never knew pumpkin would work so well in a salad. If the only way you’ve ever tried it is in a pie, I urge you to make this tonight.

19. Cheesy Sausage and Green Bean Skillet

Nothing tastes better on a skillet filled with Sausage and Green Beans than a pile of melted cheese. Have you noticed that I like cheese? I don’t think you can look at this photo and not feel the same way. And who doesn’t love a meal you can make in one pot?

Green beans give this dish some nutrition and flavor, and the sausage and cheese lend a delightful saltiness that offsets the pasta in the best way. This is definitely a meal you can make for a crowd, and I’ve found that everyone comes running to the table when this is what’s for dinner.

20. Pickled Dill Green Beans

If you’ve never had Pickled Green Beans, you are seriously missing out because they are just as great as a traditional pickle. Ok, I love anything pickled so I may be biased, but this recipe is so easy that it doesn’t hurt to give it a try for yourself, right?

These make a tasty snack, but you can also chop them and add to a salad or pile them on a hot dog. My best advice is to make a lot of them because they go fast. Add some spicy peppers to give the green beans a dose of heat.

21. Balsamic Green Bean Salad

I love thisBalsamic Green Bean Salad because it’s unexpected. After all, how often do you use balsamic vinegar in your kitchen? Both the green beans and the tomatoes soak up the balsamic, so you get a tantalizing hit of flavor in every single bite.

I like to serve this with chicken or fish, but toss some shrimp in there, and you have a full meal. The colors make it look so appetizing so bring this to your next potluck, but be ready to share the recipe with everyone there.

22. Three Bean Salad

Three Bean Salad is something I always turned my nose up at until I tried this version. I’m not even sure what made me think it would be good, but it is! The mix of textures and the garlicky mustardy flavor of the sauce is something extraordinary.

I really want to eat more beans because I know they’re healthy and I can’t think of a better recipe for helping me do just that. And of course, you can’t eat this without a couple of pieces of fried chicken.

23. P.F. Chang’s Spicy Green Beans

If you love the Spicy Green Beans at P.F. Chang’s, you are going to love this copycat recipe. I’m a massive fan of copycat recipes because they allow you to enjoy a favorite without having to spend the money to go out to eat. This is a recipe you’ll turn to time and time again.

What better way to enjoy spicy green beans than with a plate of chicken stir-fry and a scoop of steamed white rice? Or try something adventurous and serve these in soft tortillas for a new twist on tacos. Intrigued, aren’t you?

24. Crockpot Chicken Stuffing and Green Beans

I am a huge fan of comfort food, especially in the fall and winter. This One Pot Crockpot Meal is sure to become one of a new favorite green beans recipe. I can say that because it’s definitely one of mine. Chicken, stuffing and green beans in one pile? Yes, please!

If you’re someone who is trying to like green beans, this recipe is a great way to try them without being overpowered. The chicken and stuffing work so well with them that you might think that they might be your new favorite food.

25. Roast Beet and Green Bean Salad

For a long time, I had to force myself to like beets. But that’s because I had never had them roasted. Now I can’t get enough of this Roast Beet and Green Bean Salad. It’s so yummy with those spicy onions and creamy cheese on top. And all those herbs!

Since green beans have such a mild taste, they’re a great thing to serve with the stronger flavor of beets. Roasted, the two ingredients make for a side dish that works well with just about anything. I love this with chicken!

26. Garlic Lemon Green Beans

When it comes to a simple green beans recipe, these Garlic and Lemon Green Beans are sure to please. Whether it’s a busy weeknight or you throw an impromptu dinner party, these green beans have a wow factor without having to spend a bunch of time and effort getting there.

I try hard to not fall back on the same old steamed green beans for dinner, and that’s why I love this recipe so very much. It doesn’t take any more time to make, but the lemony goodness is unique and delicious. As a side dish, these are lovely with grilled salmon or steak.

27. Fried Green Beans

Really, is there anything that doesn’t taste just a little better when deep fried? Pickles, chicken, Snickers bars? Yes, yes and yes! These Fried Green Beans are a delightful alternative to French fries and are especially scrumptious served with ranch.

Mom always said to eat your greens so go ahead and enjoy these without an ounce of guilt. They’re vegetables, after all! These are prime barbecue food so enjoy them with wings, burgers or hot dogs.

28. Za’atar Roasted Carrots and Green Beans

You’ve never had a side dish as mouthwatering as these Roasted Carrots and Green Beans. Don’t believe me? Then you’ve got to give them a try for dinner tonight. They have a tasty ethnic flavor that you don’t get every day. But without having to be a star chef.

I’m a huge fan of trying something new in the kitchen, and this recipe is easy enough to test your skills, but sophisticated enough to share with family and friends. Go ahead – your taste buds are waiting.

29. Green Beans with Dill Herb Butter

The Dill Herb Butter on these green beans is so good you won’t be able to stop eating it. And I genuinely mean that. I like to make this with steak because the butter is so yummy melted over meat too. And if you think making your own herb butter is hard, you’re in for a treat, because it’s really not.

Of course, you can make this recipe anytime the mood strikes, but it’s especially delicious in the spring when green beans are ripe and flavorful. This side dish is one of the reasons I planted green bean seeds in my garden this year.

30. Sesame Ginger Green Bean Salad

Want something a little bit different? You’ll find it with this simple Sesame Ginger Green Bean Salad.Peas are just as delightfully mild as green beans, which makes them perfect mates in this dish. I love the taste of fresh ginger, but there aren’t a lot of recipes that call for it, aside from stir-fry or marinades.

Those are just a couple of reasons why I love this recipe. Others? It’s fast. It’s easy. It’s impressive. And most importantly, it tastes good. What more reason do you need? Go make it!

Conclusion

No more boring plain green beans for you. In fact, my family has a new love for green beans after trying these dishes, and I think yours will too. And if they don’t? Well, that leaves more for you. Tonight I’m making that gooey green bean cobbler I raved so much about.

And when my green beans are ripe, everyone is going to get the gift of a tasty dish of green beans.