21 Green Bean Recipes to Try

July around here means green bean season!

Our beans are coming into the garden in full force, and that means I’m faced with an inundation of these tasty pods to cook with.

I love canning green beans, and while it’s not difficult to do, it can be time-consuming. Often, I’ll end up freezing beans as well, because I can thaw and can them later in the year when the freezer starts to get full (and the temperatures drop so it’s not so unbearable to use the pressure canner).

If you’re looking for some ways to cook up those green beans, here are my favorite recipes for you to try.

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What Can I Do With a Lot of Fresh Green Beans?

Got lots of fresh green beans on your hands? You can cook a variety of dishes with fresh green beans, such as:

Sautéed green beans and garlic or roasted garlic Parmesan green beans.
Fresh green beans can also be used in salads and soups.
Green bean casseroles are another popular dish that utilizes the vegetable.
Additionally, you may pickle your fresh green beans for an interesting flavor addition to meals.

No matter how you choose to use up all those green beans, know that proper preparation is key. Check out the video below for more helpful tips on how to cook your beans:

Selecting the Best Green Beans

If you haven’t already, be sure to check out my article about growing green beans. This will tell you everything you need to know about planting and growing green beans, including:

The health benefits of beans
The best cultivars of green beans
The difference between pole and bush beans
How to plant green beans
How to tend to your plants
Planting green beans in containers
Planting in pallets
Harvesting green beans

Do I Need to Blanch My Green Beans?

I will be honest, when I first got into food preservation, all I knew about the word “blanch” was that it was the name of a Golden Girl.

However, it can be helpful to blanch your green beans before you cook or preserve them. A quick blanching cooks and tenderize the green beans and makes them easier to work with - and more delicious.

To do this, you should prepare a pot of water to boiling point. Add the green beans and cook them for three minutes. Pull them immediately and pour them into a large ice bath. This will preserve the beans so that they remain tender, crisp, and bright green - none of those dull puke-green beans you hated as a little kid!

This simple technique will make it easier for you to store your green beans long-term, and it will also make your green beans taste like they’re fresh out of a five-star restaurant’s kitchen.

Where Can I Purchase Green Beans?

I always recommend starting these recipes with fresh - not canned - beans. Even if you’re going to cook them anyway, fresh beans will always have a crisper, more tender flavor. The best green bean recipes will be those made with green beans grown in your own garden - but if you don’t have a garden, opt for organic beans.

Non-organic beans are the most likely to be exposed to pesticides. While locally grown green beans are always best, organic will be the next best option. Even if you buy organic beans, make sure you wash them thoroughly before beginning to make any of these recipes.

The World’s Best Green Bean Recipes

Now that you know how to prep your green beans for the stove, here’s how to make some of the best recipes to use them all up. Enjoy!

1. Roasted Parmesan Green Beans

As a child, I had a hard time eating any kind of vegetable that wasn’t covered in cheese. As an adult ...well, I still like a lot of cheese. But this green bean recipe is sure to please anybody!

You can find the full recipe at Pretty Rad Lists.

2. Sauteed Green Beans

Probably one of the simplest green bean recipes you will find, this recipe is also one of my favorites. It’s quick to whip up and makes a great side dish.

Recipe at Savory Nothings.

3. Green Beans and Bacon

My husband used to have a REALLY hard time eating vegetables if there wasn’t also meat involved. Here’s a great way to use up the morning’s breakfast bacon and also get a good dose of vitamins and minerals from the beans.

You can get the recipe at Wonky Wonderful.

4. Turmeric Green Beans with Roasted Potatoes

I’m a big fan of potatoes, and I’m an even bigger fan of dinners that come together in a snap. This one-pan dish is a great way to use up all those extra green beans!

Check out the recipe at Barefeet in the Kitchen.

5. Green Bean Fries with Balsamic Yogurt Dip

I’m going to be honest, green bean fries are never going to be as good as real fries. But these green bean fries are a good second-runner up, and the yogurt dip is absolutely to die for.

Take a gander at the recipe over at The Dinner Mom.

6. Asian Style Green Beans

If you want a more exotic taste at your dinner table, you might want to consider this recipe. The sauce comes together quickly in just a couple of minutes and it really takes your green beans to the next level. You will also need an onion and a red pepper to pull this one together.

The recipe is courtesy of Bunny’s Warm Oven.

7. Cheesy Green Beans

Ok, more cheese. I know. But this quick side dish is to DIE for. Check out the recipe at Cafe Delites.

8. Lemon Garlic Green Beans

Has your garden crop come in yet? If so, you’ve got to give these lemony beans a try - I added even more garlic to the recipe than was required - oops - but it was fantastic.

You can check out the full details at Mom’s Dinner.

9. Garlic Herb Roasted Potatoes, Carrots, and Green Beans

Another excellent side dish, this is a recipe I’d probably eat all by itself. The beans are coated in savory herbs and taste absolutely perfect.

Check out the recipe at Cooking Classy.

10. Green Beans with Toasted Almonds

If you really want to impress your guests this Thanksgiving, serve this Green Beans with Toasted Almonds dish. It comes together quickly and is a great way to use up fresh, frozen, or canned beans.

Follow the recipe at The Whole Cook.

11. Fresh Green Bean Salad with Balsamic Dressing

This is a nice cool salad for those hot summer nights when you just don’t feel like cooking. If you’re looking for other salads to try, make sure you check out my list here.

Otherwise, give this savory salad a try by following the recipe at Mel’s Kitchen Cafe.

PS - it also has bacon. And cheese.

12. Crockpot Green Bean Casserole

Green bean casserole is one of my favorite Thanksgiving side dishes - and this recipe is made ten times easier with the addition of a Crock Pot.

Here’s a great plan to follow by Recipes that Crock!

13. Greek Green Bean Salad

Another great salad recipe, but this one with a Mediterranean twist.

Check out the recipe at Kalyn’s Kitchen.

14. Chicken, Green Bean, and Mushroom Stir Fry

Who doesn’t love a good chicken recipe? I do! This recipe uses those mushrooms you might have kicking around in the fridge and makes a tantalizing dish out of them.

Check out the full recipe at A Slice of Southern.

15. Italian Marinated Green Bean Salad

This salad recipe calls in the big guns - in addition to green beans and onions, it’s also got tasty, protein-rich chickpeas.

Find the instructions to whip up a batch at It’s a Veg World After All.

16. Simple Skillet Green Beans

Have a cast iron pan you’ve been dying to try out? No? Get yourself a cast iron pan. Seriously. There are so many health benefits to cooking with one and they make your food taste freakin’ awesome.

Here’s a great recipe for skillet green beans at Mel’s Kitchen Cafe.

17. Sesame Ginger Green Bean Salad

I know, another salad! But this one’s worth it and would pair nicely with your sesame chicken. Check it out at The Cafe Sucre Farine.

18. Bacon Wrapped Green Beans

These cute, tasty bundles are sure to impress. You can find the recipe at Spicy Southern Kitchen.

19. Spicy Pickled Green Beans

If you’re sick of relying on good ol fashioned dill pickles to liven up your barbeques, consider making these spicy pickled green beans. They’re to die for!

Full recipe at My Life Cookbook.

20. Green Bean Soup

This tasty green bean soup is creamy and vegan-approved. Check out the recipe at Veggie Society.

21. Traditional Green Bean Casserole

Thanksgiving wouldn’t be the same without it - you’ve got to have those French’s Fried Onions after all!

Here’s how to make it. Recipe at Crafting a Family.

So what are you waiting for?

If you haven’t already, be sure to grab some green bean seeds and plant them in your garden this season. It’s not too late for an early autumn crop!

What tips and tricks do you have for cooking green beans - and what are your favorite recipes? Be sure to let me know in the comments!

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