38 Green Bean Recipes Even Veggie-Haters Will Love (2024)

The Thanksgiving staple has legs for the rest of the year too.

By Mackenzie Filson
38 Green Bean Recipes Even Veggie-Haters Will Love (1)

If you're only busting out green beans around Thanksgiving, you're missing out. These recipes dress up the crisp, fresh beans with savory, spicy, and sweet punches of flavor that will have everyone (even those who swear they don't like any green vegetables) asking for seconds. Make these versatile green bean recipes for the holidays, or even just to spice up a weeknight meal.

First things first: Green beans might just be the easiest vegetable to cook up as a healthy side dish for your favorite proteins, especially pork, tofu, and steak. Did you know you can air-fry, steam, roast, blanch, and even grill green beans? Now you do! Personally, we're pretty partial to air-frying green beans since it often results in these crispy, crunchy air-fryer tempura-inspired green beans that are very ideal for dipping in an herby sauce. Even if you go a more simple route by stir-frying green beans with bacon, you're guaranteed to have a side dish that's bound to upstage the main event.

And don't worry, we've also got plenty of clever spins on green bean casserole, whether you're a purist or craving something a bit non-traditional for Thanksgiving or Christmas. Looking for a lighter spin on the classic casserole? Try our healthy, from-scratch version of green bean casserole, or even our easy vegan green bean casserole. Looking for a version that's more potluck-friendly? Look no further than our recipes for and our green bean casserole bundles. Everyone at your party will flip.

1

Green Bean Casserole

38 Green Bean Recipes Even Veggie-Haters Will Love (3)

For this recipe, we ditched the canned cream of mushroom soup and went for fresh instead. By sautéing mushrooms with thinly sliced onion in butter, you're building a base with some serious depth of flavor. Trust us, it's SO worth it.

Get the Green Bean Casserole recipe.

2

Air Fryer Tempura-Inspired Green Beans

38 Green Bean Recipes Even Veggie-Haters Will Love (4)

We set out to make crispy delicious tempura green beans, minus the deep frying. Boy, did we succeed, thanks to panko breadcrumbs! They give all the crunch you love, without the need for a pot of hot, spattering oil.

Get the Air Fryer Tempura-Inspired Green Beans recipe.

3

Parmesan Roasted Green Beans

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This side is like if green beans dressed up as cheesy garlic bread. 😍 Tossed in garlic and black pepper and showered with cheese, this simple, yet irresistible side will steal the spotlight at every holiday table.

Get the Parmesan Roasted Green Beans recipe.

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4

Crockpot Green Bean Casserole

38 Green Bean Recipes Even Veggie-Haters Will Love (6)

Is it even Thanksgiving without this cozy side? This recipe makes green bean casserole even simpler; instead of using an oven, it can be mixed and cooked in your slow cooker. Save all that oven space for the turkey!

Get the Crockpot Green Bean Casserole recipe.

5

Brie & Green Bean Bundles recipe

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If you're looking for the easiest last-minute appetizer, look no further than these cheesy brie & green bean bundles. Perfect for a Thanksgiving potluck or holiday party appetizer, these bundles of joy turn the classic green bean casserole into a handheld delight, all wrapped in flaky crescent dough.

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6

Green Beans Almondine

38 Green Bean Recipes Even Veggie-Haters Will Love (8)

Sautéed with shallots and garlic, tossed with buttery, toasted almonds, and finished with lemon, these French green beans are quick enough to serve for a weeknight dinner while also being fancy enough for holiday meals and dinner parties.

Get the Green Beans Almondine recipe.

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7

Cheesy Green Bean & Mushroom Tart

38 Green Bean Recipes Even Veggie-Haters Will Love (9)

These flavors are a classic combo we never tire of, and that goes double for this shareable tart. Fresh blanched green beans are layered onto a creamy blend of ricotta and goat cheese, topped with garlicky mushrooms and cheddar cheese, then baked on a puff pastry crust until perfectly melty.

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8

Niçoise Salad

38 Green Bean Recipes Even Veggie-Haters Will Love (10)

Since no two Niçoise salads are exactly alike, we figured we’d we follow our stomachs and gather some of our favorite ingredients. Drizzled with a mustard-spiked vinaigrette, this salad features a pleasant balance of flavors and textures that makes for a satisfying lunch or dinner.

Get the Niçoise Salad recipe.

9

Roasted Green Beans

38 Green Bean Recipes Even Veggie-Haters Will Love (11)

For a vegetable side to reach the regular weeknight rotation, it has to be delicious and a no-brainer—just like these shallot-y roasted green beans. Simply toss fresh beans in olive oil and season with some salt and pepper before roasting on high heat, then finish under the broiler.

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10

Green Bean Salad

38 Green Bean Recipes Even Veggie-Haters Will Love (12)

If your family cookout doesn’t feature a big bowl of this salad, you’re seriously missing out. Fresh green beans are tossed with cherry tomatoes, olives, and feta in a simple red wine vinaigrette for a Greek-inspired side that’s as light and fresh as it is seasonal.

Get the Green Bean Salad recipe.

11

Thanksgiving Crunchwrap

38 Green Bean Recipes Even Veggie-Haters Will Love (13)

Tired of the same ol' leftover Thanksgiving sandwich? This crunchwrap is the perfect way to shake things up. Don't have all the leftover ingredients? No worries! Just use what you've got. Pretty much everything short of pumpkin pie will work just fine. 😎

Get the Thanksgiving Crunchwrap recipe.

12

Ginger Beef Stir-Fry With Ramen

38 Green Bean Recipes Even Veggie-Haters Will Love (14)

This stir-fry has a ginger-garlic kick that you won't be able to resist. It's our favorite way to class up a pack of instant ramen!

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13

Air Fryer Green Beans

38 Green Bean Recipes Even Veggie-Haters Will Love (15)

Quick, easy, and made with the simplest ingredients, air fryer green beans give you tender, crispy results without having to turn on your oven. This rendition also comes with a treat: 8 cloves of creamy, buttery garlic that get air-fried alongside the green beans for bites of delicious roasted garlic.

Get the Air Fryer Green Beans recipe.

14

Green Bean Casserole Bundles

38 Green Bean Recipes Even Veggie-Haters Will Love (16)

Looking to switch up your Thanksgiving menu but don't want to upset any of traditionalists? Look no further than these green bean casserole bundles. We took our favorite green bean casserole and then wrapped individual portions in bacon. It's genius, really.

Get the Green Bean Casserole Bundles recipe.

15

How To Cook Green Beans

38 Green Bean Recipes Even Veggie-Haters Will Love (17)

Green beans are one of the most versatile and delicious summer veggies. There are so many ways to prepare them, and even more ways to serve them. (With feta! With toasted nuts! Squeezed with lemon!) Whatever mode you choose, you'll have a pretty killer side dish.

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16

Stir-Fried Green Beans

38 Green Bean Recipes Even Veggie-Haters Will Love (18)

Stir-fries are fast, easy, and simple, and this classic green bean offering is no different. We go the extra mile here and use 2 slices of bacon for some extra smoky flavor, but you can simply substitute in extra-virgin olive oil if you prefer to go the vegetarian route.

Get the Stir-Fried Green Beans recipe.

17

Healthy Green Bean Casserole

38 Green Bean Recipes Even Veggie-Haters Will Love (19)

Never fear, this lightened-up green bean casserole is here to help you save room for pumpkin pie. Forgoing canned cream of mushroom for a quick homemade mushroom gravy, we'd argue this version is healthier and more delicious than the classic.

Get the Healthy Green Bean Casserole recipe.

18

Balsamic-Glazed Roasted Cauliflower

38 Green Bean Recipes Even Veggie-Haters Will Love (20)

A whole roasted cauliflower makes for a fantastic vegetarian main dish. This one is roasted around extra veggies and has a slightly sweet balsamic glaze over it. It's easy to throw together and will leave you feeling full, not heavy. Win!

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19

Gluten-Free Green Bean Casserole

38 Green Bean Recipes Even Veggie-Haters Will Love (21)

Never has there ever been a holiday table (looking at you, Thanksgiving) without green bean casserole. We love this gluten-free version because it gets more forks involved, but even more for its rich, punchy flavors.

Get the Gluten-Free Green Bean Casserole recipe.

20

Pizza Niçoise

38 Green Bean Recipes Even Veggie-Haters Will Love (22)

Pizza Niçoise is exactly how it sounds—a mashup of classic Niçoise salad toppings piled on top of a warm, doughy crust. It’s a taste of the Mediterranean right from your kitchen table.

Get the Pizza Niçoise recipe.

38 Green Bean Recipes Even Veggie-Haters Will Love (2024)

FAQs

Do people actually like green bean casserole? ›

That's because according to a new Harris Poll survey for Instacart, 24% of people say green bean casserole is their least favorite Thanksgiving food. In fact, we don't even really like it, because most of those people say they only eat it for tradition's sake. But that's not the No. 1 offender.

What can I add to green beans for flavor? ›

A little butter, minced garlic, and lemon-pepper seasoning are all you need to bring the best out of fresh green beans.

How to make Paula Deen green beans? ›

Add green beans to pan and sauté over medium heat for 2 minutes, stirring frequently. Add boiling water to pan and cover. Cook for about 15 minutes, just until beans are tender. Add vinegar, butter and salt and pepper and stir.

Why add baking soda to water when cooking green beans? ›

Your Beans Will Cook Faster

Well, creating an alkaline (or basic) environment by adding a small amount (about 1 teaspoon per cup of dry beans) of baking soda to your soaking/cooking water can actually help your beans cook faster.

How do you pimp up beans? ›

One idea is to add marmite (trust me, it's lovely if you like marmite). You can also spice up you're your baked beans by adding a teaspoon of your favourite spice, for example smoked paprika, cumin or chilli powder if your feeling adventurous.

What does green beans do for your body? ›

The vegetable helps fight inflammation and is a good source of folate and potassium, which helps regulate blood pressure. Green beans also are a good source of protein and fiber, which helps lower cholesterol, Vadiveloo said. "Fiber is underconsumed by U.S. adults and children, and it's good for gut health," she said.

How do you get the most flavor out of beans? ›

A few items I reach for when making beans are: cumin, onions, garlic, bay leaves, chipotle peppers in adobo, bell peppers, poblano peppers, spicy chili peppers of any kind, cilantro, coriander, paprika, liquid smoke, celery, vegetable stock, black pepper, salt and lime juice.

Which is better in green bean casserole canned or frozen? ›

When I make green bean casserole, I skip canned beans all together. Frozen green beans are the best green beans to use for green bean casserole.

Why is my green bean casserole bland? ›

The Casserole Is Bland

Another one of the most common green bean casserole mistakes is to choose a recipe that's a bit too simple, which can result in a bland dish.

Why is my green bean casserole so soupy? ›

Green bean casserole should have a nice thick sauce that coats the green beans—it should not resemble soup. One common cause of a watery casserole is not adding enough thickener, such as flour or cornstarch, to your sauce.

How do you doctor up green beans? ›

Place butter in the bottom of a serving bowl and add DRAINED green beans, stirring gently until butter is melted. Sprinkle with parmesan (and thyme if using)and serve. NOTE: This would work equally well on fresh or frozen green beans.

What is the best tasting green bean? ›

Maxibel ~ If you only get one bush bean variety, make it Maxibel. This is a full-size (7-inch pods) French filet bean that has straight, dark green pods. A very gourmet-type bean, Maxibel has a flavor that can't be beat.

Do you season green beans before or after cooking? ›

After the green beans are boiled, remove them from the pot and strain them through a colander and then immediately pour them into your buttered pan. Season the green beans with salt and pepper.

Should green beans be steamed or boiled? ›

Steaming green beans gives them the same crisp-tender texture as blanching or boiling. Yet I think it preserves their lovely green color and allows the home cook more control over their texture than with those other two methods. Steaming is easy, too—and ease is what this recipe is all about.

How to cook green beans Jamie Oliver? ›

Put a pan of salted water on to boil. Meanwhile, trim the the beans. Once the water is boiling, steam or boil the beans until tender. Drain well, then tip the cooked beans into the bowl with your dressing and toss everything together, making sure all the beans get coated.

Do fresh green beans need to be soaked before cooking? ›

Should I Soak Green Beans Before Cooking? Fresh green beans do not need to be soaked. To help tenderize the beans, blanch them in a large pot of salted water.

How are green beans supposed to be cooked? ›

Cook the green beans, covered, in a small amount of boiling salted water until crisp-tender:
  1. 10 to 15 minutes for whole or cut green beans.
  2. 5 to 10 minutes for french-cut green beans.
Sep 5, 2023

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