Quick & Easy Green Bean Side Dishes You'll Actually Love

Green beans are a classic, extremely versatile Thanksgiving side dish that doesn’t often get the credit it deserves.

Many of us harbor negativity towards green beans due to years of holiday exposure to subpar dishes made with the canned variety. So to help ensure that this year’s dish forms positive memories, here are a handful of delicious and speedy Thanksgiving side dishes featuring fresh green beans that will be an excellent additions to your holiday meals. 

Best Green Beans for Thanksgiving

Green Bean Basics

Green beans should be plump and firm when you buy them at the grocery store. They may have a stem attached to one end, which should be snipped off before cooking. Some stores will sell green beans that are already trimmed and ready to cook. 

The easiest way to cook them is to blanch them for a few minutes in boiling, salted water. These beans are crisp-tender and can be topped with a variety of sauces.

Blanched greenbeans

The other easy way to cook them is by roasting them in the oven, until slightly caramelized. If you enjoy other roasted vegetables, this is a great technique to try.

Roasted greenbeans

These four easy side dish recipes use the mentioned techniques as a base. Each of these recipes serves at least 6-8 as a side dish, and they can be doubled if you need to serve a bigger crowd. Try them all before Thanksgiving to see which one will pair best with the other dishes on your holiday menu! 

Garlic roasted green beans

Ingredients:

  • 1 lb. green beans
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
Garlic Roasted Green Beans on Plate

Preheat oven to 400 F. Toss green beans with olive oil and garlic. Arrange in single layer on a baking sheet. Roast for 15-18 minutes, or until beans are tender. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Serve warm. 

Honey mustard green beans

Ingredients

  • 1 lb. green beans
  • ¼ cup olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons sherry vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
  • 1 tablespoon coarse whole grain mustard
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
Honey Mustard Green Beans

Bring 1″ of water to a boil in a large skillet or saucepan. Cook beans until tender, about 4 minutes, then drain. Combine olive oil, vinegar, mustards and honey in a small bowl and whisk until smooth. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Toss sauce with cooked beans. Serve warm or at room temperature. 

Elote-inspired green beans

Ingredients:

  • 1 lb. green beans
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2/3 cup mayonnaise
  • 2-3 teaspoons chili powder
  • 2 teaspoons lime juice
  • 1/3 cup cotija cheese (or shredded Parmesan)
Elote-Inspired Green Beans

Preheat oven to 400 F. Cut green beans into 2″ pieces. Toss green beans with olive oil. Arrange in single layer on a baking sheet. Roast for 15-18 minutes, or until beans are tender.

In a medium bowl, stir together mayonnaise, chili powder (adding more to taste), lime juice and cotija cheese (or Parmesan cheese, if cotija is unavailable). Add green beans and toss to coat.  Serve warm.

Asian-inspired green beans

Ingredients:

  • 1 lb. green beans
  • ¼ cup water
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
  • 1 tablespoon rice wine vinegar
  • ¼ teaspoon sesame oil
  • 1 teaspoon cornstarch
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon ground ginger
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • ½ cup chopped, toasted almonds
Asian-Inspired Fresh Green Bean Side

Bring 1″ of water to a boil in a large skillet or saucepan. Cook beans until tender, about 4 minutes, then drain. Replace empty pan on the stovetop.

Combine all remaining ingredients in a small bowl and whisk to combine. Add soy sauce mixture to the empty pan and cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until it begins to bubble and thicken. Add in green beans and almonds, then toss to coat. Serve warm. 

If you just can’t get enough of fresh green beans, consider growing your own!

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