Easy garlic green beans are delicious and simple to make. They can be prepared ahead of time and reheated right before serving. This is the perfect side dish for family weeknight dinners or special occasions.
Easy garlic green beans are a delicious addition to any dinner. They are a favorite vegetable with both children and adults. On their own, green beans can be bland. Garlic adds the perfect kick to make them go from bland to a dish with great flavor. Garlic and green beans just “go together!”.
As a busy home cook, I’m always looking for ways to be more efficient in the kitchen. Preparing ingredients ahead of time is one of my favorite tricks for saving time and reducing stress at mealtime. When it comes to green beans, advance preparation is easy and convenient. In this article, I’ll share my top tips for getting green beans ready ahead of time, so you can have this tasty vegetable ready when you need it.
Why Prepare Green Beans in Advance?
There are several great reasons to prep green beans ahead of time:
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Save time. Washing trimming and cooking green beans takes time. Getting some of that work done in advance means you can simply reheat and serve when needed. This is especially helpful for large family meals or dinner parties.
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Make weeknight meals easier. Having prepped green beans in the fridge makes throwing together a quick, healthy dinner simple. Just pair them with protein and grains for an easy side dish.
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Get ahead for holiday meals Green beans are a staple at many holiday gatherings. Prepping them 1-2 days ahead takes one thing off your plate on the big day.
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Take advantage of seasonal abundance. In summer when green beans are fresh and abundant at farmers markets, prep a big batch to enjoy all month long.
How to Prep Green Beans Ahead of Time
When it comes to preparing green beans in advance, there are two easy methods blanching and cooking. Here’s how to do each
Blanching Green Beans
Blanching partially cooks green beans to help retain color, texture, and nutrients during storage. Here’s the process:
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Wash and trim ends from green beans. Leave whole or cut into pieces if desired.
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Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add green beans and cook for 2-4 minutes until bright green and slightly softened but still crisp.
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Drain beans and immediately transfer to a bowl of ice water to stop the cooking process. Let cool completely.
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Drain beans, pat dry and transfer to airtight containers. Refrigerate for 3-5 days.
To use, simply microwave, sauté, or roast until heated through. Season as desired.
Cooking Green Beans Fully
For fully cooked green beans, follow these steps:
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Wash, trim, and cut green beans if needed.
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In a skillet, stir fry or steam green beans until tender, about 5 minutes. Season with salt, pepper, and any other spices.
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Let cool, then transfer to airtight containers and refrigerate for up to 4 days.
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Reheat gently in the microwave or on the stovetop with a splash of water or oil to restore moisture and flavor.
Handy Tips for Success
Follow these handy tips for getting the most out of preparing green beans in advance:
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Store green beans in airtight glass or plastic containers, not aluminum, to prevent discoloration.
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Leave space between beans before refrigerating so air can circulate and they cool quickly.
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Use blanched beans within 3-5 days for best quality and fully cooked beans within 3-4 days.
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Avoid overcooking, as green beans will get more tender during storage and reheating.
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Toss with a splash of olive oil or lemon juice before serving to liven up the flavor.
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Freeze cooked green beans for longer storage. First spread in a single layer on a sheet pan and freeze, then transfer to bags.
Fabulous Ways to Use Prepped Green Beans
Once you’ve prepped a batch of green beans, there are so many delicious ways to enjoy them. Here are some of my favorites:
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Green Bean Salad: Toss with tomatoes, feta, and balsamic vinaigrette.
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Green Bean Casserole: The classic, with creamy mushroom sauce and fried onions.
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Green Bean Stir Fry: With soy sauce, sesame oil, garlic, and ginger.
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Green Beans Amandine: Topped with toasted almonds and lemon juice.
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Pesto Green Beans: Tossed with pesto sauce for rich herby flavor.
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Green Bean Fries: Roasted with oil and spices for a crispy snack.
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Equipment you will need to make easy garlic green beans
- 3-quart saucepan or soup pot
- Cutting board (either plastic or wood)
- Colander
- Chefs knife
- Garlic press
- Cooking Spoon or heatproof spatula
- Measuring spoons
Ingredients for Garlic Green Beans
Green Beans- Use fresh green beans. To make sure they are fresh, they should snap when you fold them in half. Canned green beans will not work in this recipe because you want the green beans to be crispy. Canned green beans are too soft. Frozen green beans are also not a good choice because of their texture. If you are short on time, purchase cleaned ready to cook green beans. You can find them in the produce section of the grocery store.
You can buy minced or crushed garlic in a jar in the produce section of the grocery store. Fresh garlic is best.
Olive Oil-I prefer the taste of olive oil in this recipe. You can also use canola or other vegetable oil. Olive oil also helps cut down on saturated fat by using it in place of butter.
Butter-I prefer to use unsalted butter because I can control the amount of salt in the food. Some people use a lot of butter, but I like to use a little because it makes the food taste better.
- Green beans should be rinsed under running water before they have their ends cut off. Rinsing removes pesticide residues and prevents food born illness. Bugs are more likely to get into the green beans if you cut off the tips before washing them.
- Use fresh green beans. Because of how they feel, canned and frozen green beans won’t work in this recipe.
- Once the green beans are done cooking, take them out of the pot and run cold water over them to stop the cooking. Otherwise, the green beans will not have a crisp texture.
- Once the green beans are crisp and bright green, they are done. This normally takes about 3-4 minutes.
- Use fresh garlic and not garlic powder. Fresh garlic makes the dish look different and doesn’t taste as strong as garlic powder.
- This is a great dish to make ahead. The green beans can be cooked and then put in the fridge. Finish cooking them right before your meal.
- It only takes one pan to make, so it takes less time to clean up.
Easy garlic green beans can be served as a side dish with beef, chicken, fish, lamb or pork. This recipe is great for Thanksgiving because it’s simple, quick, and goes well with other sides. It has fewer calories than the traditional green bean casserole, and we like them better. It goes well with Fast Roast Chicken and My Favorite Meat Sauce for Spaghetti, which I put on oven-roasted spaghetti squash.
Fresh Green Beans less than 5 Minutes
FAQ
How far ahead can you prep green beans?
Can green beans be cooked ahead and reheated?
Can you trim green beans the day before cooking?
Can you clean green beans ahead of time?
Can green beans be cooked ahead of time?
Green beans can be cooked ahead of time and stored up to a few days if desired. Cook until crisp-tender using your method of choice. Rinse in cold water and dry thoroughly with paper towels. Store refrigerated, wrapped in plastic or sealable bag for up to 4 days.
What is the best way to eat beans?
The best way to eat beans is to first cook them in a large pot of water, about 4 cups of water to every 1 cup of beans. Adding lemon grass or other herbs to the water can improve the flavor. Once beans are cooked the best thing to do is combine them with cooked rice, this is because beans are low in methionine and rice is low in lysine, so combining them makes a more complete protein.
Can green beans be prepared the day before?
Yes, blanched green beans can be prepared the day before and stored in the refrigerator until ready to use. Just be sure to store them in an airtight container to maintain freshness. 2. How far ahead can I prepare green beans? You can prepare green beans up to 48 hours in advance by blanching them or simply trimming and washing them.
How do you cook green beans a day in advance?
Fresh, tender beans with a crisp, buttery lemon-herb topping. Up to a day in advance, bring a large pot of water to a boil. Place a large sieve (strainer) in the sink and prepare a large bowl of ice water. When water is rapidly boiling add 1 teaspoon salt and green beans. Return water to a boil and cook for 3-4 minutes or until crisp-tender.