Fresh or frozen green beans are transformed into a garlicky and tender side dish. Serve alongside Italian pasta dinners or a juicy steak. To make these sauteed garlic green beans, you’ll only need 5 ingredients.
Introducing… my all-time most-often cooked side dish: sauteed green beans. I make these at least once a week. They are probably my fiance’s favorite vegetable, one that he will always eat, guaranteed.
Can I Sauté Frozen Green Beans? The Simple Trick to Delicious Sautéed Frozen Beans
Green beans are a healthy and delicious vegetable that can be prepared in many ways One popular method is sautéing, which involves cooking the beans quickly over high heat while stirring constantly. This technique brings out the vibrant green color and enhances the flavor of the beans But can you achieve these same great results by sautéing frozen green beans? The short answer is yes!
Sautéing frozen green beans is absolutely possible and can yield delicious results with just a few tweaks to the basic sautéing method. The key is in understanding how to adjust for the extra moisture present in frozen vegetables. With the right techniques you can make restaurant-quality sautéed green beans using just a bag of frozen beans from your freezer.
Why Sauté Frozen Instead of Fresh?
There are several advantages to sautéing frozen green beans rather than fresh:
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Convenience No need to purchase fresh green beans and prep them by snapping off the ends Just open a bag of pre-trimmed frozen beans!
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Consistent quality: The frozen beans are flash-frozen at peak ripeness, so you get great texture and flavor every time. Fresh beans can vary.
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Longer shelf life: Frozen beans last much longer in the freezer than fresh beans last in the fridge. You can keep frozen beans on hand for whenever you need a quick side dish.
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Cost savings: Frozen veggies are generally less expensive than their fresh counterparts.
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Year-round availability: You’re not limited by what’s in season. Frozen green beans are always available!
How to Sauté Frozen Green Beans to Perfection
Sautéing frozen vegetables requires adjusting the timing and techniques slightly to accommodate for the extra moisture. Follow these tips for perfect sautéed frozen green beans:
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Use a very hot pan. You want the pan hot enough to cause the frozen beans to release their moisture quickly. Use medium-high to high heat.
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Don’t overcrowd the pan. Cook the beans in a single layer in a skillet or saute pan with plenty of space. Overcrowding causes steaming instead of sautéing.
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Stir frequently. Moving the beans around helps drive off moisture. Avoid the urge to let them sit too long without stirring.
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Cook covered first. Covering the pan allows the beans to cook through without drying out. Steam helps release the excess moisture from the frozen state.
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Uncover and cook longer. Once the beans are heated through, uncover and continue cooking over high heat, stirring often, until any released moisture evaporates. This is when you’ll get the nice caramelized sear.
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Season at the end. Wait until the beans are almost done cooking to add any oils, herbs, spices, etc. This prevents certain flavors from becoming diluted or cooking out.
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Optionally thicken the pan juices. After sautéing, you can sprinkle a bit of cornstarch or flour over the beans and stir until it makes a thin glaze. This adds another layer of flavor.
Oil Options for Sautéing Frozen Green Beans
You can use most any cooking oil to sauté frozen green beans. Consider flavor and smoke point:
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Extra virgin olive oil: Excellent flavor but low smoke point. Save for a quick sauté over lower heat.
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Refined olive oil: With its higher smoke point, it’s better for higher-heat sautéing.
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Avocado oil: Its mild flavor lets the green bean flavor shine. And it has a very high smoke point.
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Butter: Adds wonderful flavor. Clarified butter has a higher smoke point than regular butter.
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Coconut oil: Imparts light coconut flavor. Good smoke point.
No matter which you use, add the oil after the pan is hot and stir often. About 1 tablespoon oil per 1 pound of frozen beans is sufficient.
Flavor Variations for Sautéed Frozen Green Beans
After you’ve mastered the basic method, try adding different ingredients for new flavor twists:
- Fresh garlic, ginger, or shallots
- Onions or leeks, sautéed until soft
- Tomato paste or sun-dried tomatoes
- Herbs like thyme, rosemary, oregano, basil
- Spices such as cumin, paprika, curry powder
- Toasted nuts like almonds, pecans or walnuts
- Grated citrus zest
- Chopped bacon or pancetta
- Soy sauce, sesame oil, rice vinegar, etc. for Asian flavor
- Lemon juice or balsamic vinegar right before serving
The possibilities are endless for customizing sautéed frozen green beans to match any cuisine!
Serving Ideas for Sautéed Frozen Green Beans
Sautéed green beans make a quick and healthy side dish for all types of meals. Here are some delicious ideas:
- As a side with roasted or grilled meats like chicken, beef, pork, lamb or fish
- In a salad with greens, dried cranberries, feta and a vinaigrette
- Sprinkle with parmesan alongside Italian dishes like pasta or risotto
- Serve as an alternative to mashed potatoes with a pot roast or meatloaf
- In a sheet pan meal, roasted with potatoes, carrots and sausage
- As part of a vegetarian grain bowl meal
- On their own as an appetizer with a dipping sauce
- In a breakfast hash with potatoes, peppers, eggs and cheese
Any way you serve them, sautéed frozen green beans are sure to be a hit! The crisp-tender texture and concentrated flavor are hard to resist.
Key Tips to Remember
Follow these simple tips for flawless sautéed frozen green beans every time:
- Use a very hot skillet to help release moisture quickly
- Don’t overcrowd the beans in the pan
- Stir frequently during cooking
- Cover initially, then uncover toward the end
- Wait to add any seasoning until the end
- Optionally thicken pan juices for a glaze effect
- Add other veggies or flavorings to customize the beans
- Serve as a side dish or incorporate into other meals
With frozen green beans and a hot skillet, you’re well on your way to an easy, delicious vegetable side that looks and tastes like you fussed all day. Give sautéing frozen green beans a try tonight!
MAKING YOUR SAUTEED GARLIC GREEN BEANS
All you need is butter, olive oil, minced garlic, and salt and pepper. So simple! Does anyone else use the giant tubs of pre-minced garlic? I hate mincing garlic because of the smelly fingers afterwards. The pre-minced garlic you can buy in a one-pound tub, keep it in your fridge, and it lasts for at least 3-4 months if you use garlic in everything like I do. I like to use my Calphalon skillet 
Monday and Tuesday of this week are brisket days on the meal plan, and I’m going to make a big batch of these to serve with fresh cornbread.
VIDEO: HOW TO MAKE SAUTEED GARLIC GREEN BEANS
He doesn’t love all vegetables, but he does love these. I’m trying to get him to like more vegetables. I’ll admit they’re probably my fav too, along with roasted zucchini or carrots.
I buy frozen green beans from Trader Joe’s because they taste EXACTLY like fresh ones, but they’ve already been washed and trimmed and are ready to be sautéed. Check out last week’s post about my favorite Trader Joe’s products, they’re on the list. I always have one or two bags of them in the freezer so I always have a vegetable to go with dinner.
We eat them alongside pasta dishes usually. I’ll make spaghetti and meatballs, or some type of baked Italian dish like baked ziti or lasagna. We’ll also eat these alongside a meat dish, like a steak or baked chicken dish.
How To Cook: Frozen Green Beans – Easy, Tasty Recipe
FAQ
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