How to Make Chinese Buffet-Style Green Beans at Home

This 15-minute side dish recipe for Chinese green beans is easy to make and tastes like the buffet at a Chinese restaurant. A soy sauce garlic sauce is added on top.

Don’t be fooled by how simple this side dish looks—it is simple because it is easy to make—it’s so much more than that! If you like Chinese food, you may have tried this tasty side dish with traditional Chinese dishes. They are even better when you save money by making this simple side dish at home. And a big bonus if you grow your own green beans!.

Chinese buffet-style green beans are a beloved side dish that can be found at many American Chinese restaurants. Their flavorful combination of garlic, oyster sauce, soy sauce, and sesame oil makes them irresistibly tasty. Fortunately, you can easily recreate these restaurant-quality green beans at home with just a few simple ingredients.

An Overview of Chinese Buffet Green Beans

Chinese buffet green beans have a distinctive flavor profile. They are sautéed with garlic and tossed in a sauce made with oyster sauce, soy sauce, sesame oil and sometimes sugar or other seasonings. This gives them a sweet salty, garlicky, and rich umami taste. The beans are cooked until just tender but still retain some crispness.

The ingredients for Chinese buffet-style green beans are easy to find. Oyster sauce can be purchased at most grocery stores, especially in the Asian foods section. Sesame oil and soy sauce are common pantry staples. And of course, fresh green beans are available year-round.

Part of what makes these green beans so addictive is the caramelized garlic. Thinly slicing the garlic before sautéing brings out its sweetness. Be sure not to use a garlic press, as you want those little slivers of garlic in each bite.

Step-by-Step Instructions for Making Chinese Buffet Green Beans

Follow these simple steps to make restaurant-quality Chinese green beans at home

Ingredients:

1 pound fresh green beans, ends trimmed
1 tablespoon cooking oil (peanut, vegetable, or sesame)
2 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
2 tablespoons oyster sauce
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 tablespoon white sugar (optional)
1 teaspoon sesame oil (optional)

Instructions:

Wash the green beans under running water and trim off the stem ends Cut the beans into 2-3 inch pieces or leave whole depending on personal preference
Heat a wok or large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the cooking oil and swirl to coat the pan.
Add the sliced garlic and cook for 20-30 seconds until fragrant. Be careful not to burn the garlic.
Add the green beans and stir fry for 2-3 minutes until the beans start to soften slightly.
In a small bowl, mix together the oyster sauce, soy sauce, sugar (if using), and sesame oil (if using).
Pour the sauce over the green beans and toss to coat evenly.
Continue cooking for 2-3 more minutes, stirring frequently, until the beans reach the desired tenderness. They should still have a crisp bite to them.
Remove from heat and serve immediately. Garnish with extra sliced garlic or sesame seeds if desired.

Tips for the Best Results:

Use fresh, crisp green beans. Older, limp beans will be fibrous and less flavorful.
Cut the garlic slices very thin so they cook quickly and infuse their flavor into the dish.
Stir fry the beans over high heat to sear in flavor. Just be careful not to overcook them.
The sauce ingredients can be adjusted to taste. Add more soy sauce for saltiness, sugar for sweetness, or garlic for a bigger punch of flavor.
For a restaurant-style wok flavor, use a small amount of peanut or vegetable oil rather than sesame oil.
Sesame oil has a very strong flavor, so use sparingly. Just 1/2 to 1 teaspoon is plenty for most recipes.
For extra aroma, sprinkle in a pinch of Chinese 5-spice powder or a dash of rice wine vinegar right after adding the sauce.

Variations for Customizing Your Chinese Green Beans

The basic recipe for Chinese buffet-style green beans is very versatile. There are lots of ways to tweak it to suit your personal tastes:

Add some protein: Stir in a handful of cashews, peanuts, or your favorite nut for some crunch. Or add shredded chicken, pork, or beef for a heartier side dish.
Mix up the veggies: Substitute asparagus, snap peas, broccoli, or carrot sticks for a portion of the green beans. Snow peas and water chestnuts also work well.
Amp up the garlic: For truly garlicky green beans, double or triple the amount of sliced garlic. You can also stir in a teaspoon of minced garlic right at the end.
Spice it up: Add a pinch of red pepper flakes, a teaspoon of sriracha, or a spoonful of Szechuan peppercorn sauce for some heat. Garnish with sliced jalapeños if you like it extra spicy.
Make it crunchy: Stir in sliced water chestnuts, bamboo shoots, or roasted cashews for texture. Crispy wonton strips sprinkled on top also add a fabulous crunch.
Use brown bean sauce: Substitute 1-2 tablespoons of brown bean sauce or hoisin sauce for the oyster sauce. It has a similar salty-sweet flavor profile.

The possibilities are endless when customizing this recipe to your preferences. Try out different add-ins until you find your perfect version of Chinese buffet green beans.

Serving Suggestions for Chinese Green Beans

Chinese-style green beans make a tasty complement to many Asian-inspired dishes. Here are some serving ideas:

Pair them with any stir-fried or orange chicken entrée. The salty green beans balance out sweeter sauces.
Serve as one of several Chinese buffet-style sides like fried rice, lo mein noodles, egg rolls, or crab rangoon.
Scoop the green beans on top of rice and drizzle with a little extra oyster sauce for a simple bowl meal.
For a more filling meal, serve the beans alongside garlic-ginger pork chops or sesame chicken.
Toss them into an Asian noodle salad with ingredients like sliced cucumbers, shredded carrot, edamame, and red bell pepper.
Use as a topping for a bowl of ramen, pho, or egg drop soup. They add nice texture and flavor.
Chop and mix them into fried rice or an Asian-style omelet for an extra veggie boost.
For a potluck or party buffet, offer the green beans as part of a sampler plate with other finger foods.

With their addictive gingery, garlicky flavor, these Chinese buffet-style green beans are sure to become a new favorite side for Asian-inspired meals and potlucks. Adjust the recipe to your taste, and enjoy this restaurant classic at home anytime.

how to make chinese buffet green beans

Can I add meat along with green beans?

Absolutely. You can add cooked chicken, beef, bacon, ham (especially good for leftover ham) or shrimp. After you add the soy sauce and oyster sauce, I would add this and heat it up.

How to Make Chinese Green Beans

Heat a large skillet with olive oil over medium high heat. Lightly brown garlic in the hot oil and then add the fresh green beans. Reduce to medium heat. Stir often.

Add regular soy sauce and oyster sauce and mix. Reduced-sodium soy sauce can also work. For exact measurements, see the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Once tender, turn off the stove. If you want, you can add some sesame seeds on top for crunch. Serve over rice (or however you like). Enjoy!.

Store leftover Chinese green beans in an airtight container and in the refrigerator. If stored properly, they will last up to two to three days.

Microwave: Place in microwave for 30 seconds to 1 minute. You can check after 30 seconds to see if they are warm enough.

Skillet: Cook over medium heat until green beans are warm and tender. Don’t forget to stir and flip.

Oven: If you’re reheating in the oven, set it to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and bake for 15 minutes.

Fried Green Beans | Chinese Buffet Restaurant Style

FAQ

What must green beans cooked for hot holding on a buffet?

Green beans cooked for hot holding on a buffet must reach an internal temperature that ensures they are safe for consumption. To maintain food safety, cooked vegetables like green beans should be held at a temperature above 140°F to prevent the growth of bacteria.

What is the Chinese dish green beans called?

Gan bian si ji dou—Sichuan-style dry-fried green beans with chiles and pickles—are one of the best and most mistranslated vegetable dishes in the world.

How to cook Chinese buffet green beans?

Let’s see how you can achieve those perfectly charred Chinese buffet green beans. Choose the Right Pan: Opt for a stainless steel or cast iron pan. A large (around 12-inch) frying pan works best. These materials are key to getting that good heat needed for charring. Preheat your pan: Make sure the pan is preheated until it’s hot.

How to prepare Chinese style green beans?

To prepare Chinese Style Green Beans, first heat the oil in a wok and add the ginger and garlic, sautéing for 1-2 seconds. Then, add the red chilies and the beans, stir frying for 1-2 minutes before adding a tablespoon of stock.

How do you cook green beans in a frying pan?

Heat olive oil in a large pan over medium high heat. Add garlic and mix until lightly browned, about 1 minute. Add green beans to pan, reduce heat to medium, stirring often for 10 minutes, or until beans are tender. Add soy sauce and oyster sauce to the pan, mixing with green beans. Continue to cook for 5 minutes.

How long does it take to cook Chinese garlic green beans?

Stir in oyster sauce, sugar, and soy sauce. Cook and stir until beans have attained the desired degree of tenderness, 2 to 4 minutes. These Chinese garlic green beans are quickly stir-fried with garlic and tossed with a sweet and savory sauce until tender and lightly crisp for an easy side.