Don’t have any canned green beans? This recipe is a quick and easy way to use them up. A few ingredients make a veggie the family will love!.
I always like to have a stock of canned goods in my pantry. Most of the time, I have canned vegetables like tomatoes, zucchini, and broccoli in my freezer or fresh vegetables from my garden. But sometimes I need to quickly make some vegetables if I want to have dinner ready on time. This is where this easy canned green bean recipe comes in!.
Put green beans from a can into a pot, heat them up, and serve. I beg you. Your kids probably wont eat them. And then youll be mad and never want to make dinner again. And thats just way too sad! Instead, make this canned green bean recipe.
Canned green beans are a pantry staple for good reason – they’re affordable, nutritious, and ready to eat right out of the can But eating plain old canned green beans can get boring after a while. If you’re wondering what to do with a can of green beans besides serving them as a simple side dish, there are so many delicious options!
From casseroles to salads and beyond, canned green beans can be incorporated into all kinds of easy, flavorful recipes In this article, I’ll share 19 creative ideas to transform canned green beans into tasty new dishes.
Why Canned Green Beans?
Canned vegetables like green beans offer convenience and long shelf life, making them a smart choice for stocking your pantry. Here are some key benefits of canned green beans:
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Affordable – Much cheaper than fresh green beans especially when not in season
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Nutritious – Low in calories and packed with vitamins A, C, K
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Long Lasting – Canned green beans keep for 1-2 years unopened
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Fast – No prep needed, just open and use
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Versatile – Work in both hot and cold recipes
Canned green beans provide an easy way to add veggies to your meals anytime. Let’s look at how to prepare them in delicious new ways!
19 Recipe Ideas for Canned Green Beans
From comforting casseroles to quick skillet meals, here are 19 creative ways to use up canned green beans:
1. Green Bean Casserole
This classic Thanksgiving side combines canned green beans, cream of mushroom soup, and crunchy fried onions.
2. Cheesy Green Beans
Simply toss drained canned green beans with shredded cheddar, parmesan, or other favorite cheese and bake until melted.
3. Green Bean Salad
Chill canned green beans and mix with chopped onion, tomato, olive oil, vinegar, and seasonings for an easy cold salad.
4. Green Bean Pasta
Saute canned green beans with garlic, olive oil and cooked pasta. Garnish with parmesan.
5. Green Bean Fritters
Make falafel-style veggie fritters by blending canned green beans with flour, eggs, and spices then pan frying.
6. Green Bean Stir Fry
Stir fry canned green beans with sliced chicken or beef and soy sauce, garlic, and ginger for an Asian-inspired dish.
7. Cheesy Baked Potatoes
Top baked russet potatoes with cheddar, bacon, sour cream and canned green beans for a hearty meal.
8. Green Bean Soup
Puree canned green beans with chicken or veggie broth, cream, and seasonings for a velvety soup.
9. Green Bean Fried Rice
Saute canned green beans with cooked rice, eggs, soy sauce, sesame oil and other favorite fried rice add-ins.
10. Green Bean Quesadillas
Fill tortillas with canned green beans, cheese, and salsa then grill or bake for easy bean quesadillas.
11. Green Bean Omelet
Make a veggie packed omelet with canned green beans, cheese, and any other favorite omelet fillings.
12. Green Bean & Sausage Skillet
Brown sausage with canned green beans, garlic, and seasonings for a fast one-pan meal.
13. Green Bean Wrap
Wrap canned green beans in a tortilla with hummus, feta cheese, and spinach for a fresh veggie wrap.
14. Green Bean Enchiladas
Fill tortillas with canned green beans, enchilada sauce, cheese, and bake until melted and delicious.
15. Green Bean Tacos
Mix seasoned canned green beans with taco meat or beans and pile on taco shells with all your favorite taco toppings.
16. Green Bean Hash
Saute canned green beans with potatoes, onion, garlic, and spices for a hearty veggie hash.
17. Green Bean Dip
Puree canned green beans with greek yogurt, garlic, and herbs for a healthy, vegetarian dip or sandwich spread.
18. Green Bean Pizza Topping
Pile canned green beans on homemade or store bought pizza along with other fun toppings.
19. Green Bean Casserole Dip
Blend canned green beans, cream cheese, and french fried onions into a dip to enjoy the flavors of green bean casserole anytime.
Tips for Cooking with Canned Green Beans
Canned green beans are pre-cooked so they just need heating or can be used cold. Here are some tips:
- Rinse beans before use to remove excess sodium
- Saute or stir-fry over medium heat for crisper beans
- Add to casseroles and bake until hot and bubbly
- Mix into cold salads, wraps, and dip recipes as-is
- Season with garlic, onion, herbs, oil, vinegar, spices to boost flavor
- Pair with cheese, bacon, nuts, beans, chicken, or beef
With a little creativity, canned green beans can be so much more than a plain side dish. Try one of these 19 recipes to give this pantry staple an exciting new life!
Frequently Asked Questions
Are canned green beans already cooked?
Yes, canned green beans are fully cooked during the canning process. They can be eaten directly from the can without additional cooking.
How do you make canned green beans taste better?
Rinse them to remove excess salt. Then season with olive oil, garlic, herbs, spices, cheese, bacon, etc. Roasting or sauteing also improves texture and flavor.
What foods pair well with canned green beans?
Cheese, potatoes, eggs, rice, pasta, chicken, sausage, ground beef all pair nicely with green beans. Mix into casseroles, stir fries, tacos, wraps, pizza and more.
Can you freeze canned green beans?
Yes, you can freeze an opened can of green beans for longer storage. Drain liquid, transfer beans to a freezer bag or container and freeze up to 8 months.
Are canned green beans healthy?
Absolutely! They are low calorie, packed with fiber, vitamin C, vitamin K and provide important antioxidants like beta carotene. Rinsing removes much of the added sodium.
Final Thoughts
Canned green beans are an awesome pantry staple with nearly endless recipe potential. They work great in casseroles, pasta dishes, tacos, soups, salads, and more. With simple add-ins like cheese, garlic, bacon, onion, herbs, and spices, you can take plain old canned green beans from boring to gourmet in minutes. Next time you have a can of green beans, try one of these 19 delicious recipes to spice things up.
How to Make Easy & Flavorful Canned Green Beans
- Green beans should have half of their liquid drained off. Add the beans to a skillet along with the half of the canning liquid that was saved.
- Add butter, onion powder, salt, and pepper.
- Cover and simmer, stirring every now and then, until almost all of the liquid has evaporated.
- Taste and adjust seasonings if necessary.
Yes, but only drain half of the liquid from the can of beans. The rest of the liquid is needed for the cooking process.
Yes! You can scale this recipe up as needed. We usually make 2 or 3 cans at a time and just adjust the seasonings accordingly.
The green beans will need to be cooked until almost all of the liquid has evaporated. Since you’re using canned green beans, they are already soft. All that’s left to do is warm them up and cook them for long enough for the seasonings to soak in.
- To make this recipe work, you need to let the liquid simmer out all the way. This helps the butter and seasonings stick to the green beans, making every bite tasty. If you don’t drain the beans, the good stuff you add will be lost when you serve them.
- A great addition to this recipe is some bacon. Because everything is better with bacon. Especially veggies. Is that an oxymoron? Never mind, dont answer that. I don’t want to be right if bacon and vegetables are wrong.
- You can make more of this recipe if you need to. We usually make two or three cans at a time and just change the seasonings to fit.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Seriously, its so easy. But so dang good.
- Butter, onion powder, salt, and pepper are the only things you need. Simple but magical!.
- Make this dish to use up garden-fresh beans that you’ve canned at home or when they’re on sale at the store.
- Canned green beans, any cut
- Butter
- Onion powder
- Salt
- Pepper
For the exact amounts needed, please see the recipe card below.
