Delicious Green Beans with Almonds are the perfect side dish for any meal. A simplified version of green bean Almondine only takes 20 minutes with fresh ingredients.
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😊Why you will love this recipe
- Tender and delicious green beans with garlic and toasted almonds.
- The perfect side dish for both everyday family meals and fancy holiday gatherings.
- A one-pan recipe that is so easy that it will be your everyday go-to green bean recipe.
- No need to blanch your beans in boiling water.
- Easy step-by-step photo instructions.
- We like to use this with inside steak recipes like Seared and Baked New York Strip Steak or Seared and Baked Filet Mignon.
Adapted from Cooks Illustrated (subscription required).
If this easy recipe is not what you need, check out my other green bean recipes like Baked Green Beans with Bacon, Parmesan Green Beans, or Green Bean Casserole.
🥣Ingredients
- Fresh green beans-must be fresh. Please see the section on picking out your green beans.
- Almonds-usually slivers or slices if you want
- Garlic-fresh crushed or minced
- Lemon juice- optional- add to almonds after toasting for classic Green Bean Almondine.
- Butter, extra-virgin olive oil, salt, and pepper.
👨🍳How to make green beans with almonds
- Rinse and trim fresh green beans.
- Toast almond slivers in a large skillet with butter. Remove from pan.
- Add olive oil to the pan and saute the green beans with salt and pepper over medium heat until there is some browning—about 5 minutes.
- Add water to the pan and cover for 2 minutes.
- Remove the lid and increase heat to high to cook off the water—about 1 minute.
- Add butter and crushed garlic and cook until lightly brown—about 2-3 minutes.
- Remove to a serving bowl and toss with the almonds.
✔️Variations
- Spice it up by adding some paprika or other spices. Or add bacon—everything is better with bacon.
- The original recipe added lemon just to the almonds after cooking. Add a teaspoon of juice if you want that taste, but I found it distracting. It is an option in the directions.
- Change out the almonds for pecans or walnuts.
- Add some Feta or Parmesan cheese. Go crazy with blue cheese. Use your imagination.
👨🍳How to Pick Out the Best Fresh Green Beans
Of course, fresh off the vine is the best or from the farmer's market. Use the store produce department if you must.
- The color—you want a nice vibrant green
- The skin of the beans should be smooth without swelling seeds, showing a more mature bean with a starchier pod. Avoid beans that are large or thick.
- The beans should have good firmness, no wrinkle, and not a lot of bad spots.
- In season, do a test “snap.”
While reasonable fresh vegetables are available year-round, the peak season is June through September, and local fresh will be best.
❓FAQs
No, this recipe is specifically for fresh beans. I do not recommend it for frozen beans. If you are looking for a great recipe for frozen, please check out Baked Bacon Green Beans.
In addition to the garlic and butter already in this recipe, seasoning salt, onion or onion powder, or thyme.
You can store the leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2 days. Reheat in the microwave. Freezing is not recommended.
This recipe is listed in these categories. See them for more similar recipes.
🖼️Step-by-Step Photo Instructions
Start with about 1 pound of green beans. Rinse and trim the ends off the beans. Slice into 2-inch pieces if you want.
Over medium-high heat, toast ¼ cup of almonds slivers or slices in a tablespoon of butter until browning—about 2-3 minutes. Optional-Coat with 1 teaspoon of lemon juice after toasting.
Remove almonds and add 1 teaspoon olive oil to the pan and heat over medium heat until hot, then add the trimmed beans. Add ½ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon pepper. Saute until getting some spots of brown, about 5 minutes.
Add ¼ cup water and cover. Cook for about 2 minutes but stop while the beans are still bright green and crisp. Remove the lid and increase the heat to high—Cook off the water for about 1 minute.
Add 1 tablespoon of butter and three cloves of crushed or minced garlic. Cook until lightly brown and starting to wrinkle. It takes about 2-3 minutes.
Remove to a serving bowl and toss with the almonds.
Recipe
Green Beans with Almonds—Quick & Easy
Ingredients
- 1 pound green beans - cleaned and trimmed
- ¼ cup almonds - slivers or slices
- 2 tablespoon butter - divided
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- ¼ cup water
- 3 cloves garlic - crushed or minced
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice - Optional
Instructions
- Start with about 1 pound of green beans. Rinse and trim the ends off the beans. Slice into 2-inch pieces if you want.
- Over medium-high heat, toast ¼ cup of almonds slivers or slices in a tablespoon of butter until browning—about 2-3 minutes. Optional-Coat with 1 teaspoon of lemon juice after toasting.
- Remove almonds and add 1 teaspoon olive oil to the pan and heat over medium heat until hot, then add the trimmed beans. Add ½ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon pepper. Saute until getting some spots of brown, about 5 minutes.
- Add ¼ cup water and cover. Cook for about 2 minutes but stop while the beans are still bright green and crisp. Remove the lid and increase the heat to high—Cook off the water for about 1 minute.
- Add 1 tablespoon of butter and three cloves of crushed or minced garlic. Cook until lightly brown and starting to wrinkle. It takes about 2-3 minutes.
- Remove to a serving bowl and toss with the almonds.
Your Own Private Notes
Recipe Notes
Pro Tips:
- The fresher the beans, the better. See the discussion in the post for tips on buying the best beans.
- Do not use frozen beans for this recipe.
- If you decrease the size of the recipe, use the same amount of water to do the steaming step.
- Add some cooked bacon or other things to your taste. ¼ teaspoon of smoked paprika is a good addition. Other options are in the post.
To adjust the recipe size:
You may adjust the number of servings in this recipe card under servings. This does the math for the ingredients for you. BUT it does NOT adjust the text of the instructions. So you need to do that yourself.
Nutrition Estimate
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Originally Published April 4, 2014. Updated with expanded options, refreshed photos, and a table of contents to help navigation.
Darice
Add 1 tablespoon of butter and three cloves.
I’m assuming you mean 3 cloves of garlic. I’m sorry, I proof read for my sister ALL THE TIME! I actually love green beans and will be trying this recipe very soon. Thank you Doctor for recipe. I never thought to add some lemon juice.
Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan
Hi Darice,
Welcome to the blog, and thanks so much for the proofreading. You are right. It was referring to crushed or minced garlic. It is fixed in two spots.
I'm always open to corrections. As they say, "see something, say something."
Enjoy your beans, and thanks again.
Dan
Kimberlee Kleine
Hello Dr. Dan,
Thank you again for another great recipe. Do you think you could make this ahead of time and then reheat?
Kimberlee
Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan
Hi Kimberlee,
Welcome to the blog.you
I wouldn't make ahead. Part of what makes this so good is the fresh beans. I think you can do the prep ahead and cook at the time.
Dan
Beda Stoner
Hi Don, This is a great Keto recipe. How many servings in this recipe?
Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan
Four medium size (1 pound of beans divided by 4 is 1/4 pound of beans per serving). It is in the middle of the recipe card but doesn't stand out very well.
Dan
Boston O.
Not a lean recipe in case you're wondering... but oh so tasty and comforting!
james
Totally addictive. I've made them 3 times in 3 days since finding your recipe.
James..
sonya
Just vouching that these are great green beans! Also, I agree that everything is better with bacon (or sausage). I made the smoked paprika and almonds variation and my husband really liked it. Will be making again. Love your rating system!