Learn how to cook fresh green beans perfectly every time! Serve them as a side dish, or add them to your favorite green bean recipes.
Nearly all of my fresh green bean recipes begin with blanching the beans. If you ask me, everyone should learn this method for how to cook green beans. It’s quick and easy, and it yields beans that are vibrant, crisp-tender, and not at all mushy. They’re perfect for serving as a side dish or adding to salads and sandwiches. Heck, they even make a great green bean casserole!
Below, you’ll find a step-by-step guide to how to cook fresh green beans, as well as my favorite green bean recipes. They include ideas for Thanksgiving, summer picnics, and dinners all year round. I hope you find something you love!
How to Cook Fresh Green Beans
My method for how to cook green beans is super simple! Here’s how it goes:
First, wash and trim the beans. Rinse them in a colander under cool running water, and snap off the stems. While you work, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Set a large bowl of ice water nearby.
Next, blanch the beans. When the water is boiling, drop the trimmed beans into the pot. Cook for 2 minutes, until crisp-tender and vibrant green.
Then, chill! Immediately transfer the blanched beans to the bowl of ice water to stop the cooking process. Let them chill for at least 15 seconds; you want them to cool completely.
Finally, drain the beans, and spread them on a kitchen towel or paper towels to dry.
That’s it! The string beans are ready to eat.
Serving Suggestions
In the summer and early fall, when fresh green beans are at their best, I often serve them on their own as a side dish. Then, I toss the blanched beans with olive oil, lemon juice and zest, garlic, and salt to pep up their flavor.
Serve them just like that, or dress them up more with toasted almonds or pine nuts, grated Parmesan cheese, red pepper flakes, or fresh herbs like basil, parsley, or thyme.
Variation: Buttery Green Beans
For an easy, delicious side dish, toss the blanched beans with salted butter and a squeeze of lemon juice.
Add even more depth of flavor by using this garlic butter or an herb compound butter!
You can also use the blanched vegetables as a starting point for larger green bean recipes such as these:
- Creamy Vegan Pasta Salad
- Niçoise Salad
- Broccoli Pasta Salad
- Chickpea Salad Sandwiches
- Green Bean Salad
- Green Bean Casserole
As you can see, learning how to cook fresh green beans by blanching them will set you up for making all kinds of delicious recipes. Let me know which ones you try!
More Fresh Green Bean Recipes
Try making one of these fresh green bean recipes next:
You might also like my sautéed asparagus, roasted carrots, or roasted Brussels sprouts!
How to Cook Fresh Green Beans
Ingredients
- 1 pound green beans, stemmed
Optional seasoning:
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 garlic clove, grated
- juice of 1/2 lemon plus 1/2 teaspoon zest
- sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and set a bowl of ice water nearby. Drop the green beans into the boiling water and blanch for 2 minutes.
- Remove the beans and immediately immerse in the ice water long enough to cool completely, about 15 seconds. Drain and place on paper towels to dry.
- Use in any recipe that calls for blanched green beans (see suggestions in the blog post above), or simply toss the blanched green beans with the olive oil, garlic, lemon juice, lemon zest, salt and pepper.
Thanks for walking me through my first time prepping fresh green beans! I seasoned with butter, garlic, and red pepper flakes. 🔥
Turned out crisp and delicious. The lemon in it was so fresh tasty. TY for the recipe!
So glad you loved it!
Very nice vibrant and crisp allowing the natural flavors to be the star of the dish.
My favorite thing to do with haricot verts is to blanch them then sauté chopped shallots in olive oil, ghee or butter until lightly browned, add a spoonful of full seed dijon mustard until incorporated. Next add about the same amount of cream as mustard, heat and stir sauce, toss with blanched beans and cook until beans are hot. Delicious and oh so simple. It seems more decadent than it is as there isn’t much cream in the sauce…obviously fresh ground pepper and salt to taste.
Thank you for sharing!
It I like to eat my green beans hot. Putting them in ice water will make them cool. What should I do?
you can skip the ice water and just serve right away.
I put them in a skillet with a little olive oil or butter and heat them up with some lemon pepper seasonings.
Delicious!! Thank you for sharing!
Love the idea of adding something a little on the lighter side for a Thanksgiving dish. I usually will do a simple roasted brussel sprout but I think I will add this to the mix instead!
My husband is diabetic and is going through chemo. He is a very picky eater, he loves green beans. I am excited to try this recipe. Thank you so much
Made this last night & it was delicious. Will definitely be part of the regular rotation!
Such an easy and fresh way to enjoy green beans. As equally delicious as it is fresh.
Meant to say as equally delicious as it is quick. Fresh works too though.