Cooking Green Beans in a Pan
There are lots of ways to cook green beans (or string beans); pretty much any way you can cook a vegetable, you can cook green beans! But sauteing fresh green beans in a pan on the stove is probably my favorite green bean cooking method. It’s so simple, but that little bit of butter (or oil if you prefer) and the liquid used to steam the beans in the pan creates the perfect light glaze, and your green beans end up just as tender as you like them.
How to Cook Green Beans on the Stove
In a large skillet, melt the butter or heat the oil over medium heat. Use oil for a vegan green bean dish. Add the green beans and the garlic and toss in the pan for 2 minutes, until you can smell the garlic.
Add the broth, raise the heat to high, and bring to a simmer. Cover the pot tightly, adjust the heat a bit lower, and simmer until the beans are crisp-tender, about 3 minutes.
Remove the lid and cook, tossing occasionally, until the broth is nearly evaporated and the beans are tender, about 4 minutes longer.
Taste and add salt and pepper as needed.
Turn the beans into a serving bowl and serve hot, warm, or room temperature.
How Long to Cook Green Beans
Depending on how crisp-tender or tender you like them, green beans should be cooked on the stove for a total of 6 to 10 minutes. I like to saute them first with a bit of garlic and oil or butter to coat them, then add some liquid and steam then the rest of the way through. Once the green beans have become crisp tender, you’ll want to remove the lid from the pan and cook them until the liquid evaporated. This allows the butter or oil to form a lovely glaze on the green beans.
Test one every few minutes to see when they are done to your liking. Know that they will continue to soften a bit once you remove them from the heat, so don’t let them get too soft.
How to Cook Fresh Green Beans: The easiest way to cook perfect green beans on the stove!
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What to Serve with Green Beans:
- Braised Pork in Milk
- Grilled Salmon
- Cornish Hens
- Chicken Adobo
- Creamy Garlic Chicken with Potatoes
- Potato Curry
Other Green Bean Recipes:
- Honey Mustard Green Beans
- Green Bean Salad with Clementine Oranges and Feta
- Sautéed Haricot Verts with Red Onions and Shallots
- Green Beans with Chervil Vinaigrette
- Sautéed Green Beans and Oyster Mushrooms
- Blistered Green Beans with Miso Butter
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How to Cook Fresh Green Beans
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter or olive oil
- 1 pound green beans, trimmed
- 1 small garlic clove, minced
- ½ cup low-sodium vegetable or chicken broth
- Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
Directions
- In a large skillet, melt the butter or heat the oil over medium heat. Add the green beans and the garlic and toss in the pan for 2 minutes, until you can smell the garlic. Add the broth, raise the heat to high, and bring to a simmer. Cover the pot tightly, adjust the heat a bit lower, and simmer until the beans are crisp-tender, about 3 minutes. Remove the lid and cook, tossing occasionally, until the broth is nearly evaporated and the beans are tender, about 4 minutes longer. Taste and add salt and pepper as needed.
- Turn the beans into a serving bowl and serve hot, warm, or room temperature.
Nutrition Information
The nutrition values are provided as an estimate. It is not intended as a substitute for the advice of a qualified healthcare professional.
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