A plate full of cooked italian green beans with a slice of lemon and a fork

Why I love this fresh green beans recipe

There’s nothing I like more the fresh vegetables. While I don’t mind frozen, I’ve never been a fan of canned, and the more time I spend cooking, the more I realize how simple fresh veggies can be to cook.

They definitely take a little more time and planning, but I find that it’s the difference between me choosing to each vegetables on a regular basis or skipping them entirely.

These easy Italian green beans are one of my favorite side dishes, and I find that they go with almost anything – from Mississippi pot roast to honey mustard chicken. I even think they’re a great alternative for green bean casserole around the holidays.

More side dish recipes: easy broccoli salad / crispy roasted brussel sprouts / Instant Pot baked beans / snow peas recipe / apple fennel salad

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a plate of cooked italian green beans with a side of lemon slice

Here’s what you’ll need to make this recipe

Large stockpot, Dutch oven or deep skillet
Measuring spoons
Chef’s knife or kitchen scissors
Cutting board

a pot full of green beans submerged in water

How to make Italian green beans

Boil the green beans. Bring a large pot of water to a boil, and add your green beans. Let the cook for about 3 – 4 minutes, or until they turn nice and bright green in color. Drain in a colander and set aside.

Sauté the garlic and peppers. Return the pot to the stove. Add olive oil to the pot over medium-high heat. Add garlic and crushed red pepper flakes.

Let them simmer until they’re sizzling and fragrant. This should only take about 30 – 45 seconds, so keep an eye on it so it doesn’t burn.

Sauté the green beans. Return the beans to the pan and cook until heated through. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.

an aerial view of a plate of italian green beans with a slice of lemon and a fork

FAQ’s and tips for making these sautéed green beans

Do you have to boil green beans before cooking?

Yes. By boiling your fresh green beans for a few minutes before sauteeing them, you bring out the bright green color as well as help the green beans to retain a nice texture when cooked. It might add a few minutes to the cooking process but it’s well worth it!

How long to cook green beans

The blanching is only 3 to 4 minutes, which isn’t very long. From that point, you take the green beans, drain them, and then put them in a hot seasoned skillet to sautee for 2 minutes. From start to finish the green beans are only cooked for about 5 or 6 minutes, which isn’t very long, making this a very fast side dish to throw together.

Can you overcook green beans?

Overcooked green beans aren’t very pleasant to look at or eat. The textures and colors are a little off. You can tell that your fresh green beans were overcooked because the color turns more olive in tone, and the texture is mushy. You want bright green and crisp.

How do you clean and trim green beans?

Wash your green beans by placing them in a colander and rinsing with water well. Toss them around with your hands to help the water get over every bean. You can also dip a colander full of green beans into a bowl filled with water, and swish it around. Drain the water, and repeat until the water looks clear of all debris.
To trim your green beans, line them up on a clean cutting board. If you can get all of the stems to line up on one side, that’s even better. Using your chef’s knife, cut off the stems and little knobby ends.

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