These Steamed Green Beans are tender and flavorful. This simple recipe uses just 3 ingredients to make a side dish that goes great with whatever you're serving.
If you love a simple recipe that's also delicious, then you will enjoy these Steamed Green Beans. With just a few ingredients, this side dish is simply made by steaming, which leaves the green beans tender but not mushy. Their texture is just right and the addition of salt and brown butter makes it taste so good.
Steaming is a great way to prepare vegetables because it doesn't rob them of their nutrients as other methods can. This healthy dish is perfect as a side to pretty much anything you serve as the flavors are universal and versatile. You're going to love adding this to your meals. Let's take a look at the ingredients you'll need to make these Steamed Green Beans.
Video Tutorial
Main Ingredients
- Green Beans. You can buy trimmed green beans or trim them yourself.
- Sea Salt. Adjust the salt depending on personal preference.
- Butter. I like to allow the butter to brown slightly when melting. It brings extra flavor to the beans.
How to make Steamed Green Beans
1. Pour about 1 inch of water into a large saucepan, and set up a collapsible steamer inside. Bring to a boil. (In the meantime, trim the green beans, if needed).
2. Now, lay the green beans in the steamer, cover, and steam until tender, about 7-12 minutes (depending on how tender you like the beans).
3. Transfer the beans to a serving platter, season with salt, and drizzle with melted browned butter. You can also add a splash of lemon juice if desired.
Helpful Tips & Tricks
- Trim the green beans. It's best to cut off the hard parts of the green beans if they aren't already trimmed. Your green beans will taste better this way.
- Brown the butter. Browning the butter will add a rich, nutty flavor to it that only makes these Steamed Green Beans better.
- Vary the cooking time. If you cook them for 7-12 minutes, they are tender, but not overly soft. If you like your green beans more tender or even less, vary the cooking time for the perfect results.
- Add lemon juice. A splash of citrus acidity really brightens up this veggie dish. You don't need much to get the best flavor complement.
Variations to this Recipe
- Add garlic. Add more flavor with minced garlic or garlic powder mixed into the green beans. The pungent flavor of the garlic goes well with them.
- Make it vegan. Substitute plant-based butter or olive oil for the butter in this recipe to make it vegan.
- Add other seasonings. Try this dish with some Cajun seasoning, Italian seasoning, cayenne pepper for heat, paprika, or onion powder.
- Make this with other vegetables. You can also make this with broccoli, asparagus, zucchini, mushrooms, onion, or brussels sprouts. You'll just need to adjust the cooking time.
How to Store and Reheat it
You can store any leftovers of these Steamed Green Beans in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Reheat them by either microwaving them for a few minutes, or you can warm them in the steamer basket or in a pan on the stove until heated through.
What to Serve these Steamed Green Beans with
- Pasta. Enjoy this side dish with your favorite pasta, such as this Spaghetti with Olive Oil and Garlic, Mushroom Spinach Pasta, Easy Angel Hair Pasta, or Quick Zucchini Pasta.
- Meats. Serve it alongside dishes like this Spinach Stuffed Chicken Breast, Air Fryer Pork Chops, Chicken Breast in Roasted Pepper Sauce, or Chicken Rice Casserole.
- Soup. Pair your Steamed Green Beans with a bowl of Lentil and Kale Soup, Hearty Mushroom Soup, Chickpea Noodle Soup, or Turkey Cabbage Soup.
- Seafood. Serve these green beans with seafood, like this Crunchy Baked Shrimp, Shrimp Fajitas, Salmon in Creamy Sauce, Baked Cod, or Italian Fish Stew (Video).
This recipe for Steamed Green Beans is versatile, flavorful, and so easy to make. You will find yourself making it again and again because it's so tasty and goes well with everything. I hope you love this dish as much as my family does. Enjoy!
More tasty veggie-loaded recipes to try:
- Easy Fajita Vegetables
- Roasted Green Beans and Potatoes
- Green Beans in Tomato Sauce
- Easy Baked Cabbage
- Simple Sautéed Vegetables
Steamed Green Beans
Ingredients
- 1 lb. green beans, trimmed
- ¼ tsp. sea salt or to taste
- 1 tbsp. melted butter, slightly browned
Instructions
- Pour about 1 inch of water into a large saucepan, and set up a collapsible steamer inside. Bring to a boil. (In the meantime, trim the green beans, if needed).
- Now, lay the green beans in the steamer, cover, and steam until tender, about 7-12 minutes (depending on how tender you like the beans).
- Transfer the beans to a serving platter, season with salt, and drizzle with melted browned butter. You can also add a splash of lemon juice if desired.
Notes
Variations to this Recipe
- Add garlic. Add more flavor with minced garlic or garlic powder mixed into the green beans. The pungent flavor of the garlic goes well with them.
- Make it vegan. Substitute plant-based butter or olive oil for the butter in this recipe to make it vegan.
- Add other seasonings. Try this dish with some Cajun seasoning, Italian seasoning, cayenne pepper for heat, paprika, or onion powder.
- Make this with other vegetables. You can also make this with broccoli, asparagus, zucchini, mushrooms, onion, or brussels sprouts. You'll just need to adjust the cooking time.
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