33 Healthy Green Bean Recipes - Cooking Light

Photo: Jennifer Causey

Green beans aren’t just a Thanksgiving side—they’re also a perfect dish for busy weeknights or casual get-togethers. These healthy recipes from green bean casserole to green beans with bacon will dazzle your taste buds and compliment your meals year-round.

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Healthy Green Bean Recipes

Photo: Romulo Yanes

View Recipe: Prosciutto Green Beans with Crispy Mushrooms

Not only high in nutritional value but also great in texture and taste, green beans are as ubiquitous to the American table as mashed potatoes or broccoli. Whether steamed, fried, or used in a hearty casserole, these versatile veggies are delicious and easy to incorporate into your healthy diet.

First up, these stunning Prosciutto Green Bean Bundles. They may look complicated, but the recipe is quite easy to prepare. To save prep time, look for bags of prewashed, pretrimmed beans in the produce section. If you can’t find the slender haricots verts, you can use regular green beans.

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Lemon-Feta Green Beans

Caitlin Bensel

View Recipe: Lemon-Feta Green Beans

Searing lemons is one of our favorite tricks for upping the ante on any dish. The tart juice mellows out, providing the perfect balance for the briny capers and feta in this skillet side. If you have any leftovers, try adding halved cherry tomatoes and enjoying as a cold salad; some cooked chicken or shrimp would turn it into a lovely main dish.

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Skillet-Charred Green Beans with Salsa

Jennifer Causey

View Recipe: Skillet-Charred Green Beans with Salsa

Resist the urge to stir the green beans often—that’s the secret to getting a nice amount of char. For even better flavor, use 13 oz. of fresh green beans from your local farmers market; trim them yourself before steaming in a covered container in the microwave.

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Green Beans with Bacon

Elizabeth Laseter

View Recipe: Green Beans with Bacon

Shallots and garlic kick up the green beans’ flavor, toasted pecans add crunch and fiber, and center-cut bacon lends a salty punch without tons of sat fat. Last but not least, utilizing the rendered bacon grease in the skillet eliminates the need for butter.

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Green Beans with Mustard-Tarragon Sauce

Caitlin Bensel

View Recipe: Green Beans with Mustard-Tarragon Sauce

Substitute fresh thyme or dill for the tarragon, if you prefer. To blanch haricots verts, cook them in boiling water 2 minutes, and immediately transfer to an ice bath to cool.

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Haricots Verts with Carrots and Sesame

Photo: Jennifer Causey

View Recipe: Haricots Verts with Carrot and Sesame

Slender haricots verts need little embellishment. Here they're tossed with a good dose of carrots and sesame seeds. Once it's cooked, the flavor mellows considerably. If you can't find the tiny French green beans, substitute regular green beans and increase the cook time in boiling water to five minutes to ensure they're done.

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Green Bean Casserole

Caitlin Bensel

View Recipe: Green Bean Casserole

We’ve given the classic casserole an upgrade by swapping sodium-heavy canned soup for a rich and chunky homemade mushroom sauce. For bean blanching instructions, see the note on the recipe at left.

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Haricots Verts with Shallots and Pine Nuts

Photo: Jennifer Causey

View Recipe: Haricots Verts with Shallots and Pine Nuts

This quick and easy side dish of French green beans, shallots, and pine nuts is perfect for weeknight dinners. Pair with pan-seared chicken or baked pork chops.

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Green Beans Amandine

Jennifer Causey

View Recipe: Green Beans Amandine

Adding lemon juice and water to the browned butter mixture creates a lovely, glossy sauce that coats the beans beautifully. The overall impression is that there’s far more butter than is actually there. You can easily get a head start by completing step 1 up to two days ahead; then the recipe can come together in the last few minutes before the feast.

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Haricots Verts with Cherry Tomatoes and Mushrooms

Photo: Jennifer Causey

View Recipe: Haricots Verts with Cherry Tomatoes and Mushrooms

Sweet cherry tomatoes and earthy mushrooms tossed with delicate French green beans make a colorful and flavorful addition to your weeknight dinner.

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Haricots Verts with Pancetta and Garlic

Photo: Jennifer Causey

View Recipe: Haricots Verts with Pancetta and Garlic

Pancetta and garlic sautéed with French green beans create a savory side that pairs well with chicken or fish.

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Olive-Almond Green Beans

Photo: Johnny Autry

View Recipe: Olive-Almond Green Beans

Move over plain green beans for this delicious side serving. The kalamata olives give these beans its saltiness, toasted almonds a bit of crunch, and a touch of citrus thanks to lemon rind.

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Sherried Green Beans and Mushrooms

Photo: Randy Mayor

View Recipe: Sherried Green Beans and Mushrooms

Add color and crunch to your meal. Associate Food Editor Julianna Grimes created this recipe: "Everybody expects to see green beans at the holiday table, but I wanted to add some unexpected flourishes."

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Green Bean Salad

Elizabeth Laseter

View Recipe: Green Bean Salad

This delicious salad is bright, balanced, and bursting with flavor. The punchy vinaigrette adds tanginess, the walnuts add crunch (plus a hearty dose of healthy fats), and the feta adds a briny, salty kick.

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Charred Sesame Green Beans

Caitlin Bensel

View Recipe: Charred Sesame Green Beans

One taste of these quick-charred green beans, and you’ll never just steam again. Letting the beans sit in the hot skillet without stirring is the secret to getting a nice char; adding the sauce to the still-hot skillet helps it reduce quickly and cling to the crispy, smoky beans. Serve with roasted pork or salmon.

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Green Bean Casserole with Madeira Mushrooms

Photo: Charles Masters

View Recipe: Green Bean Casserole with Madeira Mushrooms

Here's a deliciously updated version of the classic, with fresh green beans and wine-infused mushrooms. We just had to keep the fried onion topping, which is arguably the best part.

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Leftover Green Bean Niçoise

Photo: Iain Bagwell

View Recipe: Leftover Green Bean Niçoise

Classic salade niçoise gets a big flavor boost from our leftover green bean recipe: Dried cranberries provide unexpected sweet-tart notes, while hazelnuts add lightly sweet, meaty depth.

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Baked Tilapia with Garlicky Green Beans and Roasted Tomatoes

Photo: Christopher Testani

View Recipe: Baked Tilapia with Garlicky Green Beans and Roasted Tomatoes

Green beans steam in their own sealed packet while tomatoes slowly roast and panko-crusted tilapia gets nicely crisp on top, all on a single baking sheet.

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Crispy Green Beans With Sriracha Mayo

Photo: Peter Frank Edwards

View Recipe: Crispy Green Beans With Sriracha Mayo

Day-old veggies become irresistible crunchy munching sticks thanks to a coarse breadcrumb coating. Tangy chile dip takes flavors to the spicy edge.

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Two-Bean Toss

Photo: Johnny Autry

View Recipe: Two-Bean Toss

Using two different types of green beans, wax beans and green beans, adds color and beauty to a healthy and fresh side dish.

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Green Beans with Caramelized Onions and Walnuts

Photo: José Picayo

View Recipe: Green Beans with Caramelized Onions and Walnuts

Here's a crowd-pleasing side that's easy on the pocketbook: just 67 cents per serving! If money is no object, consider finishing with a flourish of white truffle oil.

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Green Beans with Dried Cranberries and Hazelnuts

Photo: Brian Woodcock

View Recipe: Green Beans with Dried Cranberries and Hazelnuts

This side dish is positively Pacific Northwest, as Oregon produces ample amounts of cranberries and hazelnuts. Blanch the beans ahead, and store in the refrigerator for a quicker dinner.

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Skillet Green Bean Casserole

Photo: Jennifer Causey

View Recipe: Skillet Green Bean Casserole

We've shortened (and lightened) this holiday classic by bringing everything together in one pan and using the stovetop and broiler rather than baking.

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Southern Green Beans And Potatoes

Jennifer Causey

Southern Green Beans And Potatoes

Green beans, a holiday staple, are only improved with the addition of tender red and golden potatoes. Only peeling a single strip from the spuds makes for a great presentation and also helps them release more starch.

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Pan-Charred Green Beans with Tarragon

Photo: Courtesy of Oxmoor House

This will become your new favorite way to do green beans. We love the light anise flavor of tarragon, but you could use parsley, chives, or thyme as well.

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Steamed Green Beans with Lemon-Mint Dressing

Photo: Johnny Autry

View Recipe: Steamed Green Beans with Lemon-Mint Dressing

Instead of mint, tarragon or basil would be equally delicious. If desired, top with fresh lemon rind for a little extra zing. Try one of our variations: Red Pepper and Pesto Green Beans, Ginger-Sesame Green Beans, or Green Beans with Stewed Tomatoes and Spices.

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Farro, Green Bean, and Fennel Salad with Tuna

Photo: Kenji Toma

View Recipe: Farro, Green Bean, and Fennel Salad with Tuna

To make this a full whole-grain salad, avoid pearled farro, which has been partially processed. Yes, it takes a little longer, but to save time, hunt down some precooked whole-grain farro. It's found on the rice aisle. The recipe, however, begins with uncooked grain, which needs an hour in the pot and a little time to cool. We recently tasted—and loved—Wild Planet's wild albacore tuna, jarred in olive oil, which is firm, meaty, rich, and moist. We also love that it's sustainable, 100% pole and troll caught. Visit wildplanetfoods.com to purchase online or locate retailers.

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Citrus Green Beans with Pine Nuts

Photo: Jonny Valiant

View Recipe: Citrus Green Beans with Pine Nuts

Citrus gives a common side dish an unexpected, but delightfully delicious, makeover. The dish is light and refreshing so it won't bog down your plate.

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Tempeh and Green Bean Stir-Fry with Peanut Sauce

Photo: Johnny Autry

View Recipe: Tempeh and Green Bean Stir-Fry with Peanut Sauce

Tempeh is a high-protein soy product that originated in Indonesia, and it works great in this delicious Asian-inspired dish. Substitute extra-firm tofu, if desired.

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Haricots Verts with Warm Shallot Vinaigrette

Photo: Jennifer Causey

View Recipe: Haricots Verts with Warm Shallot Vinaigrette

It’s easy enough to microwave green beans and make a dressing, but taking an extra minute to heat the dressing through changes everything. The shallots mellow and caramelize, and mustard and rosemary bind more easily with the oil. Sherry vinegar has a fantastic savory depth and is worth keeping in your pantry.

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Feta-and-Walnut Blistered Green Beans

Photo: Jennifer Causey

View Recipe: Feta and Walnut Blistered Green Beans

Charring is a great technique for coaxing extra flavor from vegetables without adding calories. Here, slender green beans stay crisp and fresh while taking on a hint of bitter and smoke for balance.

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Balsamic-Glazed Green Beans and Pearl Onions

Photo: Charles Masters

View Recipe: Balsamic-Glazed Green Beans and Pearl Onions

Dress up green beans with pearl onions and balsamic vinegar to give this worthy-of-a-special-occasion side dish a nice flavor.

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Prosciutto-and-Almond Green Beans

Photo: Jennifer Causey

View Recipe: Prosciutto-and-Almond Green Beans

A side dish that is as delicious as it is versatile, green beans and prosciutto is a savory flavor marriage that works with nearly any main dish you’re serving. Cut prep time in half—and use fewer dishes—by crisping prosciutto in your microwave.

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33 Healthy Green Bean Recipes for You to Enjoy Year-Round

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Healthy Green Bean Recipes

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Lemon-Feta Green Beans

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Skillet-Charred Green Beans with Salsa

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Green Beans with Bacon

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Green Beans with Mustard-Tarragon Sauce

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Haricots Verts with Carrots and Sesame

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Green Bean Casserole

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Haricots Verts with Shallots and Pine Nuts

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Green Beans Amandine

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Haricots Verts with Cherry Tomatoes and Mushrooms

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Haricots Verts with Pancetta and Garlic

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Olive-Almond Green Beans

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Sherried Green Beans and Mushrooms

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Green Bean Salad

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Charred Sesame Green Beans

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Green Bean Casserole with Madeira Mushrooms

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Leftover Green Bean Niçoise

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Baked Tilapia with Garlicky Green Beans and Roasted Tomatoes

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Crispy Green Beans With Sriracha Mayo

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Two-Bean Toss

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Green Beans with Caramelized Onions and Walnuts

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Green Beans with Dried Cranberries and Hazelnuts

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Skillet Green Bean Casserole

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Southern Green Beans And Potatoes

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Pan-Charred Green Beans with Tarragon

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Steamed Green Beans with Lemon-Mint Dressing

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