• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Weekday Pescatarian
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Sign Up!
  • About
  • Contact
  • Food Blogger Resources
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • Sign Up!
    • About
    • Contact
    • Food Blogger Resources
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×
    Home » Recipes » Recipes

    Garlic Lemon Seasoned Green Beans

    Published: Jul 2, 2022 · Modified: Feb 19, 2025 by Christina Jolam · This post may contain affiliate links. See end of article for more information. · 9 Comments

    Jump to Recipe·5 from 2 reviews

    This Seasoned Green Bean Recipe is the perfect side dish to so many meals. They are crisp and bright and the ideal compliment for all of your fish-forward main dishes.

    finished dish garnished with parmesan cheese in white platter.

    The lemony garlic butter in these green beans is perfectly balanced, and the toasted sliced almonds and parmesan cheese take the flavor profile right over the top.

    The cooking process takes just 15 minutes from sautéing to plating and even your pickiest eater will be asking for seconds.

    What you need to make this recipe:

    Ingredients for recipe laid out on a table and labeled.

    Before we get to the step by step directions, a few notes about the ingredients:

    Green beans: the recipe allows for either frozen or fresh green beans. Frozen are crisp and delicious all year round, so that's my first choice. If using fresh green beans, plan to add a few tablespoons of water or low sodium stock to the pot when cooking.

    Almonds: sliced, toasted almonds are ideal in this recipe. Substitute slivered or diced toasted almonds or toasted pine nuts, if needed.

    Vegan: if you want to make this side dish vegan, use olive oil in place of butter and substitute nutritional yeast for the parmesan garnish.

    Full ingredient list and measurements included in the printable recipe card below.

    Step by step instructions:

    Step 1: Start the Garlic Party

    Melt butter in a large pot or skillet (with a lid) over medium heat. Add grated or diced garlic cloves and stir until fragrant, about 1 minute.

    grated garlic garlic poured into melted butter in a pot.

    Step 2: Add Seasoning and Beans

    Add salt, pepper, lemon juice and green beans to the pot.

    seasoning and beans poured into the pot of buttery garlic.

    Toss the ingredients to coat the beans, then cover the pot and cook for 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally. I prefer beans to still be a bit crisp and bright green. Feel free to cook the beans to your preferred texture.

    Remove the lid and stir the beans occasionally to monitor cooking. (Cook time will vary based on the size of your green beans, so monitor and remove from heat when finished). 

    beans cooking in pot

    Step 3: Finishing Touches

    Once beans are nearly cooked through, remove lid and add toasted almond slices, lemon zest and diced parsley. Toss to combine.

    cooked beans garnished with toasted almonds, lemon zest and parsley.

    Step 4: Garnish and Serve

    Plate the seasoned green beans and garnish with shredded Parmesan cheese.

    finished dish on a table garnished with lemon halves and parsley.

    Need more unforgettable side dish recipes?

    • Roasted Green Cauliflower
    • Brussels Sprouts Gratin (Low Carb, Gluten Free!)
    • Marinated Grilled Asparagus
    • Mediterranean Tossed Salad

    FAQ's and Serving Suggestions:

    What is the best way to season green beans?

    Depending on what you're serving with your beans, you have a variety of options. Some of my favorite seasonings for green beans include garlic, lemon and butter (like this recipe), roasted in the oven with a good pinch of salt and black pepper, or quickly sautéed with sesame oil, soy sauce and a bit of chili crisp.

    Should I use fresh green beans or frozen green beans?

    My usual choice for this simple side dish is a bag of frozen haricot verts, or thin, whole French green beans. They cook quickly and bring consistently crisp, fresh flavors to this dish. If using fresh beans, string beans or even the flat Italian green beans would be good options for this vegetable side dish. Cooking times may vary depending on the size and thickness of the beans (Italian beans may take 2-3 minutes longer), so keep an eye on the clock and test the beans before removing them from the heat. Also plan to add a couple of tablespoons of water or stock to the pot if using fresh beans.

    What can I serve with garlic lemon green beans?

    This easy recipe brings elevated flavors and presentation that compliment Baked Panko Cod, Seafood Pasta with White Wine Garlic Sauce and Lemon Butter Baked Walleye.

    Can I make this recipe vegan?

    Absolutely - I would recommend a quality extra virgin olive oil as a substitute for butter. This is a simple recipe so each ingredient has to bring a lot of flavor. As such, I recommend you avoid neutral oils that don't offer much flavor or nuance. Then omit the parmesan, use a vegan version, or substitute nutritional yeast.

    How to store leftover seasoned green beans?

    To store, place leftover green beans in an airtight container and keep in the refrigerator up to 3 days. To reheat, add a tablespoon of butter or stock to a pot and heat over medium until the beans are warmed through.

    Print
    clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon
    finished vegetable dish garnished with almonds on a white platter

    Garlic Lemon Seasoned Green Beans


    5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

    5 from 2 reviews

    • Author: Christina Jolam
    • Total Time: 20 minutes
    • Yield: 6
    Print Recipe
    Pin Recipe

    Description

    When you're looking for a standout side dish, reach for these crispy, buttery green beans. They'll never let you down!


    Ingredients

    4 tablespoons butter

    3 garlic cloves, grated

    2 teaspoons lemon juice

    1 teaspoon coarse sea salt, more to taste

    ½ teaspoon black pepper, more to taste

    1 pound thin whole green beans, fresh or frozen

    ⅓ cup sliced almonds, toasted

    1 teaspoon lemon zest

    2 tablespoons flat leaf parsley, diced

    2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese, finely shredded


    Instructions

    1. To begin, melt butter in a skillet or Dutch oven (with a lid). Add the grated or minced garlic and stir, cooking until fragrant, about a minute. 

    2. Add salt, pepper, lemon juice and green beans to the pan. Toss to coat, then cover and cook until beans are crisp, but cooked through, about 10 minutes  Remove the lid and stir the beans occasionally to monitor cooking. (Cook time will vary based on the size of your green beans, so monitor and remove from heat when finished). 

    3. When beans are cooked through, remove from heat and add toasted almonds, lemon zest and diced parsley. Toss to coat. If using fresh beans, string beans or even the flat Italian green beans would be good options for this vegetable side dish. Cooking times may vary depending on the size and thickness of the beans (Italian beans may take 2-3 minutes longer), so keep an eye on the clock and test the beans before removing them from the heat. Also plan to add a couple of tablespoons of water or stock to the pot if using fresh beans.

    4. Plate the green beans and top with Parmesan cheese.

    Notes

    If using fresh beans, string beans or even the flat Italian green beans would be good options for this vegetable side dish. Cooking times may vary depending on the size and thickness of the beans (Italian beans may take 2-3 minutes longer), so keep an eye on the clock and test the beans before removing them from the heat. Also plan to add a couple of tablespoons of water or stock to the pot if using fresh beans.

    • Prep Time: 5
    • Cook Time: 15
    • Category: side dish, vegetarian
    • Method: stovetop
    • Cuisine: American, French

    Ready to make this recipe?

    Save it to Pinterest and follow me so you don't miss any recipes!

    Like this:

    Like Loading...

    More Recipes

    • Salmon over asparagus on a white plate and garnished with a slice of lemon.
      Foolproof Grilled Salmon in Foil
    • Anchovy Pizza on a board .
      Anchovy Pizza (Marseille Style)
    • pile of barnacles on a plate.
      Gooseneck Barnacles Recipe (Percebes)
    • Bowl of chimichurri with edamame on a table next to a bag of edamame.
      Crunchy Edamame Chimichurri

    About Christina Jolam

    Christina Jolam is a fish-forward recipe developer, photographer, and food writer. She creates easy and impressive seafood-focused recipes that home chefs of all levels can make and share. Her recipes and seafood expertise have been featured on CNNHealth, MSN, Pip and Ebby, Savoring the Good, Eat Blog Talk and more. She spends most of her time in a seaside village in Portugal with her adventure-loving husband, Ramesh.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Dory

      December 30, 2023 at 9:38 am

      Turned out great! Made these for our Christmas Eve seafood dinner. Was a little skeptical about using frozen beans, but they had great flavor and texture. Definitely adding to our regular rotation. Thanks!

      Reply
      • Christina Jolam

        December 30, 2023 at 9:41 am

        So glad you loved them! They're one of my all-time favorite sides. Appreciate you coming back to leave a helpful review!

        Reply
    2. Moxie

      December 16, 2024 at 1:52 pm

      My husband's favourite side dish is green bean almondine, but I thought I'd change it up! I made these beans for his birthday dinner (to go along with some shrimp oh gratin) and they were delicious! We both love the addition of the almonds and the lemon juice and zest give the beans a real fresh forward flavour. Lovely!

      Reply
      • Christina Jolam

        December 16, 2024 at 2:04 pm

        Love to hear this, Moxie! The perfect special occasion side dish. Appreciate you coming back to leave such a helpful review!

        Reply

    Trackbacks

    1. Amazing Shrimp and Crab Stuffed Salmon - Weekday Pescatarian says:
      July 9, 2022 at 1:50 am

      […] love garlic brown rice and quinoa and simple steamed broccoli with this salmon dish. Seasoned green beans or a crunchy tossed salad are also great […]

      Reply
    2. Easy Baked Grouper Packets with Citrus, Olives, and Pistachios - Weekday Pescatarian says:
      July 9, 2022 at 2:03 am

      […] and olive tapenade make for a flavorful and filling dish. I usually like to serve asecond side of seasoned green beans or cucumber gazpacho salad with sweet cherry tomatoesfor an easy weeknight […]

      Reply
    3. How To Bake Fish In The Oven Without Foil - Weekday Pescatarian says:
      July 10, 2022 at 5:59 am

      […] Top with lemon garlic butter sauce and serve with garlic brown rice and quinoa and garlic seasoned green beans. […]

      Reply
    4. Creamy Lemon and Dill Sour Cream Sauce for Salmon - Weekday Pescatarian says:
      July 16, 2022 at 2:08 am

      […] a healthy dinner, too! A simple tray of baked salmon topped with lemon dill sauce and served with seasoned green beans and a lemon wedge can be just the ticket to a complete meal in under 30 […]

      Reply
    5. What to Serve With Falafel Pitas - 23 of the Best Sides and Sauces! - Weekday Pescatarian says:
      July 23, 2022 at 6:08 am

      […] garlic seasoned green beans with lemon and parsley offer a more sophisticated option for your falafel spread. They are buttery […]

      Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe rating 5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

    Primary Sidebar

    author standing in kitchen holding coffee mug

    Hi, I'm Christina! Here at Weekday Pescatarian, you’ll find delicious seafood recipes, tips for adding more fish to your diet, and a little about my life as an American living in Portugal.

    More about me →

    Popular Recipes

    • cooked king crab leg clusters with a dish of lemon butter sauce and lemon wedges
      How To Cook Frozen King Crab Legs (The Easiest & Best Way!)
    • baked fish with lemon butter sauce over asparagus and rice
      Baked Walleye Recipe with Lemon Butter
    • sliced sushi roll with spicy mayo and chopsticks
      How to Make Sushi Crab Mix
    • grilled lemons, octopus tentacles and potatoes on a dish with dressing
      Simple Greek Grilled Octopus Recipe

    Spring & Summer Recipes

    • black plate with garlic butter baked shrimp garnished with lemon
      Baked Colossal Shrimp with Lemon Garlic Butter Sauce
    • Cluster of crab legs on a tray with a bowl of melted butter sauce.
      How to Cook Snow Crab Legs (Perfect Every Time!)
    • sliced sushi roll with spicy mayo and chopsticks
      How to Make Sushi Crab Mix
    • Alaskan Pollock with olive and tomato topping on a white plate.
      Mediterranean-style Pollock Fillets Recipe

    Footer

    logos of organizations where Weekday Pescatarian has been featured

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms & Conditions

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up!

    Contact

    • Contact
    • About

    Weekday Pescatarian participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Some posts on this site also contain links to other affiliate sites offering products or services we recommend. This means if you make a purchase after clicking on a link, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

    Copyright © 2025 Weekday Pescatarian

    Brunch Pro on the Feast Plugin

    %d