Seasoned Green Beans

Learn about the best seasonings for green beans, and how to make the most incredible seasoned green beans as the ultimate side dish!

When it comes to side dishes, I love using seasonal produce that is super fresh and full of family-friendly flavor. Of course, they have to be quick and easy too. These easy seasoned green beans tick all the boxes!

These delicious beans are the perfect accompaniment to holiday and Thanksgiving mains like rosemary chicken and turkey, but they are easy enough to serve alongside a weeknight meal like basil and lemon pasta.

This post was originally published October 24, 2012 and updated with fresh photos and content on September 8, 2021.

One of the reasons I love this dish is that it’s incredibly flexible. Want to match the lemon profile of your lemon pepper chicken or lemon pepper salmon? Sure thing!

Going more of a Tex-Mex route with some cilantro lime chicken or carne asada? These green beans will work for that, too. In fact, it’s so easy to customize them that you’re going to want to make them for every kind of dinner.

If your family is anything like mine, green beans are one of the easiest veggies to get the kids to eat. These seasoned green beans are crispy yet tender, full of vibrant seasoning blends, and so easy to throw together.

It takes no more than 10 minutes to whip up this side dish, but the flavors are so bold! It’s the perfect stress free vegetable side, and its so easy to take it a little beyond your basic salt and pepper combination.

If you love green bean recipes, be sure to check out my famous firehouse green beans and green beans in shallot butter. You can even learn how to French Cut Green Beans here!

Why You’ll Love This Side Dish

Besides the fact that they are as easy to eat as your favorite french fries, these green beans are a fabulous side dish for many reasons.

• So flexible
• Ready in less than 10 minutes
• Family friendly
• Full of nutrition
• Low fat, low carb, Whole 30 and keto-friendly

Ingredients for Seasoned Green Beans

• Green Beans – Use fresh green beans that are bright in color. You just need to rinse them and trim the ends.
• Unsalted butter – You can use salted butter but be careful when adding any additional salt at the end.
• Onion powder
• Garlic powder
• Black pepper – thick flakes of fresh ground black pepper preferred

Variations

• Try a more colorful “green” bean option! Occasionally at our local grocer, I’ll grab bags of yellow, purple, or mixed beans.
• Switch up your seasoning blend. I love creating a homemade seasoning blend and there are so many fun options – see below!
• Top with Gorgonzola or Parmesan.
• Add diced pecans for a little crunch.

Best Seasonings for Green Beans

This simple recipe is incredibly flexible. It calls for onion powder, garlic powder and salt and pepper, which works with a wide variety of proteins and flavor profiles.

However, there are so many different directions you can go! Switch out the salt, pepper, garlic powder and onion powder in this recipe for one teaspoon of the following seasoning blends.

• Everything But the Elote
• Italian Seasoning
• Cajun Seasoning
• Lemon Pepper
• Everything but the Bagel
• Fiesta Ranch

Scaling up, down or substituting? You’ll love this printable Measurement Conversion Chart!

Serving Suggestions

These green beans serve so well with a variety of protein possibilities. They will work beautifully with any of the following:

• Steak
• Boursin Chicken (as pictured in this post)
• Greek Chicken
• Lemon Pepper Salmon
• Shrimp Kabobs
• Lemon Pepper Chicken
• Pesto Chicken Recipe

How to Store

• Room Temperature – your beans can remain at room temperature for up to two hours while serving.
• Refrigerate – Store for 3-5 days in an airtight container in your refrigerator.
• Freeze – you can freeze cooked green beans in a tightly closed Ziploc bag or in an airtight container for up to three months.

Make Seasoned Green Beans Ahead

You can prep the beans by washing and trimming them the day before and keep them covered in the fridge. They will then just take a few minutes to sauté at the last minute before serving.

What to Do with Leftovers

• Add to stir fry
• Excellent topping for green salads
• Delicious in your pasta salads and potato salad

Dietary Considerations

• Gluten Free
• Dairy Free
• Nut Free
• Vegetarian
• Vegan