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Garlicky Green Beans

Garlicky Green Beans are crisp-tender green beans blanched for bright color, then sautéed until lightly seared in butter and olive oil. Minced garlic is cooked just 30 seconds for a fragrant (not browned) finish, with lemon juice for a quick pop.
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Calories: 141
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Garlicky green beans
  • 1 lb fresh green beans trimmed
  • 2 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 4 garlic cloves, minced
  • 0.5 tsp kosher salt
  • 0.25 tsp black pepper
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice
  • 2 tbsp grated Parmesan for serving

Equipment

  • 1 sheet pan
  • 1 cast iron skillet

Method
 

Blanch and prep
  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Blanch the green beans for 2–3 minutes until bright green and crisp-tender, then drain and pat dry.
Sauté with garlic
  1. Heat the butter and olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat until butter melts and the mixture looks glossy.
  2. Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds, until fragrant but not browned, stirring so it doesn’t darken.
  3. Add the green beans to the skillet and toss to coat, cooking for 3–4 minutes until heated through and lightly seared.
Finish and serve
  1. Season with kosher salt, black pepper, and lemon juice, tossing until the beans look evenly glossy.
  2. Sprinkle with grated Parmesan and serve immediately while the beans still look bright and hot.

Notes

For the crisp-tender texture, don’t skip patting the blanched beans dry—excess moisture can steam instead of sear. Store leftovers in the refrigerator up to 3 days, reheating in a hot skillet for 1–2 minutes. Freezing isn’t recommended because green beans soften after thawing. For a dairy-light swap, use olive oil in place of the butter and omit the Parmesan or use a dairy-free grated alternative.