Do you love green beans? If so, you're going to love this garlic green beans recipe. These Spicy Garlic Green Beans are fresh, healthy, and delicious. They're perfect for a quick snack, light meal, and a staple in my Thanksgiving Dinner Menu and Prep Schedule. Best of all, they're easy to make. So grab your skillet and let's get cooking!
This green beans recipe is so good they basically taste like candy! Doused with garlic, lemon zest, shallots and a decent amount of spice (optional if you don't like spice), you'll get anyone to love them!
Spicy Garlic Green Beans at a Glance
- 🕒 Total Time: ~15 minutes (5 min prep + ~10 min cook)
- 👪 Servings: 6 people
- 🍝 Cuisine Type: American / Holiday Side Dish
- 🧂 Flavor Profile: Bold and savory—garlic-rich, shallots, spicy red pepper flakes, lemon zest for brightness; green beans that “taste like candy.”
- 📖 Dietary Info: Gluten-free, vegetarian, dairy-free (base recipe)
- 📦 Storage Notes: Best served freshly made; leftover beans can be kept in an airtight container in the fridge for ~2-3 days. (General side-dish guideline)
- ⭐ Why You’ll Love It: A show-stopping yet effortless vegetable side—these green beans flip from humble to irresistible with big flavor and minimal effort.
Summarize this content and save on
Why I Love This Recipe
There's no denying it, I'm hooked. I know I say I'm obsessed with just about everything I make (I mean can you blame me?) but these green beans really stand out. They are doused with garlic, lemon zest, shallots and a decent amount of spice. And they are so good it's basically like eating candy. Or homemade french fries. That's basically how I eat them. One by one, until all of a sudden the entire plate of Spicy Garlic Green Beans disappears. Green Bean CANDY if you will! Also, they are the perfect side dish and go beautifully with any of the following recipes such as Wild Mushroom Stuffing, Sautéed Brussels Sprouts, Roasted Acorn Squash, or my famous Mascarpone Mashed Potatoes.
Jump to:
Ingredients & Substitutions
🌶 Spice Adjustments
- Tone it down — cut back the red pepper flakes or skip them entirely for a mellow garlic-soy flavor.
- Kick it up — add a drizzle of chili oil or a spoonful of sambal oelek for more heat and depth.
🧄 Flavor Boosters
- Add sesame oil — a splash at the end gives it a nutty finish.
- Toss in ginger — freshly grated ginger adds a zippy brightness that pairs well with the garlic.
- Add scallions or shallots — for extra layers of sweet-savory flavor.
🥣 Sauce Variations
- Soy sauce swap — use tamari (for gluten-free) or coconut aminos (for a slightly sweeter, less salty version).
- Add honey or maple syrup — just a touch can balance the spice and salt.
- Add lime juice or rice vinegar — to brighten everything up right before serving.
🍽 Bonus Add-Ins
- Top with toasted sesame seeds or chopped peanuts for crunch.
- Stir in cooked ground chicken, shrimp, or tofu to turn it into a full meal.
- Serve over rice or noodles to soak up that garlicky sauce.
*For a full list of ingredients and instructions please see recipe card below
How to Make Spicy Garlic Green Beans
Step 1: Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the green beans and cook for 3 minutes. Drain the green beans and set aside.
Step 2: In a large heavy bottom skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the shallot, garlic, and red pepper flakes and sauté until the garlic becomes fragrant.
Step 3: Add the green beans and mix everything together, making sure the garlic and shallots are evenly distributed amongst the green beans.
Step 4: Season with salt and lemon zest and serve immediately.
How to Store Spicy Garlic Green Beans
Lucky you! You have more of these delish veggies for another day. To store this recipe, transfer the remaining green beans to an air-tight container and refrigerate for up to 3-5 days.
11 Tips + Tricks for Perfect Spicy Garlic Green Beans
- Whatever you fancy. I personally like Haricot Verts which are thinner, longer, and have a better taste in my opinion. If you opt to go with a green bean make sure to trim the ends off.
- Blanch, don’t boil to death. Drop those green beans in salted boiling water for 2–3 minutes max, then get them out. You’re looking for bright green and crisp-tender, not sad and mushy.
- Ice bath = magic trick. After blanching, dunk them straight into an ice bath to stop the cooking. This locks in that gorgeous color and perfect snap.
- Fresh garlic or bust. Skip the jarred stuff. Freshly minced garlic gives that bold, clean flavor that makes the sauce sing.
- Don’t burn the aromatics. Garlic burns fast. Keep the heat medium and sauté until it’s just fragrant, golden, not brown.
- Adjust the heat to your vibe. Love a little kick? Add more red pepper flakes. Want it milder? Go easy. You’re in charge of the spice level here.
- Blister those beans. After blanching, give them a quick toss in a hot skillet to get a little char. It adds that restaurant-style smoky flavor and texture.
- Finish strong with lemon. A squeeze of fresh lemon juice or a sprinkle of zest right before serving brightens everything up.
- Salt, taste, repeat. Season at the end too, those final pinches of salt (and maybe a crack of pepper) pull it all together.
- Add crunch if you’re feeling fancy. Toasted almonds, sesame seeds, or even crispy shallots add an amazing texture contrast.
- Serve ASAP. These are best hot out of the pan, vibrant, garlicky, and just the right amount of spicy. Don’t let them sit too long or they’ll lose their snap.
FAQs
Can Green Beans Be Eaten Raw?
100% green beans can be eaten raw however I would not recommend it. Maybe with a dip, but I would stick to boiling or steaming them and then seasoning with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes.
Can this Green Beans Recipe be Frozen?
I would not freeze this dish after I made it. With this recipe, its easy enough to whip up a batch in under 10 min so I would suggest going the freshly made route.
Related Recipes
So there you have it, our secret tips for making my perfect spicy garlic green beans recipe. We hope you’ll give this recipe a try and let us know how it turns out. And if you’re looking for more Thanksgiving recipes that will blow everyone away, be sure to check out my full What’s Gaby Cooking menu here along with the master prep schedule to keep things organized and on track!
And if you need more Thanksgiving Ideas to go with this green beans recipe check out this roundup of 80+ Thanksgiving Recipes and Ideas
If you tried this recipe, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it goes in the 📝 comments below. Thanks for visiting today
Garlic Green Beans Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 pound haricot verts or green beans ends trimmed
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 6 cloves garlic chopped
- 1 shallot thinly sliced
- 1-2 teaspoons red pepper flakes depending on how spicy you like them
- flaky salt and lemon zest to garnish
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil.
- Add the green beans and cook for 3 minutes. Drain the green beans and set aside.
- In a large heavy bottom skillet, heat the olive oil over medium high heat. Add the shallot, garlic and red pepper flakes and sauté for 2 minutes until the garlic becomes fragrant. Add the green beans and mix everything together, making sure the garlic and shallots are evenly distributed amongst the green beans.
- Season with salt and the lemon zest and serve immediately.
Notes
- Whatever you fancy. I personally like Haricot Verts which are thinner, longer, and have a better taste in my opinion. If you opt to go with a green bean make sure to trim the ends off.
- Blanch, don’t boil to death. Drop those green beans in salted boiling water for 2–3 minutes max, then get them out. You’re looking for bright green and crisp-tender, not sad and mushy.
- Ice bath = magic trick. After blanching, dunk them straight into an ice bath to stop the cooking. This locks in that gorgeous color and perfect snap.
- Fresh garlic or bust. Skip the jarred stuff. Freshly minced garlic gives that bold, clean flavor that makes the sauce sing.
- Don’t burn the aromatics. Garlic burns fast. Keep the heat medium and sauté until it’s just fragrant, golden, not brown.
- Adjust the heat to your vibe. Love a little kick? Add more red pepper flakes. Want it milder? Go easy. You’re in charge of the spice level here.
- Blister those beans. After blanching, give them a quick toss in a hot skillet to get a little char. It adds that restaurant-style smoky flavor and texture.
- Finish strong with lemon. A squeeze of fresh lemon juice or a sprinkle of zest right before serving brightens everything up.
- Salt, taste, repeat. Season at the end too, those final pinches of salt (and maybe a crack of pepper) pull it all together.
- Add crunch if you’re feeling fancy. Toasted almonds, sesame seeds, or even crispy shallots add an amazing texture contrast.
- Serve ASAP. These are best hot out of the pan, vibrant, garlicky, and just the right amount of spicy. Don’t let them sit too long or they’ll lose their snap.
Nutrition Information
Photo by Matt Armendariz / Food Styling by Adam Pearson / Recipe from What’s Gaby Cooking
Great will make it again.
So good! I’ve made it multiple times and everyone always wants seconds! For Christmas, I made extra and everyone was stoked to have leftovers to take home! They are even good cold!