Spicy Garlic Green Beans

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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, or a Thanksgiving Dinner side. 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 on a white plate with a serving fork and spoon. Beneath the white plate is a green platter and a green linen napkin on a white countertop with a white plate in the bottom right corner and a ceramic drinking glass and plate in the top right corner.
Spicy Garlic Green Beans


 

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 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.

Just as good as the decadent stuff, but not nearly as bad for you!

Spicy Garlic Green Beans from www.whatsgabycooking.com (@whatsgabycookin)

I am a believer that even my brussels sprouts will win over any picky vegetable eater for SURE! But if you have doubts, these should definitely be a welcome addition for everyone on the table!! The little extra spicy garlic infused olive oil makes for an excellent bread dip. Throw them on your ever growing Thanksgiving menu and you can thank me later.

Ingredients & Substitutions

Ingredient shot of ingredients in individual clear bowls such as green beans, olive oil, red pepper flakes, shallot, garlic, lemon zest, and flaky salt on a white countertop.
  • Haricot verts or green beans 
  • Olive oil
  • Garlic cloves
  • Shallot 
  • Red pepper flakes 
  • Flaky salt and lemon zest to garnish

*For a full list of ingredients and instructions please see recipe card below

How to Make Spicy Garlic Green Beans

Green beans in a mesh metal strainer on a white countertop.

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.

Shallot, garlic cloves, red pepper flakes, and oil sautéing in a blue skillet on a white countertop.

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.

Shallot, garlic cloves, red pepper flakes, green beans, lemon zest, and flaky salt in a blue skillet on a white countertop.

Step 3: Add the green beans and mix everything together, making sure the garlic and shallots are evenly distributed amongst the green beans.

Spicy garlic green beans on a white plate with a serving fork and spoon. Beneath the white plate is a green platter and a green linen napkin on a white countertop with a white plate in the bottom right corner and a ceramic drinking glass and plate in the top right corner.

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.

Tips & Tricks

  • 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.
  • Mild or Super Spicy. What I love about this recipe is that you get to control the spice level! If you prefer a milder heat, opt for a lighter hand when adding in the red pepper flakes. If you're all about the heat, shake in as much red pep. as you please!

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.

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

Spicy Garlic Green Beans from www.whatsgabycooking.com (@whatsgabycookin)

Garlic Green Beans Recipe

Author: Gaby Dalkin
5 from 21 votes
These green beans are so good they basically taste like candy! Doused with garlic, lemon zest, shallots and a decent amount of spice, you'll get anyone to love them!
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Course Side Dish
Cuisine Mediterranean
Servings 6 people

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

Prep Ahead Instructions: if you are short on time and want to prep this ahead, you can blanch your green beans a day or two ahead of your dinner. Be sure not to overcook them, you will finish cooking them day of with the garlic etc. So just a quick blanch and then let them cool quickly (I'd shock them with an ice bath) and store in the fridge until ready to finish. 

Nutrition Information

Calories: 73kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Sodium: 11mg | Potassium: 192mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 621IU | Vitamin C: 10mg | Calcium: 36mg | Iron: 1mg
Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @WhatsGabyCookin or tag #whatsgabycooking!

Photo by Matt Armendariz / Food Styling by Adam Pearson / Recipe from What’s Gaby Cooking

74 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    Our garden won't stop producing green beans - just when I thought we couldn't possibly eat another green bean I discovered this recipe and it's so good! So quick and easy and everyone in the familly was a fan!

  2. 5 stars
    Made these as a side for ThanksGiving, they were a huge hit! Will be making again for our Christmas dinner. Love the spices and crunch!

  3. Is there any way to make this ahead of time and reheat? We have to bring a vegetable to Thanksgiving, but will need to make in the morning, travel and then serve for dinner! Thanks so much!

    1. you could blanch the green beans and shock them with cold water right after they come out. Then pack them up and take them to wherever you're going and saute with the garlic/oil etc... that would be the best bet!

    2. you could blanch the green beans and shock them in cold water to keep their color. Pack them up and saute with the garlic and red pepper flakes and lemon once you get to where you're going! That would be the best bet!

    1. I blanch them the morning of, and then give them the quick saute right before serving!! But yes you could do the saute about an hour ahead of time no prob

  4. Thanks for the idea. I had no shallots so used onions, no garlic so used a mild green chilli, no red pepper flakes so used smoked paprika. Really not the same recipe at all I suppose but bloody delicious nonetheless. Ate with a fresh tiger roll for lunch and transported to the Mediterranean. Yum!

  5. Hi Gaby,

    I’m thinking of adding these to my thanksgiving menu. Do you think the green beans could be blanched the night before or morning of thanksgiving to cut down on Kitchen madness immediately before the feast?

4.96 from 21 votes (11 ratings without comment)

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