Green Beans with Lemon

Looking for a fresh and simple side dish? Look no further than these green beans with lemon and garlic. Crisp and tender green beans paired with the zesty flavor of lemon juice.

Green beans with lemon

We are in the thick of summertime here in Missouri and I am looking for tasty recipes that can be prepared on the stovetop and the grill. No one wants to warm up their oven in this heat if they don’t have to! This summer side dish has been the perfect combination to serve with meat or fish off the grill. It really transforms typical green beans into a flavorful and zesty side dish.

Green beans are a favorite vegetable in our home. They are so versatile and can be paired well with almost any dish. We cook fresh and canned green beans year round. Typically, I try to buy fresh green beans when they are in season in the summer. A friend graciously gifted these fresh green beans from her garden.

Ingredients for green beans with lemon

Only FOUR simple ingredients!

• Fresh Green Beans
• Lemon Juice
• Garlic Salt
• Olive Oil

How to make green beans with lemon

1. In a large pot, bring water to a boil and add in green beans
2. Boil for 3 to 4 minutes until the green beans are a bright green color and tender
3. Drain the green beans in a colander in the sink and then run cold water over the beans. This allows them to cool down, stop cooking and still have that beautiful bright green color.
4. Return the green beans to the pot and add in olive oil, garlic salt, and lemon juice
5. Stir to mix in and serve immediately!

Why you will love this recipe

Quick – a perfect side dish ready in only 10 minutes

Healthy – A delicious and healthy side dish option

Tasty – You of course want any recipe you are making to taste delicious!

Fresh green beans with lemon juice is such an easy side dish to add a nutritious and healthy vegetable to any meal. This recipe is a favorite as it produces a beautiful looking side dish and tastes even better. The green beans turn a beautiful bright green as they cook and are so tender.

Equipment needed

Large pot to boil green beans

Knife and cutting board

Allergen friendly green bean recipe

This green bean recipe is free from the top 8 food allergens!

Need a savory green bean recipe? Try this one!

Sauteed Green Beans with Bacon and Onion

What to pair this side dish with

Pick your favorite main dish to pair these lemon green beans with! We have enjoyed the green beans with shrimp or meat off the grill. It would also pair well with a pot roast or any type of casserole.

Here are some other recipes to pair the green beans with that you will love!

Quick Sweet and Sour Meatballs

Loaded Taco Sweet Potato

What type of green beans to use

Look for “fresh green beans” at your local grocery store. French style green beans would be another good option. The green beans used in this recipe were gifted to us from a friends garden. Any fresh (not canned) green beans will work great.

How to prepare the green beans for cooking

Before cooking, prepare and trim your green beans: Simply place the green beans in a colander and run them under cold water. Then, snap off the stems on each end.

Substitutions

Garlic Salt: Sub out 1/4 teaspoon of minced garlic and 1/4 teaspoon of salt

Olive Oil: Avocado oil or butter

Storage and reheating

Store in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 4 days. I recommend reheating on the stovetop to help prevent sogginess and tossing in a bit more olive oil to prevent drying out.

You can freeze the green beans as well. After boiling them, lay out on a towel to cool them completely and allow the beans to dry. You want them to be completely dry before sticking them in the freezer to prevent freezer burn. Place n a freezer safe Ziplock bag in the freezer and they should last about 6 months. Do not toss them in the olive oil and seasoning before freezing.