18 Fantastic and Fresh Green Bean Recipes

Dry-Fried Sichuan Style Green Beans with Shrimp
Photo: Photo by Victor Protasio / Food Styling by Torie Cox / Prop Styling by Missie Neville Crawford

With green beans you can make a refreshing salad for lunch (Salmon Niçoise Salad!), a savory side dish (perhaps Gingered Green Beans), or even a satisfying entreé (Linguine with Frenched Green Beans and Parsley Pesto, anyone?). Try out all the different ways to enjoy this vegetable with our collection of multi-dimensional, fresh green bean recipes.

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Linguine with Frenched Green Beans and Parsley Pesto

Linguine with Frenched Green Beans and Parsley Pesto Recipe
Photo by Tara Donne / Food Styling by Chris Lanier / Prop Styling by Raina Kattelson

In this classic recipe, 1988 F&W Best New Chef Johanne Killen employs starchy pasta water to thicken her fresh pesto into a sauce that clings to and flavors each strand of linguine, instead of pooling in the bowl. Thinly sliced green beans intertwine with the pasta, offering a refreshing crunch.

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Dry-Fried Sichuan-Style Green Beans with Shrimp

Dry-Fried Sichuan Style Green Beans with Shrimp
Photo by Victor Protasio / Food Styling by Torie Cox / Prop Styling by Missie Neville Crawford

Instead of leaning on a sauce, "dry" stir-fries like this recipe use a small amount of liquid (in this case, fish sauce), relying on heat and movement in the wok to intensify each ingredient's flavors. To ensure that the beans blister, dry them thoroughly with a kitchen towel before cooking. Pickled sushi ginger adds mild, well-balanced sweetness and a hint of spice.

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Salmon Niçoise Salad

Salmon Nicoise Salad
Photo by Greg DuPree / Food Styling by Torie Cox / Prop Styling by Missie Crawford

Tender salmon, briny olives, crisp-tender green beans, and satisfying potatoes all soak up the zippy, perfectly balanced dressing in this variation on a classic tuna Niçoise. Don't skip the anchovy garnish — it provides pops of umami saltiness that take this salad over the top.

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Green Bean Casserole with Almost-Burnt Almonds

Green bean casserole with almost burnt almonds
David Malosh

This riff on a casserole classic features tender-crisp green beans in a silky vegetarian sauce. With incredible crunch and intense nutty flavor, almost-burnt almonds take this dish to the next level.

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Green Bean Slaw

Green Bean Slaw
© Fredrika Stjärne

In this alternative take on a classic coleslaw, tender haricots verts get tossed with crunchy strips of carrot, red pepper, and parsnip.

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Green Beans with Eggs, Chiles, and Cilantro

Green Beans with Eggs, Chiles & Cilantro
© Martin Morrell

This Georgian dish, called lobio, is typically served cool, but with its buttery scrambled eggs and tender green beans, it's equally delicious hot. It's great as part of a family-style menu and also makes an unusually tasty, light main course.

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Loobyeh (Braised Green Beans with Tomatoes and Garlic)

Braised Green Beans with Tomatoes and Garlic
© Christopher Testani

Called loobyeh, this comforting vegetable stew is a staple in Lebanon. Style guru Rita Nakouzi's recipe is a combination of her mother's and aunt's versions; only as an adult was she finally able to add as much garlic as she wanted. After years of making what by her own admission was "a garlic attack," she says, "Now I've gotten better. It finally dawned on me, I don't think everyone else likes garlic as much as I do."

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Roasted Beets and Charred Green Beans

Roasted Beets and Charred Green Beans
Eva Kolenko

Top Chef winner Kristen Kish pairs roasted beets and cast-iron-charred haricots verts with vinegar and hearty herbs (oregano and thyme) to make this salad. It's an homage to the jarred pickled beets and green bean salad she ate as a kid.

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Green Beans Two Ways

Green Beans Two Ways
© Lucy Schaeffer

Instead of just steaming or boiling green beans, food writer Katie Workman first sautés them in butter and garlic, then simmers them in chicken broth. For adults, she adds fresh herbs and citrus — both zest and juice — giving the beans a fresh, vibrant flavor.

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Green Bean Casserole with Goat Cheese, Almonds, and Smoked Paprika

Green Bean Casserole with Goat Cheese, Almonds and Smoked Paprika

© Alexandra Rowley

Inspired by classic green bean casseroles from his childhood, former F&W culinary director at large Justin Chapple puts a Spanish spin on this timeless favorite by topping the creamy beans with smoky pimentón de la Vera and toasted almonds.

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Farro and Green Bean Salad

Farro and Green Bean Salad
© John Kernick

"The first time I tasted farro, it changed my life," says chef Melissa Kelly about the ancient grain. She's particularly fond of the nutty, chewy farro from Anson Mills, a Charleston-based company that's nationally famous for its grits.

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Bloody Mary–Pickled Green Beans

Pickled Beans
© Eva Kolenko

Justin Chapple loves drinking Bloody Marys, so he created a fantastic Bloody Mary "brine" — made with tomato juice, vinegar, horseradish, peppercorns, and garlic — which he boils and pours over green beans. Once they're chilled, the beans are completely irresistible. They're perfect eaten on their own and delicious served with an actual Bloody Mary.

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Gingered Green Beans

Gingered Green Beans
© Petrina Tinslay

Chef Scott Conant makes his crisp-tender beans with ground ginger, since freshly grated ginger invariably creates unappealing little chunks.

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Potato Salad with Green Beans and Salsa Verde

Potato Salad with Green Beans and Salsa Verde
© Coral Von Zumwalt

A terrific salsa verde makes this velvety potato salad extraordinary. Here the salsa is made with parsley and chives; try making it with other summer herbs, like tarragon or basil, as well.

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Green Beans with Cremini Mushroom Sauce

Green Beans with Cremini Mushroom Sauce
© William Meppem

This simple and savory side dish is perfect for any dinner table. To make it ahead, refrigerate the assembled casserole overnight and let it return to room temperature before baking.

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Green Beans with Soffritto and Country Ham

Green Beans with Soffritto and Country Ham
James Baigrie

Chef Alex Roberts learned the secret to great soffritto — an aromatic vegetable mixture used as a base for many Italian soups and sauces — while traveling through Tuscany. "The trick is to cook it really slow — otherwise the vegetables scorch," he says.

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Summer Bulgur and Green Bean Salad

Summer Bulgur and Green Bean Salad
© Maura McEvoy

Chef Tyler Florence's lovely side dish of light, fluffy bulgur studded with bits of toasted almonds and crisp green beans is a wonderful alternative to rice. 

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Curried Cauliflower and Green Bean Salad with Lemon Yogurt

Curried Cauliflower and Green Bean Salad with Lemon Yogurt
© Stephanie Foley

For this delicious salad from the late James Beard Award-winning chef Mark Peel, roasted cauliflower and green beans are flavored with a mild curry powder.

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