This easy Garlic Green Beans Recipe includes a hint of lemon and lots of garlic! It is simple and delicious and you'll love how easy these skillet green beans are to make!

When it comes to veggies, if it doesn't taste amazing, I'm probably not going to eat it. Sorry, not sorry! I'm a fair-weather vegetable lover for sure.
That's why I love this recipe - not only is is quick and easy, but it's full of incredible flavor. Cooked in butter with slivers of fresh garlic, these green beans are out of this world.
Using our famous Cowboy Butter doesn't hurt either!
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Healthy, simple, and yummy - it doesn't get much better than this!
Green Bean Nutrition
Green beans are a good source of vitamins A, C and K, fiber, and folate. This crunchy vegetable is low calorie and contains no cholesterol either.
Source
The serving size for green beans is just a half a cup, and with this tasty recipe you'll want to eat more than that for sure!

FAQ About Skillet Green Beans
Here are some frequently asked questions, and answers, about our garlic green beans recipe.
How do you clean and prepare green beans?
Start by rinsing the beans in cold water. Break off the very ends of each side of the bean and discard the tips. You can do this with your fingers, or with a knife on a cutting board.
Do you need to blanch green beans before cooking them?
For this garlic green bean recipe, I recommend that you blanch them. Blanching is just a fancy word - it simply means you boil them for just a minute or two, then remove them from the hot water and put them into ice water to stop them from cooking.
Yes, this is an extra step, and you could skip it, but it makes your green bean side dish perfect! The beans just need a minute in the ice water, then you can remove them and pat them dry with paper towels.
Why are my green beans rubbery?
If you do not cook your skillet green beans long enough, they will be tough and rubbery. Take care not to overcook them also or they will be mushy.
Ingredients
- fresh green beans
- Cowboy Butter
- fresh garlic
- kosher salt and black pepper
- red pepper flake (optional)
- lemon
Instructions
- Bring a medium sauce pot of water to a boil.
- Drop the green beans into the water and cook 2 minutes.
- Remove promptly.
- Add 2 tablespoons Cowboy Butter to the skillet over medium heat.
- Add the green beans and sliced garlic.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste. For an extra kick, add a pinch of red pepper flake.
- Cook for about 5 minutes until the beans start to become tender and crisp around the tips.
- Add another tablespoon of Cowboy Butter before serving.
NOTE: should you choose to skip the blanching, you will need to cook the green beans about 5 minutes longer in the skillet.

Variations
Frankly, I think this recipe is perfect, however, here are a few idea for making them your own:
- Add in a pint of grape or cherry tomatoes and sauté them with the green beans until they are tender.
- Sprinkle a ¼ cup of grated Parmesan cheese just before you remove the beans from the heat.
- Garnish the beans with cooked crumbled bacon for a little decadent addition.

More Easy Side Dishes
Here are some of our favorite side dishes you might also enjoy:
- loaded mashed cauliflower
- cowboy baked beans
- crispy roasted sweet potatoes
- easy green bean casserole without mushrooms


Garlic Green Beans Recipe
This skillet green beans recipe with garlic chips and lemon zest will make anyone want to eat their vegetables! Pair them with my Homemade Salisbury Steak recipe for the perfect weeknight meal.
If you love this recipe, please give it a 5 star rating!

Garlic Green Bean Recipe
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Equipment
- saucepan
Ingredients
- 1 lb fresh green beans
- 3 tablespoons Cowboy Butter
- 3 cloves fresh garlic, sliced
- kosher salt and black pepper, to taste
- 1 pinch red pepper flake (optional) optional
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
Instructions
- Bring a medium sauce pot of water to a boil.
- Drop the green beans into the water and cook 2 minutes.
- Remove promptly.
- Add 2 tablespoons Cowboy Butter to the skillet over medium heat.
- Add the green beans and sliced garlic.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste. For an extra kick, add a pinch of red pepper flake.
- Cook for about 5 minutes until the beans start to become tender and crisp around the tips.
- Add another tablespoon of Cowboy Butter before serving.
Notes
- Add in a pint of grape or cherry tomatoes and sauté them with the green beans until they are tender.
- Sprinkle a ¼ cup of grated Parmesan cheese just before you remove the beans from the heat.
- Garnish the beans with cooked crumbled bacon for a little decadent addition.
For best results, be sure to check our Tips and FAQs above with important tips and questions that can help your delicious recipe come out perfectly.
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