Plan n Cook

Steamed Or Boiled Green Beans

  • 10m Prep Time
  • 10m Cook Time
  • 20m Ready In

Add this recipe to a meal plan

Build a week of meals and watch your shopping list grow - no account needed to try it.

Add to Meal Plan
  • Cuisine : World
  • Course : Side Dish

Green beans are steamed or boiled until barely tender, then tossed with olive oil or butter and seasoned with salt and pepper. Optional toppings include bread crumbs, bacon, herbs, nuts, or fried shallots.

Ingredients

Servings:
½× 1× 1½× 2× 3×
Units:
As Written US Metric
  • 1 pound green beans
  • 1
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • 1
    • 4 tablespoons (½ stick) butter, olive oil, or a combination
    • (1 or 2 garlic cloves, lightly smashed)
    • 1 cup dry bread crumbs or panko or 1 ½ cups soft bread crumbs
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    Sub-recipe steps
    1. Heat in a skillet over medium heat: 4 tablespoons (½ stick) butter, olive oil, or a combination
    2. If desired, reduce the heat to low, add, and cook for 5 minutes: (1 or 2 garlic cloves, lightly smashed)
    3. Remove the garlic from the pan. Increase the heat to medium and stir in: 1 cup dry bread crumbs or panko or 1 ½ cups soft bread crumbs; ½ teaspoon salt
    4. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the crumbs turn golden brown. If desired, mince the cooked garlic cloves and stir into the crumbs.
  • (2 to 4 slices cooked bacon or pancetta, crumbled)
  • (2 tablespoons chopped parsley, basil, tarragon, chives, or a combination)
  • (Toasted chopped almonds, hazelnuts, or peanuts)
  • 1
    • 1 inch vegetable oil
    • 4 large shallots, peeled and sliced into thin rings
    • ½ cup cornstarch or flour
    • Salt
    • (Curry powder)
    Sub-recipe steps
    1. Heat to 325°F in a small heavy saucepan: 1 inch vegetable oil
    2. Toss together in a bowl: 4 large shallots, peeled and sliced into thin rings; ½ cup cornstarch or flour
    3. Separate the shallot rings as you toss them. Fry the shallots in several batches until golden. Remove with a spider or slotted spoon to a plate lined with paper towels and immediately sprinkle to taste with: Salt; (Curry powder)
    4. Once cool, they will keep for a month at room temperature in a tightly covered container, although they are best when used immediately.

Let's Prepare

Collect

Gather these ingredients - no prep needed yet.

  • 1 pound green beans
  • 1 (2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, butter, Brown Butter, or up to ¼ cup vinaigrette)
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • 1 (¼ cup Buttered Bread Crumbs)
  • (2 to 4 slices cooked bacon or pancetta, crumbled)
  • (2 tablespoons chopped parsley, basil, tarragon, chives, or a combination)
  • (Toasted chopped almonds, hazelnuts, or peanuts)
  • 1 (Crispy Fried Shallots, Sautéed Mushrooms, or Sautéed Onions)

Let's Cook

  1. Step 1.

    Trim the stem ends of: 1 pound green beans

  2. Step 2.

    You may cut them crosswise or on the diagonal or leave them whole. Place the beans in a steamer basket over 1 inch of boiling water and cover. Alternatively, place them in a saucepan full of rapidly boiling water. Cook until barely tender, 6 to 10 minutes. Drain and toss with: (2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, butter, Brown Butter, or up to ¼ cup vinaigrette); Salt and black pepper to taste

  3. Step 3.

    If desired, top with any of the following: (¼ cup Buttered Bread Crumbs); (2 to 4 slices cooked bacon or pancetta, crumbled); (2 tablespoons chopped parsley, basil, tarragon, chives, or a combination); (Toasted chopped almonds, hazelnuts, or peanuts); (Crispy Fried Shallots, Sautéed Mushrooms, or Sautéed Onions)

Ratings & reviews

Have you made this? Take a moment and let us know what you think. Sign in to leave a rating.

Plan n Cook

Fresh ideas for meal planning, recipes, and your kitchen - brought together on Plan n Cook.

© 2026 Plan n Cook. All rights reserved.

Privacy Terms Cookies Free Meal Planner Weekly Meal Planner Cookie settings