Print

Perfect Sauteed Green Beans

Sauteed green beans
Save Recipe

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

5 from 3 reviews

These are the best sauteed green beans: an easy side dish bursting with flavor! Here’s the trick for how to saute them to perfection. 

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound fresh green beans
  • 1 shallot (optional but recommended)
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil or butter
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice (and zest of 1/2 lemon if desired)
  • Fresh ground black pepper

Instructions

  1. Trim the green beans. Mince the shallot. 
  2. Place the beans in a large skillet and add 1/3 cup water. Heat over medium-high heat. Once the water starts boiling, cover the skillet and boil the beans for 4 minutes. Then uncover and cook until the water is fully evaporated, about 1 minute or os. 
  3. Once all the water has cooked out, add the olive oil or butter, minced shallot and kosher salt (take care because any additional moisture can cause the beans to momentarily spit). Sauté for 2 minutes more until tender, stirring frequently.
  4. Turn off the heat and remove the beans to a bowl. Stir in the lemon juice and if using, top with grated lemon zest. Taste, then add plenty of fresh ground pepper and a few additional pinches of kosher salt. Eat immediately. Leftovers store 2 to 3 days refrigerated: though the bright green color is lost, they still taste delicious.